Even if teens act as if they don’t need their parents’ help, research proves that they do.

Teenagers usually think of their friendships as their most important relationships; but new research shows that support from mom and dad, not friends, helps prevent suicidal behavior in teens that experienced depression or attempted suicide in the past.

Depression during high school and a previous suicide attempt were significant predictors of suicidal thought one or two years later, according to a study led by James Mazza, a University of Washington professor of educational psychology.

Young people who were depressed or had attempted suicide in high school were less likely to have suicidal thoughts if they had strong family support and more open communication. Having a girlfriend or boyfriend also helped.

“Our findings suggest that the protective quality of family support and bonding, or having an intimate partner, are not replaced by peer support and bonding in emerging adulthood,” said Mazza.

Bonding refers to a young adult’s closeness with family or a romantic partner and the ability to talk with them about important issues.

“Peers don’t provide the same type of safety net that comes from a family or by having an intimate partner,” Mazza said. “When it comes to suicidal behavior, young adults may feel that their family or partner may be more accepting and less judgmental than perhaps some of their peers.”

Data came from a larger National Institute of Drug Abuse 15-year study of youth in a Seattle-area school district that looked at risk factors for marijuana and cigarette use, binge drinking, depression and past suicidal behavior.

“Parents shouldn’t give up on their adolescents, because our work indicates they still rely on them in this kind of situation,” Mazza said.

Speaking from both personal experience and through my work’s observation, I couldn’t agree more with Mazza.

Never, ever give up.

Few of us can imagine being unable to distinguish between thoughts, fears and reality.

Few can fathom hearing voices or seeing people and things that simply don’t exist.

Even fewer can relate to perpetual noise coming from within.

But these are facts of daily life for the millions of Americans diagnosed with schizophrenia.

As the blockbuster film starring Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx as “The Soloist” opens in theaters across the country, media outlets are offering rare and much needed coverage and insight into the realities of living with schizophrenia. One excellent article written by CNN’s Madison Park is excerpted below.

“The intrusive voices popped into William “Bill” Garrett’s head. “They’re coming for you,” the voices told the 18-year-old. “Find somewhere to hide; they’re going to get you.”
In the film, “The Soloist,” Lisa Gay Hamilton and Jamie Foxx play Jennifer Ayers-Moore and Nathaniel Ayers.
3 of 3 They told the Johns Hopkins University freshman that his father had poisoned the family dog, his sister had injected crystal methamphetamine into his pet lizard and his grandmother had put human body parts into his food.

As schizophrenia took hold, the Maryland teenager became lost within his own mind and had to leave college after winning a full, four-year scholarship.”

Read the entire CNN story here.

I hope you’ll read Park’s article and send the link to others in your circle.

If you haven’t seen “The Soloist” see it soon. Tell your friends, take your neighbors. The elimination of stigma and discrimination begins with enlightenment. Let’s shine the light.

The Soloist.

See it. Take others. It’s that good.

In The Soloist, Jamie Foxx disappears and Nathaniel Ayers consumes the screen.

As Steve Lopez, played perfectly by Robert Downey Jr., learns lessons about life and love and commitment and mental illness, the viewer learns the same.

The path is rugged, the destination somewhat surprising, the film, enthralling and illuminating.

Watch The Soloist with an open mind and an open heart, and you will learn. You will learn about dignity and differences and friendship and love. You will also learn about stigma and hopelessness and homelessness and fear. And then you will learn about respect and commitment and courage and acceptance.

You will gain a sense of how schizophrenia feels to the one diagnosed. Two particular scenes go beyond the comfort zone in an effort to offer the viewer that opportunity.

It works.

If you couldn’t empathize with the seriously mentally ill before, you will after seeing The Soloist.

And I hope you will.

Say No!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the adage, “If you want something done, ask the busiest person to do it.”

For the longest time, I thought this was complimentary, but then I realized that people love to take advantage of the skills, talent and seemingly unlimited time of those who can’t say “no.” And I also learned that many people, especially women, said “yes” to everything because they fear rejection or worry about disappointing others, or lack a sense of empowerment or self-worth. Sometimes saying “no” is the most self-loving and powerful thing you can say or do.

If you see a bit of yourself reflected in the paragraph above, do some self-assessment. Respect yourself and learn to  value your own time, then choose when you want to say “yes’ or “no.” If a project is of interest or meaning to you, do it; but say “no” to anything that falls outside of that realm. And remember that everyone, everyday, needs time to relax, to be alone and to do those tasks that they find rewarding.

This is the most recent installment in an ongoing series elaborating on 52 proven stress relievers identified by researchers at Texas Woman’s University.

Children whose parents suffer with serious mental illness have very few resources to help them understand and cope. Now, thanks to educator and author Kathleen Larson, they have one more. Larson, who spent 35 years as an elementary school teacher, has penned and illustrated a book explaining, in the simplest terms, a mother’s mental illness.

“Dancing Crazy” tells the story of three children and their mom’s symptoms and hospitalization. Without fear or stigma, Larson illuminates the realities of managing a serious mental illness within a family.

The children learn the basics of a chemical imbalance and how they can help their mom stay well as other loving adults in their extended family care for them.

Larson does not sugar-coat, nor does she dramatize. “Dancing Crazy” is a wonderful starting point to help kids understand adult mental illness.

A valuable resource to parents, doctors and therapists, “Dancing Crazy” should be included in the library of anyone working with children affected by mental illness, as well as every elementary school’s collection.

I received an email from a young woman who attended one of my lectures with her parents. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her mid-teens, she’s struggled with addictions for nearly as long.

After hearing from her I felt simultaneously sad and encouraged.

I felt sad because she described an abusive romantic relationship in which her illness is used as a point of shame and degradation.

I felt sad because she’s actively using methamphetamine and cocaine, with no inclination to quit.

I felt sad because she no longer sees her doctor or takes the medication that could eventually keep her stable and well.

I felt sad because she sounded isolated and frightened and sad, herself.

But my feelings of encouragement dominated.

I felt encouraged by the fact that she was honest about the mistreatment she received. She was not hiding or denying it. Recognizing something is wrong is the first step toward righting it.

I felt encouraged because she knew she used illicit drugs to manage her illness and to maintain her romantic relationship. She made no excuses and realized her behavior and choices were unhealthy.

I felt encouraged because she admitted that she needs to see a doctor and asked for low-cost options in her area. She was reaching out, searching for help, asking for resources.

I felt encouraged because, stuck in a darkness of her own creation, this sweet soul seeks something better, seeks the light.

She will find it.

She will overcome.

She will get well.

I am encouraged. I have hope.

Tom Wootton has taken his personal experience with bipolar disorder and shifted the universal paradigm.

As a former accelerative learning trainer for major corporations, and the author of “The Bipolar Advantage” and “The Depression Advantage,” Wootton challenges pervasive attitudes about serious mental illness and charts a different course looking at the positive as well as negative aspects of those conditions.

Through Bipolar Advantage, a company that teaches individuals how to turn their symptoms into assets, Wootton’s mission is to “help people with mental conditions shift their thinking and behavior so that they can lead extraordinary lives.”

“We are dedicated to the concept that recovery does not have to be limited to 90% of full function; true recovery means doing the hard work that brings you to 150%! We strongly believe that we can turn our ‘condition’ into one that becomes an advantage instead of an ‘illness’ or a ‘disorder’,” says Wootton.

Through talks, workshops, videos and books, Wootton and Bipolar Advantage have helped thousands of people to realign their thinking with their realities and turn disadvantages into assets. And now he’s applying those techniques and skills to corporate America.

According to Wootton, “In recent months discussions about the boom and bust cycles of our economy going back to the Great Depression have been the focus of many news stories. During boom cycles companies experience periods of inflated feelings of power or delusions of grandeur, characterized by excessive risk taking and out of control spending. During bust cycles companies experience periods of indecisiveness, black and white thinking, loss of energy and fatigue, even feelings of worthlessness and suicidal thoughts. These reactions are classic symptoms of bipolar.”

He goes on to say “Businesses can be trained to understand how different reactions and thought processes are assets when they are acted upon with the powerful understanding of bipolar conditions. Training individuals, management groups, and CEOs to recognize ‘bipolar’ assets and how to utilize them… shifts companies from immobility to confidence and action. Bipolar Advantage teaches essential tools for weathering the current global financial changes.”

Consider the Bipolar Advantage perspective on the following questions:

Is there any evidence that a Bipolar Economy is an advantage for business?

Yes, there’s a great deal of evidence. Companies can and do prosper during times of economic turmoil. What do GE, Disney, HP and Microsoft have in common? They were all startups during steep declines in the U.S. economy. GE started during the panic of 1873, Disney started during the recession of 1923-24, HP began during the Great Depression, and Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft during the recession of 1975. All these companies realized that they had an advantage by adopting a different mindset, a different way of seeing the crisis. They saw it as an opportunity.

How can a business turn market turmoil into an advantage?

Bipolar Advantage can help by bringing in experts who can shift a business’s thinking from a reactive fear-based response to one that is creative and opportunistic. Wootton emphasizes, “With a keen understanding of how the mind functions in different states and how to best utilize those states, Bipolar Advantage can take your company way beyond the pop psychology of positive thinking.”

What is this shift in thinking?

Generally speaking, companies that not only survived but also thrived during the Great Depression were those that took advantage of their creative capital; those people who already knew how to manage the mood swings in their own personalities. Those that understand their strengths and are able to use deep introspection to explore opportunities in a crisis are the ones who excel in turbulent times.

These are compelling ideas for compelling times.

I think Tom Wootton is joining the long list of brilliant minds whose mental “illness”  led to amazing accomplishment.

What are your thoughts?

Ask questions!

When you have a task to complete, learn everything you need to know in order to do it correctly. If you don’t fully understand, ASK someone. People are much more tolerant of a question than of a job done wrong.

When taking down directions, read them back to make certain you’ve made no mistakes. The same goes for copying phone numbers, credit card information, or messages over the phone. Repeat everything back to avoid potential problems stemming from transposed numbers or clerical mistakes.

When you give directions or information to another, have him repeat it back. Irritation and anxiety almost always stem from a lack of understanding, not intentional “misdoing.” Ask questions and clarify information to reduce or remove that potential.

To avoid stress and misunderstandings, know what is expected of you and clarify what you expect of others.

Ask questions!

This is the most recent installment in an ongoing series elaborating on 52 proven stress relievers identified by researchers at Texas Woman’s University.

Researchers at Indiana University have learned that even minimal amounts of physical activity, like walking, gardening, housekeeping or circuit training, improve the mood of people with bipolar disorder, major depression or schizophrenia. And this information can easily be applied to anyone searching for relief of anxiety, depression, or a simple, nasty mood.

Working with 11 people from the US and 12 people from Serbia over seven consecutive days, researchers randomly paged the participants, who immediately completed questionnaires about their mood and recent activities. The responses were compared to data collected during the previous 10 minutes using accelerometers worn by the participants that measured activity levels and duration.

The average amount of physical activity of the participants was comparable to that of sedentary adults, somewhat lower than adults with developmental disabilities and significantly lower than activity levels of active adults.

Most important, the study proved that he least active experiences correlated with less positive moods, illuminating the need for physical activity as a regular part of psychiatric rehabilitation.

“We found a positive association between physical activity level and positive mood when low to moderate levels of physical activity are considered,” said study author Bryan McCormick, associate professor in IU’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies. “Physical activity interventions that require lower levels of exertion might be more conducive to improving transitory mood, or the ups and downs people with SMI experience throughout the day.”

The lesson learned: If you’re feeling blue or anxious or particularly foul, go for a walk, take a yoga class, get on your bike or go for a swim.

DO something.

Be physically active.

Literally…

Move To Improve!

Here are a few simple ways to prevent brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia:

1. Stay Mentally Active

Mental decline as we age is caused by degrading connections between brain cells; and research has proven that keeping the brain active increases its vitality, builds reserve brain cells and connections, and even generates new brain cells.

Some suggested activities:

• Be a lifelong learner. Take classes, learn new skills and expand on current knowlegde.
• Read, write, do crossword puzzles, jumbles and word games.
• Attend musical events, lectures and theatrical presentations.
• Play board games and card games.
• Garden.
• Walk outdoors every single day.

2. Remain Socially Active

People regularly engaged in social activities retain greater brain vitality, especially if those activities combine both physical and mental activity. Sports, cultural activities, emotional support and close personal relationships together appear to have a protective effect against dementia.

A recent study of 800 men and women aged 75 and older, proved that those who were more physically active, more mentally active or more socially engaged had a lower risk for developing dementia. Those who combined these activities did even better.

Stay socially connected and physically active to stimulate your mind and body:

• Continue to be involved in your life’s work.
• Volunteer in community groups  or for charitable organizations
• Join special interest clubs or other social groups
• Travel

3. Participate in Physical Activity

Physical exercise is the most important factor in maintaining good blood flow to the brain and encouraging new brain cells. It also prohibits heart attack, stroke and diabetes, and thereby protect against those risk factors for Alzheimer’s. In addition, aerobic exercise improves oxygen flow and general brain function and reduces brain cell loss.

Try these activities for 30 minutes a day to improve your physical and mental health:

• Bicycling
• Circuit Training
• Gardening
• Pilates
• Swimming
• Tai chi
• Walking
• Water Aerobics
• Yoga

4. Consume brain and heart healthy foods.

All of us benefit from wise-eating, but those with a family history of Alzheimer’s should be particularly careful to maintain a healthy weight, reduce consumption of foods high in fat and cholesterol,  and eat more protective foods.

Foods that reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and protect brain cells:

FRUIT

Blackberries
Blueberries
Cherries
Oranges
Plums
Prunes
Raisins
Raspberries
Red Grapes
Strawberries

NUTS

Almonds
Pecans
Walnuts

VEGETABLES

Alfalfa sprouts
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Chard
Corn
Eggplant
Kale
Onion
Red bell pepper
Spinach

FATTY, COLD-WATER FISH

Halibut
Mackerel
Salmon
Sardines
Trout
Tuna

Even with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, adherence to these guidelines, coupled with advances in medical treatments, could lead to an Alzheimer’s-free future.