Spring 2015

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.

NAMI – BEAVER COUNTY is an educational, advocacy and support group for families, consumers, and professionals dealing with serious mental illnesses or brain disorders. We support each other by educating ourselves through research, attending conferences, and sharing this information with others. NAMI-BC members also offer support through our years of experience n dealing with these illnesses on a personal level.

Meetings are held at

NAMI BEAVER COUNTY OFFICE- 1229 3RD ST., BEAVER, PA. 15009

7:00pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month

May 21, 2015 Bridge Program featuring Linda Wasko and Danny Edwards

June 18, 2015 featuring Dr. Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia

July 16, 2015 Re-cap of NAMI National Convention

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL: carlabraund@namibeavercounty.com

VIEW MENTAL HEALTH VIDEOS AT NAMI OFFICE

NEW WEBSITE: www.namibeavercounty.com – check for notices and articles

FAMILY TO FAMILY CLASS: call or email to register

SURVEYS FOR CONSUMER/FAMILY SATISFACTION (CFST)TEAM regarding behavioral health services

Contact: CFST at 724-775-7650

NAMI.ORG – New Look – Check it Out !

NAMI AIR – APP for your IPhone or Tablet – Give and Receive Support

NAMI National Convention: July 6-9, San Francisco,CA

FACEBOOK: Post your ideas of topics for facebook, website, or newsletter

Contact Carla Braund at (724)888-6877 or carlabraund@namibeavercounty.com for questions or concerns regarding any of the events listed above.

IN THE NEWS….

From NAMI.org, April 20, 2015…..Bipartisan Bill Introduced To Reduce Criminalization. The high rate of people with mental illness who are in jails and prisons is one of the profound tragedies in 21st Century America. Last week, a bipartisan group of legislators introduced the Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015 in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives which will help people with mental illness who are caught up in the criminal justice system

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Nami Beaver County

Are You Ruminating?

By: Teresa Scibilia

Ruminating is dwelling on past mistakes you have made. Often, it is done by replaying the times you have failed or made the wrong decision. Ruminating is making a list of what-ifs: What if I screwed up the presentation? What if I didn’t get the promotion? What if they don’t like me? What if I won’t be able to pay my bills?

Sometimes it can be difficult to move on from past mistakes. Here are some strategies to enable you to stop ruminating.

Don’t Trust Your Memory – It’s easy when remembering the past to leave details out. Perhaps you remembered that you messed up a part of your presentation, yet forgot that your slideshow and handouts impressed everyone there. Therefore, Dr. Boyes states that when ruminating you should ask yourself these questions: What is your ruminating mind saying? Are you remembering feedback as more critical than it actually was? Are you remembering your performance as worst then it was?

Shrink Self-Criticism- stopping self-criticism is a crucial part in eliminating rumination, for self-criticism boosts anxiety, while worsening your mood. Rather then practicing self-criticism, try self-compassion. Write or think about how you would talk about a weakness or mistake as if your were talking to yourself in a sympathetic, understanding way.

Never Say “I should have” – Should statements only make rumination worst. “I should’ve achieved more by now” “I shouldn’t get upset so easily” or “I should be able to handle stress better”. Dr. Boyes again suggests that you should use the word “prefer” over “Should”. For example, instead of “I shouldn’t get upset so easily” you should say “I prefer not to get upset so easily”. This helps you work toward improvement and escape the ruminating cycle!

Identify Several Options- Identifying multiple options enable you to work toward solving the problem. First, identify and list three to six options to solve your problem. (make sure they are realistic)

Disrupting the ruminating cycle takes continuous effort and practice. The first step is recognizing your behavior and developing strategies to combat it. PsychCentral.com reminds the reader that if the problems persists, you can see a therapists to help you work through it.

Reference:

The above article on rumination can be found on PsychCentral.com.

TARTAKOVSKY, MARGARITA. "Struggling with a Ruminating Mind?Strategies to Help."Psych Central.com. Psych Central, 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.

“You Cannot Start the Next Chapter If You Keep Re-Reading the Last!”

~Anonymous

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HEALTHY LIVING HINTS

Ways to Deal with Stress

By Teresa Scibilia

Stress is certainly not an easy fix, for it is different for each individual. Developing healthy positive ways of dealing with stress can lead to improved wellbeing. It is best to experiment to see what methods help you cope with your stress. Below are some common suggestions distinguished on psychcentral.com that can aid someone dealing with stressful situations

Your feeling is a choice

While you are unable to control the people or events that add stress to your life, you can control how to respond to these stresses.

Do not dwell are circumstances that are beyond your control (such as illness or economy)

The next step would be figuring out a way to cope with your situation. This can lead to reduced stress as you work to find a solution to your problem

Swap attitude for gratitude

Our attitude has an overwhelming effect on how we deal with circumstances, for negative attitudes can affect our physical, spiritual, and mental health.

When facing a situation that can be stressful such as being stuck in traffic, rather then dwelling on your loss of time be grateful for all the small things in your life, such as your ability to drive, your family, friends, or good weather.

Just Relax

In the chaos of our busy lives we often forget to take care of ourselves. How can you complete that paper for your boss if you are too tired to focus?

Relaxation rejuvenates the body and mind and leaves its partakers better equipped to handle stressful situations.

Set aside time for relaxation and find something that you enjoy doing. This can include a 10 minute nap, watching an episode of your favorite TV show, or taking a walk in the park.

Look at the “big picture”

Evaluate how important your stressful situation is. Dwelling on the little things is not worth the time and energy.

Successful stress management is about developing coping strategies that with enable you take control of the situation. Stress is a normal response whether you’re a college student or making a difference in the work force. Learning how to manage stress can lead to a happier, healthier you!

*Remember you are your best health advocate.

Reference:

The above article on stress can be found on PsychCentral.com.

White, Donna. "4 Tips To Change the Way You Deal with Stress."

4 Tips to Change the Way You Look at Stress. Psych Central. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.

“It Takes Some Rainy Days to Appreciate the Sunny Ones”

-Kathleen Connelly

NAMI – THE NATION’S VOICE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

Carla Braund, Editor

Teresa Scibilia, Editor

NAMI BEAVER COUNTY

1229 3rd Street

Beaver, PA 15009

724-888-6877

“Let your joy burst forth like flowers during spring”

~Lie Fhung

MEMBERSHIP FORM 2015 please renew early in year

In order to keep the membership process streamlined, we prefer renewals to be processed early in the year. It is also possible to renew your membership online at www.nami.org. Any questions or concerns please direct them to

Carla Braund, 724-888-6877 or carlabraund@namibeavercounty.com All NAMI – Beaver County memberships include subscriptions to all four newsletters.

_____ Enclosed is my check for $35 for 2015 memberships in NAMI – Beaver County, NAMI, NAMI – PA, and NAMI – SW PA

_____ I am on a limited income. Dues are $3 for full membership.

_____ I wish to make a tax deductible donation of $ ________ to NAMI – Beaver County.

NAME(S)

Please check one: □ Family member	□ Consumer	□ Mental health professional

ADDRESS

TELEPHONE NO.	E-MAIL ADDRESS

Make checks payable to: NAMI – Beaver County

Send to: NAMI – Beaver County 1229 3rd Street -- Beaver, PA 15009