At a recent conference I learned about WRAP, the
Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
A WRAP can help a person navigate the process of recovery, stay
healthy, deal with challenging times and reach individual goals.
Components include a Key Concepts of Recovery section, a
Wellness Toolbox, a Daily Maintenance Plan, Triggers, Warning
Signs and Crisis Planning sections. It's a sensible, voluntary
avenue that all people may use for healthy self-care, and worth
taking a careful look.
Mental health professionals who work in an acute
care hospital setting rarely get to interact with consumers who
are well and functioning. But I had the opportunity this past
April to organize several NAMI presentations at Northwest
Community Hospital's Mental Health Network.
I invited several consumers who are trained to present "In Our
Own Voice" and several family members to speak about their
experiences. What strong performances!! These people spoke to
approximately 130 staff throughout our two-day educational lab.
I applaud their strength to stand up in the front of a room of
providers who may have been part of their treatment in the past.
The staff learned from first hand knowledge what it means to
have a mental illness and what recovery looks like. Important
feedback was offered by family members, which helped staff
understand the impact of loving someone with a mental illness
has on him/her.
"Our Stressful Lives"...these
words on the cover of Roosevelt Review, my quarterly alumni
magazine, caught my attention.
Three surveys last year by the American Psychological
Association revealed that 81% of Americans say they lose sleep
worrying about money and employment, topping health problems,
family responsibilities, interpersonal relationships, and
personal safety. The consequences of such stress can include
health issues as well as unhappiness, anger, anxiety, and
depression.
This month I'll outline findings from the article listing facets
of workplace stress and crucial coping mechanisms we all can
try.
Read Carol's Corner for May
Relaxation, in most people’s minds, is a
passive process: you think of a pleasurable place, focus on
your breathing, or meditate. It is possible, however, to
take action to control tension. A very simple technique
called Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) involves actively
tensing your muscles and then relaxing the same muscles.
Continue to my link
for more on the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
technique.
Calling police to help keep a loved one safe
can be a very difficult situation. You worry about what will
the police do and how will they treat you both. You ask if
your family member will be put in jail. How safe will you
all be during the crisis? Most importantly, will the police
understand enough about mental illness to react positively
in a psychiatric emergency?
Continue to my link
for more The Police Crisis Intervention Team.
Recently, I received a booklet titled
“De-Stress Kit for Changing Times” from Doc Children who is
the founder of Heartmath. This material discusses the
international financial meltdown and the increased stress it
can cause all of us. The effects of the economic crisis are
different for everyone. However, everyone can use similar
coping mechanisms. Coping skills are useful for any event
that causes stress. They can help anyone gain confidence to
move forward..
Continue to my link
for more on coping skills for the changing times.
This month’s article is going to be
subjective and from my heart. I have been
involved with NAMI for about four years. I truly can say the
component that
motivates me to continue my affiliation is the hope I’ve
seen in many consumers. The hope that comes from
people who are working towards recovery is quite inspiring
for me and gives me the emotional energy to continue to help
others.
Continue to my link
for more on the convention.
