2016 fresh start newsletter date...2017/12/10 · march 2017 as interim president. fresh start page...
TRANSCRIPT
NAMI COBB
NAMI Cobb
2016 Leadership Team
President / Communications
Greg Ausham
2nd Vice-President / Outreach
Linda Akanbi [email protected]
Secretary - Nancy Spetnagel
Treasurer and Parliamentarian–
Paul Wiser [email protected]
Membership Chair—Robert Gray
Advocacy Chair—Sylvia Oliphant
CIT/Newsletter Editor – John Avery
Website Management Chair: Tim Link
Fundraising Chair—Reina Panataleon
Past President—Neill Blake
Website: www.namicobb.org
Email: [email protected]
Mailing address:
NAMI-Cobb
P.O. Box 999
Kennesaw, GA 30156
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
1 Monthly Meeting Announcement/Info
2 Mary Dean Evans
3 Education Series Speaker Edi Guyton, VP, NAMI DeKalb
4 NAMI Cobb Activities / Outreach Report
5 NAMI WALKS 2016
7 “Mental A One Woman Performance”
8 The Panic Attack Symptoms Nobody Talks About
9 A Guide to Helping Yourself (and Others) Through a Panic Attack
11 How Do You Cure Mental Illness?
12 Meeting and Membership Information
Newsletter Date Volume 1 Issue 1 October 2016 FRESH START
Education Meeting / Speaker’s Bureau
Next meeting will be October 20, 2016
7-9 p.m. Turner Chapel Room 187
492 N. Marietta Pkwy, Marietta 30060
Edi Guyton, VP, NAMI DeKalb
“Journey of Hope and Mental Wellness” Edi Guyton, Co-President of NAMI DeKalb, has been a NAMI member
for about 10 years. She read about the NAMI Walk and went on her own
and found DeKalb members there. She found that working with NAMI
gave her life much deeper meaning after having lost her way.
Edi has contributed to NAMI DeKalb in many ways including:
Connection Recovery Support facilitator since 2009; state trainer of
facilitators; Peer to Peer mentor; Walk team captain for five years;
Secretary and Vice-President.
She expanded her NAMI work to the Friendship Center at Holy Comforter
Church and began Connection and Peer to Peer groups there.
Edi is Professor of Early Childhood Education (emerita) at Georgia State
University. She loved her work, but it was interrupted by depression and
anxiety. Her husband is Narl Davidson, and she have five grown children
and four grandchildren, all of whom bring her much joy.
Page 2 Fresh Start
Mary Dean Evans
Mary Dean (Harvey) Evans, a child of Louisiana who went on to become a tenacious, longtime advocate for children in Nebraska, once said that the Jim Crow South shaped the philosophy she brought to her work: that people, if given the chance, can achieve and elevate themselves.
Evans died Oct. 7 in Cobb County, Georgia. She was 72.
During her years in Nebraska, Evans held a number of positions, from educator to member of then-Gov. Ben Nelson’s staff. In the 1990s, while serving in Nelson’s administration, she and others worked to help pioneer welfare reform, Nelson said.
“It changed the way (Nebraska) was doing things, in terms of welfare,” Nelson said. “And the numbers back then reflected a level of success.”
The idea of a hand up not a handout was Evans’ doing, he said.
“She was really committed. There was never any doubt about how strongly she felt about anything that was discussed,” Nelson said. “She had a lighter side, she had a sense of humor and did not take herself seriously at all. She brought compassion with common sense and recognized that all the good ideas in the world, if they can’t be implemented, won’t get you the result you’re after.”
Nelson credited her with bringing Medicaid costs under control and for redesigning the state’s system for investigating child abuse. Her work in the then-Department of Social Services drew criticism and praise. It was in that context that, in 1995, she discussed her formative years in the South with The World-Herald.
“The mentality in the countryside was that African-Americans were inferior,” she said. “My family simply didn’t buy it.”
In addition to serving in Nelson’s Cabinet she was a teacher and administrator in Omaha Public Schools for 17 years. Her work at OPS included serving as principal of Lewis and Clark Middle School, as assistant principal of Nathan Hale Middle School and as a teacher for seven years at Central High.
She also served as a leader of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha. During her tenure as executive director of Girls Inc. of Omaha she created a mentoring program for girls.
Evans moved to Georgia in 2005 after being appointed by that state’s then-governor, Sonny Perdue, as director of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/mary-dean-harvey-evans-longtime-advocate-for-children-who-helped/article_552e0192-8f1c-
11e6-99fa-77c1c60da4a7.html
NAMI Cobb sadly announces that Mary Dean Evans, President of NAMI
Cobb passed away last Friday October 7th.
Mary Dean (Harvey) Evans had been active in helping and advocating for
the less fortunate for her entire life.
Earlier this year, she took on the job as President for NAMI Cobb.
Funeral services for Mary were held at Shaw Temple AME Church in
Smyrna on October 14.
1st VP Greg Ausham will be filling out her remaining term through
March 2017 as Interim President.
Fresh Start Page 3
Education Speaker Series Presents:
Edi Guyton, VP, NAMI DeKalb
“Journey of Hope and Mental Wellness”
The first time Edi Guyton tried to commit suicide, she was 19 years old. She was wracked with depression and unable to deal with the social and academic pressure of college. For years, Edi had thought she could conquer her despair by working hard. She earned her Ph.D. while raising two daughters, landed a tenured position as a professor, earned accolades and awards for her teaching and research, and ultimately became chair of Georgia State University's early childhood education department. She has said she got there by "faking it." "I was the great pretender.” Depression controlled her life for years -- until she decided to volunteer for an experimental treatment. With the support of her husband, Edi persevered. She inquired about the experimental deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure being offered by Dr. Helen Mayberg and her colleague, psychiatrist Paul Holtzheimer, at Emory University. A neurosurgeon would drill two holes in Edi’s skull and implant a pair of battery-powered electrodes deep inside her brain … The procedure carried the risks of any other brain surgery, including brain damage and death, and no guarantee the depression would lift. On February 23, 2007, Edi Guyton rolled into a surgical suite, propelled by a sweet and sour mixture of hope and hopelessness. How did it feel to have a machine and electricity transform her emotions? "It felt fantastic," she said. "I didn't care what was doing it!"
This event is a FREE community service; all are welcome!
Thursday, October 20, 2016 7-9 p.m.
Turner Chapel Room 187 492 N. Marietta Pkwy, Marietta 30060
Page 4 Fresh Start
NAMI Cobb Activities
NAMI Connections Weekly Support Group
Our NAMI Connections Support Group for persons with a mental health diagnosis continues to meet every Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 231 at First Presbyterian Church located at 189 Church Street in Marietta. We have a good core group of people who are committed to living in wellness - please come join this drop-in group any Monday or every Monday! Contact Paul Miner: [email protected] for more information.
Family Care & Share Weekly Support Group
Our Family Care and Share Support Group is a drop-in group for family members and caregivers for someone with a mental health diagnosis. The group meets every Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 232 at First Presbyterian Church, 189 Church St in Marietta. If your family member is in crisis, come any or every Monday to receive support from others. And if your family member is doing well, please come to give your support and share your experiences with others! Contact Greg Ausham at 330-801-0328, Susie Allen at 770-565-4335 or Sylvia Oliphant 678-471-5907 for more information.
NAMI Cobb Outreach Report Linda Akanbi – 1st VP and Community Outreach Chair
October 4, 2016
For the month of September, NAMI Cobb participated in two community outreach events. Linda Akanbi was an invited guest at the Third Annual South Cobb Wellness Day Leadership Breakfast held in Austell, Georgia on September 9, 2016 where she represented NAMI Cobb. The keynote speaker was Michael Fink, Director of Community Relations for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Linda left NAMI Cobb brochures and AKA-NAMI Partnership literature on mental health to be distributed at the South Cobb Wellness Day event which was held on September 17, 2016 at Collar Park in Austell, Georgia. The second community outreach event was the Mental Health & Ministry Conference which was held at the Vision for Souls Family Worship Center Cathedral in Mableton, Georgia on September 20, 2016. Linda made a presentation on behalf of NAMI Cobb and distributed brochures. She also announced the NAMI Walk event coming up on October 8, 2016. Upcoming Events At the request of the organizers of Turner Chapel’s Women’s Day, we are providing NAMI Cobb brochures as well as AKA-NAMI Partnership literature on mental health to be distributed at their October 7, 2016 event.
Fresh Start Page 5
NAMI WALKS 2016 Over 1,000 Georgians lead by 112 Team Captains raised a total of $153,152 following the
Walk this past Saturday!
Page 6 Fresh Start
TOP 5 WALKERS!
Sandy Stogner - $8,605.00
Beth Sanders - $4,100.00
Alicia Hancock - $3,790.00
Bill McClung - $3,090.00
Lynn Kinnaman - $2,862.23
TOP 5 TEAMS!
Northsiders - $21,188.86
DeKalb Pacers - $12,753.44
Gwinnett Family & Friends - $11,735.00
STIGMA BUSTERS - $4,827.50
Love You to the Moon and Back - $3,995.00
TOP CIT "Walks the Walk" Team!
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - $2,387.00
TOP AKA Team!
SOO-Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority - $1,815.00
TOP Corporate Sponsor Team!
USMotivation - $3,290.00
TOP NAMI Affiliate Team!
Northsiders (NAMI Northside) - $21,188.86
NAMIWalks Georgia Star Walkers! (as of 10-12-16) Sandy Stogner Beth Sanders
Alicia Hancock Bill McClung
Lynn Kinnaman Robert Stoakley Lori D. Brickman
Edith Guyton Susie & Vernon Kyle Nancy Pendergast
Jennifer Leson Vicki Masi
Faye Taylor Becky Lough
Alison Dawson Natalie Ammons
Kathy Durden Scott Radcliffe
Kim Jones Larry Adams Rupa Patel Janice Ross
Christina Menke Eric Roberts Brad Johnson
Neill Blake
THANK YOU GEORGIA MENTAL HEALTH HEROES!
NAMIWalks Georgia 2016 was a Great Success,
Thanks to YOU!
Fresh Start Page 7
Page 8 Fresh Start
The Panic Attack Symptoms Nobody Talks About By Rachel Gearinger, Contributor
I’ve lived with panic attacks for five years now. I’ve had so many panic attacks, I’ve stopped counting. Memories of my worst attacks
stick in my mind like bad nightmares. The time I was house-sitting for my friend. The countless attacks in my college dorm room. I
will never forget them.
When I have panic attacks, I have the symptoms everyone always mentions. These are the symptoms you can quickly find with a
Google search of “What is a panic attack?” The rapid, pounding heartbeat that feels like a giant bird is stuck in my chest, the sweaty
palms, the nausea and the trembling. These are the terrifying physical symptoms of panic attacks, and chances are most people can say
they’ve experienced something close to this at least once in their life.
Panic attacks are more than a sudden feeling ofanxiety. They’re much more than the feeling you get when someone scares you and
you say without thinking, “You almost gave me a panic attack!” Panic attacks can be incredibly traumatic experiences that happen
over and over.
What people don’t realize is the physical experience of panic attacks isn’t always the worst part. There are some pretty
terrifying things that can go on inside your head. Some of my worst panic attacks involve two symptoms no one really talks
about when they talk about panic disorder: derealization and depersonalization.
Derealization is a fancy word for feeling like you are detached from your surroundings. When I experience this during panic attacks,
everything around me feels unfamiliar. I could be in my bedroom, surrounded by things I’ve seen many times, like my cat, my bed or
my clothes. Yet, I feel like I’m in a strange world. I feel like an alien who was beamed down into a random house.
Not only this, but things around me appear foggy and fake. Becoming detached like this is terrifying. My brain is doing something
incredibly strange I don’t understand and I’m stuck in my body, trying to make sense of it. During panic attacks, I need something to
hold onto that I can rely on. The familiar is what I crave, but my mind makes seeing the familiar difficult.
The people I love feel like strangers to me during panic attacks. It’s because of derealization that I worry about traveling to unfamiliar
places. I love traveling, but the fear of unraveling can be enough to hold me back.
Depersonalization is a completely different sensation than derealization. Sometimes, the two happen at the same time.
Depersonalization is the “out of body” experience. I feel detached from myself, like I’m looking at myself from afar. It’s tough to
remember what’s important to me during this experience. I’m just going through the motions with no purpose.
Panic attacks leave me exhausted and searching for reminders of who I am and what makes me feel comfortable in my skin. A panic
attack like this is a journey to find myself again. When I have them frequently, it’s like I’m constantly having to affirm who I am.
For me, depersonalization and derealization are the most terrifying sensations because I know they are coming from my brain instead
of my body. They’re the symptoms no one else can see and this makes them even scarier. Both sensations are met with this
overwhelming feeling of going “crazy” and losing control over everything.
Sometimes, I have a strange feeling that the entirety of the world’s problems, the news stories I hear daily, are on my shoulders. My
panic attacks have themes like this. This feeling and the fear of going “crazy” make the panicking worse. I fall into a terrible cycle of
panic that makes it hard to stop.
I wish people understood panic attacks aren’t always just a pounding heart. They aren’t always a prolonging of that startled feeling
when someone spooks you. The solution isn’t always to relax and breathe slowly. Sometimes, it is to hold on for dear life to what you
know is real and remind yourself the people and things around you are familiar. It means trying not to freak out even more and wait
patiently until the sensations pass, even though you want to scream and cry.
During panic attacks, the body is doing what it knows to do when afraid and this can mean disconnecting from the world for a little
while. I like to remind myself of this because it makes the panic attacks feel controllable. The body is doing what it needs to do.
Panic attacks are a delicate dance between reality and fantasy. Although depersonalization and derealization are terrifying, I know
they will pass. I know I will eventually get back to who I am and the people I love.
My panic attacks can feel like a long and treacherous journey back to normalcy. Although I might feel “crazy” and out of control for a
little while, the journey has a finish line. I try to remind myself of this when my heart starts pounding.
https://themighty.com/2016/08/derealization-and-depersonalization-mental-symptoms-of-panic-attacks/
Fresh Start Page 9
A Guide to Helping Yourself (and Others) Through a
Panic Attack By Pooky Knightsmith Anxiety is a fairly constant factor in my life right now, and the same is true for many people. When this is the case, we
have two choices: we can let it control us or try to take control of it. Because I don’t not want to spend the next six months
in my bedroom, I’m keen on the latter.
But, this does mean facing the reality of panic attacks fairly regularly. I’m lucky to have many friends and colleagues who
want to support me, but perhaps don’t know how. This post is to help both me and them understand the best steps to take
to manage panic attacks.
As always, this advice won’t apply to everyone. Although my background is in child and adolescent mental health, use the
following as a starting point. I welcome any additional suggestions, advice or ideas you have to share – please leave
them as a comment below.
Here’s my guide to helping yourself (and others) get through a panic attack:
1. Take preventative action.
Sometimes panic comes from nowhere, but sometimes we can feel it building up. If you can feel an attack coming on,
preventative steps you could try are:
Being open and honest with a trusted friend or colleague and asking for their support preceding an attack.
Taking active measures to use calming and relaxation strategies to try to control the underlying level of panic.
Identifying and talking through the underlying feelings and sources of panic.
Acknowledging that an attack may not be preventable, but reminding yourself it doesn’t last forever.
Proactively considering where is the best place to be, and who is the best person to be with, if an attack takes grip.
If you’re a loved one of someone about to have a panic attack, some useful things to say are:
“I’m happy to listen if you’d like to talk about it.”
“Are you able to explain how you’re feeling?”
“Is there anything I can do to help you feel calmer?”
“Is there somewhere we can go that you’d feel more comfortable?”
“Is there anything specific I can do to help you if you do have a panic attack?”
“I’m here for you and will stay with you until these feelings pass.”
“You’re going to be OK. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“You’re being really brave.”
“Are you happy for me to be here or is there someone else you’d prefer?”
2. Ride it out.
If a panic attack sets in, there’s sometimes little you can do except to ride it out. The length of the attacks might vary,
but they will not last forever. No matter how many times you experience a panic attack each feels completely unbearable,
but remember – you’ve got through it before, you’ll get through it again.
A good strategy is to try to manage your panic one minute at a time. You only need to get through the next minute. Focus
on this and remember that with each passing minute, you are a minute closer to the end of the attack.
If you’re a loved one of someone having a panic attack, some useful things to say are:
“This will pass.”
“I understand this is horrible, but you’ve got through it before, you’ll get through it again.”
“You’re going to be OK.”
“I’m here. I’m staying with you.”
“I’ll keep you safe.”
“Let’s take this one minute at a time.”
“Let’s focus on getting through the next 60 seconds.”
“Your body can’t sustain this indefinitely, it will pass.”
“We’re another minute closer to you feeling calmer again.”
Page 10 Fresh Start
3. Stay grounded.
At their peak, my panic attacks can give way to derealization – a feeling of losing grip of
who and where I am. Many others experience this to some degree, too. To prevent this, it can be useful to stay grounded
and connected with reality.
Things I find useful are:
Having someone talk to me – either in person or on the phone (I find it helpful to be talked to, other people might
prefer to do the talking.)
Being held or touched – a hand on my arm, having my hands held or being hugged really help me stay connected
with another person and helps to ground me.
If your loved one is experiencing derealization, you can encourage your friend to try:
Touching something warm or cold and focusing on the warmth or cold.
Pinching herself so she can feel she is real.
Trying to find a single object and identifying what it is and what he knows about it.
Counting something in the room.
Utilizing senses in any way possible.
4. Use relaxation techniques and skills.
There are a range of skills we can employ to help us feel calmer and more relaxed. These skills often work best if we
practice them at times of calm so that we’re better able to access them at moments of panic.
Different things work for different people, but useful relaxation and calming techniques might include:
Breathing techniques
Listening to relaxing music
Walking with purpose
Guided meditation/mindfulness
Muscle relaxation
How to help a friend use relaxation techniques:
One of the most helpful ways to help a friend is to understand what tools and skills they have for managing moments of
high stress. No matter how well your friend learns their skills, it’s possible that during a panic attack they may forget to
use them or struggle to employ them. So during calmer periods, ask your friend to explain these skills to you and discuss
how you can help your friend utilize them during times of higher anxiety.
With a good knowledge of the basics, you’ll be in a good position to help. You may even find the new skills are useful for
you, too.
Anxiety and panic are very difficult to live with and can be completely debilitating. If you or someone you know is
affected, there’s no need to suffer in silence; instead, seek help from your doctor who can suggest local sources of support.
This might include medication, talking or skills therapies. Don’t be afraid to give these things a try. They can make a
huge difference once given time to establish.
Editor’s note: This story is based on one person’s experiences and shouldn’t be taken as professional advice. To learn
more information about overcoming anxiety and panic attacks, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of
America or consult your doctor. This post first appeared on Pooky’s Blog
http://themighty.com/2016/01/helping-yourself-and-others-through-a-panic-attack/
Fresh Start Page 11
How Do You Cure Mental Illness? August 11, 2016
One of the challenges faced by people who have a mental illness — such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ADHD or the like — is that not too many people will talk to you about “curing” the condition. (Except snake-oil salesmen, who will claim they can cure your bipolar disorder with their amazing technique or CD.) In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a professional who talks openly about “cures” for mental illness.
For instance,
If someone on twitter saying he/she can “Cure #ADHD” with their snake oil/brain machine, donkey ride, miracle ebook etc. Realize 2 things: 1. They’re spammers. 2.They’re ignorant, liars or both. You don’t cure #ADHD, you learn to
manage it more effectively.
Really? It got me to thinking why we don’t talk about “curing” mental disorders.
What we have instead of cures are a bunch of treatments. Most of which work pretty well, to varying degrees. But to most people seeking mental health assistance, treatments can take a frustratingly long period of time before finding one that works. For instance, finding the right medication can take months. And finding the right, experienced therapist you feel comfortable working with can also take months (even longer if the “good” therapists have waiting lists).
Once in treatment, your physician or psychologist rarely mentions the word “cure.” Cure is what doctors do for a broken wrist or scurvy. Set the wrist or give the patient a vitamin C shot, and voila! Done. Treating mental illness rarely results in a “cure,” per se. What it does result in is a person feeling better, getting better, and eventually no longer needing treatment (in most cases). But even then, rarely will a professional say, “Yes, you’re cured of your depression.”
Why is that? Why is there such a reluctance to invoke this magical word? I mean, cure literally means, “recovery or relief from a disease,” so if someone has recovered or has found relief from depression, why not say the person has been cured?
I think our reluctance comes from the belief that mental illness is far more recurring than most diseases in many people’s lives. If you have a bout of depression or a depressive episode, that doesn’t stop the depression from coming back at some later time (even if successfully treated). Whereas once you’ve treated a broken wrist, it’s not going to return (unless you break it again); once you’ve treated scurvy, it too won’t return if you prod the patient into drinking more orange juice or eating an orange once in awhile.
Depression, on the other hand, like most mental illness, knows no boundaries. It will come and go as it pleases in our lives, even if we’ve successfully treated one episode of it. There seems to be little rhyme nor reason to when a mental disorder strikes, who it will strike (outside of genetic predispositions for some of them), and how deep or long the episode will last.
To Pete Quily’s claim that one does not “cure” ADHD (attention deficit disorder), there are certainly many good treatment options for ADHD that minimize its impact in a person’s life. I’m not sure I’d call that a “cure” either, but I wonder at how demotivating it must be for someone to hear that a mental disorder — like ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder — is not typically “cured,” but rather just treated in varying degrees of intensity for the rest of one’s life. But what accounts for the discrepancy in prevalence rates between childhood ADHD(5.29%) and adult ADHD (4.40%) — a 0.9% difference? If not being “cured,” then children seem to be doing something that makes them less likely to receive an adult ADHD diagnosis. Professionals have a term for this “non-curing” of mental illness, too… Instead of removing the diagnosis from the chart at the end of treatment, they often place the phrase, “In remission” onto the end of the diagnosis instead. It’s good to hedge your bets, because you see, even when you are “cured” of your mental illness, nobody will come out and actually say it. Naturally professionals can’t lie to people and tell them depression or ADHD or any other disorder can be readily cured. They cannot. In virtually every instance, treatment for a mental disorder takes time, effort, and money. And even treatment takes 3 to 4 months, in most cases and for most disorders, before one starts feeling any sort of relief.
Which brings me back to the question — how do you cure mental illness? The answer — you don’t. You help people understand what it is, learn and engage new ways of coping with its symptoms, and help them do the best they can with the resources they have available. Right now, there’s no “cure” for mental illness. I hope within my lifetime, I can answer this question in a very different way.
http://www.healthnpost.com/?p=3867
Page 12 Fresh Start
Thank you so much for your interest in joining NAMI Cobb Affiliate! Please complete the form below, and mail this with your check made out to
NAMI Cobb. (If you wish to pay by credit card, go to www. nami.org and click on “Become a Member”. You will start receiving our monthly
electronic newsletter within the month. You are also invited to attend our monthly education and support meetings at St. James Episcopal Church in
Marietta, 161 Church St. NE, on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm (there is a time to look at resources and brochures at 7pm). You are not
alone. Come join us.
NAMI Cobb OCTOBER 2016
P.O. Box 999
Kennesaw, GA 30156
TO:
Yes, I would like to join NAMI Cobb of Georgia! Date:____________________
New
Renewal
$3 Financial Hardship Membership
(Please note there has been a slight increase in membership fees nationally).
___________Donation (I would like to give an additional donation
to support NAMI-Cobb programming and outreach) Name(s):______________________________________
Address:______________________________________
_______________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________
Email: _______________________________________
I am interested in volunteering. My skill is ________________________.
Family Care and Share Support Group
For families of those with a mental illness
1st Presbyterian Church
189 Church St
Marietta, GA
MONDAYS Time: 7-8:30 PM
Susie Allen 770-565-4335
Greg Ausham 330-801-0328
Sylvia Oliphant 678-471-5907
Monthly NAMI Cobb General Meeting
Next Educational Meeting
October 20, 2016
7:00 PM Networking/Social
7:30 PM Program
**Please mail this form along with your check to:
NAMI Cobb, P.O. Box 999 Kennesaw, GA 30156
Thank you for your membership!