 I am almost done with #shawleveryday2019 and I want to remind you that I am doing a fundraiser for Independence Center, which is a fantastic community-based rehabilitation program for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses in the St. Louis area, built on the Clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation. I am only 1/3 of the way to my goal and all the funds go directly to them.
0 Comments
 Today is #WorldBipolarDay so I would like to share with you a post from my husband Brian. He has bipolar disorder type 2 and this is his experience in his own words.
"I know I post a lot of long ranty posts that I'm sure a lot of you skip over and that's fine. But this is very personal and it would mean a lot to me if you took a few minutes to read it. Around 5 and a half years ago I told Melissa I wasn't feeling well and she should take someone else to the Blues game that we had tickets for. What was really happening was I was deeply depressed and suicidal. I had a plan, I had the means, and I was revising my goodbyes when Patrik Berglund scored early in overtime, ended the game, and Melissa came home. If that game had gone to a shootout I would be dead, I have no doubts about that. After a stint in a psych ward I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and have been in treatment ever since. It's still something I struggle with everyday, some days more successfully than others. I'm not looking for sympathy or for anyone to talk about how strong I am or anything like that. I want to show that people you know are affected by mental illness but are still people just like you. Most of you have heard me talk about the damage stigma can do. It's important to understand how worrying about how people will react can keep people from getting help and how damaging it is. It's not theoretical for me. I put off getting help for a long time because of what I thought it meant about me and because I was worried about how people would react. It nearly killed me. It's still hard to talk about, I have largely kept this to myself up to this point. That being said it's important to talk about mental health and #EndTheStigma. Millions of people have a mental illness. It doesn't make us broken, it doesn't make us dangerous, it doesn't make us "crazy" and needing to be treated with kid gloves so we don't freak out. It makes us people with an illness, just like someone with lupus or diabetes or MS. Nothing more. Everyone's journey is their own and I would never presume that I could tell anyone what to do. But if anyone is ever suffering and needs to talk to someone who has been there and will listen without judgement, or ask a question, or just vent, I'm never more than a call or text away. No one has to carry those burdens alone and everyone is worthy of love and care." #shawleveryday2019 #baskervilleshawl Buy this shawl Details about this shawl Baskerville shawl pattern  Today I want to give a shoutout to artist Shawn Coss. As part of a monthly challenge called Inktober, he illustrated a series of mental illnesses, resulting in #inktoberillness. His dark style definitely captures the often intense feelings of mental illness.  In Japan and around the world, an extreme form of social withdrawal called hikikomori is becoming a mainstream problem. Hikikomori is defined as people who have not left their homes or interacted with others for at least 6 months. It affects both men and women and typically people ages 15 to 30, although there is growing concern that hikikomori continues to affect people as they get older.
Causes for hikikomori aren't known exactly, but it is related to various cultural and social pressures such as academic success and knowing what you want to do as an adult. There is suggestion that Japan, as an advanced industrialized society, fails to provide adequate transition from adolescence to adulthood. As a result, the inability to cope with the intimidating social expectations and increased feelings of worthlessness or shame can cause people to isolate themselves from society. Treatment for hikikomori is difficult, because mental health stigma is strong in Japan. There are programs such as Rental Sister, where volunteers talk with the hikikomori and encourage them to venture outside. One case study used a strength-based approach to find the person's strengths and apply them to real-life situations to build up positive thinking and self-image. Since it can be hard to treat hikikomori after it has set in, prevention techniques are crucial.
Additional resources
#shawleveryday2019 #knitangleshawl Details about this shawl Knitangle shawl pattern  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder than can occur in both children and adults and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD struggle with working memory, flexible thinking, managing emotions, self-regulation, and organization and planning. ADHD is not a lack of willpower to pay attention, the brain itself has a hard time shifting focus from one thing to another.
Scientists are not sure what causes ADHD, but it is not related to consuming too much sugar, watching too much TV, or poor parenting. Risk factors include genetics, exposure to environmental toxins either during pregnancy or at a young age, the mother smoking during pregnancy, and low birth weight. ADHD is also related to functional impairments in the brain associated with dopamine and nor-epinephrine. Treatment for ADHD typically starts with behavioral therapy. Stimulants such as amphetamines are often used, but require careful monitoring. The use of stimulants is controversial due to the risk of abuse, but untreated ADHD also has a risk of substance abuse disorders and conduct disorders. Successful treatment will stop the disorder from negatively impacting relationships and performance throughout life. Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #fademeseymour Buy this cowl Details about this cowl Fade Me, Seymour cowl pattern  When suicide makes the news either due to a celebrity death or the death of another public figure, it's important to use appropriate language when talking about it. The easiest thing you can do is to use the phrase "died by suicide" instead of "committed suicide." It's also critical to include resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-8255) so that people who may be experiencing a similar situation can get help.
There is a ton of great information at http://reportingonsuicide.org #shawleveryday2019 #calmcowl Buy this cowl Details about this cowl Calm Cowl pattern  Many people experience both mental illness and addiction. People with a mental health condition are twice as likely to suffer from a substance use disorder, and people who abuse alcohol or other drugs are more likely to to have a co-occurring mental illness. The two conditions are definitely linked, but one does not necessarily cause the other.
It's important to remember that addiction is not a personal weakness. It is a complex, chronic condition caused by a variety of genetic, environmental, psychological and social factors, and it is rooted in changes in the brain that affect judgment, decision making, and self-control. When a person consumes a substance such as alcohol or other drugs, their brain produces large amounts of dopamine, which triggers the brain’s reward system. After repeated drug use, the brain is unable to produce normal amounts of dopamine on its own. This lack of dopamine means that the person may struggle with having positive feelings unless they are are under the influence of the substance. These brain changes also help explain why some people are able to control their substance use, but some cannot. People who have co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder should be treated for both at the same time in order to have the greatest chance of success. If a person is treated for one condition, but not the other, it can be hard to achieve the desired results for either one. Both mental illness and addiction are things that will require persistent treatment and it can be really hard, but recovery is possible. Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #captivatingcapelette Buy this shawl Details about this shawl Captivating Capelette pattern  Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in your community. It gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
There are several classes open for both adults and youth in the St. Louis area. Anyone can take this training, and it's highly recommended for people such as police officers, human resource directors, teachers, and friends and family members of someone who has experienced a mental health issue. During the course, you get the opportunity to role play through various scenarios, such as helping someone having a panic attack, so that you will be prepared to take action if the situation arises. In general, the 5 step action plan for mental health first aid is:
Taking a class is free, supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention of Eastern Missouri, and could potentially help save someone's life. #shawleveryday2019 #moonlightsonatashawl Details about this shawl Moonlight Sonata shawl pattern  Today I want to dispel a few myths about mental illness.
Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable. Fact: People with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Only about 3-5% of violent acts in the US are attributed to people with mental illness. In fact, people with mental illness are 10 times more likely to be the victim of a violent act than anyone else. Myth: Bad parenting/personal weakness/character flaws causes mental illness.. Fact: No one factor can cause mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are complicated conditions that arise from a combination of genetics, biology, environment, and life experiences. Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak. Myth: People are “faking it” or doing it for attention. Fact: No one would choose to have a mental illness, just like they wouldn't choose to have a physical illness. It can sometimes be hard to explain to others what it's like to have a mental illness, but that doesn't make it any less real or distressing. Myth: Taking medication for your mental health issues will change your personality. Fact: Medications for mental health are designed to help you peel back the negative concerns and get you back to your regular personality and who you really are. Myth: Mental illness is the same for everyone. Fact: Everyone experiences the world differently and the same goes for mental illness. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms and not everyone will need the same treatment. #shawleveryday2019 #authenticityshawl Buy this shawl Details about this shawl Authenticity shawl pattern  People in the LGBT+ community are 3 times more likely to experience a mental health condition than straight people. Even more seriously, LGBT+ youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide and self harm.
LGBT+ people are at an increased risk for psychological distress due to keeping their sexual orientation or identity a secret. There is still a lot of stigma related to being seen as "different" and it can cause people not to open up about their struggles. Mental health professionals may also bias their care (intentionally or unintentionally) against people in the LGBT+ community. Simply being an ally to an LGBT+ person can be a huge help. Knowing that they have a support system and people who will listen to them with empathy can help reduce mental heath concerns. Creating connections and nurturing a positive environment will help LGBT+ people feel safe and able to reach out when they need help. Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #cabledbandanacowl Buy this cowl Cabled Bandana Cowl pattern |
RSS Feed