Stress and crime

Originally I wanted to address "stress" and mental illness as the subjects of my blog, but I have tended to write about the stress of our economy and the political aspects contributing to this stress.

Recently, I have noticed an increase in violent crimes in my city and state, and have wondered if the stress related to the economy, loss of jobs, and a general sense of hopelessness has caused this increase in violent crime.

If a person is on the edge anyway, due to stress and/or mental illness, it wouldn't take a lot more to push him or her into a desperate act. Unfortunately many of the victims of these desperate acts are the people closest to that person.

Sometimes it is hard to see tomorrow as looking any brighter than today. Mental health professionals are quick to point out that things will always change. It isn't always easy to see that change coming, especially if you need a change for the better.

Why can some people recover from setbacks faster than others? Support from family and friends is helpful but doesn't always work. Losing a sense of control of your life can be the worst part for most people. Gaining back that control is essential in gaining back your self esteem so that you can get on with life.

The following may help if you have that feeling of loss of control:
1. Get help from a mental health professional
2. Find someone who can listen...spouse, friend, pastor, sister or brother
3. Seek out others in your same profession
4. Seek out others with similar interests such as in a club or hobby
5. Check out your local city and state resources
6. Get into the habit of getting up, getting out...do not sit at home
7. Get enough rest and eat a healthy diet...exercise...take a walk
8. Know that you are not alone

Stress can cause many changes in your body and mind. Carefully evaluate your situation and keep your head up. Accept help if you need it. Don't allow the stress of life to get you down. And especially, keep your cool and don't take out your stress on the ones closest to you.

It's Christmas Time, Again

Christmas time is here again. Gifts will be given, lights will be strung, and people everywhere will have good-will in their hearts. This year people will be cutting back because of the economy. Less spending is not good for the overall financial health of our nation, but maybe reining in the extravagance will be good for our mental and personal health. Christmas giving has gotten to be way too much anyway. Maybe the crisis on Wall Street, with the banking industry, and with the Big Three automakers has made us look at ourselves and made us realize we are indeed a nation of excess. Even people who are not in fear of loosing their jobs are cutting back and are spending less. This could be a good thing...

The gift of helping others may get a big boost, especially when we see how lucky we really are, and how we need to stick together to get through this financial mess.

Good wishes to all, and peace on earth...

Fear of unknown, uncertainty

The fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of the past few days may be taking it's toll. The mental stress of the financial crisis can overwhelm us if we dwell on it.

President Bush was very reassuring in his address to the nation yesterday morning concerning the money markets. He is right when he says we can and we will get through these problems. It is fear that has caused the stock prices to bounce and wobble. It may take awhile, but we will recover.

We sometimes have to let go of things for a while, so we can gain perspective of what is important. The mind and body have to recoup and renew, so that they can have the strength and energy to start all over again.

Take time this week-end to enjoy the things you do have; relax with friends... gather with family... get some exercise... clear your mind... maybe even get out and do a little fishing.

Do whatever it takes for you to get some mental and physical R&R so that you can face the issues of the upcoming week with a fresh out look and attitude.

"Opening the Door"

T'ai Chi is an ancient routine of traditional movements, which when put together in the proper frame of mind, can be a wonderful exercise for the body and the soul. Many of us can remember the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics when large numbers of Chinese showed the world the beauty of the fluid exercises.

I bought a T'ai Chi beginners kit by Gaiam which included a CD instructional video, a booklet with excerpts by a well-known author and teacher, and the 1-pound Chi ball. I am in love. The movements and gentle exercises are perfect for someone like me. I like the idea of relaxing and quieting my mind while giving my body a good work-out with strength and control. I am just a beginner, but I do believe this can become a life long search of the balance in mental and physical health.

With exercise movements having descriptive names such as "Opening the Door," "Waving Hands Like Clouds," "Parting the Wild Horses Mane," and "Embracing the Moon," it is easy to see the image in your mind. As a T'ai Chi proverb says "Where the mind goes, the ch'i follows."

Ack!

Why does it seem that everything goes wrong all at the same time! Is there a cosmic rule that says it has to be that way?? Have I angered the gods?? Have I brought this misfortune on my self by my behavior?? What??

It's not fair! Why does the refrigerator have to leak, the car battery has to die (twice, I might add), and then the house keys go missing after I have locked myself out the door. I just want to go to bed and pull the covers over my head...or dash my head on the rocks. I'm afraid to find out what will happen next.Thank goodness all these things can be resolved, but it is just frustrating to have to deal with them. I had other plans for my day off!

Stress can come in all shapes and sizes; how we deal with it can determine our mental and physical health. Or just maybe our mental and physical health determines how we deal with stress. It is so important to keep yourself on an even keel; getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods and drinking enough water. Take care of yourself first and all else will fall in place.

And I'm lucky to have a good friend who didn't judge when I freaked out and couldn't find my keys. Friends can help reduce your stress by helping you work through your problems and by just being there when you need them. And those keys...you might just find them exactly where you put them...

I'm crazy. Are you crazy?

I know a lot of people who have some sort of mental health issue; the most common of which is depression. We all have pressures from life, work, family...or have experienced a loss. The loss of a friend, family member, or animal companion can cause an acute sense of sadness. Mourning is different for all of us, and it takes a different amount of time to bounce back to "normal." Some people are harder to read than others, so we can't always tell how well a person is doing. Just when life is looking up again, all it takes is a memory, smell, song on the radio...and the pain of loss can flair up like the loss happened just yesterday, instead of a year ago. However, as time goes by, we are usually able to become nostalgic instead of sad, and the memories become sweet instead of painful. Celebrating the life of a loved one, knowing they were loved and loved us back, can go a long way to heal. We can't control the circumstances surrounding a loss, but we can release the feelings we no longer want to feel, and keep the feelings we want to keep.

Depression is biological as well as mental. In some people, depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance. A clinical professional should be consulted if depression is overwhelming or will not go away. Check with your local American Medical Association (AMA) if thoughts of hurting yourself or others are present. Help is out there! Everything changes, nothing ever remains the same.

I'm crazy. Are you crazy?

People who have experienced depression or other mental health issues can often feel that they are different from the rest of the world; but they really don't realize that there are many who have had the same feelings of sadness, aloneness, or isolation. Sometimes a little crazy is nice. We crazies tend to examine ourselves a little deeper and usually feel compassion and empathy for our fellow man a little more than others. So if someone looks at me and asks "Are you crazy?" I simply answer "Yes, I am."

Intro to jana's azul garden

The "purpose" of this blog is to throw out some ideas and see if anyone can relate and respond in kind. I am interested in how stress effects us all and how we deal with it. This includes work stress, family stress, money worries, to name a few, and how all this makes our mind and body react.Saving money (and the planet!) by buying local and organic is important in my book. I intend to include some ideas for simple and easy meals along with recipes. Feel free to add any favorites of your own by blogging to this site.After all is said and done, "We Are What We Eat!"Also, I would like to address our mental health: how we deal with our own as well as our friends and families well being. Do you know anyone with depression, obsessive-compulsion, or bi-polar illnesses? I am not a professional and do not profess to have any particular knowledge of these; but as a lay person I hope to open a forum where people can express their opinions, give the benefit of their experiences, and hopefully help each other by being open and honest about how our brains and bodies work.If we are all "Running Against the Wind"... We might as well have friends to keep us company and help share the load.