So what about the holidays?

I know this is a hard time of year for some people. For Christians, it’s all the Christmas stuff. For Jews, it’s all the Chinese food. Either way, it can be stressful. The key thing is to try and find something to do, even if you feel isolated and alone. I looked around the Internet and found some good tips, which I modified. Having done so, I now forget where the hell I got them, and therefore can’t cite the source, which is bad. So forgive me, but maybe they’ll resonate with you a little bit for this weekend before Christmas.

The trigger points of holiday stress and depression
Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflicts can. On the other hand, if you’re facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or sad.

Finances. Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. But financial issues during the holidays can put you in a financial spiral that leaves you with depression symptoms such as hopelessness, sadness and helplessness. Overspending or not having enough money can be depressing.

Physical demands. The strain of attending holiday events can wipe you out. Feeling exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. High demands, stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink — all are ingredients for holiday illness.

Tips to prevent holiday stress and depression
1. Acknowledge your feelings. Realize that it’s normal to feel sadness or grief at this time of year. It’s OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.

2. Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out peer support, friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your friendships. You don’t have to go it alone.

3. Set differences aside. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all your expectations. Practice forgiveness. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels high, be understanding if the people around you get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.

4. Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don’t, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills.

5. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it’s to the bathroom for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.

6. Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they’re unrealistic. Don’t resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose only those resolutions that help you feel valuable and that provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.

7. Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don’t usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. Accept imperfections in yourself and in others.

If anyone knows where I got this, by all means let me know.

liz | 5:39 PM | Uncategorized

This just doesn’t sound right

A company in Ottowa, Canada, fired an employee because he had bipolar disorder. From CBC News:

Stephen Bird, who represents ADGA Group Consulting Inc., said the company discussed employee Paul Lane’s condition with him after he revealed that he had bipolar disorder and researched the condition on the internet before making the decision to dismiss him.

Emphasis mine, because, like, are you kidding? I wonder which reliable site they used to glean information: Perez Hilton or Wikipedia? Jesus.

Ottawa firm right to dismiss employee with bipolar disorder: lawyer

liz | 10:56 AM | Uncategorized

Which do you want first?

The good news or the bad news?

I always want the bad news first — get it out of the way, and then follow up with something more palatable. So here it is: People with schizophrenia have an elevated risk of colon cancer.

The good news? They have a lower risk of respiratory cancer.

Cancer Risk Varies in Patients with Schizophrenia

liz | 4:57 PM | Uncategorized

Depression Confession, Sort Of: Patrick Dempsey

Though the headline of this article is “My career caused depression,” I’m not quite sure what he means when he says, “It took me two days to get psyched.” Two days seems okay to me. It took me about 10 years. Full text:

Actor Patrick Dempsey has said he experienced bouts of depression in his younger years over his acting career.

The World Entertainment News Network reports that the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star thought he was destined for Hollywood stardom after his initial success in the 1987 comedy ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.

But Dempsey found it difficult to remain upbeat when he lost out on other starring roles.

The actor’s marriage to his former manager Rocky Parker, a woman 26 years his senior, ended and a period of severe depression followed.

He said: “It was a very difficult time. I was insecure. I felt I was no good. It took me two days to get psyched and it was very hard to stay positive. There were years when I wasn’t working and people didn’t care about me.”

Dempsey and Parker divorced in 1994; he has since remarried and has three children with make-up artist Jill Fink.

The actor has now experienced worldwide fame thanks to the hit medical drama series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.

liz | 8:10 AM | Uncategorized

Ch Ch Ch Changes

There are going to be a lot of new developments on the this site in the next few weeks, and starting Feb. 1st, I think the site will be significantly changed. That’s all I can say right now (so tantalizing, right?), but I wanted to put that bug in your ear, as it were. (Ick.)

As for mental health news, here’s something uplifting: A former golf pro has baffled health services in Wales after jumping off a bridge 50 times trying to commit suicide. What can be done for her?

Suicide-bid woman perplexes judge

liz | 12:24 PM | Uncategorized

Depression Confession: Alicia Keys

Stars: they’re just like us! From People.com:

There have been times, though, when [Alicia Keys'] tendency to hold back was emotionally draining – when she battled depression.

“I was feeling so sad all the time, and I couldn’t shake it,” she says. “I started burying my feelings, and it got to a point where I couldn’t even tell my family or my friends, ‘I’m twisted,’ or ‘I’m exhausted,’ or ‘I’m so angry.’ … I became a master of putting up the wall so that I was unreadable.”

Keys recently told Uptown Magazine that she “had to learn to let go” to overcome her depression.

I love Alicia. I hope she’s feeling better!

liz | 10:57 AM | Uncategorized

Dios mio

Ustedes no podrian creer los problemas que tengo con el World Wide Web. Primero, mi connecion de Internet ya no funciona — ni en mi casa, ni en Starbucks, ni en mis suenos. Estoy harta. Tal vez necesito una new Airport card, pero no se por cierto. Because, really, how the hell do I know what I need to make the goddamn Internet work? Quiero llorar, pero ya no tengo lagrimas. The bottom linea: I have all of 20 minutes each dia to post a blog entry, check my email on both accounts, communicate with the outside world, do research for my columns, and do everything else a persona quiere hacer para asegurar que su vida sea contenta.

Y ahora una persona quiere usar the computer I’m on right now — which is shared by a bazillion staff members — asi que no puedo continuar escribir this post.

Pero, por favor, sepan ustedes que les amo todos y I want to resolve this computer strife muy rapido. Mientras tanto, hang in there with me. Please?

liz | 4:22 PM | Uncategorized

Funny or Offensive?

Kent comes through with an Onion story that’s just objectively funny:

Wonder Drug Inspires Deep, Unwavering Love Of Pharmaceutical Companies

liz | 8:33 AM | Uncategorized

Two stories from Joe

Thanks to Joe for always being on the lookout. About the first article, he writes:

Where the mental health systems speak so often of transparency, the
walls of this institution are real in all respects. If sunlight is the
best disinfectant, this is clearly one place where the sun doesn’t shine.

“But what makes this matter more egregious is that Delaware Psychiatric Center is currently under investigation by three agencies or special panels. There are no top secrets here.”

Governor should get Supreme Court opinion on secrecy of state files

And the second:

Here a suicide occurred at a New Jersey State psychiatric hospital.
Once again the words and the deeds did not intersect with tragic
consequences.

N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.1(c), “It is the policy of this State that persons in the public mental health system receive inpatient treatment and rehabilitation services in accordance with the highest professional
standards and which will enable those hospitalized persons to return to their community as soon as it is clinically appropriate.”

Ancora CEO out after patient suicide

And my comment: He was reassigned? What is this, the old days of the Catholic Church? He shouldn’t be moved to another parish. He should be fired — end of story.

liz | 8:39 AM | Uncategorized

Happy Monday to you, and suicide in prison!

Isn’t that a nice way to start your day? But seriously, the Boston Globe is doing a three-part series on prison suicide that’s really compelling. You can read parts I and II today. Here’s the link.

If that’s not quite what you had in mind for this morning, hop on over for a Cute Fix at Disapproving Rabbits, a site that’s so funny to me, I bought the book.

As for the rest of the day, I’ll be in training and won’t have access to a computer. But any comments or articles you leave on the site will be posted this evening.

liz | 8:18 AM | Uncategorized