SELF CARE REFORM

While much has been said regarding health care reform, I want to promote self care reform. Take the government out of this for a moment. What are you doing to gain or maintain your good health? This is much different than asking what will you do if or when you get sick.

We have solid research that supports that eating nutritionally sound food, exercising daily, sleeping 6-8 hours a night, managing stress, and maintaining healthy relationships will keep us healthy. Yet, few people follow this preventative prescription. What if doctors and mental health professionals were used more for maintaining health versus crisis management? I look forward to the day when I work in a health care system and not a sickness maintenance system.

As a counselor, I for one would like to do a lot more work in empowering people to gain and maintain health! Let's get proactive versus reactive. It costs less and you'll feel a whole lot better. Remember, if you're down - you're not out! Learn more about how to Bounce Forward.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

I just learned of an interesting program being offered in Brecksville (OH) this week called, "Hidden in Plain Sight." If you're the parents of teens, it might be a very worthwhile evening! Here are the details:

This is an interactive workshop that walks a parent through a life-size replica of a teenager’s bedroom, discussing high risk indicators such as substance abuse, underage drinking, eating disorders, and many others.

When: March 23, 2010

Time: Come early (6:30 pm) and take a walk through the interactive sample bedroom

Parents: The parent program begins at 7:00 pm and lasts until 8:30 pm

Teens: A separate youth program will be offered for teens who attend with their parents

Where: Brecksville United Methodist Church

65 Public Square

Brecksville, OH 44141

WISE ADVICE

"Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit."

M. Scott Peck, psychiatrist and author of the best-selling "The Road Less Traveled."

PURPOSE OF DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS

In his book, "The Purpose Driven Life," author Rick Warren writes about the purpose of relationships: Isolation breeds deceitfulness; it is easy to fool ourselves into thinking we are mature if there is no one there to challenge us. Real maturity shows up in relationships.

How true! Often I hear from clients who have been hurt by others that they intend to heal their wounds by going into solitude. They don't want to be committed to anyone or anything so that they don't get hurt. Yet, relationships teach us about US. We can't learn such lessons by flying solo through life.

If you have a difficult person in your life right now and you feel like running, WAIT! Perhaps that person is in your life to teach you a valuable lesson about you. If you're not sure how to manage the relationship, I've developed a new resource for you. In my new e-seminar, Dealing with Difficult People: How to Protect Yourself From Professional Button Pushers, you'll learn how to set healthy boundaries, determine when to speak up (or not), and what to say. Living in isolation may be easier, but it's not the answer.

CONVICTION

I find Will Smith's passion infectious. My husband had a chance to interview him in person for his radio show and said the man lights up the room with positive energy, which is his intention.

Here's a video montage of Will Smith Wisdom. My question is not whether or not you agree with him, but rather, are you this clear on what you stand for? Can you state your own beliefs and values with the same level of conviction? Living your life on and with purpose starts with knowing what beliefs are guiding you on the deepest level.

MARATHON MILESTONE

I've committed to running a marathon by actually signing up. On September 25, 2010 I'll be running in the Road Runner Akron (OH) Marathon. Now, I'm sharing my goal publicly- there's no going back now! Feel free to ask me how my training is going (which includes keeping away from the sweets I love).

The registration was interesting because it asked me to predict my completion time. By being forced to put in the number, I was setting expectations for myself. The first expectation is that I will finish, and the second is the time in my head. Now I have a self-imposed goal to meet and or beat!

On February 12, I'll be attending a lecture at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Steve Win is the speaker. He's a 50-state and 7-continent marathoner. Talk about goal setting. After completing his first two marathons, he learned he had cancer. Wow. Stories like his remind me that I have no reason in the world not to get up every day and live life to the fullest.

Have you run a marathon? I'd love to hear about your experiences. Please share your thoughts on my blog!

MIKE WALLACE'S DEPRESSION STORY

Thank you to 60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace for sharing the most powerful story he has ever reported - that of his 20-year battle with depression. PBS just wrapped up a series on mental health in which Wallace and his wife Mary are interviewed (link below).

His story will be helpful to many in multiple ways. First, he's honest about how bad it got. He contemplated and attempted suicide. His wife Mary found him and helped saved his life. Wallace discusses how both drug and talk therapy helped pull him through his illness. As a mental health counselor, I can't emphasize this point enough. Medication can give you a window of opportunity, but does not help you change your behavior. Wallace states how important regular exercise and social contact (behavioral changes) have helped him stay symptom-free for the last 15 years.

Mary Wallace, his wife, also shares how difficult it is to be the spouse of a person who is suffering from any mental illness and she gives great advice: "It's not your fault. Go get help yourself."

Here's the video link: Mike Wallace on Depression. If you or someone you care about is experiencing what feels like a dark, inescapable cloud please, watch this story and then get help. Depression is treatable! To learn more about the signs of depression, visit http://www.depression-screening.org.