Sports, Life and a Whole Lot More!

Listen to the show on www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ManciniSports

or

Call in and submit your questions to the live show at 347-205-9631

Saturday, June Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10am (PST)25, 2022 at 10am (PST)Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10am (PST)

Rick Huegli brief information

Rick Huegli has been a strength and conditioning coach for more than 40 years, including the last 13 years as the head strength and conditioning coach at Lakeside school in Seattle.

Huegli was named head strength and conditioning coach at Wake Forest University in 1979 and served in that position for two years. In 1981 he was hired as the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Washington, a position he held for more than 18 years. At Washington, Rick was responsible for the design, development, implementation and administration of strength and conditioning programs for all men's and women's intercollegiate sports, working with more than 650 athletes and 23 sports. He established policies, managed training, and oversaw the strength staff and the facilities.

"Helping students navigate the chance – taking and growth are the intrinsic highlights of my job," Huegli says. "They begin the program for the enthusiasm and some anxiety, and they progress from inexperienced to experienced. I consider it a four-year construction project with the students."

Rick was named the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 1992. He is on the Board of Directors of the NHSSCA, representing region 5.

Listen to the show on www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ManciniSports

or

Call in and submit your questions to the live show at 347-205-9631

James Donaldson has complied quite a list of accomplishments over the years. Washington State University graduate '79, Small business owner for 28 years, 40 years involved in his community with youth programs, education, mentoring, women and minority business advocate, political candidate and a 20 year professional basketball, including 14 years in the NBA with an All Star appearance in 1988!

Currently, James is an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention as he is the Executive Director of his own non profit 5013c foundation

Your Gift of Life Foundation

Now join James Donaldson as he hosts his own sports radio talk show with a variety of intriguing, inspiring and interesting guest each and every week.

Every Saturday at 10am (PST)

Contact James Donaldson Here at His Your Gift of Life Foundation Site

Special Guest:
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/tune-in-and-listen-to-standing-above-the-crowd-with-james-donaldson-saturday-july-2-2022-10am-pst-with-special-guest-national-high-school-strength-conditioning-association-hall-of-famer-rick/

Click the Link below to listen to the show

https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/23582978
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/standing-above-the-crowd-podcasts-with-former-nba-all-star-james-donaldson-with-special-guest-coach-lenny-wilkens-pt-1-january-29-2022/

BY JONATHAN TERCASIO

by Capital News Service

#Mentalhealthdisorders among #American #teenagers have soared in the past fifteen years. 

From 2007 to 2019, the share of #adolescents who reported having a major depressive episode jumped 60%, from roughly 2 million to about 3.2 million, according to the Pew Research Center. The number of #highschoolstudents in the U.S. who reported persistent feelings of sadness or #suicidalideation also increased, according to data from the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

But these #mentalhealthissues have impacted certain demographics more than others. More than 46% of #teenage #girls – ages 12 through 17 – reported experiencing sadness or #hopelessness in 2017, according to the #CDC. That same year, nearly one in five #teenage #girls reported having at least one major depressive episode – almost three times more common than #teenage #boys. 

While #teenage #boys were less likely to have a “major depressive episode,” only 33% of depressed #adolescent #boys received treatment, whereas 45% of #teenage #girls with recent depressive episodes received treatment. 

Minority groups such as #Hispanics and the #LGBTQ community were also more likely to experience persistent feelings of sadness or #hopelessness, according to the #CDC. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Despite this recent uptick, overall suicidal thoughts among U.S. #teens has dropped in the last 30 years. The share of #teens who have seriously considered attempting #suicide fell from 29% in 1991 to 18.8% in 2017, according to the #CDC, but #suicideattempts since 1991 have risen. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The habits of #American #teens have also shifted since the 1990s. 

#Drug use and #alcohol consumption have dropped from 1991 to 2019. About 50% of #teenagers in 1991 regularly consumed #alcohol, but that share fell to 29.2% in 2019, according to #CDC data.

Cigarette use has also declined since 1991, despite a recent uptick in electronic vape use. Additionally, #marijuana use is on the rise but still below the record high of 26.7% of #teens in 1999, according to the #CDC. 

The share of U.S. #teenagers who have ever tried Illicit #drugs – including cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, ecstasy, or hallucinogens – is down as well, dropping from 28.8% in 1999 to 14.8% in 2019. 

The percentage of sexually active #teenagers has also declined. In 1991, around 54% of #teens have had sex at least once, compared to 38.4% in 2019. 

But one of the most significant changes for #American #teens is time spent on a computer – including smartphones, tablets and video games. In 2003, around 22.1% of #teens spent three or more hours per day on a computer, compared to 46.1% in 2017, according to the #CDC. 

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Credit: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Along with a surge in screen time, #teens in the U.S. have also been getting less sleep and have been less physically active over the past 15 years. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-american-teens-are-experiencing-a-rise-in-mentalhealthdisorders-suicidalthoughts/

BY JONATHAN TERCASIO

by Capital News Service

#Mentalhealthdisorders among #American #teenagers have soared in the past fifteen years. 

From 2007 to 2019, the share of #adolescents who reported having a major depressive episode jumped 60%, from roughly 2 million to about 3.2 million, according to the Pew Research Center. The number of #highschoolstudents in the U.S. who reported persistent feelings of sadness or #suicidalideation also increased, according to data from the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

But these #mentalhealthissues have impacted certain demographics more than others. More than 46% of #teenage #girls – ages 12 through 17 – reported experiencing sadness or #hopelessness in 2017, according to the #CDC. That same year, nearly one in five #teenage #girls reported having at least one major depressive episode – almost three times more common than #teenage #boys. 

While #teenage #boys were less likely to have a “major depressive episode,” only 33% of depressed #adolescent #boys received treatment, whereas 45% of #teenage #girls with recent depressive episodes received treatment. 

Minority groups such as #Hispanics and the #LGBTQ community were also more likely to experience persistent feelings of sadness or #hopelessness, according to the #CDC. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Despite this recent uptick, overall suicidal thoughts among U.S. #teens has dropped in the last 30 years. The share of #teens who have seriously considered attempting #suicide fell from 29% in 1991 to 18.8% in 2017, according to the #CDC, but #suicideattempts since 1991 have risen. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The habits of #American #teens have also shifted since the 1990s. 

#Drug use and #alcohol consumption have dropped from 1991 to 2019. About 50% of #teenagers in 1991 regularly consumed #alcohol, but that share fell to 29.2% in 2019, according to #CDC data.

Cigarette use has also declined since 1991, despite a recent uptick in electronic vape use. Additionally, #marijuana use is on the rise but still below the record high of 26.7% of #teens in 1999, according to the #CDC. 

The share of U.S. #teenagers who have ever tried Illicit #drugs – including cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, ecstasy, or hallucinogens – is down as well, dropping from 28.8% in 1999 to 14.8% in 2019. 

The percentage of sexually active #teenagers has also declined. In 1991, around 54% of #teens have had sex at least once, compared to 38.4% in 2019. 

But one of the most significant changes for #American #teens is time spent on a computer – including smartphones, tablets and video games. In 2003, around 22.1% of #teens spent three or more hours per day on a computer, compared to 46.1% in 2017, according to the #CDC. 

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Credit: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Along with a surge in screen time, #teens in the U.S. have also been getting less sleep and have been less physically active over the past 15 years. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=9343

BY SINA M. SAFAHIEH, M.D.

Alarming headlines have filled the news this past week. First, there was a chilling exposé of a website that encourages #teenagers to take their own lives. Then Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri’s testimony before Congress failed to articulate safeguards for #teens’ #mentalhealth, despite research that links the #socialmedia site to #teen #depression, #anxiety and #suicidalideation.

There is no doubt that the nation’s #youth are hurting. The one-two punch of #pandemic-related #isolation and #socialmedia exploiting children’s vulnerabilities has scarred our #teens and young #adults.

A recent advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General on the #youth #mentalhealthcrisis warns of worsening #depression, #anxiety and suicides among our #adolescent population that was already experiencing a major national crisis prior to #COVID-19. The number of U.S. emergency room visits for suspected #suicideattempts by #teen #girls jumped during the #COVID-19 #pandemic by as much as 51%.

Here in Orange County, we are experiencing this firsthand.

The California Department of Health reported that the number of #suicides among people age 18 and under rose in 2020. In Orange County as of September, 11 young people took their lives, far surpassing the four-year average of eight suicides.

#COVID-19 has precipitated a #mentalhealthcrisis, fueled by #socialisolation, collapse of routines and structure, and increased uncertainty about the future. All of us, whether young or old, have developed disease fatigue, which is exacerbated by continuous contact and exposure to potential triggers without respite.

#Mentalhealthissues are medical issues and need to be treated as such. It’s critical — now more than ever — to take #mentalhealth seriously and get our #teens the help they deserve.

#Parents can do their part by keeping an open mind, asking questions in an open-ended fashion and remaining nonjudgmental, non-critical, and non-accusatory. Timing is everything; find the right time and place to have this important and potentially emotionally charged conversation and remain #patient to revisit this conversation at a later time and date if necessary.

Emphasize that your concerns are coming from a place of love, warmth and support and don’t expect #teens to open up immediately about how they feel.

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Many times, #teens do not feel comfortable sharing these potentially deep seated issues with family members and may be more open and transparent with a third party like a #therapist, #psychologist, #pediatrician or #psychiatrist.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

There are resources available in many communities, including through local, county and state departments. #Parents can find various directories online for #mental providers and should reach out to their respective insurance companies to obtain a list of providers, whether #therapist, #psychologist or #psychiatrists. Depending on the need or severity of symptoms, #parents may need to inquire about higher levels of care, including intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, inpatient psychiatric units and residential treatment centers including therapeutic boarding school, wilderness programs and dual diagnosis (drug/alcohol combined in conjunction with primary #mentalhealthissues).

The ASPIRE #adolescent intensive outpatient program at Hoag, one of the few programs that has remained open in person in Orange County, has seen a significant rise in admissions due to the unnatural demands of this global health crisis.

No doubt, this has been a traumatic time for this generation, but I have hope for #teens. They are much more resilient and adaptable than we realize, but they have much better odds of flourishing and persevering in this time of crisis if they get the attention and support they deserve.

Dr. Sina Safahieh, #child and #adolescent #psychiatrist at Hoag.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-taking-teen-mentalhealth-seriously/

#Athletes over the last few years had started to publicly address #anxiety, #depression and #suicidalthoughts they experienced

#SimoneBiles understands now that she was struggling long before she arrived at the Tokyo Olympics, where the unofficial face of the Games and one of the greatest gymnasts of all time was unable to force a smile and push her way through on the world's biggest stage.

Biles had persevered through the widespread sexual and emotional abuse scandal that rocked the gymnastics community. She continued her intense training and preparation for the Olympics through its yearlong #pandemic delay.

She was fine, she convinced herself.

But when the seven-time Olympic medalist stepped onto the floor in July for the women's team final, she was not fine. Biles was suffering from "the twisties," a phenomenon in which she'd lost her sense of air because her mind and body could not sync, and she walked off the floor.

"I think it’s definitely pent up emotions, aggressions for the past couple of years, trauma that led to that moment of once I got on the global scene, it just cracked," Biles said.

Recognizing that she was not in the right head space to compete safely, Biles ultimately pulled out of four events. She returned to win a bronze medal on the beam, but that shiny piece of hardware represented a much larger victory for Biles.

Her very public admission that she was struggling, which followed a decision months earlier by tennis player #NaomiOsaka to withdraw from the French Open and not play Wimbledon, redefined the #mentalhealth discussion that’s been coursing through sports.

"I gave so many opportunities to a lot of the #athletes there," Biles said of the impact her decision made on others.

#MichaelPhelps, retired swimmer and winner of a record 23 gold medals, said the day after Biles walked off the floor in Tokyo that the gymnast had shown "it is OK not to be OK." Phelps has long been public about his own #mentalhealthstruggles — including acknowledging he contemplated #suicide after the 2012 Olympics — but Biles blew the discussion wide open.

#Athletes over the last few years had started to publicly address #anxiety, #depression and #suicidalthoughts they experienced. But heightened by the strains of the #pandemic and the support shown to both Biles and Osaka, the toughest of the tough are no longer "shaking it off," or any of the cliché things #athletes are supposed to do.

In the last three months:

— Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley stepped away from the game in October to "focus on my #mentalwellbeing," he wrote on #socialmedia. "This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future."

— Tennessee Titans receiver A.J. Brown shared a video on the one-year anniversary of the day he considered #suicide to deal with #depression he was battling during a breakout 2020 Pro Bowl season. "I just wanted to put out a positive message that I’m still here. I’m still growing. I’m still learning."

— Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Lane Johnson missed three games to address #depression and #anxiety. "I was living in hell for a long time. Don’t bottle it up. And it’s easy to do that. It’s easy to avoid the situations that you don’t want to go through."

— Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, said she would take a #mental break from tennis and sit out the start of next season to "re-set, recover, and grow" after a challenging two years that included contracting #COVID-19. "I could not detach myself from everything that was going on off the court; was feeling the collective sadness and turmoil around and it took its toll on me," the 21-year-old Canadian wrote on #socialmedia.

— Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas broke from his normal private nature on a podcast to discuss #mentalhealthstruggles that nearly caused him to quit racing. Bottas called the podcast "therapeutic" and said he did it for fans in his native Finland because "normally I haven't shared much underneath the skin... I think they have a right to know me a bit better as a human being."

Greg Miller, a licensed professional #counselor for Thriveworks in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, noted the focus on #mentalhealth is not entirely new and previously was championed by #KareemAbdul-Jabbar. He also pointed to #RoyceWhite, who talked openly of his struggles while playing #basketball at Iowa State but as an #NBA rookie in 2012 refused to play because the league lacked a comprehensive #mentalhealth program. Royce was, according to Miller, a "canary in the coal mine" nearly a decade ahead of his time.

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

While Biles and Osaka helped blow the conversation open, Miller believes #stigmas surrounding #mentalhealth won't go away. #Athletes, particularly #male ones from traditional sports championed in the fabric of #America, will still struggle to seek help when needed.

"We’re taught as #men to be individuals who take care of things with grit and resilience, not community and vulnerability," Miller said. "There are pockets of people in the country who see individuals talking about their feelings as weak or lacking masculinity in general. What you’re seeing playing out among #male #athletes now is nothing new to any #man who has ever dealt with #mentalhealthissues; it has been happening to #men across the country for generations.

"We, as a collective society, need to take a look at ourselves and decide whether an open conversation about #mentalhealth is strength-based or not. Until that happens, #male #athletes — and #men as a whole — will continue to experience difficulty discussing #mentalhealthchallenges."

The #NBA has a "Mind Health" program and the #NFL and #NFL Players Association in 2019 formed a #mentalhealth and wellness committee. Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman earlier this month urged organizations to invest in support systems following an incident in which defensive end Everson Griffen called #police to his home and then refused to leave; Griffen has since revealed he's #bipolar.

Most leagues do indeed now have robust #mentalhealth and counseling services.

Nearly six months removed from her own public dealings with #mentalhealthstruggles, Biles said "I’m honestly kind of OK that it happened" because it led to her receiving the help she didn't recognize she needed. Had it not all come to a head on a gymnastics mat in Tokyo, her trauma would have followed her.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-mentalhealth-among-athletes-spotlighted/

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com

By: Heidi Goitia

MESA, AZ — It has been just more than a month since Mesa #Police #Officer Mitchell Winters died by #suicide at the age of 23.

According to Blue HELP, an organization dedicated to the #mentalhealth of #firstresponders, he is one of 154 in this country who have taken their lives this year.

The Washington Post calls #policeofficer suicides a “quiet epidemic.”

It’s a number that retired #police #Officer Robert Taylor nearly added himself to.

“For me it was either I was going to end up killing myself or if I wanted to stay in this career that’s what it was going to come down to,” he said.

Taylor’s career started off strong, first serving with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office then as a deputy in Pinal County, followed by the Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment.

He says the demands of the job were expected, knowing he would most often interact with people on their worst days. And while the resulting heroics were celebrated, trauma calls didn’t always end well and the emotional impact left behind from that is NOT expected.

In Taylor’s case, he says while serving with Fort McDowell #police, that impact was not to be discussed.

“I had a supervisor on scene at one of my incidents who actually watched me react in a way that’s not normal for someone to react. It involved a #child drowning and his exact reaction at that time was pick it up and move on.”

Like many #firstresponders, Taylor found himself struggling mentally and turning to #alcohol to escape his reality. He tells ABC15 drinking heavily was the only way he could get himself to sleep.

He finally worked up the courage to ask for help but instead of being met with compassion, he says he was met with ridicule.

“I was told some terms and you know they still make jokes back at my old agency like ‘oh, better be okay you’re gonna go pull a Taylor’.”

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

According to #psychologist Katherine Kuhlman, Taylor’s story is all too common.

She specializes in treating #police and public safety #officers.

“When I heard about the Mesa #policeofficer I thought, not another one,” she said.

She says the accumulation of traumatic events can change #behaviors and can’t be ignored but the job itself isn’t the only thing causing emotional trauma.

We, the people these #officers have committed to serving, are also to blame.

“We know that more #officers die by #suicide than in the line of duty every year. Is it surprising? No. Especially in the last two years #officers went from being front line heroes to being vilified. All in a matter of weeks.”

She says many of the #officers she treats are embarrassed to say what they do for a living creating what she calls the perfect storm for #suicide.

In 2018 after hitting rock bottom and finally getting help, Taylor retired.

“I was 31 when I turned in my retirement papers. It sucked. It was the worst feeling in the world. It was my identity, it was who I was.”

Here is a list of just some of the resources available for law enforcement and other #firstresponders when it comes to #mentalheath:

Blue HELP

Copline

Dr. Kuhlman

East Valley Trauma Counseling

PISTLE

The Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment says it heavily denies many of Taylor's claims in this story. The department's full statement in response is below:

"The Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation #PoliceDepartment has always made its #lawenforcement #officers' #mental and physical health a priority. The Nation's #PoliceDepartment makes available a number of resources for its officers, including providing on-staff trained peer counselors, conducting in-depth debriefings after serious incidents, and referring officers to the Nation’s Employee Assistance Program. The #PoliceDepartment disagrees with Mr. Taylor's statements and is saddened by his characterization of our response to his needs.

Regards, Tom Gonzales, Sergeant/Acting Chief of #Police"

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-mentalhealthstruggles-common-among-lawenforcement-officers/

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com

By: Heidi Goitia

MESA, AZ — It has been just more than a month since Mesa #Police #Officer Mitchell Winters died by #suicide at the age of 23.

According to Blue HELP, an organization dedicated to the #mentalhealth of #firstresponders, he is one of 154 in this country who have taken their lives this year.

The Washington Post calls #policeofficer suicides a “quiet epidemic.”

It’s a number that retired #police #Officer Robert Taylor nearly added himself to.

“For me it was either I was going to end up killing myself or if I wanted to stay in this career that’s what it was going to come down to,” he said.

Taylor’s career started off strong, first serving with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office then as a deputy in Pinal County, followed by the Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment.

He says the demands of the job were expected, knowing he would most often interact with people on their worst days. And while the resulting heroics were celebrated, trauma calls didn’t always end well and the emotional impact left behind from that is NOT expected.

In Taylor’s case, he says while serving with Fort McDowell #police, that impact was not to be discussed.

“I had a supervisor on scene at one of my incidents who actually watched me react in a way that’s not normal for someone to react. It involved a #child drowning and his exact reaction at that time was pick it up and move on.”

Like many #firstresponders, Taylor found himself struggling mentally and turning to #alcohol to escape his reality. He tells ABC15 drinking heavily was the only way he could get himself to sleep.

He finally worked up the courage to ask for help but instead of being met with compassion, he says he was met with ridicule.

“I was told some terms and you know they still make jokes back at my old agency like ‘oh, better be okay you’re gonna go pull a Taylor’.”

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

According to #psychologist Katherine Kuhlman, Taylor’s story is all too common.

She specializes in treating #police and public safety #officers.

“When I heard about the Mesa #policeofficer I thought, not another one,” she said.

She says the accumulation of traumatic events can change #behaviors and can’t be ignored but the job itself isn’t the only thing causing emotional trauma.

We, the people these #officers have committed to serving, are also to blame.

“We know that more #officers die by #suicide than in the line of duty every year. Is it surprising? No. Especially in the last two years #officers went from being front line heroes to being vilified. All in a matter of weeks.”

She says many of the #officers she treats are embarrassed to say what they do for a living creating what she calls the perfect storm for #suicide.

In 2018 after hitting rock bottom and finally getting help, Taylor retired.

“I was 31 when I turned in my retirement papers. It sucked. It was the worst feeling in the world. It was my identity, it was who I was.”

Here is a list of just some of the resources available for law enforcement and other #firstresponders when it comes to #mentalheath:

Blue HELP

Copline

Dr. Kuhlman

East Valley Trauma Counseling

PISTLE

The Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment says it heavily denies many of Taylor's claims in this story. The department's full statement in response is below:

"The Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation #PoliceDepartment has always made its #lawenforcement #officers' #mental and physical health a priority. The Nation's #PoliceDepartment makes available a number of resources for its officers, including providing on-staff trained peer counselors, conducting in-depth debriefings after serious incidents, and referring officers to the Nation’s Employee Assistance Program. The #PoliceDepartment disagrees with Mr. Taylor's statements and is saddened by his characterization of our response to his needs.

Regards, Tom Gonzales, Sergeant/Acting Chief of #Police"

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-mentalhealthstruggles-common-among-lawenforcement-officers/

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com

By: Heidi Goitia

MESA, AZ — It has been just more than a month since Mesa #Police #Officer Mitchell Winters died by #suicide at the age of 23.

According to Blue HELP, an organization dedicated to the #mentalhealth of #firstresponders, he is one of 154 in this country who have taken their lives this year.

The Washington Post calls #policeofficer suicides a “quiet epidemic.”

It’s a number that retired #police #Officer Robert Taylor nearly added himself to.

“For me it was either I was going to end up killing myself or if I wanted to stay in this career that’s what it was going to come down to,” he said.

Taylor’s career started off strong, first serving with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office then as a deputy in Pinal County, followed by the Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment.

He says the demands of the job were expected, knowing he would most often interact with people on their worst days. And while the resulting heroics were celebrated, trauma calls didn’t always end well and the emotional impact left behind from that is NOT expected.

In Taylor’s case, he says while serving with Fort McDowell #police, that impact was not to be discussed.

“I had a supervisor on scene at one of my incidents who actually watched me react in a way that’s not normal for someone to react. It involved a #child drowning and his exact reaction at that time was pick it up and move on.”

Like many #firstresponders, Taylor found himself struggling mentally and turning to #alcohol to escape his reality. He tells ABC15 drinking heavily was the only way he could get himself to sleep.

He finally worked up the courage to ask for help but instead of being met with compassion, he says he was met with ridicule.

“I was told some terms and you know they still make jokes back at my old agency like ‘oh, better be okay you’re gonna go pull a Taylor’.”

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

According to #psychologist Katherine Kuhlman, Taylor’s story is all too common.

She specializes in treating #police and public safety #officers.

“When I heard about the Mesa #policeofficer I thought, not another one,” she said.

She says the accumulation of traumatic events can change #behaviors and can’t be ignored but the job itself isn’t the only thing causing emotional trauma.

We, the people these #officers have committed to serving, are also to blame.

“We know that more #officers die by #suicide than in the line of duty every year. Is it surprising? No. Especially in the last two years #officers went from being front line heroes to being vilified. All in a matter of weeks.”

She says many of the #officers she treats are embarrassed to say what they do for a living creating what she calls the perfect storm for #suicide.

In 2018 after hitting rock bottom and finally getting help, Taylor retired.

“I was 31 when I turned in my retirement papers. It sucked. It was the worst feeling in the world. It was my identity, it was who I was.”

Here is a list of just some of the resources available for law enforcement and other #firstresponders when it comes to #mentalheath:

Blue HELP

Copline

Dr. Kuhlman

East Valley Trauma Counseling

PISTLE

The Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment says it heavily denies many of Taylor's claims in this story. The department's full statement in response is below:

"The Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation #PoliceDepartment has always made its #lawenforcement #officers' #mental and physical health a priority. The Nation's #PoliceDepartment makes available a number of resources for its officers, including providing on-staff trained peer counselors, conducting in-depth debriefings after serious incidents, and referring officers to the Nation’s Employee Assistance Program. The #PoliceDepartment disagrees with Mr. Taylor's statements and is saddened by his characterization of our response to his needs.

Regards, Tom Gonzales, Sergeant/Acting Chief of #Police"

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-mentalhealthstruggles-common-among-lawenforcement-officers/

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com

By: Heidi Goitia

MESA, AZ — It has been just more than a month since Mesa #Police #Officer Mitchell Winters died by #suicide at the age of 23.

According to Blue HELP, an organization dedicated to the #mentalhealth of #firstresponders, he is one of 154 in this country who have taken their lives this year.

The Washington Post calls #policeofficer suicides a “quiet epidemic.”

It’s a number that retired #police #Officer Robert Taylor nearly added himself to.

“For me it was either I was going to end up killing myself or if I wanted to stay in this career that’s what it was going to come down to,” he said.

Taylor’s career started off strong, first serving with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office then as a deputy in Pinal County, followed by the Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment.

He says the demands of the job were expected, knowing he would most often interact with people on their worst days. And while the resulting heroics were celebrated, trauma calls didn’t always end well and the emotional impact left behind from that is NOT expected.

In Taylor’s case, he says while serving with Fort McDowell #police, that impact was not to be discussed.

“I had a supervisor on scene at one of my incidents who actually watched me react in a way that’s not normal for someone to react. It involved a #child drowning and his exact reaction at that time was pick it up and move on.”

Like many #firstresponders, Taylor found himself struggling mentally and turning to #alcohol to escape his reality. He tells ABC15 drinking heavily was the only way he could get himself to sleep.

He finally worked up the courage to ask for help but instead of being met with compassion, he says he was met with ridicule.

“I was told some terms and you know they still make jokes back at my old agency like ‘oh, better be okay you’re gonna go pull a Taylor’.”

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

According to #psychologist Katherine Kuhlman, Taylor’s story is all too common.

She specializes in treating #police and public safety #officers.

“When I heard about the Mesa #policeofficer I thought, not another one,” she said.

She says the accumulation of traumatic events can change #behaviors and can’t be ignored but the job itself isn’t the only thing causing emotional trauma.

We, the people these #officers have committed to serving, are also to blame.

“We know that more #officers die by #suicide than in the line of duty every year. Is it surprising? No. Especially in the last two years #officers went from being front line heroes to being vilified. All in a matter of weeks.”

She says many of the #officers she treats are embarrassed to say what they do for a living creating what she calls the perfect storm for #suicide.

In 2018 after hitting rock bottom and finally getting help, Taylor retired.

“I was 31 when I turned in my retirement papers. It sucked. It was the worst feeling in the world. It was my identity, it was who I was.”

Here is a list of just some of the resources available for law enforcement and other #firstresponders when it comes to #mentalheath:

Blue HELP

Copline

Dr. Kuhlman

East Valley Trauma Counseling

PISTLE

The Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment says it heavily denies many of Taylor's claims in this story. The department's full statement in response is below:

"The Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation #PoliceDepartment has always made its #lawenforcement #officers' #mental and physical health a priority. The Nation's #PoliceDepartment makes available a number of resources for its officers, including providing on-staff trained peer counselors, conducting in-depth debriefings after serious incidents, and referring officers to the Nation’s Employee Assistance Program. The #PoliceDepartment disagrees with Mr. Taylor's statements and is saddened by his characterization of our response to his needs.

Regards, Tom Gonzales, Sergeant/Acting Chief of #Police"

Photo by Ludmila Aleksandra on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8873

#SuicidalThoughts, Suicidal Ideas

By 

Ashley Olivine, Ph.D., MPH 

Medically reviewed by 

Steven Gans, MD

Table of Contents

- Risk Factors
- Warning Signs
- Treatment
- Management & Prevention
- Frequently Asked Questions

#Suicideideation is thoughts, ideas, wishes, considerations, contemplations, or preoccupations relating to death and #suicide.1 It is sometimes referred to as #suicidalthoughts or #suicidalideas.

#Suicide is the second leading cause of death, after unintentional injury, among #Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 and in the top 10 leading causes among all ages. Nearly 5% of #adults, and nearly 12% of #adults between the ages of 18 and 25, have serious thoughts of #suicide.2

#Suicideideation is often connected to a major depressive episode, but not always. It can also be linked to other #mentalhealthdisorders, #substanceabuse, trauma, extended #grief, or compromised health.3

#SuicidePreventionHotline

If you are having #suicidalthoughts, contact the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained #counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more #mentalhealthresources, see our National Helpline Database.

Justin Case

What Is #Suicide?

#Suicide is death by oneself or the act of someone taking their own life.

Risk Factors

While #suicidalideation is most often associated with #depression or a major depressive episode, this is not always the case.3 People living with other #mentalhealthdisorders, such as #mooddisorders, and even people without #mentalhealthdisorders, can experience #suicidalideation. In addition, those with a #substanceabusedisorder, chronic illness, or experiencing #grief are also at an increased risk.

Friends and family members of people who have completed #suicide are at an increased risk of #suicidalideation. #Suicidecontagion is when exposure to #suicide or #suicidalbehavior in one's #socialnetwork, including friends, family members, and even media can result in increased thoughts of #suicide, as well as #suicidebehaviors including attempts and deaths.4

Genetics may play a role in the risk of #suicidalideation and #suicidalbehavior. #Mentalhealthconditions linked to #suicidalideation, such as #depression, run in families, so people with a family history of #mentalillness are at an increased risk of experiencing #suicidalideation themselves.5 However, some things can help reduce the risks, and family history does not mean a person will have #suicidalthoughts.

#SuicidalIdeation Risk Factors

Risk factors that make someone more prone to experience #suicidalideation include:

- Major depressive episode
- Other #mentalhealthdisorders such as #schizophrenia or #bipolardisorder
- #Substanceabuse
- Addiction
- Trauma
- Extended #grief
- Compromised physical health
- Chronic or terminal illness
- Chronic pain
- Past #suicideattempts
- Connection to someone who has died by #suicide
- Lack of a supportive community
- Disability
- Limited access to #healthcare
- Genetics

Warning Signs

Warning signs that someone is thinking about #suicide may be noticed by the people around them, including friends and family members. These warning signs may include talking about dying and other negative thoughts or they may be expressed through feelings of #hopelessness, being trapped, or #behavior changes.6

Signs To Look Out For

Signs that indicate that someone may be experiencing #suicidalideation include:

- Extreme mood swings
- Talking or thinking about wanting to kill themselves
- Talking or thinking about being a burden to others
- Sleeping excessively or not enough
- Changes in eating habits
- #Isolation and withdrawal
- Extreme guilt or shame
- Research related to death and ways to die
- Gifting important belongings
- Making a will
- Excessive risk taking, such as drinking and driving or using hard drugs

Treating #SuicidalIdeation

#Suicidalideation can be treated with medications or psychotherapy (talk therapy). Medications and psychotherapy can be used together. #Cognitivebehaviortherapy (#CBT) and #dialecticalbehavioraltherapy (#DBT) are the two most common types of psychotherapy used to prevent #suicide.7

Depending on the severity, medication and psychotherapy treatments may be provided through an appointment with a #healthcareprovider or at an in-#patient facility such as a hospital or #mentalhealth facility.

 Choosing the Right #Therapist

A significant part of treating #suicidalideation is identifying and treating other #mentalhealthconditions that may occur with #suicideideation. For example, #suicideideation is more likely to occur in people living with #schizophrenia, #depression, and #bipolardisorder.

Certain medications have been shown to decrease the risk of #suicide. These include a medication called Clozaril (clozapine) that can be used to prevent #suicide among people living with #schizophrenia. Lithium, which is used in #bipolardisorder, and #antidepressants, can be used in people with #depression. In some instances, people with #suicidalideation may need to be hospitalized for their safety until the underlying condition is adequately treated.7

If you or a loved one are struggling with #depression or #suicidalideation, contact the #SubstanceAbuse and #MentalHealthServices Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more #mentalhealthresources, see our National Helpline Database.

Management & Prevention

In addition to psychotherapy and medications, there are other things that can be done to manage and prevent #suicidalideation and #suicide. Many lifestyle #behaviors impact #suiciderisk, including:8

- Relationships
- Addiction to the internet
- Nutrition
- Work #stress
- Activity level
- #Substanceuse
- Weight

It can be helpful to focus on developing and strengthening relationships with friends and family or members of a support group, seek treatment for internet and substance addictions, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce these risks.

Specific lifestyle changes may include eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, managing #stress, and exercising. Activities such as yoga and meditation may also be helpful.

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Summary

#Suicidalideation, sometimes referred to as #suicidalthoughts or suicidal ideas, involves thoughts, ideas, wishes, considerations, contemplations, or preoccupations relating to death and #suicide.1 People living with #mentalhealthconditions, substance misuse, extreme #grief, and chronic illness are at an increased risk, but anyone can experience #suicidalideation.

Warning signs include changes in sleep or eating habits, extreme mood swings, talking about dying or being a burden to others, and isolation or withdrawal. These signs must be taken seriously by contacting a #healthcareprofessional or the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support. #Suicidalideation can be treated, managed, and prevented with psychotherapy, medications, and lifestyle changes.

A Word From Verywell

#Suicidalideation can be scary, both for the person experiencing the #suicidalideation and those around them, including family and friends. It is important to remember that #suicidalideation can be treated. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of #suicide or death, seek help immediately. It is possible to recover from #suicidalideation and go on to live a healthy, happy life.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

- How is #suicidalideation officially diagnosed? If you are experiencing #suicidalideation, a #doctor or #mentalhealthprofessional such as a #psychiatrist or #psychologist will do an in-depth evaluation of your #mental and physical health to best determine what might be causing your #suicidalideation. The process may include a physical exam, a questionnaire, and a conversation with additional questions.
- Can certain medications cause #suicidalideations? An increase in #suicidalideation has been associated with several types of medications under certain rare circumstances. These include antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
- How can I help somebody having #suicidalideations? If you think someone may be having #suicidalthoughts and in danger or in need of immediate help, stay with them and contact a qualified #healthcareprofessional or call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-how-to-manage-suicidalideation/

#SuicidalThoughts, Suicidal Ideas

By 

Ashley Olivine, Ph.D., MPH 

Medically reviewed by 

Steven Gans, MD

Table of Contents

- Risk Factors
- Warning Signs
- Treatment
- Management & Prevention
- Frequently Asked Questions

#Suicideideation is thoughts, ideas, wishes, considerations, contemplations, or preoccupations relating to death and #suicide.1 It is sometimes referred to as #suicidalthoughts or #suicidalideas.

#Suicide is the second leading cause of death, after unintentional injury, among #Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 and in the top 10 leading causes among all ages. Nearly 5% of #adults, and nearly 12% of #adults between the ages of 18 and 25, have serious thoughts of #suicide.2

#Suicideideation is often connected to a major depressive episode, but not always. It can also be linked to other #mentalhealthdisorders, #substanceabuse, trauma, extended #grief, or compromised health.3

#SuicidePreventionHotline

If you are having #suicidalthoughts, contact the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained #counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more #mentalhealthresources, see our National Helpline Database.

Justin Case

What Is #Suicide?

#Suicide is death by oneself or the act of someone taking their own life.

Risk Factors

While #suicidalideation is most often associated with #depression or a major depressive episode, this is not always the case.3 People living with other #mentalhealthdisorders, such as #mooddisorders, and even people without #mentalhealthdisorders, can experience #suicidalideation. In addition, those with a #substanceabusedisorder, chronic illness, or experiencing #grief are also at an increased risk.

Friends and family members of people who have completed #suicide are at an increased risk of #suicidalideation. #Suicidecontagion is when exposure to #suicide or #suicidalbehavior in one's #socialnetwork, including friends, family members, and even media can result in increased thoughts of #suicide, as well as #suicidebehaviors including attempts and deaths.4

Genetics may play a role in the risk of #suicidalideation and #suicidalbehavior. #Mentalhealthconditions linked to #suicidalideation, such as #depression, run in families, so people with a family history of #mentalillness are at an increased risk of experiencing #suicidalideation themselves.5 However, some things can help reduce the risks, and family history does not mean a person will have #suicidalthoughts.

#SuicidalIdeation Risk Factors

Risk factors that make someone more prone to experience #suicidalideation include:

- Major depressive episode
- Other #mentalhealthdisorders such as #schizophrenia or #bipolardisorder
- #Substanceabuse
- Addiction
- Trauma
- Extended #grief
- Compromised physical health
- Chronic or terminal illness
- Chronic pain
- Past #suicideattempts
- Connection to someone who has died by #suicide
- Lack of a supportive community
- Disability
- Limited access to #healthcare
- Genetics

Warning Signs

Warning signs that someone is thinking about #suicide may be noticed by the people around them, including friends and family members. These warning signs may include talking about dying and other negative thoughts or they may be expressed through feelings of #hopelessness, being trapped, or #behavior changes.6

Signs To Look Out For

Signs that indicate that someone may be experiencing #suicidalideation include:

- Extreme mood swings
- Talking or thinking about wanting to kill themselves
- Talking or thinking about being a burden to others
- Sleeping excessively or not enough
- Changes in eating habits
- #Isolation and withdrawal
- Extreme guilt or shame
- Research related to death and ways to die
- Gifting important belongings
- Making a will
- Excessive risk taking, such as drinking and driving or using hard drugs

Treating #SuicidalIdeation

#Suicidalideation can be treated with medications or psychotherapy (talk therapy). Medications and psychotherapy can be used together. #Cognitivebehaviortherapy (#CBT) and #dialecticalbehavioraltherapy (#DBT) are the two most common types of psychotherapy used to prevent #suicide.7

Depending on the severity, medication and psychotherapy treatments may be provided through an appointment with a #healthcareprovider or at an in-#patient facility such as a hospital or #mentalhealth facility.

 Choosing the Right #Therapist

A significant part of treating #suicidalideation is identifying and treating other #mentalhealthconditions that may occur with #suicideideation. For example, #suicideideation is more likely to occur in people living with #schizophrenia, #depression, and #bipolardisorder.

Certain medications have been shown to decrease the risk of #suicide. These include a medication called Clozaril (clozapine) that can be used to prevent #suicide among people living with #schizophrenia. Lithium, which is used in #bipolardisorder, and #antidepressants, can be used in people with #depression. In some instances, people with #suicidalideation may need to be hospitalized for their safety until the underlying condition is adequately treated.7

If you or a loved one are struggling with #depression or #suicidalideation, contact the #SubstanceAbuse and #MentalHealthServices Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more #mentalhealthresources, see our National Helpline Database.

Management & Prevention

In addition to psychotherapy and medications, there are other things that can be done to manage and prevent #suicidalideation and #suicide. Many lifestyle #behaviors impact #suiciderisk, including:8

- Relationships
- Addiction to the internet
- Nutrition
- Work #stress
- Activity level
- #Substanceuse
- Weight

It can be helpful to focus on developing and strengthening relationships with friends and family or members of a support group, seek treatment for internet and substance addictions, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce these risks.

Specific lifestyle changes may include eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, managing #stress, and exercising. Activities such as yoga and meditation may also be helpful.

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Summary

#Suicidalideation, sometimes referred to as #suicidalthoughts or suicidal ideas, involves thoughts, ideas, wishes, considerations, contemplations, or preoccupations relating to death and #suicide.1 People living with #mentalhealthconditions, substance misuse, extreme #grief, and chronic illness are at an increased risk, but anyone can experience #suicidalideation.

Warning signs include changes in sleep or eating habits, extreme mood swings, talking about dying or being a burden to others, and isolation or withdrawal. These signs must be taken seriously by contacting a #healthcareprofessional or the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support. #Suicidalideation can be treated, managed, and prevented with psychotherapy, medications, and lifestyle changes.

A Word From Verywell

#Suicidalideation can be scary, both for the person experiencing the #suicidalideation and those around them, including family and friends. It is important to remember that #suicidalideation can be treated. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of #suicide or death, seek help immediately. It is possible to recover from #suicidalideation and go on to live a healthy, happy life.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

- How is #suicidalideation officially diagnosed? If you are experiencing #suicidalideation, a #doctor or #mentalhealthprofessional such as a #psychiatrist or #psychologist will do an in-depth evaluation of your #mental and physical health to best determine what might be causing your #suicidalideation. The process may include a physical exam, a questionnaire, and a conversation with additional questions.
- Can certain medications cause #suicidalideations? An increase in #suicidalideation has been associated with several types of medications under certain rare circumstances. These include antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
- How can I help somebody having #suicidalideations? If you think someone may be having #suicidalthoughts and in danger or in need of immediate help, stay with them and contact a qualified #healthcareprofessional or call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-how-to-manage-suicidalideation/

#Grief can make special days harder

Rachel Ehmke

What You'll Learn

- How might #kids feel on important days after someone has died?
- What can #parents do to help #children process their #grief?
- How can families make special days easier for #kids?

The year after a loved one has died is especially hard. The first #Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day or special event like a graduation can make #kids feel sad. You may think the best idea is to skip the celebration. But skipping it can sometimes make #kids feel even worse. Thinking and planning ahead can make these hard days easier and even bring some joy to them.

It’s important to let your #kids know that it’s okay for them to feel sad. Trying to pretend that everything is fine just makes #kids feel like it’s not okay to have feelings. On the other hand, it’s probably best if you don’t let your #kids see you at your most upset moments, since they might feel scared.

It’s very normal for #kids to go in and out of sadness. They may be sad one minute and want to play the next. That’s very healthy, especially for little #kids who might not get exactly what’s going on.

It can really help to plan out the day. Let #kids know what’s going to happen and who will be there. That gives #kids a sense of control and security. It also helps to include favorite family traditions. Those shouldn’t disappear because a loved one has died. In fact, they can make the day feel special.

Finding a way to talk or share memories about the person who died or do something that they loved can also help #kids deal with #grief. And #parents need help on hard days, too. It’s good to get family and caregivers to take some of the burden off you or just give you a break.

When you’ve lost someone you love, the year that follows is inevitably a year of firsts without that person. Celebrations like the first #Thanksgiving, birthday or Mother’s Day without someone who played a major role in your and your family’s life will be especially hard. This is also true for personal milestones, like graduations and first days of #school, many of them involving #children. What’s the best way to face these days when, rather than feeling festive, you’re feeling the loss most keenly?

Depending on the occasion and your #grief, you may even be wondering if you should skip the day altogether. Trying to ignore important occasions can also be painful, so that probably isn’t the best strategy. For families coping with bereavement, it isn’t uncommon to experience moments of joy along with some sorrow on significant days. Thinking ahead of time about how to make the day easier for your family can help.

Acknowledge emotions

First, acknowledge that this will likely be a difficult day for your family. Recognizing this is important. Sometimes families — both #parents and #children — feel they need to put on a brave face when they are feeling sad. But it is okay to feel sad and show grief. “As a rule of thumb, avoidance is a bad idea because it makes us feel worse in the medium and long term,” notes Jamie Howard, PhD, a clinicial #psychologist and director of the Trauma and Resilience Program at the #ChildMindInstitute, “Our emotions don’t really respond well to being closeted. They find a way out.” Hiding your own #grief can also make your #children feel like the sadness they may be feeling is bad. However, try not to let #children see you at your most upset moments, as they may begin to worry about you or feel insecure.

Let the #children know that however they are feeling is fine, and they don’t need to hide it. If they want to say, “I really miss him,” that’s okay. On the other hand, #kids also shouldn’t feel that they are expected to be miserable all day. It is common and healthy for #kids to go in and out of #grief, and take comfort in playing. Younger #children in particular, who might not realize the significance of the day, will probably want to play and have fun, and that’s fine, too.

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Make a plan

Dr. Howard says it’s a good idea to make a plan for how the day will look, and to share that plan with the kids. Making it somewhat predictable, so they know what to expect, who will be there, and what it will be like can make everyone feel like they have a little more control.

If you are churchgoers, you might plan to go to church first thing and then go home and have breakfast. Or maybe you’ll wake up, make pancakes together and then take a walk. If people are coming over for lunch, let the #children know who will be coming over. Then maybe next on the schedule they’ll have some free time to play or hang out before dinner.

Do what you can to include favorite traditions when you are planning your day, too. It may feel bittersweet, but people find comfort in traditions, and they can help the day feel special.

Memorialize

Remembering is part of grieving and part of healing, so think about doing something to memorialize your loved one. It will be sad, but Dr. Howard says it can help in the grieving process. In the case of a deceased #parent, for example, maybe that means taking the occasion to talk to the #kids about how special their mother was, tell favorite stories, and let the #kids know that some of the things that she taught them will be with them forever, even though she isn’t here now. If she really liked flowers, maybe you could plant some flowers in honor of her. If she liked to collect things, maybe you could put her collection in a place you’ll pass by it frequently, and think of her.

Ask for help

One very important consideration when making a plan for the day is for #parents and #caregivers to consider what they can get through emotionally, and what might be helpful to them. #Parents should certainly ask for other family members and close friends to be on hand to support them  if that would be useful. Maybe a relative could help make dinner, play a game with the #kids, or even just be present  to backstop or take over if a break is needed.

Rachel Ehmke is managing editor at the #ChildMindInstitute.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-how-to-handle-holidays-after-a-death-in-the-family/

#Grief can make special days harder

Rachel Ehmke

What You'll Learn

- How might #kids feel on important days after someone has died?
- What can #parents do to help #children process their #grief?
- How can families make special days easier for #kids?

The year after a loved one has died is especially hard. The first #Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day or special event like a graduation can make #kids feel sad. You may think the best idea is to skip the celebration. But skipping it can sometimes make #kids feel even worse. Thinking and planning ahead can make these hard days easier and even bring some joy to them.

It’s important to let your #kids know that it’s okay for them to feel sad. Trying to pretend that everything is fine just makes #kids feel like it’s not okay to have feelings. On the other hand, it’s probably best if you don’t let your #kids see you at your most upset moments, since they might feel scared.

It’s very normal for #kids to go in and out of sadness. They may be sad one minute and want to play the next. That’s very healthy, especially for little #kids who might not get exactly what’s going on.

It can really help to plan out the day. Let #kids know what’s going to happen and who will be there. That gives #kids a sense of control and security. It also helps to include favorite family traditions. Those shouldn’t disappear because a loved one has died. In fact, they can make the day feel special.

Finding a way to talk or share memories about the person who died or do something that they loved can also help #kids deal with #grief. And #parents need help on hard days, too. It’s good to get family and caregivers to take some of the burden off you or just give you a break.

When you’ve lost someone you love, the year that follows is inevitably a year of firsts without that person. Celebrations like the first #Thanksgiving, birthday or Mother’s Day without someone who played a major role in your and your family’s life will be especially hard. This is also true for personal milestones, like graduations and first days of #school, many of them involving #children. What’s the best way to face these days when, rather than feeling festive, you’re feeling the loss most keenly?

Depending on the occasion and your #grief, you may even be wondering if you should skip the day altogether. Trying to ignore important occasions can also be painful, so that probably isn’t the best strategy. For families coping with bereavement, it isn’t uncommon to experience moments of joy along with some sorrow on significant days. Thinking ahead of time about how to make the day easier for your family can help.

Acknowledge emotions

First, acknowledge that this will likely be a difficult day for your family. Recognizing this is important. Sometimes families — both #parents and #children — feel they need to put on a brave face when they are feeling sad. But it is okay to feel sad and show grief. “As a rule of thumb, avoidance is a bad idea because it makes us feel worse in the medium and long term,” notes Jamie Howard, PhD, a clinicial #psychologist and director of the Trauma and Resilience Program at the #ChildMindInstitute, “Our emotions don’t really respond well to being closeted. They find a way out.” Hiding your own #grief can also make your #children feel like the sadness they may be feeling is bad. However, try not to let #children see you at your most upset moments, as they may begin to worry about you or feel insecure.

Let the #children know that however they are feeling is fine, and they don’t need to hide it. If they want to say, “I really miss him,” that’s okay. On the other hand, #kids also shouldn’t feel that they are expected to be miserable all day. It is common and healthy for #kids to go in and out of #grief, and take comfort in playing. Younger #children in particular, who might not realize the significance of the day, will probably want to play and have fun, and that’s fine, too.

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Make a plan

Dr. Howard says it’s a good idea to make a plan for how the day will look, and to share that plan with the kids. Making it somewhat predictable, so they know what to expect, who will be there, and what it will be like can make everyone feel like they have a little more control.

If you are churchgoers, you might plan to go to church first thing and then go home and have breakfast. Or maybe you’ll wake up, make pancakes together and then take a walk. If people are coming over for lunch, let the #children know who will be coming over. Then maybe next on the schedule they’ll have some free time to play or hang out before dinner.

Do what you can to include favorite traditions when you are planning your day, too. It may feel bittersweet, but people find comfort in traditions, and they can help the day feel special.

Memorialize

Remembering is part of grieving and part of healing, so think about doing something to memorialize your loved one. It will be sad, but Dr. Howard says it can help in the grieving process. In the case of a deceased #parent, for example, maybe that means taking the occasion to talk to the #kids about how special their mother was, tell favorite stories, and let the #kids know that some of the things that she taught them will be with them forever, even though she isn’t here now. If she really liked flowers, maybe you could plant some flowers in honor of her. If she liked to collect things, maybe you could put her collection in a place you’ll pass by it frequently, and think of her.

Ask for help

One very important consideration when making a plan for the day is for #parents and #caregivers to consider what they can get through emotionally, and what might be helpful to them. #Parents should certainly ask for other family members and close friends to be on hand to support them  if that would be useful. Maybe a relative could help make dinner, play a game with the #kids, or even just be present  to backstop or take over if a break is needed.

Rachel Ehmke is managing editor at the #ChildMindInstitute.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=9560

Sports, Life and a Whole Lot More!

Listen to the show on www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ManciniSports

or

Call in and submit your questions to the live show at 347-205-9631

Saturday, June Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10am (PST)25, 2022 at 10am (PST)Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10am (PST)

Percy Allen brief information

Percy Allen is a seasoned sports journalist who has been with the Seattle Times for a quarter-century covering everything that you can think of in Seattle sports culture.  Since 1993, Allen has been a voice that Seattle sports culture can trust. He covered the Seattle SuperSonics championship in 1996, that ended with the Chicago Bulls beating the Sonics in six games. Allen would provide coverage of the Sonics up until they departed in 2008. Other notable events that he had the pleasure of covering include three Superbowl from 2000, 2001, and 2002. However, Allen’s journey did not start in Seattle, Washington he is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.

Listen to the show on www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ManciniSports

or

Call in and submit your questions to the live show at 347-205-9631

James Donaldson has complied quite a list of accomplishments over the years. Washington State University graduate '79, Small business owner for 28 years, 40 years involved in his community with youth programs, education, mentoring, women and minority business advocate, political candidate and a 20 year professional basketball, including 14 years in the NBA with an All Star appearance in 1988!

Currently, James is an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention as he is the Executive Director of his own non profit 5013c foundation

Your Gift of Life Foundation

Now join James Donaldson as he hosts his own sports radio talk show with a variety of intriguing, inspiring and interesting guest each and every week.

Every Saturday at 10am (PST)

Contact James Donaldson Here at His Your Gift of Life Foundation Site

Special Guest:
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/tune-in-and-listen-to-standing-above-the-crowd-with-james-donaldson-saturday-june-25-2022-10am-pst-with-special-guest-award-winning-sports-journalist-for-the-seattle-times-percy-allen/

Help yourself, and them, by learning techniques to manage #stress in a healthy way

Brigit Katz

What You'll Learn

- How can #parents learn to manage #stress?
- How do I keep my #child from feeling my #anxiety?
- What are some good ways to talk to #kids about #anxiety?

Managing your own #stress is the best way to keep your #child from picking up your #anxiety. You can try mindfulness techniques like deep breathing. Practicing mindfulness every day can help you feel calmer in general and make the techniques more effective when you are feeling anxious. You can also try to identify the things that make you anxious and set boundaries or come up with a plan for how to respond to them. Working with a #therapist can help. 

Once you know how to manage your own #stress, you can help #kids learn those same skills. You don’t need to hide your #anxiety. Instead, talk to #kids about what you feel and how you cope with it. You might say: “I’m feeling scared right now, but I know it’s not that likely that the thing I’m scared of will actually happen.”  

If you do something you regret later, talk about that too: “I yelled at you this morning because I was anxious we would be late. But I know there are better ways to react when I feel that way.” Talking about #anxiety sends #kids the message that #stress is normal and they can manage it. It can also help to plan for dealing with #anxiety before it happens. Talk to #kids about how you can work together to make life less stressful. For example, maybe they get points toward a little reward every time they get ready for #school on time. But try to avoid putting #kids in charge of managing your #anxiety. If a certain thing causes you a lot of #stress, find other #adults to take over or give you support. Parenting while taking care of your own #mentalhealth is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Witnessing a #parent in a state of #anxiety can be more than just momentarily unsettling for #children. #Kids look to their #parents for information about how to interpret ambiguous situations; if a #parent seems consistently anxious and fearful, the #child will determine that a variety of scenarios are unsafe. And there is evidence that #children of anxious #parents are more likely to exhibit #anxiety themselves, a probable combination of genetic risk factors and learned #behaviors.

It can be painful to think that, despite your best intentions, you may find yourself transmitting your own #stress to your #child. But if you are dealing with #anxiety and start to notice your #child exhibiting anxious #behaviors, the first important thing is not to get bogged down by guilt. “There’s no need to punish yourself,” says Jamie Howard, PhD, director of the #Stress and Resilience Program at the #ChildMindInstitute. “It feels really bad to have #anxiety, and it’s not easy to turn off.”

But the transmission of #anxiety from #parent to #child is not inevitable. The second important thing to do is implement strategies to help ensure that you do not pass your #anxiety on to your #kids. That means managing your own #stress as effectively as possible, and helping your kids manage theirs. “If a #child is prone to #anxiety,” Dr. Howard adds, “it’s helpful to know it sooner and to learn the strategies to manage sooner.”

Manage #stress with mindfulness

It can be very difficult to communicate a sense of calm to your #child when you are struggling to cope with your own #anxiety.

When we are feeling anxious, we start worrying about what might happen in the future — all those “what ifs.” To avoid getting caught up in worries about the future, try practicing mindfulness, which is a technique for focusing on the present. Here are two common mindfulness techniques to try:

- Squeeze Muscles: Starting at your toes, pick one muscle and squeeze it tight. Count to five. Release, and notice how your body changes. Repeat exercise moving up your body.
- Belly Breathing: Put one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest. Slowly breathe in from your stomach (expand like a balloon) and slowly breathe out (deflate).

You can try to practice mindfulness in the moment when you’re feeling anxious, but it is also a good idea to set aside time to be mindful every day. Regular practice will help you use the techniques more effectively when you really need them, and it can also make you feel calmer in general.

Learn your triggers

Pay attention to what triggers your #anxiety. While feeling #anxiety is unavoidable sometimes, we can also make it worse by dwelling on it. If you are someone who jumps to the worst-case scenario when you have a tickle in your throat, using WebMD might make you even more alarmed. Likewise, if you are stressed out by what’s happening in the news, spending time reading it — or even using #socialmedia — might make you feel worse. Setting boundaries about when and how you will engage with things that could trigger your #anxiety is a good idea.

If your #anxiety is severe and practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries on your own isn’t helping, consulting a #mentalhealthprofessional makes sense. A clinician can help you work through methods of #stress management that will suit your specific needs. As you learn to tolerate #stress, you will in turn be teaching your #child — who takes cues from your #behavior — how to cope with situations of uncertainty or doubt.

“A big part of treatment for #children with #anxiety,” explains Laura Kirmayer, PhD, a clinical #psychologist, “is actually teaching #parents #stress tolerance. It’s a simultaneous process — it’s both directing the parent’s #anxiety, and then how they also support and scaffold the child’s development of #stress tolerance.”

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Model #stress tolerance

When you learn some strategies for managing #stress that work for you, you can then impart them to your #child when she is feeling anxious. If, for example, you are working on thinking rationally during times of stress, you can practice those same skills with your #child. Say to her: “I understand that you are scared, but what are the chances something scary is actually going to happen?”

Try to maintain a calm, neutral demeanor in front of your #child, even as you are working on managing your #anxiety. Dr. Howard says, “Be aware of your facial expressions, the words you choose, and the intensity of the emotion you express, because #kids are reading you. They’re little sponges and they pick up on everything.”

Explain your #anxiety

While you don’t want your #child to witness every anxious moment you experience, you do not have to constantly suppress your emotions. It’s okay — and even healthy — for #children to see their #parents cope with #stress every now and then, but you want to explain why you reacted in the way that you did.

Let’s say, for example, you lost your temper because you were worried about getting your #child to #school on time. Later, when things are calm, say to her: “Do you remember when I got really frustrated in the morning? I was feeling anxious because you were late for #school, and the way I managed my anxiety was by yelling. But there are other ways you can manage it too. Maybe we can come up with a better way of leaving the house each morning.”

Talking about #anxiety in this way gives #children permission to feel #stress, explains Dr. Kirmayer, and sends the message that #stress is manageable. “If we feel like we have to constantly protect our #children from seeing us sad, or angry, or anxious, we’re subtly giving our #children the message that they don’t have permission to feel those feelings, or express them, or manage them,” she adds. “Then we’re also, in a way, giving them an indication that there isn’t a way to manage them when they happen.”

Make a plan

Come up with strategies in advance for managing specific situations that trigger your #stress. You may even involve your #child in the plan. If, for example, you find yourself feeling anxious about getting your son ready for bed by a reasonable hour, talk to him about how you can work together to better handle this stressful transition in the future. Maybe you can come up with a plan wherein he earns points toward a privilege whenever he goes through his evening routine without protesting his bedtime.

These strategies should be used sparingly: You don’t want to put the responsibility on your #child to manage your #anxiety if it permeates many aspects of your life. But seeing you implement a plan to curb specific anxious moments lets him know that #stress can be tolerated and managed.

Know when to disengage

If you know that a situation causes you undue #stress, you might want to plan ahead to absent yourself from that situation so your #children will not interpret it as unsafe. Let’s say, for example, that #school drop-offs fill you with #anxiety. Eventually you want to be able to take your #child to #school, but if you are still in treatment, you can ask a co-#parent or another trusted #adult to handle the drop off. “You don’t want to model this very worried, concerned expression upon separating from your #children,” says Dr. Howard. “You don’t want them to think that there’s anything dangerous about dropping them off at #school.”

In general, if you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with #anxiety in the presence of your #child, try to take a break. Danielle Veith, a stay-at-home mom who blogs about her struggles with #anxiety, will take some time to herself and engage in #stress-relieving activities when she starts to feel acutely anxious. “I have a list of to-do-right-this-second tips for dealing with a panic, which I carry with me: take a walk, drink tea, take a bath, or just get out the door into the air,” she says. “For me, it’s about trusting in the fact that the #anxiety will pass and just getting through until it passes.”

Find a support system

Trying to #parent while struggling with your own #mentalhealth can be a challenge, but you don’t have to do it alone. There is a lot of support online, on blogs, forums and #socialmedia. Getting support from the people in your life is important, too. Those people can be #therapists, co-#parents, or friends — anyone who will step in when you feel overwhelmed, or even just offer words of support. “I am a part of an actual support group, but I also have a network of friends,” says Veith. “I am open with friends about who I am, because I need to be able to call on them and ask for help. ”
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-how-to-avoid-passing-anxiety-on-to-your-kids/

Help yourself, and them, by learning techniques to manage #stress in a healthy way

Brigit Katz

What You'll Learn

- How can #parents learn to manage #stress?
- How do I keep my #child from feeling my #anxiety?
- What are some good ways to talk to #kids about #anxiety?

Managing your own #stress is the best way to keep your #child from picking up your #anxiety. You can try mindfulness techniques like deep breathing. Practicing mindfulness every day can help you feel calmer in general and make the techniques more effective when you are feeling anxious. You can also try to identify the things that make you anxious and set boundaries or come up with a plan for how to respond to them. Working with a #therapist can help. 

Once you know how to manage your own #stress, you can help #kids learn those same skills. You don’t need to hide your #anxiety. Instead, talk to #kids about what you feel and how you cope with it. You might say: “I’m feeling scared right now, but I know it’s not that likely that the thing I’m scared of will actually happen.”  

If you do something you regret later, talk about that too: “I yelled at you this morning because I was anxious we would be late. But I know there are better ways to react when I feel that way.” Talking about #anxiety sends #kids the message that #stress is normal and they can manage it. It can also help to plan for dealing with #anxiety before it happens. Talk to #kids about how you can work together to make life less stressful. For example, maybe they get points toward a little reward every time they get ready for #school on time. But try to avoid putting #kids in charge of managing your #anxiety. If a certain thing causes you a lot of #stress, find other #adults to take over or give you support. Parenting while taking care of your own #mentalhealth is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Witnessing a #parent in a state of #anxiety can be more than just momentarily unsettling for #children. #Kids look to their #parents for information about how to interpret ambiguous situations; if a #parent seems consistently anxious and fearful, the #child will determine that a variety of scenarios are unsafe. And there is evidence that #children of anxious #parents are more likely to exhibit #anxiety themselves, a probable combination of genetic risk factors and learned #behaviors.

It can be painful to think that, despite your best intentions, you may find yourself transmitting your own #stress to your #child. But if you are dealing with #anxiety and start to notice your #child exhibiting anxious #behaviors, the first important thing is not to get bogged down by guilt. “There’s no need to punish yourself,” says Jamie Howard, PhD, director of the #Stress and Resilience Program at the #ChildMindInstitute. “It feels really bad to have #anxiety, and it’s not easy to turn off.”

But the transmission of #anxiety from #parent to #child is not inevitable. The second important thing to do is implement strategies to help ensure that you do not pass your #anxiety on to your #kids. That means managing your own #stress as effectively as possible, and helping your kids manage theirs. “If a #child is prone to #anxiety,” Dr. Howard adds, “it’s helpful to know it sooner and to learn the strategies to manage sooner.”

Manage #stress with mindfulness

It can be very difficult to communicate a sense of calm to your #child when you are struggling to cope with your own #anxiety.

When we are feeling anxious, we start worrying about what might happen in the future — all those “what ifs.” To avoid getting caught up in worries about the future, try practicing mindfulness, which is a technique for focusing on the present. Here are two common mindfulness techniques to try:

- Squeeze Muscles: Starting at your toes, pick one muscle and squeeze it tight. Count to five. Release, and notice how your body changes. Repeat exercise moving up your body.
- Belly Breathing: Put one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest. Slowly breathe in from your stomach (expand like a balloon) and slowly breathe out (deflate).

You can try to practice mindfulness in the moment when you’re feeling anxious, but it is also a good idea to set aside time to be mindful every day. Regular practice will help you use the techniques more effectively when you really need them, and it can also make you feel calmer in general.

Learn your triggers

Pay attention to what triggers your #anxiety. While feeling #anxiety is unavoidable sometimes, we can also make it worse by dwelling on it. If you are someone who jumps to the worst-case scenario when you have a tickle in your throat, using WebMD might make you even more alarmed. Likewise, if you are stressed out by what’s happening in the news, spending time reading it — or even using #socialmedia — might make you feel worse. Setting boundaries about when and how you will engage with things that could trigger your #anxiety is a good idea.

If your #anxiety is severe and practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries on your own isn’t helping, consulting a #mentalhealthprofessional makes sense. A clinician can help you work through methods of #stress management that will suit your specific needs. As you learn to tolerate #stress, you will in turn be teaching your #child — who takes cues from your #behavior — how to cope with situations of uncertainty or doubt.

“A big part of treatment for #children with #anxiety,” explains Laura Kirmayer, PhD, a clinical #psychologist, “is actually teaching #parents #stress tolerance. It’s a simultaneous process — it’s both directing the parent’s #anxiety, and then how they also support and scaffold the child’s development of #stress tolerance.”

#James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Model #stress tolerance

When you learn some strategies for managing #stress that work for you, you can then impart them to your #child when she is feeling anxious. If, for example, you are working on thinking rationally during times of stress, you can practice those same skills with your #child. Say to her: “I understand that you are scared, but what are the chances something scary is actually going to happen?”

Try to maintain a calm, neutral demeanor in front of your #child, even as you are working on managing your #anxiety. Dr. Howard says, “Be aware of your facial expressions, the words you choose, and the intensity of the emotion you express, because #kids are reading you. They’re little sponges and they pick up on everything.”

Explain your #anxiety

While you don’t want your #child to witness every anxious moment you experience, you do not have to constantly suppress your emotions. It’s okay — and even healthy — for #children to see their #parents cope with #stress every now and then, but you want to explain why you reacted in the way that you did.

Let’s say, for example, you lost your temper because you were worried about getting your #child to #school on time. Later, when things are calm, say to her: “Do you remember when I got really frustrated in the morning? I was feeling anxious because you were late for #school, and the way I managed my anxiety was by yelling. But there are other ways you can manage it too. Maybe we can come up with a better way of leaving the house each morning.”

Talking about #anxiety in this way gives #children permission to feel #stress, explains Dr. Kirmayer, and sends the message that #stress is manageable. “If we feel like we have to constantly protect our #children from seeing us sad, or angry, or anxious, we’re subtly giving our #children the message that they don’t have permission to feel those feelings, or express them, or manage them,” she adds. “Then we’re also, in a way, giving them an indication that there isn’t a way to manage them when they happen.”

Make a plan

Come up with strategies in advance for managing specific situations that trigger your #stress. You may even involve your #child in the plan. If, for example, you find yourself feeling anxious about getting your son ready for bed by a reasonable hour, talk to him about how you can work together to better handle this stressful transition in the future. Maybe you can come up with a plan wherein he earns points toward a privilege whenever he goes through his evening routine without protesting his bedtime.

These strategies should be used sparingly: You don’t want to put the responsibility on your #child to manage your #anxiety if it permeates many aspects of your life. But seeing you implement a plan to curb specific anxious moments lets him know that #stress can be tolerated and managed.

Know when to disengage

If you know that a situation causes you undue #stress, you might want to plan ahead to absent yourself from that situation so your #children will not interpret it as unsafe. Let’s say, for example, that #school drop-offs fill you with #anxiety. Eventually you want to be able to take your #child to #school, but if you are still in treatment, you can ask a co-#parent or another trusted #adult to handle the drop off. “You don’t want to model this very worried, concerned expression upon separating from your #children,” says Dr. Howard. “You don’t want them to think that there’s anything dangerous about dropping them off at #school.”

In general, if you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with #anxiety in the presence of your #child, try to take a break. Danielle Veith, a stay-at-home mom who blogs about her struggles with #anxiety, will take some time to herself and engage in #stress-relieving activities when she starts to feel acutely anxious. “I have a list of to-do-right-this-second tips for dealing with a panic, which I carry with me: take a walk, drink tea, take a bath, or just get out the door into the air,” she says. “For me, it’s about trusting in the fact that the #anxiety will pass and just getting through until it passes.”

Find a support system

Trying to #parent while struggling with your own #mentalhealth can be a challenge, but you don’t have to do it alone. There is a lot of support online, on blogs, forums and #socialmedia. Getting support from the people in your life is important, too. Those people can be #therapists, co-#parents, or friends — anyone who will step in when you feel overwhelmed, or even just offer words of support. “I am a part of an actual support group, but I also have a network of friends,” says Veith. “I am open with friends about who I am, because I need to be able to call on them and ask for help. ”
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