You can learn more about heart health in our Interactive Health Education Answers area of our website. Choose “LOGIN” and then Heart Health.

1. Advocated for my daughter’s learning disability at her school until her  curriculum was adjusted to meet her needs.
2. Got my youngest child (my three-year-old son) into a pre-primary intermediate school so he can start learning now versus later on how planned school days go and to help strengthen his language and vocabulary skills.
3. Spent more time with my father and mother than I have since I was a child.
4. Went back to college after an almost eight-year break.
5. Started reading at least one book a week if not more (that is non-college related and just something that sparks my interest).
6. Slowed down dramatically on smoking.
7. Updated my Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and gave a new copy to my main supporters.
8. Emceed the Walk-A-Mile In my Shoes Rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, which was a huge honor to be asked and chosen.
9. Paid it forward and tried to help others who had helped me throughout the year, even with a kind hug or a warm smile.
10. Started giving my children a hug and a kiss every night before they went to bed and telling them I loved them – always making time to know that they are cared about and how proud I am to be their mom.

After I created this list (which is a lot longer than just these 10 things), I went back through it numerous times and in all actuality I kind of shocked myself at the many things I had accomplished in 365 days. It does not matter if you have only accomplished one thing in the past year, make sure to write it down and put it in the bathroom on the mirror where you can read it everyday and know you have done something to better your life or the lives of those around you. Be an advocate for yourself as well as others and remember to incorporate this as a daily celebration in your life. You are worth a lot and as an advocate even more!

So what is a New Year’s Resolution?

I don’t think there is a definite answer to that question. There’s always going to be the regular resolutions to lose a certain amount of weight, stop smoking, eat healthier, and start exercising. But what if we make those resolutions and have a hard time following through with them? Should we feel like we have failed? Absolutely not! Take it from a not-so-perfect person that no one succeeds at things the first time they try. If they do, I stand corrected, but it is one hard task to follow; sticking to a resolution.

What if our goal is to lose 50 pounds by Christmas 2012? How can we make that a resolution and then get to that goal without forgetting we set it or not bothering to follow through with it in the first place? Small steps lead to bigger ones. Beginning by writing down a list of how you can lose 50 pounds is a simple effective way to start on that specific resolution. Using that list, make a monthly list of healthy meals you can make that are cost effective, use and stick to a shopping list, and figure out how to exercise for free at home instead of joining an expensive health club (soup cans work well to lift weight up and down). Check out this web-site for setting a budget, checking the sales, planning the menus, making a list, being a savvy shopper, etc. at http://www.chiff.com/cooking/budget-meals.htm

My main point is that anything is achievable if you want it to be. The New Year means a new start. However you want to start that year, try to keep the focus on what you want the ending goal to be for Christmas in 2012. Follow through slowly with your plan so that it is both easier to achieve as well as achievable at the same time. Do not set yourself up for failure and remember that changes come with time. You can do it. . . make a New Year’s Resolution and let us know about it here so we can brag about your successes. If you feel like you need help, put a comment up and get some peer support from people out there that might be struggling with the same things. Either way, do not give up and good luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

COOL FACT:

In the United States, the kiss shared at the stroke of midnight is derived from masked balls that have been common throughout history. As tradition has it, the masks symbolize evil spirits from the old year and the kiss is the purification into the New Year (http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions&id=245213)

Healthy meals on a food stamp budget:

http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2008/08/22/reader-challenge-healthy-meals-on-a-food-stamp-budget/

USDA Resource Library (meal planning, 10 steps to help you fill your grocery bag using SNAP benefits

http://snap.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=15&tax_level=4&tax_subject=261&topic_id=1243&level3_id=6213&level4_id=10046

101+ ways to save food dollars

http://snap.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=15&tax_level=4&tax_subject=261&topic_id=1243&level3_id=6213&level4_id=10046

Good mental health includes:

• How you feel about yourself, the world and your life
• Your ability to solve problems and overcome challenges
• Your ability to build relationships with others and contribute to your communities
• Your ability to achieve your goals

Quick Tips

The “Live Your Life Well” program from Mental Health America suggests 10 science-based ways to boost mental health:

1. Connect with others – Fight stress with friendship. Learn how to strengthen old bonds and build new ones.
2. Stay positive – Changing your thinking can change your life. Take steps to increase your optimism.
3. Get physically active – Exercise can make you happier. It’s not clear exactly how exercise boosts mood, but experts say it relieves pent up muscle tension, stimulates feel-good hormones, burns off stress hormones and increases blood flow to the brain!
4. Help others – Those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health. They may even live longer!
5. Get enough rest – Being tired can hurt your health and your relationships. Some things you can try include setting a regular bed time, resisting caffeine 6-8 hours before bed, finishing any next-day preparations an hour before bed, and making your bed a sleep haven.
6. Create joy and satisfaction – Feeling good is good for you, so have a laugh, find a hobby, or just kick back.
7. Eat well – The right foods can fuel your mind, boost your mood and fight disease.
8. Take care of your spirit – Praying, meditating, or just connecting with your deepest self can enrich your life.
9. Deal better with hard times – Coping tools can help you through a rough patch. Check out the Live Your Life Well website for some beginning tools. You can collect more tools throughout your life!
10. Get professional help if you need it – Don’t hesitate to seek professional help. If you or someone you know is feeling especially bad or suicidal, you can call 1-800-273-TALK to reach a 24-hour crisis center.

Listening to Music
“I try to find time in the morning to listen to music. It calms me for the day. It puts a routine in place, and helps me get started. I have no favorite song; it’s just what I’m in the mood for that day.”

Why Should I Feel Sorry for Myself?
“I was in a DBSA meeting and people were talking about how it wasn’t your fault you had this disease; you shouldn’t be guilty, etc. It occurred to me: being bipolar is the best thing that’s happened to me. Sure it’s been extremely difficult at times, but I have an interesting life story and I was forced to really re-examine my life because of it. Now I only do what I love and think is important.”

15 Minutes
“Tell yourself: I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes. If anxiety hits me at the office and I don’t know how to cope with a mountain of work—just pick one task and do it for 15 minutes. If the house is a wreck, pick one area and clean for 15 minutes. THEN STOP. Step back. Look at what you did. It may not be finished, but you did something! Be proud! You just kicked anxiety’s butt for 15 minutes. Can you do another 15 minutes? Maybe? If not, it’s okay. Be proud that you made progress!”

A Note About FacingUs.org:
When you visit the Facing Us Clubhouse, you’ll notice that several “rooms” require you to log in or create an account. These rooms allow you to develop personal journals, books, and wellness plans that are uniquely yours. Logging in is a way to access your personalized wellness tools—like pulling your file from a filing cabinet.

To use the Wellness Tracker, visit the Facing Us Clubhouse. Joining is easy and free.

DBSA e-Update is a monthly newsletter produced by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance that highlights news articles, upcoming programs, services, and ways you can become involved. Click here to join DBSA’s mailing list.

While I was waiting to pay I noticed a poster on the wall and it listed the signs and symptoms of depression. I was amazed that I had almost all of the the symptoms listed. I made an appointment for myself as I completed my other business for my son.
I wasn’t educated enough about depression and didn’t remember enough about it from my psychology class. Could you be depressed and not realize it? Here is a link to an online screening http://www.helpyourselfhelpothers.org/, maybe it can help you or a friend or family member. Maybe it is time to talk to your doctor, it doesn’t hurt to check it out. Depression is treatable, be good to yourself, if you need help or think you do, then get it. People are there who care and want to help.

Leslie Sladek

Getting inspiration, support – and education – can promote lasting change in the lives of people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma. The love of family and friends is incredibly healing, but it isn’t always enough. Creating and maintaining friendships with others whose experiences have been similar to our own can fill the gap and meet the need for understanding. However, for people who have experienced trauma, connecting with others is sometimes extremely difficult to do.

Peer Support is a wonderful tool to utilize when you have dealt with aspects of trauma and find it is continuously affecting you. It’s a time when peers who may have experienced something similar in their lives can offer things to you, such as education. Peer support does not demand anything of you; in essence it’s like they are asking for permission to help. One of the biggest things that I learned from the trauma training and through reading various resources, is that if I stop and think before I talk to someone who has been dealing with trauma, I can help better. Sometimes we just need a listening ear. As someone who has experienced trauma throughout my life, I only wish I could have had a peer in my life throughout all my obstacles.

Fifteen years ago, Michigan had an obesity rate of 17.2 percent and was ranked fourth most obese state in the nation. The obesity rate in Michigan increased by 77 percent over the last 15 years.

“Today, the state with the lowest adult obesity rate would have had the highest rate in 1995,” said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. “There was a clear tipping point in our national weight gain over the last twenty years, and we can’t afford to ignore the impact obesity has on our health and corresponding health care spending.”

In addition, for many states, their combined rates for overweight and obesity, and rates of chronic health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, have increased dramatically over the past two decades. For Michigan, long-term trends in rates include:

• Fifteen years ago, Michigan had a combined obesity and overweight rate of 53.6 percent. Ten years ago, it was 59.3 percent. Now, the combined rate is 65.7 percent.
• Diabetes rates have doubled in ten states in the past 15 years. In 1995, Michigan had a diabetes rate of 7.6 percent. Now the diabetes rate is 9.5 percent.
• Fifteen years ago, Michigan had a hypertension rate of 23.1 percent. Now, the rate is 28.7 percent.

These alarming trends are very important to people with mental illness, because research has shown that people with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population. (See Report on Morbidity (Illness) and Mortality (Death) in People with Serious Mental Illness.)

Increasing awareness is just a first step. The next step is a call to action: What can YOU do to eat more healthy foods? How can YOU avoid unhealthy foods? How can YOU increase your physical activity? YOUR health is important – and YOU are worth the effort!

A major part of becoming a self-manager of your chronic illness is knowing when you need help and how to find help. Poor communication is the biggest factor in poor relationships, whether they are between spouses, other family members or friends, coworkers, or doctors and patients. Even in casual relationships, poor communication can cause endless frustration. Even body language can play a factor in good communication. Effective communication comes from within. Thinking before you speak is a huge factor in good communication skills. If you are mad and talk in frustration, you might regret what you say later and lose a support person you need. It’s important to care about your supporters, even when you are upset, because they are the ones who will help you through your rough spots in life.

Even with help from others, you are the only one who can move towards wellness as a self-manager of your illness. Your active involvement in your own wellness can make or break the difference between walking the path towards recovery or standing still. Always remember that if you get off course, get help, get up, and start over again. Everyone makes mistakes. That’s called life and it happens. It does not mean you are not good enough to complete a goal or start over again. It means learn from what went wrong and never quit quitting.

When I find myself “slacking” and not motivated to take on my own life but rather wanting others to do things for me, I tend to take a step back, start working on some goals, and reach out for support. Like I said above, that can be a hard thing to do, but if you start with small goals, you will find it is easier to find the supports you need to endure larger ones later on.

Everyone has the power to be their own self-manager and leader. The time is now to start! Put a smile on your face and start thinking about what you want in life; then slowly create a plan how to get there!

Good luck!