KICK YOUR BLUES TO THE CURB WITH THESE 5 STEPS YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS MATTERS

Winter may be almost over  but these house rules for your mind and body should be all year round. Rules should include routine visits with your physician, consulting with a health advocate, eating right and staying active especially as the season changes. Did you know that between 60% and 90% of people with SAD are women? It’s true. If you are a female between fifteen and fifty five, you are more likely to develop S.A.D.

It’s been noted that during the winter months we all tend to get comfortable, let’s remember that those yummy comfort foods help to add those extra winter pounds.  It also  has been noted that during the winter  higher incidences of S.A.D and depression have been found but before you start self diagnosing   your self let's go over S.A.D 

What is S.A.D – Seasonal Affective Disorder? Many people experience seasonal changes in feelings of well-being and in energy, sleep patterns and eating patterns, to a greater or lesser degree generally called the “Winter Blues”.  But some people experience powerful changes to the degree that it becomes a form of clinical depression, called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D).

It has been cited that about 2% to 6% of Canadians will experience S.A.D. in their lifetime. Another 15% will experience a milder form of S.A.D.

Who is at risk of developing Seasonal Affective Disorder? Women are up to eight times as likely as men to report having S.A.D.

People in northern countries are more likely to experience S.A.D. than those who live closer to the equator because the days get shorter the further north you go.

S.A.D. tends to run in families – most individuals with S.A.D. have at least one close relative with a history of depression.

What are the risk factors/triggers for Seasonal Affective Disorder? A variety of psychological, social and biological factors may contribute to S.A.D. Some known factors are:

• Inherent vulnerability
• Light deprivation
• Stress
• Biological factors unique to the individual, as well as hormonal changes due to physical conditions
• Early childhood trauma

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

• Oversleeping – sometimes an increase of two to four or more hours per day
• Lethargy (low energy)
• Intense craving for carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Withdrawal from social contacts
• Depressed mood occurring over at least two consecutive winters, alternating with non-depressed periods in the spring and summer

What do I need to tell my doctor?

• Write down any symptoms you’ve had
• Write down key personal information
• Make a list of all medications you are taking
• Write down questions to ask your doctor
• Take a family member or friend along

Discuss all of your symptoms with your doctor and describe how they are affecting your life (e.g. sleeping several extra hours per day and missing work/school/appointments). Your doctor can suggest or provide appropriate therapy. Make sure to discuss all of the available treatments and medications and their benefits and side effects before making any decisions.

 Other treatment options such as massage therapy, music therapy, meditation, shiatsu, therapeutic touch, aromatherapy or tai chi, Pilates and yoga can also help to improve wellness.

Your Mental Wellness Check list for kicking the Winter blues 

• Stick to your treatment plan. Don’t skip psychotherapy sessions. Even if you’re
• feeling well, continue to take medication as prescribed.
• Learn about S.A.D. Empower yourself by learning about your condition.
• Pay attention to the warning signs. Find out what triggers your S.A.D. Make a plan so that you know what to do if your symptoms get worse. Contact your doctor, therapist or health advocate if you notice any changes. Ask friends or family to watch out for warning signs.
• Get exercise. Physical activity may help reduce the symptoms of S.A.D. Consider walking, jogging, swimming, gardening, or any other physical activity.
• Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. It may seem like they lessen your problems, but in the long run, they generally worsen symptoms and make S.A.D. harder to treat.
• Get adequate sleep. This is especially important. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about what you can do.

Maintain an adequate diet. The Canada Food Guide is a useful reference in helping you choose to eat well. Choose more protein and Omega 3. Eat fewer simple carbohydrates, substituting more complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains.

Remember you are the most important part of your health care team. For more information and Support Michelle Smith your Health care advocate is available for your next health care check

 Find me on twitter https://twitter.com/JaNursing Lets create awareness together




Thanks for sharing




























Resources









http://psychcentral.com/lib/10-things-you-dont-know-about-seasonal-affective-disorder/2/






https://www.mooddisorders.ca/faq/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad





Mayo Clinic, "Seasonal Affective Disorder," www.mayoclinic.com, accessed on July 15, 2013.








http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/definition/con-20021047










http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/newsroom/news_releases_media_advisories_and_backgrounders/current_year/Pages/Seasonal-depression,-winter-blues-and-seasonal-affective-disorder--CAMH-expert-available-for-interview-.aspx

TODAY IS BELL LETS TALK JANUARY 25 2017 GET INFORMED

#BellLetsTalk

 Before  I start this blog I would like  to dedicate this Blog  to the family of 

Taneesha Brown  you are sadly missed.

My deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to her family at this time. Her brother told CBC News that Brown had been taking medication for bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, but had recently gone off her medication because she believed she could heal herself through faith. My prayers for your family and all families learning to find ways to cope with Mental Illness. Just as with physical health, no one goes through life without some mental wellness challenges. This is just  as true in childhood as it is in adulthood. Many challenges  are a normal part of life. For the most part, we learn and grow from them.

The message to end the STIGMA has started and we can all

join the conversation.this year, for every text message sent, wireless call and long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers, and every time someone joined our campaign on Facebook or Twitter, Bell contributed 5¢ more to programs dedicated to mental health.

Dr. Heather Stuart, the first Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen's University, offers these 5 simple ways to communicate about mental illness without fear or stigma:  Language matters: pay attention to the words you use about mental illness  Educate yourself: learn, know and talk more, understand the signs  Be kind: small acts of kindness speak a lot  Listen and ask: sometimes it's best to just listen  Talk about it: start a dialogue, break the silence

How will This Work? 

JOIN Us ON  #JANUARY 25 2017 on twitter 

USE the HASHTAG #BellLetsTalk  follow whats trending and RT  

Follow https://twitter.com/JaNursing

FOLLOW https://twitter.com/Bell_LetsTalk

For people experiencing a mental illness, a good work/life balance is critical. The relationship between stress and mental illness has supporting factors, but certainly stress can increase  mental illness for some people.
In fact, according to Statistics Canada, employees who considered most of their days to be quite a bit or extremely stressful were over 3 times more likely to suffer a major depressive episode, compared with those who reported low levels of general stress.

Some people worry about asking for help because there can be stigma around mental health problems. They may believe that asking for help means admitting that something is wrong. Some people worry about how others might see them. Asking for help means that you want to make changes or take steps towards your new health goals. We should celebrate the courage it takes to speak up and make changes. Getting help is part of recovery.



lets Talk  Anger for a Moment

Anger is an emotion that tells us when something may be wrong. For example, we may feel angry when something is beyond our control or feels unfair, when we can’t reach a goal, or when someone is hurt or threatened. We can also feel angry when we are under too much stress. Anger can involve a wide range of feelings. We may be a little annoyed over a minor incident, like being stuck in traffic or missing our bus. More serious problems, like getting hurt or seeing someone else get hurt, may cause strong feelings like rage. Sometimes, we just feel angry for no reason.

Anger may be a problem for you when it’s:

• Much stronger than you’d expect based on the situation
• Very frequent, to the point that you can’t enjoy things anymore
• Caused by something that happened a long time ago
•  Making you act violently towards yourself, someone else, or someone’s property
• Interfering with your ability to do your job
• Hurting your relationships with loved ones
• Affecting your physical health

What can You Do
Remember Anger is a normal reaction to some situations. Anger can also be helpful when it matches the situation and motivates people to take action or work towards a goal. However, anger that’s dealt with in unhealthy ways can create problems and affect your well-being. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to deal with your anger.

Here Are Some Immediate Strategies
Strategies are not problem solvers, but they can help you steer your focus into handling the issue in a more Productive way. I'm generally not the greatest in handling Anger...... SURPRISE... SURPRISE. I'm always transitioning into a state of acceptance, and truly striving to find Coping mechanisms... Me Time is one of my most favorite activities. Its a great starting point if you find yourself saying or doing things in anger that you often regret later.


 Here Are More Tips 

• Leave the situation that’s making you angry, if possible.
• Count to 10.
• Repeat calming phrases such as, “Take it easy” or, “Will this matter in six months?”
• Breathe deeply. Many people, especially adults, breathe from their chest, which doesn’t give the benefits of a deep breath. Try to breathe deep into your stomach. You’re on the right track if your stomach goes out first. It may seem simple, but taking deep breaths can help calm your mind, slow your heart, and even lower blood pressure.
• Try to shift your attention to something more pleasant or relaxing. This can be very helpful for minor annoyances that you can’t control. #METIME

This has been watching out for your Health with Michelle Smith  

The voice Of the Community Your Health and Social Advocate

Contact us at janursingservices@gmail.com  We are  strong advocates for using a  culturally diverse  approach to managing Your Health. We believe that all organizations should invest in their employees Through our Corporate Wellness Programs

http://www.janursingservices.com/community-division.html

http://janursing.blogspot.ca/2016/01/say-goodbye-to-stress-by-finding-me.html

http://janursing.blogspot.ca/2015/10/kick-fall-blues-find-out-more-about.html

http://www.cmha.ca

http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/end-the-stigma/facts/


Past pictures

People with depression are "crazy." The Myth

 

Hello all  It’s your girl JA Nursing here,  “Man flies plane into the Alps”. Let’s go over this story…

People with depression are “crazy”… fact vs. fiction

It all starts with the tragic tale of Andreas Lubitz – a 28-year-old pilot from the German town of Montabaur. It turns out that he had been diagnosed with depression, but  hid  his illness from his employer and colleagues. 

Lubitz certainly did suffer from a severe psychosomatic illness known as “severe subjective burnout syndrome” and severe depression, a source told the German newspaper, Die Welt. However, he had kept this information from his employer. German police had seized prescription drugs that he used to treat his condition while searching his apartment, and The New York Times also reported that.
 Investigators said they found a torn-up sick note for the day of the crash in the home of the German wings pilot who’s believed to have intentionally crashed a plane into the French alps.

CNN Reports: Antidepressants found at home of Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz

Authorities are trying to determine whether Lubitz’s relationship difficulties with his girlfriend played a role in his apparent decision to initiate the descent into the mountainside, taking 149 passengers and crew to their deaths on Germanwings Flight 9525, the newspaper reported.

 Pilots who work for Lufthansa, Germanwings’ parent company, are required to have medical checkups once a year, and according to his  records, his was not done since July 2014.  Annual checkups do not include mandatory psychological testing.  

More than 350 million people suffer from depression.

 Anxiety disorders often occur together with other medical conditions, such as depression, eating disorders, or substance use problems.

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental disorders. About 1 out of every 4 adults has an anxiety disorder sometime in their life and about 1 out of every 10 people currently has an anxiety disorder. They are more common in women and can affect children and adults.
Many people misunderstand these disorders and think they can get over them on their own (i.e., without treatment). This is usually not the case. Fortunately, there are many treatments available today to help.

But when anxiety becomes persistent and interferes with the ability to cope and disrupts daily life, the person may have an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders. They include:

• panic attack or panic disorder (sudden anxiety that occurs without warning) with or without agoraphobia (avoiding specific situations, such as public places or places where crowds gather, from which they can't easily escape)
• specific phobias (many types of intense fear reactions of specific objects or situations, such as fear of spiders, flying, or heights)
• social anxiety or social phobia (fear of being embarrassed in social situations)
• generalized anxiety disorder (general feeling of anxiety most of the time)

Everyone feels sad or down at times, especially after experiencing a disappointment such as not getting the job you interviewed for. However, these feelings of sadness are usually short-lived.
Depression, on the other hand, is a medical condition characterized by long-lasting feelings of intense sadness and hopelessness associated with additional mental and physical changes. Depression can affect someone's personal, social, and professional life.
About 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will suffer from depression at some point in  their life.  Almost 1.5 million Canadians have serious depression at any given time, but less than one-third of these people seek medical help.

 The truth is that most people who are treated manage even serious mental illnesses remarkably well.

 RECAP..........

Depression symptoms 

• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or excessive guilt
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Social isolation, meaning the sufferer avoids interactions with family or friends
• Insomnia, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Decreased appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and/or weight gain
• Fatigue, decreased energy, being "slowed down"
• Crying spells
• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide
• Persistently sad, anxious, angry, irritable, or "empty" mood
• attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and/or chronic pain

  

Which jobs do you think should have mandatory psychological testing yearly?

 Leave a comment below...............................

If you think that someone you know is suffering from mental illness, never be afraid to start the conversation that may change their lives for the better! There is help out there – contact me if you have any questions about accessing help.

This has been watching out for your health with Michelle Smith  your Health and Social Advocate

Don't forget to share  

SNAPD  BraMPTON   Beamax Youth Foundation was proud to present #Notashamed: Mental Health Awareness: Breaking Through The Stigma With Facts, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (Peel) on February 23rd.  READ ARTICLE
https://brampton.snapd.com/event/806306#/

 RESOURCES.........

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/26/germanwings-flight-9525-co-pilot-appeared-to-want-to-destroy-the-plane-prosecutor-says/


 http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/29/europe/france-germanwings-plane-crash-main/


http://www.medicinenet.com/depression/page4.htm


 http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/types-of-depression

IS SUICIDE PREVENTABLE? LEARN MORE TODAY

updated July 27 2015 Rip Bobbi Kristina  Read all the News Headlines  today  Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of late singer Whitney Houston, has died aged 22. 

 Up date Mental Health Week is coming...  Hey its  your Girl JA Nursing here, Yesterday I heard in the news about Bobbi Kristina Brown's  family still having hope for her recovery.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, the 22-year-old daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston, remains in a coma after 10 weeks. Though the family refuses to give up hope, they can’t help but wonder what her life will be like if and when she wakes up.
The Brown and Houston family is praying for a miracle, and they are grateful to all the fans who have been praying for Bobbi Kristina. Bobby Brown has finally spoken about Bobbi Kristina in person, while at the Soul Food Festival in Los Angeles over the weekend.

 Mental Health week is May 5-11, 2014. CMHA’s Mental Health Week is an annual national event that takes place during the first week in May to encourage people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health. I want to continue to extend the awareness of Mental Health. As A  Nurse and Mental health Nurse I know that this cause is one worth continuing the conversation about.

For many families seeing someone they love on a Form 1 Or Form 3 can be a difficult time.  This  means that someone  you love is  going through an Acute Mental Health Phase.

 This blog is dedicated  to  increase awareness. My prayers go out to all  families affected by suicide and Mental Health issues

Lets take a small look at the story   Bobbi Kristenia or Whitney Houston  looking Back on the news I was shocked to hear of the news about Bobbi Kristina.........

Well was I shocked no I wasn't the facts of the matter is that lets us remember back in 2012 of February 11  which is less then 2 weeks away,

Just days after her last appearance at a pre-Grammy Awards party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Houston would be discovered submerged in the bathtub of her suite at the hotel.

 Now 2015  as we are fastly approaching The The 57th Annual Grammy Awards  that will be held on February 8, 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

  
 So What is the Crisis?
It  is a well known fact that situations can bring about acts of suicide and depression.. Should we have expected this well the answer is YES..... INTERVENTION Should be at the forefront when the likelihood of a traumatic situation is about to repeat its self. During the next few weeks it would have been important for friends and family to realize that this time may not be easy for the only child of Whitney Houston to cope... Lets not throw shade but continue to realize that not only celebrities go through crisis but so does everybody. Awareness is the Key Break the  silence and take your role in someones life as a potential Life saver.

Do you think Suicide is preventable? Many factors and circumstances can contribute to someone’s decision to end his or her life. Find out how to recognize the warning signs and learn the importance of talking about suicide.


Approximately 11 people will end their lives by suicide today in Canada. Awareness is essential to changing this behaviour. Understand why people consider suicide and attempt to take their own lives

The Facts About Suicide

Suicide is preventable. Most people who attempt suicide want to live, however, but are overcome with emotional pain and cannot see any other way to handle a situation that may seem overwhelming and impossible to bear. Most people who die by suicide give definite warning signs of experiencing thoughts of suicide. This is one reason learning to recognize these signs and how to respond to them is so important. Talking about suicide does not cause someone to experience thoughts of suicide or increase the risk. Showing genuine concern by asking about suicide directly can be part of an immediate intervention.
Four out of five people who die by suicide have made at least one previous attempt. Suicide occurs across all age, economic, social and ethnic boundaries. Males die by suicide more than three times as often as females.  Three times more women than men attempt suicide.

 Suicidal crises are almost always temporary.
Although it might seem as if your unhappiness will never end, it is important to realize that crises are usually time-limited. Solutions are found, feelings change, unexpected positive events occur. Suicide is sometimes referred to as “a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” Don’t let suicide rob you of better times that will come your way when you allow more time to pass.

 What am I thinking right now  well its heart felt I've lost people to suicide and in your mind you wonder what could have been done? 

If you are  a Parent take time out to understand the overall picture of your child, I know that as a Mother, I myself am guilty of yelling and screaming  forgetting that I too was once a child or youth.

  As a matter of fact the facts are at times I still have to figure out ways to cope and manage situations that arise.  The challenge will always remain the same, COPING and finding Ways to COPE. This too is the same obstacle that children, youths and actually all human beings face.

So if you know someone who may be in crisis  open your eyes end the stigma and start the conversation
with asking HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW?

 Self-esteem is more than just seeing your good qualities. It is being able to see all your abilities and weaknesses together, accepting them, and doing your best with what you have.

At the start of the year I thought of #METIME  which for me its like ta Mental Vacation.

Each day, set aside five minutes for a mental health break. Close your office door or go into another room, and day-dream about a place, person or idea, or think about nothing at all! You will feel like you have been on a mini-vacation.


Consider these key characteristics when assessing your own mental health:

• Ability to enjoy life – Can you live in the moment and appreciate the “now”? Are you able to learn from the past and plan for the future without dwelling on things you can’t change or predict?
• Resilience – Are you able to bounce back from hard times? Can you manage the stress of a serious life event without losing your optimism and a sense of perspective?
• Balance – Are you able to juggle the many aspects of your life? Can you recognize when you might be devoting too much time to one aspect, at the expense of others? Are you able to make changes to restore balance when necessary?
• Self-actualization – Do you recognize and develop your strengths so that you can reach your full potential?
• Flexibility – Do you feel, and express, a range of emotions? When problems arise, can you change your expectations – of life, others, yourself – to solve the problem and feel better?

This has been been watching out for your Health with Michelle Smith your Health and Social Advocate.  lets continue the  conversation contact for group workshop suitable for any age because  WE CARE

 

 

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Include the PPAO on your web page: www.ppao.gov.on.ca

http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mohltc/ppao/en/default.aspx

www.mentalhealthweek.ca for more information.

 http://suicideprevention.ca/

 https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/bobbi-kristina-brown-stable-says-family-friend-180724962.html