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7

Life-Altering Challenges

of Back on Track's support

PHILOSOPHY

The reason why we call ourselves the ACE X - Men:

We are named after the “ACE” (Adverse Childhood Experiences) framework because we are committed to overcoming the profoundly damaging impact of these seven life-altering challenges:

1. Physical Abuse
– Harm or violence against a child.
2. Sexual Abuse
– Exploitation or sexual harm.
3. Emotional Abuse
– Constant belittling or emotional neglect.
4. Physical Neglect
– Lack of basic needs like food or safety.
5. Emotional Neglect
– Absence of nurturing or affection.
6. Household Mental Illness
– Living with a family member struggling with mental health.
7. Parental Acrimony/Separation/Divorce
– The emotional toll of family breakdown.

These experiences shape lives, often leading to long-term mental and physical health issues. By understanding and addressing these challenges, we empower individuals to rewrite their stories, becoming stronger just like X-Men.

Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries

Don't Leave Home Without Them

Calm swirly water

 An integral part of redressing the balance is (re)setting boundaries, which are essential to maintaining recovery and the way we approach life in general. In unison with nature we create safe spaces for healing and protecting mental well-being.  With emphasis placed on defining what is acceptable, this in turn allows the men we support to empower themselves and rebuild focus on their respective revivals.

Men in a semi-circle laughing and enjoying each other's company in a wood clearing

SPEAKING CIRCLES

Empowering Transformation

The corner stone of our support in regard to overcoming any or all of the seven challenges is to provide a safe environment for talking openly and sharing with each other on a regular basis. Naturally, this is integrated within many other aspects of our courses. However, the men we support benefit greatly from our Transformational Speaking Circles which are held outdoors where possible - these can have many benefits, including:

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  • Empowerment: Transformative circles can help individuals to contribute to a group whereas in other settings they may not.  

  • Reflection: With daily and weekly practice they can help individuals to reflect (not dwell) on the past and use those moments to constructively plan making positive changes moving forward.

  • Active listening: Participants can practice active listening skills by focusing on both the words and the tone being used by others.

  • Emotional connection: Participants can build emotional connection among themselves and learn to better process what resonates within.

  • Shared understanding: Participants can cultivate empathy and a shared sense of understanding alongside a sense being a part of. 

  • Confidence: Openly speaking can help build confidence. With positive affirmations from peers also helping to build confidence when speaking outside of the transformational speaking circles.

Grounding in Nature
@ St Werburghs City Farm

Outdoor Transformational Speaking Circle preparations at Boiling Wells Ampitheatre, St Werburghs City Farm, Bristol

Truth Button - Philosophy

Try A Simple Truth

Man with a beard squinting and holding a tattoo gun

External solutions are not a fix for internal problems

Smiling younger man with arm around older man

Remember to forgive yourself,  we are all works in progress

Contented looking man with glasses on

A majority of limitations are those we set upon ourselves

A bee crawling on grass

Rewilding & Recovery

Rewilding offers a unique path towards recovery from addiction. By reconnecting individuals with the natural world, it combats the isolation often associated with addiction and losing direction in recovery. Spending time in nature reduces stress, promotes mindfulness and fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

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 Substance misuse often involves suppressing natural instincts and desires. Embracing "wildness" in a metaphorical sense can involve rediscovering one's passions, expressing emotions authentically, and living a more fulfilling life.

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Rewilding often involves restoring ecosystems to their natural state, allowing them to thrive without human intervention. Similarly, individuals in recovery can focus on building resilience and self-reliance, learning to cope with challenges and setbacks without resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

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Furthermore, rewilding provides opportunities for social interaction and building supportive relationships within the BoT community who are focused on nature and recovery in unison.

 

Our passion for rewilding the natural world is utilised by us as a complementary tool within our comprehensive timetable of other (w)holistic activities and support groups. This philosophy better enables us to guide the rewilding process for the men we support more effectively.

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