Dec 12

1: What is Emotional Self-Reliance?

Posted by Emotional Self-Reliance in Mental Illness, Wellness Tools, WRAP, health, brain injury, memory loss, employment, rehabilitation, learned helplessness, ECT, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Side effects, medication, psychiatry, psychiatrist, determination, stubborn, psychosis, depression, suicide, anxiety, housing, work

If your psychiatrist told you "They haven't invented the medication that will help you yet," what would you do? Join Sarah's exploration of "Wellness Tools" as she works to recover a life lost to symptoms of severe mental illness and a memory lost to psychiatric electroconvulsive therapy "shock" treatments.

Dec 12

2: Making Small Successes into Big Achievements

Posted by Emotional Self-Reliance in Mental Illness, Wellness Tools, WRAP, health, brain injury, memory loss, employment, rehabilitation, learned helplessness, psychiatry, determination, anxiety, work, identity

How is learning to fold an ornate origami swan like learning to live with symptoms of mental illness? How can we turn scattered shreds of our life’s paper, into our life's unique origami masterpiece? Embrace your colors and have fun, one tiny fold at a time! Origami swan tutorial.

Dec 19

4: 32 Ways to Prevent Your Own Suicide

Posted by Emotional Self-Reliance in Mental Illness, Wellness Tools, health, learned helplessness, Side effects, medication, psychiatry, determination, psychosis, depression, suicide, work

What do lifeguards and camels have to do with Sarah's 32 Wellness Tools to prevent suicide? Listen and learn from Sarah's experiences 12 years of suicidal thoughts and self-preservation.

One tool? Play The Piano Guys' Song, "It's Gonna Be Okay" on a Loop!

Dec 26

5: Suicide: Not on my watch!

Posted by Emotional Self-Reliance in Mental Illness, Wellness Tools, Side effects, medication, determination, depression, suicide, suicide prevention, akathisia, what are signs of suicide, agitation, insomnia

Do you know the 16 "red flares" of suicide? Can you identify when someone may need your help? Can you distinguish between myths and truths of suicide? If a friend or family member needs help, do you know what to say or do? No worries, I've got you covered!

References in this episode include Akathisia 101 class & Mental Health First Aid

Jan 16

6: What is a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)-Part 1

Posted by Emotional Self-Reliance in Mental Illness, Wellness Tools, WRAP, health, rehabilitation, learned helplessness, medication, psychiatry, psychiatrist, determination, psychosis, depression, anxiety, stigma, discrimination, identity, burnout, Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Treatment Plan, Mary Ellen Copeland, Preventing burnout, Triggers

On the brink of burnout? Searching for wellness tools to prevent burnout personally and professionally? Since I developed my Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) with a peer support specialist, I can recognize when I'm on the brink and have a plan in place to prevent falling over the burnout cliff.

For more information on WRAP, check out the Copeland Center For Wellness and Recovery.

Jan 30

7: Avoiding Burnout by Increasing Self-Awareness (Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)- Part 2)

Posted by Emotional Self-Reliance in Mental Illness, Wellness Tools, WRAP, health, brain injury, memory loss, rehabilitation, determination, depression, anxiety, diagnosis, identity, burnout, Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Treatment Plan, Mary Ellen Copeland, Preventing burnout, Feldenkrais

Burnout occurs when we become so distracted by circumstances that we become desensitized to our body’s alarms. Using WRAP with the Feldenkrais Method strengthens ability to recognize subtle differences. Feldenkrais Attention to Movement exercise. Copeland, M E (2000). Wellness Recovery Action Plan & Uchtdorf, D (2008). A Matter of a Few Degrees.

Emotional Self-Reliance