Center for Hope & Healing, LLC

I am struggling with the news of Stephen "twitch" Boss's death by su***de. Maybe you are too. I'm trying to process how a person who exudes such a positive energy, an infectious smile and represented such kindness gets to the place of darkness where from his perspective there are no other options. My heart aches for his beautiful family. As a mental health professional and a person, I know that we don't know what people are going through inside, behind the smile. Sometimes life gets bigger than what we think we can handle, but I want you to know that there is support and you can learn ways to help yourself cope. 988 has counselors available to help. Georgia’s Crisis Line 1-800-715-4225 has counselors to help and mobile crisis teams that can come to you. These resources can help you get through the moment and bridge the gap to get connected to a therapist. Check on your friends because connection is an antidote for hopelessness and hopelessness is a requirement for su***de. Make it be normal conversation to talk about mental health.

Practice Gratitude ❤️ Today I’m grateful to be able to provide tele-therapy from right here

Su***de affects all ages and groups. In addition to the number of people who are injured or die, su***de also affects the health of others and the community. Here are some fast facts about su***de. ***dePreventionMonth https://counseling.org/SPM

Photos from Sources of Strength's post

Take a Mental Health Test - MHA Screening

Taking a Mental Health Screen can help you identify problems that seem confusing and provide some direction for getting help.
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/

Take a Mental Health Test - MHA Screening Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

Learning to face your fears will make you stronger. You can do it and you will be ok!! Promise!!

Have you ever wondered if using positive affirmations actually work? When used consistently, they do shift your mindset and activate the release of neurotransmitters. Thru the process of something called neuroplasticity, your thoughts do change your brain, cells and even your genes. The daily practice of gratitude, for example, gives our brain a surge of dopamine and norepinephrine, which results in a general uplift of the mind. So yes, what you think and visualize for yourself can change your body, brain and your life. Use of positive affirmations is one way to harness this power.

Affirmations can be used in any situation that you would like to see a positive change. These might include raising your confidence before an important meeting, reducing negative feelings like anxiety or anger, increasing self-esteem and motivation or quitting a bad habit. They can have even more power when you pair them with goal setting and visualizations, especially because the brain uses mental images to process information.

Some examples for anxiety:
1. My anxiety does not control me.
2. I am safe. There is no imminent danger.
3. This is not a crisis. I don’t need to panic.
4. This is just one moment in time.
5. I’m not going to be scared by a feeling.

Some examples for depression:
1. I am separate from my depression.
2. I am capable.
3. My discomfort won’t last forever.
4. I am resilient.
5. My sadness and depression do not define me.

Some examples for self worth:
1. I am unique and valued.
2. I can stand up for myself.
3. I am strong.
4. I love myself
5. I can achieve my dreams.

With most anything if life, consistency is where the power lies. Practice affirming yourself daily.
• Start with 3-5 minutes 1-2 times a day.
• Repeat each affirmation about 10 times.
• Engage a trusted person to say affirmations with you.
• Be consistent

This is just one of many tools that can help you manage your life in a positive direction.
You DO have the ability to create the life you want.

Take a Mental Health Test - MHA Screening

https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a3265d21-0488-447e-a716-6cd3877aa238

Take a Mental Health Test - MHA Screening Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

I talk often about emotions as “waves”… learning emotions are fluid and not final is a game changer for some one who is struggling. It’s ok to feel your feelings🤷🏻‍♀️. Really… it is.

Challenge yourself to push past your comfort zone….this is where growth happens 💗

Photos from Center for Hope & Healing, LLC's post

Check out our new signage ❤️

We love supporting this awesome group of individuals, staff and volunteers!

How Do You Do Self-Care and What’s all the Hype Anyway?

We hear so much today about the importance of self care….a quick Google search will immediately yield an endless list of ways to do it….everything from gratitude to joy to creativity to blasé, blasé, blasé. As a therapist, I have repeatedly encouraged my clients to engage in self-care and can easily spit out a list of the benefits. There is no question that the research clearly points to a million benefits.

BUT why do we still struggle? Having struggled with illness in my own home recently has given me the space to pull back and re-assess this whole self care idea from the very basics of physical health, but also emotionally (in how I responded to stuff), relationally (in recognizing what has gone unnoticed with the people I live with and see everyday) and spiritually (as I prayed for our health and if I’m honest, had a few scary moments wishing I had started talking to God sooner).

I am reminded of my early training in Humanistic Psychology, pretty much my framework for operating in life. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and my daily assessment of where I fit on any given day, serves as a reflection of my own ability or difficulty with self-care.
What gets in the way? That Tik-Tok addiction, FaceBook scrolling, a sick kid, work responsibilities, anxiety that keeps our brains in constant motion over nothing, the laundry, binge watching the new season of Manifest, being too tired, don’t really feel like doing anything “mindful”, etc….the list is endless. Brene’ Brown talks in one of her early books about the power of cultivating play and rest and how we need to let go of exhaustion as a status symbol. Who else does this? If I’m tired, busy, always have a list of something to do, then somehow that means I’m worthy. Can anyone besides me relate to this?

Self Care Challenge - So this week, I am challenging you to take a step back and consider what’s REALLY important in your life. Make a list of people, relationships, goals or things that are important to you at the HEART level. Then next to each one, write down one thing that you did to nurture that thing (person, goal, or whatever it is) in the past week. If you can’t think of anything, then instead write down one thing you will do this week to intentionally nurture that person, relationship, goal or whatever it is for you on your list.

The bottom line is that Self Care IS important but it can look a million different ways. What does it look like for you?

What is your comfort zone?

Promote National Su***de Prevention Month

Promote National Su***de Prevention Month We can all help prevent su***de. Every year, the Lifeline and other mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of su***de prevention during September, National Su***de Prevention Month.

The antidote to hopelessness is connection. For 24/7 support call GCAL at 1-800-715-4225 or text/chat via MyGCAL app. For an appointment, call Center for Hope & Healing at 706-668-5035.