Tag: mental Illness awareness

Posted in Uncategorized

4 Things the Mental Health World is Lacking.

Posted on by Rose
  1. Acceptance (Stigma still prevails)
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We listen and we don’t judge……

Despite progress and many efforts their is still a major hinderance of people simply seeking out help for their mental well being. Weather cultural pressure or pride many still may feel that admitting something may be off mentally or emotionally will bring judgement and ridicule.

2. Larger Workforce

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Their is a major gap in the amount of available mental health professionals to the masses. In my state of California data shows that the average 11-12 psychiatrist per 100,000 people. There is also low numbers for therapist and clinicians.

3. Funding

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Just recently their have been major cuts in the Federal budget to the Department of Health and Human services. This has greatly impacted the amount of funds available for programs, treatment and services.

4. Insurance Coverage.

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Though it would seems odd there ones own personal insurance can also not provide adequate coverage for patients to receive proper or all the treatment they need at an affordable price.

    Click to access Agenda-Item-9-HCAI-HWET-Council-07-12-2022_Final-ADA-Accessible.pdf

    Click to access HealthCareWorkforceAlmanac2021MentalHealthQRG.pdf

    Posted in Mental health, recovery, Uncategorized

    A Fair Trade

    Posted on by Rose

    World Fair Trade Day is on the second Saturday of May and its purpose is to celebrate the contributions to the fight against poverty, exploitation, and climate change.

    With the passing of World and National Fair Trade Day. I was reminded of the popular song by Drake and Travis Scott Fair Trade. Now the song and the holiday have nothing in common besides a name, I can attest that at times day to day living with a mental health disorder can become labor intensive.

    [Chorus: Drake]

    I’m outside, twenty-nine, G5, seaside

    I’ve been losin’ friends and findin’ peace

    But honestly that sound like a fair trade to me

    If I ever hurt one and I’m still here

    Outside, frontline, Southside

    I’ve been losin’ friends and findin’ peace

    Honestly that sound like a fair trade to me

    “Peace of mind ” A much sought after commodity and in many cases It doesn’t come easy. What action must be taken to obtain peace of mind. medication, lifestyle changes , family, friends. The last can be the hardest who can get better without a support system. Sometime people can be the very thing delaying your journey and in some cases cutting people out of your life no matter how much you care for them. Sometimes this happens intentionally sometimes not. There is potential for fallout for decisions like this, but never feel bad about doing whats best for you for your own health. Just remember putting ones self first for peace and happiness is the better trade off.

    -you cant get better in the same place that made you sick. –

    https://wfto.com/

    https://genius.com/25208826/Drake-fair-trade/Said-he-put-some-money-on-my-head-i-guess-we-gon-see-i-wont-put-no-money-on-his-head-my-niggas-owe-me

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    Posted in Mental health

    3 Types of Mental Health Signs You Probably Noticed.

    Posted on by Rose

    Anyone who has suffered from a mental health issue is aware that its a major challenge. Not only that, catching the signs and symptoms can lead you to a different diagnosis. Now I have notice some patterns which I have now been able to follow a sequence of events to the discovery of deeper issues. 

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    1. The emotional signs 
      1. Feelings of 
      2. sadness 
      3. melancholy 
      4. fear

    We  all get those times where we feel sad or hopeless. Sometimes it can be feeling sad over the smallest things. You may be a little more nervous or anxious and easily startled. 

    1. The Physical Signs “ 
      1. Body aches 
      2. Head aaches 
      3. Stomach pain 
      4. Dizziness
      5. Tiredness 

    These can be harder to pick up as it can be many things. Random muscle aches, muscle tightness, or headaches.

    1.  The environmental or societal issue
    1. Decrease work productivity 
    2. Uninterested in favorite activities or hobbies. 
    3. Changes in mood

    What signs have you notice with yourself or others ? Do we repeat the same sequence of emotions when having a depressive episode. OR maybe you only experience one type.

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    Posted in medication, Mental health, recovery, Uncategorized

    By a Different Name. “A Medication cheat sheet for Generic and Brand Medications”

    Posted on by Rose

    Wanted to pass this information along we often hear these different names tossed around and may not realize which medication it is.

    Sertraline- Zoloft

    Venlafaxine- Effector

    Citalopram- Celexa

    Mirtzapine- Remeron

    Fluoxetine -Prozac

    Duloxetine- Cymbalta

    Seroquel- Quetiapine

    Lamictal- Lamotrigine

    Lexapro- Escritolopram

    Wellbutrin- Ativan

    Klonopin- Clonazepam

    Posted in Mental health, Uncategorized

    Friends Like Mine: Mr. Wonderful

    Posted on by Rose

    A friend is what the heart needs all the time. – Henry Van Dyke

    Now that you have been formally introduced to Zac it is fitting to get a bit of his origin story.

    During the late 1960’s doctors were working on different treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). One particularly thing that continued to come up was a decrease of  Serotonin levels in patients. 

    Serotonin has many functions and jobs, one being a neurotransmitter (messenger). As we all know messengers in many cases are very important, (please refrain from shooting), Serotonin is that messenger which communicates anything from, mood, eating, sleeping and digestion. Which sounds like a lot of opportunity for things to go left. 

    Imagine your body and nerves like the pony express. There are various riders at a particular checkpoint to get messages to its final destination, i.e a message to the brain to put you in a good mood. Well what happens if one of your riders or many riders gets lost or stuck ? Your brain won’t be getting the message bye bye good mood.

    In the case of patients having a down mood as well as low levels of serotonin what could happen if that level was increased? 

    This is where Zac comes in. The extra force needed to unblock the dammed river. or be the increase of needed riders to deliver to deliver happy messages to the brain. On the flip side unblocking a dam can cause a major increase of messengers/serotonin flowing in and that has its own set of  problems.  

    “Dam Destroyer”
    By 1987 a concentrated form of Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI ) [1] would be approved by the USFDA.

    Zac hit the market and was quickly seen as a “wonder drug”

    Zac was introduced at a time where the pharmaceutical industry was shifting how they market their products. Previously pharmaceuticals usually went to doctors and health providers to market their products in hope of getting more doctors to use their products for prescription and treatment. The 1980s saw a change to Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising. Now potential patients were seeing what products could be made available to them instead of solely relying on their doctor for treatment options. 🚩

    The introduction of Prozac into the mass market also opened up opportunity for people to speak publicly  on mental illness especially in regards to depression or anxiety. In some respects Zac became “trendy” (he had a book and movie deal talk about a Hollywood star.”) Because Prozac was believed to work so well patients as well as the public put a lot of faith into the drug to easily cure these issues. With such rave reviews pretty hard to imagine any downsides to something so wonderful.


    Esherick, Joan. (2007). Prozac: North American Culture and the Wonder Drug. Mason Crest Publishers Inc

    Posted in coping skills

    Coping Skills and the Pandemic (part 2)

    Posted on by Rose

    Coping Skills 

    “that was the new magic word” to focus on. 

    cope: “to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties often to maintain a contest or combat usually on even terms or with success.”

    skill: “is the ability to use one’s knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance” 

    Hopefully during the month of January you were able to try some of the coping skills challenges. And pick up a few things to try as we all learn to manage our battle with mental illness. 

    And not only that I wonder how most of the world has been managing to cope with the current state of things. 

    The current pandemic that has plagued us has definitely affected everyone in some shape or form. In dealing with the pandemic it is obvious that people have had to find or create new ways to cope with the added stress. Even for those who don’t struggle with a mental illness, there is no denying the amount of stress and struggle that COVID has brought  to the surface. For many individuals going out or being with family and friends would be an essential part of those coping mechanisms but, with ongoing stay at home orders, quarantine and slow re-openings finding ways to cope as well as interact with others has been difficult. 

    Those who do suffer from a mental illness or disorder the pandemic has brought on even more added challenges. Any mentally stable person could definitely say that this past year has pushed us all to our limits whether physically, mentally ,or emotionally. This also brings the question on how to deal with the constant challenges, stress and emotional rollercoasters. How can one even begin to deal with what life already throws at us on top of the type of whirlwind the past year has been.

    Bringing us back to the words we learned earlier Coping Skills. Of course we all know that life will never be short of challenges but trying to form ways to cope and “deal with difficulties” can be a struggle in itself. You’re trying to form a plan and hopefully it’s a positive one to overcome whatever is standing in your way, because there are definitely negative ways to deal with one’s problems.  Developing positive coping skills also takes time and discipline. But if we are able to figure out ways to deal in positive ways to deal with what life throws at us it’s the difference between rising up and breaking down. 

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    Posted in Mental health

    The More I know -Types of Depression :”The Eight Armed Monster!”

    Posted on by Rose

    As I learn more and more about myself and how I deal with my little green accessory. I learn a little more on what this little disease it. I have discovered that there are several types to the depression problem.

     

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    Seasonal effective disorder (SAD)

    Usually affects people in winter months, due to less sunlight and colder weather.

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    Postpartum Depression

    Mostly associated with recent mothers or pregnant women.

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    Major or Clinical Depression

    Most common, usually persistent for several months. Characterized by low moods and change of behavior.

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    Manic Depression

    • Affects those with bipolar disorder.
    • Causes mood swings 
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    Psychotic Depression

    • Associated with those who suffer from schizophrenia
    • Symptoms of anti-psychotic medication 
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    Premenstrual Depression (PMDD)

    • May affect women during menstruation
    • Hormones are hyperactive during menstruation cycles
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    Situational Depression

    Sadness or negative feeling due to traumatic event or difficult situation

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    Persistent Depression

    A for of major depression usually lasting longer than 2 years and continuous

    Posted in Uncategorized

    Congratulations, Lucky Grand Prize Winner

    Posted on by Rose

    It’s that time of year again, and my deepest apologies for being terribly late, (just call me the white rabbit, as I anxiously rush down my dark hole to unguided misadventures, but more on that later. ) I would just like to start by congratulating you on our success for making it another year. I know it was hard and painful, there were days were you may have felt hopeless, did not even wish to get out of your bed, and even may have questioned on a daily basis “what am I doing and what’s the point.” But despite all of that your here and so am I and that’s something to be proud of. So here’s to you.

    yeah printed white board
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    Posted in Uncategorized

    Yes it hurt’s ,but it’s ok

    Posted on by Rose

    I have depression. Yes I can see that is a pretty abrasive opening, especially for my first ever blog post, my apologies. Hello there, and nice to meet you, some people, not most call me Rose, and meeting me you most likely wouldn’t be able to tell that I suffer from such a …….,how do I say, damaging, rollercoasting, tornado of an illness.

    I will say I manage it day by day with some days feeling like I have a pretty tight lid on it  and at other moments it overwhelming. Despite the lows, the meds, and treacherous thoughts I am still here. It is very scary sometimes falling into those dark places ,not knowing how long or if I  will be able to crawl my self out, but somehow everyday I manage too and you know what…….

    so can you. As unbelievable that may sound I want and need you to know its true.

    Now you probably already have noticed that this site is named for the green ribbon. You may or may not know that it is the chosen ribbon color to represent mental Illness. Now those two words MENTAL ILLNESS!! OMG!!STFD!!, and any other emoji you come up with is saddled with a very large stigma of being labeled as hmmmm…….

    crazy…………………….20161111_154324-2 Yes, very frightening stuff, but it doesn’t have to be. The human brain is a very complex organ and takes a bit of time and patience to fully understand. It seems kind of impossible to not have some road bumps along the way. And that just what it is, a bump, a small infraction in our life long journey. And weather you suffer or know someone who suffers from such an illness, I ask that you walk side by side with them in this journey of life as they battle this illness. And if you got a minute to spare I say drop in to walk with me too. I look forward to it.

    Sometimes we are not always able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but when you travel through that dark place with others it is not so lonely.