Counseling Awareness Month

Today is the last day of Counseling awareness month.  Many people could benefit from counseling but think there is a stigma associated with seeing a therapist.   Counseling Awareness month is.. 

…"a time to celebrate the practice of professional counseling, advance the needs of the individuals served by counselors, and promote the helping roles of counselors in all settings. It is a time to promote the professional and ethical standards that lead to competence and take pride in the good work that counselors accomplish each day."  ~Counseling.org

At one point in my life I thought counseling was a waste of time and that no counselor had any sense at all.  As I have grown older, however, I’ve decided that a good counselor is one of the best ways to spend your health care dollars.  Stress and repressed trauma can make you and everyone around you miserable.  A counselor can help you work through issues that are affecting your life and possibly even your physical well being.  Stress can cause any number of physical ailments such as increased blood pressure, difficulty sleeping, a suppressed immune system, and an increase or decrease in appetite. 

There are several online resources if you are looking for more information about counseling or if you want to find a counselor or mental health professional.

• http://family.samhsa.gov/talk/counseling.aspx ~ this site gives you information to help you decide if counseling is right for you

• http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/default.asp ~ this is the National Mental Health Information Center and it has a variety of great information including a way to look up different counselors

• http://www.aamft.org/ ~ this is the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy it has some excellent information and a way to locate family therapists.

• http://www.psych.org/ ~ this is the American psychiatric Association. The difference between psychiatrists and therapists, counselors, or psychologists, is that a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.

• http://apahelpcenter.org/ ~ this is the American Psychological Association excellent articles on a variety of issues.

Have you thought about seeing a counselor? If you have entered into counseling did it help? Would you recommend counseling to other people?

Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed

This video is classified as a relaxation video but it feels more like a guided meditation.  He has a very soothing voice and the images are beautiful.  You can use this video to take a little meditation break during a busy day.  After you have allowed yourself to relax with the mediation you will be able more easily focus on your daily tasks.

I took the Big Five Personality Test that is supposed to measure the five fundamental dimensions of personality.  Below you will find my personality test results along with what I think of the results in italics.  If you want to take the personality test yourself you can go here.

Openness to Experience/Intellect

High scorers tend to be original, creative, curious, complex; Low scorers tend to be conventional, down to earth, narrow interests, uncreative.

(Your percentile: 70)
You are relatively open to new experiences.  I’d say that is true IF I get to plan and research said new experience before actually having to try it

Conscientiousness

High scorers tend to be reliable, well-organized, self-disciplined, careful; Low scorers tend to be disorganized, undependable, negligent.

(Your percentile: 52)
You are neither organized or disorganized.  Well….If you looked at my office or house you’d probably wonder how in the world I ever find anything, but I usually can find what I need pretty easily.  My husband would definitely say I am disorganized or at least messy.

Extraversion

High scorers tend to be sociable, friendly, fun loving, talkative; Low scorers tend to be introverted, reserved, inhibited, quiet.

(Your percentile: 64)
You are relatively social and enjoy the company of others.  I do like to do stuff with people I like but I also MUST have alone time or I get all kinds of cranky.  That might be why this score isn’t higher.

Agreeableness

High scorers tend to be good natured, sympathetic, forgiving, courteous; Low scorers tend to be critical, rude, harsh, callous.

(Your percentile: 1)
You find it easy to criticize others.  WOW…yeah I think most people who know me would say I’m a little…critical.  Actually most people would probably use a much different word to describe me and I’d say they were right.  I actually work really hard to be less critical of others and of myself.  Or at least to put it politely….looks like I need to work harder on it.

Neuroticism

High scorers tend to be nervous, high-strung, insecure, worrying; Low scorers tend to be calm, relaxed, secure, hardy.

(Your percentile: 43)
You aren’t particularly nervous, nor calm. I’m usually pretty relaxed and calm about things like traffic and with children.  But I’m not at all calm when it comes to things like bad service ;)  As long as I have a plan and feel like I’m in control I do fine.  I do worry a lot about things until I have a plan though.

Overall I think this personality test did a pretty good job of describing.  Go try the test for yourself and let me know what you think of it!  I’d love to know if I’m the only critical person out there!

science-trivia-questions.mp3

This is the first part in our new series of trivia podcasts.  On alternating weeks I will post questions and then answers on specific topics.  The questions for this week will be about science.  I hope you enjoy this edition of Mental Stimulation Trivia.

The Moon Photo Credit:  Matalyn from Flickr, Creative Commons License

Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that effects families all over the country.  April is   Alcohol Awareness Month.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a great website with information about alcohol and drug, you can visit the site here.

Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with alcohol:

• Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
• Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
• Does your drinking worry your family?
• Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won’t?
• Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?
• Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?

For more information on how to cut down on your drinking, you can go here.  I have seen alcohol ruin many lives from taking parents away from children, to children who drink and drive and don’t survive.  If you think you have a drinking problem I encourage you to seek help.  One nationally recognized groups that can help with recovery is Alcoholics Anonymous.

Have you suffered from alcoholism either as the one with the addiction or because someone you loved was addicted?  What did you do?

blah blah blah

Alcohol Photo Credit: joshstaiger from Flickr, Creative Commons License

Depression is so difficult to deal with especially when you know you can do what you want to in life but just can’t bring yourself to do it because of your symptoms. You don’t understand why you are sad, unmotivated, agitated and feeling like you have a ton of weight holding you down.

Don’t worry, you are not alone!

Millions of people around the world suffer from depression and the statistics are rising. More people are seeking help for their symptoms and finally helping themselves feel better so they can get back on track to a happy and successful life.

One of the first steps you need to make in seeking help from this debilitating illness is finding out if you do have depression or if there is some medical cause for how you feel. I find it helpful to bring a list to my doctor so I don’t forget to mention any symptoms I am having for my problem. This way, I know I have given the doctor the most accurate information for her to make a correct diagnosis.

Sometimes it can be hard to think of all your symptoms at once, in this case, review the list below of common symptoms of depression, and write down the ones that apply to you.

· Insomnia

· Oversleeping

· Changes in appetite

· Lack of concentration

· Loss of pleasure in activities you used to find pleasure in

· Intense sadness

· Spontaneous crying

· Emotional sensitivity

· Lack of focus

· Decrease in hygiene and caring for yourself

· Feeling hopeless and helpless

· Restless

· Feeling down on yourself, worthless or guilty for not being able to do certain things

· Physical symptoms such as aches and pains, headaches, stomach problems

As I said, you will need to discuss all of your symptoms with the doctor so he or she will be able to diagnosis you accurately. Many of the symptoms of depression can be due to a medical problem so its best to receive a physical exam.

Furthermore, if you are feeling hopeless, helpless, and worthless and have contemplated suicide, CALL SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY. Ending your life is not the answer; you need to receive help for your symptoms so you can start living the life you want. Depression can be devastating but there is help!

Support can do wonders when you are feeling like this and even when you are on antidepressant medication. It helps to know there are so many other people in the world experiencing the same thing you have to deal with on a daily basis. Since you have read this far, why not jot down some of your symptoms in the comments section here? Let’s support each other in this fight against depression, you don’t have to go it alone!

If you have a question about depression, leave it in the comments because others may be wondering the same thing!

As parents, we never want to think about our son or daughter suffering through a mental disorder. However, we need to face the fact there may be something going on besides the initial concern he or she is being lazy. Find out the signs of depression so you can support and encourage your child to get some help.

People who are predisposed to depression will usually start to experience symptoms in their early 20s. Even though many children do experienced symptoms much earlier, the average start to feel depressed after graduating high school. One of the reasons for this is because many children go off to college or start working, which we all know is stressful and the stress sets off the disorder. The next thing you know, your son or daughter who had straight As in high school might not go to class, starts receiving failing grades and may eventually drop out or starts missing work and gets fired.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Your son or daughter may be depressed if he or she experiences these symptoms:

· Sleeping too much

· Insomnia

· Change in appetite

· Not taking care of hygiene

· Decreased pleasure in activities

· Feeling hopeless and helpless

· Feeling sluggish or loss of energy

· Lacks concentration, motivation and focus

· Feeling worthless and guilty

· Cries or gets angry easily

· Feeling physically sick such as aches, pains, stomach problems, and headaches

Feeling depressed is no way to live life. It’s important that we help those who are showing their first signs of depression. You can start by talking with your son or daughter to see how he or she is feeling and then mention seeing a doctor. He or she may need help with calling for the appointment and getting there because the lack of motivation and feelings of helpless might be too much to deal with when trying to get treatment. With help from you, your son or daughter may be able to get some antidepressant medication, which will help reduce some of the symptoms so he or she can start living a productive life.

Please share any stories about your family member who is experiencing depression so others can learn what to do during this very scary and difficult time…

When you pregnant a lot of attention is paid to your physical health by your doctor, friends, and family. What I needed was help with my emotional and mental health. I worried about everything that was happening and that was going to happen. There were things I had questions about that I’d never heard anyone talking about and I certainly didn’t want to bring up. The following books helped me feel calmer and more prepared.

So That’s What They’re For by Janet Tamaro
This is an absolute must read if you want to breastfeed. Even if you are only mildly interested I would still recommend it. In addition to being filled with great advice there are also pictures. The pictures are great to refer to when you are trying to figure out which nursing position is best for you and your baby. After all just being told to use the football hold is quite different than being able to look and see what the position is supposed to look like. Also included are additional resources such as websites, other books, and organizations that can help you in your quest for breastfeeding information. This book is the reason I have had so little trouble breastfeeding

Pregnancy Sucks by Joanne Kimes
I usually read in bed at night and this book made me laugh so hard I would wake my husband. Kimes tells it exactly like it really is even the scary or embarrassing parts and she does it with a sense of humor. The book is broken down by the month so I’d read a chapter a month, usually all at once as soon as I hit that month. It made me feel so much better that I wasn’t alone in what I was feeling.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting
This is probably the gold standard and the book most mothers read. It is full of helpful information and is also broken down by month. I found this book to be most helpful when I was looking for a clinical answer to a question and would look here before calling my OB.

I know that nothing can take the place of a doctor. But if you are like me you might not have time, or may just not want to ask the doctor everything you are wondering about. If that is the case these books are a great resource.
What books did you find helpful when you were pregnant?

Submitted by: Robin Langford

Support groups are essential when you are going through a difficult time in your life. Support groups can help you find comfort in knowing you are not alone in dealing with mental health issues. You can find others who understand and find help for problems you are having. Isn’t it time you found yourself some people who know what it’s like?

Finding support groups is not difficult. Here are some ways you can find support.

• Newspapers

Check your local newspapers in the classifieds section or local section. Many organizations or groups of people will post an ad to get some new members to join.

• Doctor/Counselor

If you see a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, call him or her and ask if they have a listing of support groups in your area. They usually have these resources available.

• Mental Health Services

Call your local mental health services department and ask to speak to some about resources. The receptionist will probably give you a resource to call to find out this information.

• Social Services

Social Services usually have information about community events, programs and support groups because many of the people they serve have a mental illness.

• Internet

You can find just about anything on the Internet. Search for support groups on community sites.

Finding Support Groups Online

If you are shy or you don’t have access to transportation to get to a group, you can still get the same type of support online. There are many communities and forums available for many different mental health disorders. Check out these support groups!

http://www.support4hope.com/

Support 4 Hope is a great site with chat and forums for people with Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Schizophrenia, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

http://www.google.com/Top/Health/Support_Groups/Mental_Health/

Google has a directory of different support groups online.

Support through Blogs

Many people with mental illness have started blogs talking about their experiences. Commenting on these blogs is just like participating in forums because there are many people who usually join in on the discussion. Try to find some blogs on the mental health disorder you have or try starting one yourself.

Find support here and let us know how you like your support group. Let us know how it has helped you and how you found yours!

Everyone has mood swings and goes through good days that make you feel on top of the world or bad days when you feel sad or discouraged. These are normal feelings but for some of us, these feelings are extreme and are much more than just the normal mood swing. These highs make you do things you wouldn’t do and then leave you more depressed than you have ever been. When your good days consist of being hyperactive and energetic followed by days of unproductively to the point where you can hardly get out of bed, you may have bipolar disorder.

If you have bipolar disorder, you go from having manic symptoms to depression symptoms. When you experience mania you will feel like you are the most important person in the world and you have the best life.

· Irritation is common especially if someone tries to tell you that you are acting abnormally.

· You may not want to sleep at night because of the energy you have from the mania symptoms.

· Your speech is fast and you will talk a lot.

· You might put yourself in risky situations or do things you normally would never do because you are too afraid or shy.

· Your thoughts may race and many people have a heightened level of creativity because of all the thoughts. Many people speculate that Van Gogh had mania, which helped him create his famous paintings.

When the depression hits, it really hits you hard.

· You feel drained, sad, and sometimes anxious.

· Your thoughts have slowed down and you have no desire to communicate with others.

· You feel hopeless and helpless because you can’t accomplish anything and certainly not as much as you did in your mania phase.

· You may experience changes in sleep patterns or appetite.

· You don’t find pleasure in activities you used to enjoy doing.

· In severe cases, people with severe depression will start to think about suicide.

Living life with bipolar is not a good way to live. Taking medication can help you with your extreme highs and lows. If you feel you have bipolar disorder, contact your doctor right away so he or she can diagnose and treat you. Don’t let bipolar disorder take control of your life!

Help others who are going through the same symptoms you experience and leave your story in the comments!