Mental Health Awareness

MONDAY - Besides being "tax day," April 15th means there's only a couple more weeks till National Mental Health Awareness Month. I haven't researched yet on what types of events we can expect, or how much the media will help to promote awareness, but I plan to do my part. Working at Samaritan Counseling Center, I am excited when the calls for help keep on coming. Let me explain what I mean by that. I'm excited that people out there who are suffering from marital problems, anxiety, griefcounseling session and many other crises have made an intelligent, vital decision. The decision to seek help and healing...the decision to change their lives. They realize that trying to hide, ignore or deny what they're experiencing is the worst thing they can do. They don't care about a ridiculous stigma--they care about being healthy. Even during my lifetime, society has progressed pretty far from a time when the words "counselor" and "therapist" were rarely mentioned, and if they were, it was in a whisper. If you were suffering, you most likely did so in silence rather than risk contempt and shame. Thanks to education, we've come a long way, but unfortunately, we've still got a long way to go. The actress Glenn Close is an outspoken advocate of mental health reform. Read one of her blogs...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-close/sandy-hook-mental-health_b_2338272.html

Even counselors go to counselors--just like doctors go to other doctors.

I like to dream big, so here is my vision on mental health: I see a time when people are picking up all sorts of available resources on mental/emotional well-being at magazine stands and grocery stores...a time when people are just as serious about staying mentally healthy as they are about maintaining a healthy weight, or going to the gym...a time when sufferers of serious mental disorders don't continue to fall through the cracks in our healthcare system...a time when all engaged couples take pre-marital counseling as seriously as they take all of their other wedding planning...

Survivors of Suicide

Personally, I know two people who have taken their own lives: one was a family member, an elderly man I knew for most of my life. Was I shocked? Well, the answer to that question is "yes"--and "no." Let me explain. First, I think suicide is always shocking. It seems that when asked, survivors often say they had no idea the person who committed suicide was depressed or gave any indication he/she was intending to carry out such an act. old man

I don't find that hard to believe. A person can become quite adept at hiding depression. One of the characteristics of depression is the perpetual rumination of hopelessness and pain. It's all going on in the mind--in a deep, dark place that is all too real and frightening. Like silent screaming.

In the instance of the man in my family, I observed that he lived an unusual life that was unhealthy mentally and socially. He was an intelligent and creative person. Hardworking and gifted. But those qualities couldn't rescue him from his torment.

Could someone have prevented this? This much I can tell you: for years, many family members recognized his troubled life, his abnormal behavior and advised him to make changes! But he never listened and never sought help. Plus, he had never told anyone that he was depressed or wanted to die.

Beyond shock and grief, survivors of suicide may experience guilt feelings. They may ask themselves: What did I miss? What could I have done? What kind of awful, deep despair did this person suffer?

If you or someone you know is a survivor of suicide and is struggling and hurting, please know that there is help. Register for Samaritan's Survivors of Suicide Support Group. The environment of our group is safe and supportive. You will meet other people who can empathize with you, who understand your pain. Hope, healing and peace await...

Open House

If you would like to meet a licensed, professional counselor and ask him/her any questions you might have about whole health and wellness or counseling in general, please stop by Samaritan's Open House Reception on May 20th at our 1106 Ohio R. Blvd. office suite at the Osborne Plaza in Sewickley. We'll be there from 3-7 p.m. to talk, tour our offices, enjoy some wine and hors d'oeuvres and even offer you an opportunity to participate in some hands-on stress reduction techniques. In addition to meeting a few of our counselors, you will be able to chat with our new Life Coach. We promise you'll have a good time--we don't bite! Furthermore, you'll walk away with a better understanding of what counseling is and how beneficial it can be for anyone at any age.

BTW, I came across another interesting website today. It's called "Healthy Place" and I discovered a lot of good information there. Check it out...

http://www.healthyplace.com/stigma/stand-up-for-mental-health/stand-up-for-mental-health-campaign/

Art is for Everyone

I did a little online research on Art Therapy the other day and learned some remarkable things. But before I get into that, I want to share with you that to be an art therapist, one must complete a Masters level education in addition to the required art courses, training and experience.

Art Therapy is one of the numerous therapeutic techniques we employ at Samaritan. I even had the opportunity to experience it. I found it both interesting and effective in helping me learn more about myself.art clip

I can affirm, as a trained artist who engages in diverse art forms, that during the creative process I experience a deep, focused sense of well-being. It’s almost “trancelike.” To be clear, I’m not even talking about art as a therapeutic tool during counseling, but my own personal experience as an artist. The more engrossed I become in my work, the greater my sense of satisfaction. I grow excited—even intrigued by “what’s coming out of me.” Anyway, if someone were to tell me that the creative process releases a flood of endorphins, I would be the first to agree!

Now for the research…The amazing healing effects of art have been recognized for more than a century—and you need not be an artist to benefit from it. The act of being creative helps us release deeply felt emotions, which aids in healing and reducing stress. Today, many medical centers incorporate it into their inpatient care. In addition to its usefulness in medical settings, art therapy can be a valuable tool in schools, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, prisons and more.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense reported that art therapy has been used to successfully treat members of the military suffering from brain injuries and psychological health problems such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Clinical case studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of art therapy in treating a wide range of issues, including autism, coping with cancer and bone marrow transplants, eating disorders, addictions and mood disorders—to name a few. It has also proven beneficial in helping traumatized kids recover from the effects of sexual abuse, emotional impairment and burn injuries. Furthermore, art therapy is also used to enhance the quality of life for the elderly. To learn more, I encourage you to visit the websites below. And do go out and buy yourself a box of those 64 wonderful crayons! Ah, the memories…

References: The American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org; The American Art Therapy Association, www.arttherapy.org.; The U.S. Department of Defense www.defense.gov, March 2012.

Who Doesn't Want A Happy Holiday?

Maybe the Grinch wants everyone to be miserable at Christmas, but I doubt if most of us would agree.grinch When you reflect on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holidays in general, what comes to mind? Visions of hugs, laughter, and lots of people gathered around the table? Unfortunately, holidays can be devastating for those who are estranged from families, sick, poor, grieving, in the midst of a divorce, or suffering from any number of debilitating problems. For these folks, holidays only increase feelings of despair.

If you or someone you know is suffering, please consider getting professional help today. If you live in Allegheny, Beaver or Butler Counties, there is a Samaritan Counseling office nearby--10 of them, in fact. If you or someone you know in need of counseling resides outside of the Pittsburgh area--or doesn't live in Pennsylvania at all--you can still access a Samaritan Counseling Center anywhere in the United States--and Japan!

http://www.samaritancounseling.net/about-us/the-samaritan-institute.html

Samaritan's counselors are not only licensed and highly credentialed, but they are also genuinely caring people who specialize in many different areas of therapy. Above all, they live their lives according to their faith in God--and respect their clients' spiritual beliefs by integrating faith principles during counseling sessions. Additionally, our therapists will often engage in prayer with a client who is amenable to do so.

Counseling is NOT a quick fix or instant cure. At Samaritan, we often remind people that it took time to get to where they're at, and it will take time to turn things around. What counseling DOES do is foster healing and teach healthy ways to cope and resolve problems. Of course, it can be more complex than that, depending on the nature of a person's issues. In any case, Samaritan welcomes men, women and children from all walks of life dealing with diverse problems and mental health disorders. Furthermore, we connect our clients with the appropriate medical professionals should they require additional care.

Please take care of yourself and your loved ones. Don't be afraid or embarassed to get help. If you're still reluctant, understand that therapy is a process to help you improve your life--to embark on the New Year with a renewed sense of hope and self-determination. It's the smart thing to do.

Ladies, it's really OK to take care of YOU.

At Samaritan Counseling Center, we are currently serving approximately 2,000 men, women and children on an annual basis. Over half of our clients are women. Hmmmm. What does that tell us? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women are 60% more likely to experience an anxiety disorder and 70% more likely to develop depression than men. Reasons cited include: brain chemistry, hormonal changes, domestic abuse, poverty, body image and self-esteem issues. Furthermore, women are more likely than men to take on most--if not all--of the burden of caring for aging parents in addition to working full time, raising children and running a household.

Ladies, if you are suffering in silence due to overwhelming stressors, fatigue and lack of self-care, you owe it to yourself to seek help. I cannot emphasize enough that seeking help is a sign of strength, courage and intelligence--NOT weakness, stupidity or failure!

Think about it. It takes a great deal of strength to juggle a lot of important tasks and responsibilities. But when you run yourself ragged, you are doing yourself and those who depend on you a great disservice. Sometimes we're so close to something, we can't see it. We get accustomed to certain things in our lives and rather than step back and ask ourselves, "Is there a better way to do this? Should I even be doing this?" we just continue on...wearing ourselves out, and growing unhealthy and unhappy.

Taking care means taking care of your WHOLE self--body, mind and spirit. If you exercise, eat right but don't sleep, you won't feel well or function at your fullest potential. If you work hard and achieve in your career, but are filled with fear and anxiety you will not feel rewarded. When something is holding you back from enjoying your life, it makes sense to seek help to turn things around.

Don't wait for a crisis to occur before getting help. You deserve to be happy.

“Getting through Grief"

As we draw closer to Samaritan's fall Bereavement Groups, I am again reminded of the loss of my mother. Knowing that people can grieve in different ways, I have a deeper understanding of my own grieving process.

My mother had been very sick for a very long time. I watched her slip away slowly as each of her bodily systems began shutting down. When she reached what Imy mother and me call "her point of no return," it was still another 18 months or so before she passed. Not being around sickness and death everyday, I was amazed by how long this process took.

She experienced all of the end stage of life symptoms long before her life ended. It was during this extended period I felt myself grieving for her. My mother as I had known her was gone. She still spoke to me, but she seemed like a ghost of herself. I realize that during this time I had been grieving the loss of my "healthy" mother. The one who baked homemade bread and humongous cheescake and spent too much on Christmas presents.

When God finally called her, my grief changed. It became mixed with relief that she was no longer in pain. The part that hurt the most was that I wasn't at her side when it happened.

This is the first time I've written about this experience, and although it brings back sadness and pain, it is also therapeutic for me.

If you have experienced the loss of a love one at least three months ago, consider participating in Samaritan's Bereavement Groups. The fact that they're free of charge is, by far, not the only benefit. Being around others who are grieving helps you feel less alone. Learning about the bereavement process and having the opportunity to share with others helps promote healing. People often form bonds of friendship with others in the group.

Call Samaritan at 412-741-7430 to sign up for our September/October sessions. The group runs six Thursdays beginning September 20th at 7 p.m. and will take place at the Sharon Community Presbyterian Church in Moon Township.