namichattanooga.org
NEWSLETTER
F E B R U A R Y, 2017
SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CAREGIVERS
February7,2017
Wally’s(EastRidge)
February21,2017
JohnsonMentalHealthCenter
11:30amto1:00pm
6:30pmto8:00pm
Ourcaregiverssupportgroupmeetingsareopentoallandtargetedwithinformationforthecaregiver
tohelpassistthemincaringforsomeonediagnosedwithamentalhealthdisorder.
NAMIChattanoogaNews/Announcements
• The Chattanooga Community Kitchen (CCK), Omni Community Health (OCH) and local community agencies
areputtingtogetheraneventforFebruary14thfrom1-3pmhighlightingtotalhealth/self-careresources.The
ideaistopromoteself-carewithaValentine’sthemeof“LoveYourself:FindandUseYourResources”.CCK
guestswillbepampered,learninterventionstheycanusetopromotetotalwellness,hearandsignupfor
local community resources, and receive a variety of fun and useful giveaways. In addition to community
agencies, local media and celebrities will be there to show support for CCK and agencies that promote
health. Thepubliciswelcometoattend.
•
NAMIChattanoogahadtheopportunitytopresentatahealthforumheldatErlangerHealthSystemwhich
includedinformationonmentalhealth.SteveDaugherty,SylviaPhillips,andMarshalBakerparticipatedin
sharinginformationaboutNAMIChattanoogaandmentalhealthstatistics.
MonthlyTipforCaregivers
Affirmation,notArgument
Thequickeryoulearnthatyoucannotarguewithrationalstatements,andthatyourconsumermaybeirrationalatcertaintimes,
thebetteroffyoubothwillbe.Yourbestapproachisaffirmation,notargument.
Affirmthatyoulovethem,affirmthatyouunderstandthatwhattheyarethinkingandfeelingisrealtothemandthatisnormal
forthem.Butalsoletthemknowthatisnothowyoufeelorunderstandthingsandthatyouwillworkwiththemasbestand
reasonableasyoucantohelpthemdealwiththeirsituation.Assurethemthatyoulovethemandwantthebestforthem.
SubmittedbyBillHoneycutt
ABOUTMENTALILLNESS
Oneinfourexperiencementalillnessinagivenyear.1in17peoplelivewithaseriousmentalillness.
Ifwedon’tunderstandthefactsaboutmentalillness,wecan’tmakeinformeddecisions.
Mentalillnessaffectsaperson’sabilitytowork,sociallyinteract,emotionallyconnectandcarefor
themselves.Mostoftheindividualswehelpsufferfromconditionscausedbybraindisordersthatarevery
treatable.
Theirlivesmaybefarfromordinary,butactors,musicians,athletes,andwritersexperienceemotionaland
mentalhealthissuesjustliketherestofus.Thenumberofcelebritieswhoaretalkingabouttheirown
experienceofmentalhealthproblemsisapositivemoveawayfrompeoplebeingembarrassedor
frightenedtodiscussmentalhealth.
Havingsomeonewhoyoulookuptooraspiretobelikesharingabouttheirownexperiences,helpsbreak
downthestigmaassociatedwithmentalillness.Alloftheseexamplesshowthattherichandthefamous
arenotexemptfromexperiencingmentalhealthproblemsandit’ssomethingwedon’thavetobeafraidto
talkabout.
Sources:HuffingtonPost,YoungMinds
•
ThelistofdrugsI'vebeenprescribedwouldreadlikeagrocerylist,"heexplainedofhismentalhealthstruggles.
“Oneofthebiggestthingsformewasbeinghonestwitheverybodyaboutit.Andletthemknow,like,youknow,
therearegonnabetimeswhenwe’regonnahavetoslowdownsoIcanjustmakesureeverythingisintact.The
secondstepwasfindingsomebodythatIcouldtalkto,butthatIwasgoingtobehonestwithandthatnot
necessarilythattheyhadalltheanswersforme,but,like,thatIcouldgetitallouttothemandthen,like,
togetherwecouldpiecethingstogether.IfoundthattalktherapywiththisguyhasbeenthebestthingthatI’ve
had.”
FallOutBoymusicianPeteWentz
•
•
•
“IhadnoideathatIwasevenbipolaruntilIwentintotreatment,"sherevealed."Iwasconqueringtheworld,but
thenIwouldcomecrashingdown,andIwouldbemoredepressedthanever.[Aftertherapy,]forthefirsttimein
mylifeIstartedtofeel.Itwassuchahumblingexperiencetonotjustpushyourfeelingsasideandignorethem.
I’mthankfulnowthatI’mfeeling,youknow?”
DisneystarDemiLovatocheckedintorehabfor"emotionalandphysicalissues"includingbulimia,cutting,and
bipolardisorder.
“BipolardisorderissomethingIhavebeendealingwithforalongtime.Ithinkwiththeyearwehadwithmy
stepson,andthenofcourseMichael’scancer,andallofasuddenallthosethingsthathappenedtome,andmy
bipolarjustcamestraightout.Depression,thenmanictryingtomakeeveryoneperfect,andIcanneverfix
anybody,couldn’tmakeanythingperfect.Wejusthadtogothrough,likesomanypeople,areallyrough2
years.”
CatherineZeta-Jones,actress
OthersthatwerelistedincludedJimCarrey,actor/SherylCrow/HalleBerry,actress/AshleyJudd,actressand
others
Wecannotoverstatethatmanyaresuccessfullylivingwithamentalillnessdiagnosis.
Theseonesrecognizetheneedtogethelpandsurroundthemselveswithpeoplethatcare.
Youarenotalone…that’swhythere’sNAMI
Chattanooga…Weareheretohelp!
NewsletterEditor
MarshalBaker
[email protected]
“Pleasesubmitinformationyou
wouldliketoseeprinted”
MEMBERSHIP FORM
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(or call person below if you have questions)
NAMI Chattanooga Vice President: Marshal Baker, [email protected], (423) 653-7067