Mental Fitness Center

12/09/2021

What exactly is ASSYST-R and how can it help with processing trauma? Did you know it works without having to recount your trauma aloud? Click on the ASSYST-R icon at the bottom of our homepage to see a quick reference to this private & effective method: www.mentalfitnesscenter.org

12/08/2021

Please pass this FREE professional support along to anyone you know from Oxford impacted by the recent trauma:
Now offering Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization (ASSYST) remote group procedure facilitated by licensed therapists, including those from the Mental Fitness Center, available at NO COST and individuals can attend as many times as needed to process the trauma.
This procedure is specifically designed to provide online support to individuals who present Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Oxford Student Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054eacab2ea3fa7-oxford
Oxford Parent Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054eacab2ea3fa7-oxford1
Oxford Teacher Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054eacab2ea3fa7-oxford3
Oxford Administration Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054eacab2ea3fa7-oxford2
Oxford Counselors & First Responders Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054eacab2ea3fa7-oxford4

*Groups for surrounding community will follow and we will post those as soon as they are available

Additional information regarding this evidence-based procedure: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351384089_ASSYST_PROCEDURES_EXPLANATION

11/27/2021

04/24/2021

https://www.scarymommy.com/covid-silver-lining-post-infection-psychiatric-symptoms/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_campaign=feed

COVID-19 has made abundantly clear what PANS families have tried to convey for years.

02/06/2021

Dear Patients,

I hope you are all doing well during these tumultuous times. As some of you may already know, my new book, Brain Inflamed: Uncovering the Hidden Causes of Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Teens, is set to be released on March 2, 2021, and is now available for pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Inflamed-Uncovering-Depression-Adolescents/dp/0062970879, as well as other major book retailer websites.

The book addresses potential medical/biological conditions that may cause psychological symptoms in adolescents and teens, especially underlying systemic/brain inflammation.

I am thrilled to be able to share this exciting news with you and hope you will find the information and stories in the book helpful in addressing your children's mental health needs.

For more information regarding the book, please email kenneth@braininflamed.com.

Warm Regards,
Kenneth Bock, M.D.

03/23/2020

The Mental Fitness Center is offering virtual sessions online via our secure Telehealth platform so please do not hesitate to reach out if you or a loved one is in need of additional support during these stressful & unprecedented times. www.mentalfitnesscenter.org Below are some recommendations from the CDC for coping with stress during COVID-19:

Stress and Coping
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
*Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
*Changes in sleep or eating patterns
*Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
*Worsening of chronic health problems
*Increased use of alcohol, to***co, or other drugs
People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.

Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Things you can do to support yourself:

*Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
*Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
*Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
*Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:
*Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
*Children and teens
*People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
*People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use

***If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call 911 or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)

Reach out to us at The Mental Fitness Center if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row at:
https://www.mentalfitnesscenter.org/scheduling-contact-location

Info above courtesy of cdc: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

03/14/2020

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/coping-with-coronavirus-anxiety-2020031219183

Anxiety about the new coronavirus is understandable. But there are actions you can take –– or avoid –– to help you cope with anxious feelings and choices you can make to help yourself and others.

12/09/2019

Consider and rule out infection because treating the root cause may, in fact, remove the adhd behaviors and return a child to their true functioning.

Children are at the greatest risk for developing Lyme disease, with the highest rates of infection occurring in those ages 5 to 9. And out of the more than 300,000 people diagnosed annually in the U.S. with Lyme disease, 25% are children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (...

09/27/2019

‼️YOUR HELP IS NEEDED ...TODAY‼️ Have you or someone you know needed support for Grief, Anxiety, Depression, Suicidal ideation, ADHD, Stress management, PTSD, OCD, etc? 😱 As soon as NOVEMBER, changes could take effect and create a statewide mental health emergency leaving HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT their counselors and without insurance reimbursement for mental health services! 💔

Quietly under the radar a few weeks ago, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' (LARA) proposed rule change: 2019-063 LR. These proposed changes would repeal nearly the entire scope of practice which has been in place for 30 years for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in the state of Michigan. Without a clearly defined scope of practice, LPCs will be unable to play our vital role in mental health treatment. We already have a shortage of mental health clinicians in the state. We are in the middle of a su***de epidemic, opioid epidemic, and teen depression is at an all-time high. We need more counselors, not fewer!

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TODAY!
You can help us stop this change before it impacts SOOO MANY people in Michigan who deserve support.
👉There is a bill (HB 4325) that STOPS these changes from going into effect within weeks! But it has been stalled so we need you to VOICE YOUR CONCERNS TODAY so that it will pass before LARA has a chance to sneak these changes through next Friday! 😬

1. Take 2 minutes to sign the petition: http://chng.it/MvNjbwKTJR

You can use your own words (or use the quick & easy template in comments below) to:

2. Contact your Michigan legislators online
Find your state senator here:
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html
Find your representative here:
http://house.michigan.gov/MHRPublic/frmFindaRep.aspx

3. Contact LARA directly via email: BPL-BoardSupport@Michigan.gov

4. Contact the Governor's office with this form: https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ShareOpinion.aspx

5. If you would like to do even more to HELP, see additional action steps here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fkuYQciUwYXhj32iaK1e_75dFTxwYv1M2N8D8XssvAM/edit?usp=sharing

05/17/2019

The acronym PTSD, standing for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has a vast survey of awareness and is a frequented, universal conversation amongst individual accident survivors, those whom have experienced catastrophic events related to war, national emergencies and medical traumas, to name a few.

04/30/2018

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep (PANDAS) is a little-known cause of neuropsychiatric disturbance in children.

02/27/2018

02/14/2018

7 Ways to Quiet Them

02/01/2018

Please TAG the sensory-sensitive caregivers in your life to help spread the word about this special event!

On Sunday, February 4th from 10-11am, we'll turn down the lights, disable the music and reduce external stimuli — perfect for our friends on the spectrum. Tickets are just $13.50 per person. Buy online: http://bit.ly/2mG0379

12/14/2017

Applies to all special needs, spectrum, PANS & PANDAS families ...

12/14/2017

A major finding from researchers at Houston Methodist reveals a significant number of people diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may actually have a treatable immune system disorder. The condition causes NMDA receptors to stop functioning properly and can result in symptoms commonly ass...

11/30/2017

Depression is increasingly recognized as a problem rooted in chronic inflammation and it can have a profound impact on your mental health.

11/23/2017

Happy Thanksgiving