esperanza Magazine for Anxiety & Depression Summer 2020

new ways

We will remember the spring and summer of 2020 as being unlike any other. Collectively and individually, we are facing unprecedented challenges—and rising to the occasion. Whether it means buckling down and putting into motion the self-care we put off for “someday”; learning new skills to cope with new anxieties and intensified old ones; reaching out to friends, family, and our healthcare providers in different ways; we have all stepped up. In big ways, and, importantly, in small ways, repeated often. Relief from loneliness and our disrupted routines—and life—is what we crave. Looking for comfort serves us well when we connect with loved ones; though we might find that it’s short-lived when we turn to food to escape our worry and deal with stress. In “Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating,” we…

letters to the editor

BURNOUT BREAKTHROUGH “FROM BURNOUT TO BALANCE” (Winter 2020) really spoke to me, especially now, as we are in the middle of a worldwide health crisis. While self-quarantined, I have fully realized that I am my own best friend, cheerleader, and parent. Nicole Lapin [author of Becoming Super Woman], as quoted in the article, says, “A Super Woman is her own … hero, who writes her own story and, when needed, saves herself.” So, I must look inside myself for motivation, answers, and—most of all—balance. Meg Henderson Wade VIRGINIA BEACH, VA I APPRECIATED your investigation of burnout, as I feel like I’ve been running on empty for far too long. Throughout this pandemic, I find myself picking up the article again as I try to maneuver our new normal and the weight of my workload.…

anxiety & depression: the fraternal twins of mood disorders

anxiety Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation. But when it becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder. Who is affected? Anxiety disorders affect approximately 12% of adults in a given year. Types of anxiety disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry, and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): recurrent, unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors. Panic Disorder: unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): persistent frightening thoughts and memories of a terrifying ordeal. Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder: overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Signs and symptoms All symptoms cluster around excessive, irrational fear and dread, but each disorder has different symptoms. GAD: worries accompanied by fatigue, headaches, muscle…

michael

AGE: 67 • LOCATION: BROOKLINE,MA • OCCUPATION: FREELANCE WRITER; FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT; NAMI MASSACHUSETTS BOARD MEMBER • DIAGNOSIS: MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER (1992) TOP OF MY PLAYLIST: “Desperado,” by the Eagles; “City of New Orleans,” by Willie Nelson. FAVORITE PERSONAL TRAIT: My sense of humor. MOST UNUSUAL TALENT: I’m wicked good at Scrabble. BIGGEST ADVENTURE: Marriage to Julie, my traveling companion down all the roads of “Crazyville” for 40 years (and counting). TREASURED ITEMS: My collection of camel figures. And my Star Trek DVDs. BEST WAY TO UNWIND: Cooking. PET: Jackson. While looking for a dog that doesn’t shed, we adopted him from a shelter. Surprise! He sheds. A lot. FUN FACT: I ran the Boston Marathon in 2000, finishing 15,156th. GREATEST LESSON: If you have to eat a live toad, do it first thing in the morning. The rest of…

mental health news

FCC designates 988 mental health crisis number July 16, 2020, ARLINGTON, VA—The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) move to designate 988 as a nation-wide, three-digit number for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services will no doubt be a life-saving step. The FCC plan established a two-year timeline to make 988 operational nation-wide. “Once fully implemented, 988 will save lives and is a critical component to ensuring people in crisis are diverted from involvement in the criminal justice system and connected to appropriate services and supports,” said NAMI chief executive officer Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. NAMI said it is now focused on the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. The advocacy agency said the Senate unanimously passed the act…

quick picks

Singapore fund helps kids July 18, 2020, SINGAPORE—A new fund known as The Musim Mas BlueStar* Fund in this city state is designed to help young people facing mental health issues. In Singapore, parents prefer to talk about how good their kids are, and issues relating to mental health problems are not typically talked about openly. Call for better care in Canada July 13, 2020, OTTAWA, ON—The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health called on the federal government to take further action on mental health in the country, saying the steady increase in demand for mental health care suggests Canadians need better and more accessible mental health care services from coast to coast. The alliance is comprised of 13 national mental health groups. 'Hopeline' launched in Philippines July 4, 2020, MANILA, the Philippines—The…