JUNE 2014
Volume 1, Issue 19
THE
RE SI LI ENT
WAR RIO R
Serving Our CT National Guard Soldiers and Airmen MAJ J. Alvarado, Behavioral Health Officer I have always considered myself a resilient person. At an early age, I lost my brother to a car accident and later deployed to the Persian Gulf War where I lost a very good friend. In my opinion, I confronted these tragic losses and managed very well. I implemented adaptive skills and drove on. In hindsight, I’m surprised at how quickly I was able to have overcome these events. While there was a sense of incredible loss for me, I focused on work and my children, I was also in an undergraduate college program at the time so I dedicated much of my time to staying busy and my studies. I was proud of my ability to rise above such difficulties and move forward, in fact, I felt that it made me stronger. Recently I experienced a difficulty that tested this resilience. The circumstances are not as important as the way in which it impacted me and how I eventually rose above it. I went through a rollercoaster of feelings from constant worry, anxiety to anger and frustration. There were times that the stress was unwavering and preoccupied a lot of my day. I was not sleeping well and did not maintain a good diet. I also felt like I could not concentrate or focus at times. I did what many of us do during times of stress, I redirected my attention elsewhere. In my case, I focused on work. I spent a lot of my time at the office or on the phone with Service Members and ignored my feelings of anxiety and stress. As a Behavioral Health Officer, I can recite to you all of the positive skills one should implement during these trying times. When I meet with SMs who are confronting such difficult moments in their lives I can quickly provide advice and tips that promote optimism, resilience and problem solving techniques. I often walk through good sleep hygiene practices with Service Members (SMs) because I know them like the back of my hand. This time, however, it was difficult for me to implement these skills in my own situation. What seemed like second nature to me was not so evident and did not come naturally. When someone is facing adversity or a difficult time it can be challenging to see a way out or to believe that it will pass. Sometimes you are so caught up in the negative self talk and anxiety that resolution seems impossible. The concept of going through the adversity one day at a time and not look for a way around the situation temporarily eluded me. It took me a number of days but I quickly noticed how my thoughts and emotions were negatively impacting me. I realized that I was ignoring calls or texts from friends and family. It was then that I decided to confide in my friends and family. They quickly rallied words of support and encouragement. I made plans to socialize more and lean on my support network. I motivated myself to follow through with gym plans and refused to allow any FRAGOs to get in the way. I also applied breathing exercises which are an ideal way to relieve stress in that they’re fast, simple, and can be performed at anytime. Talking with family and friends, the gym and the breathing techniques were all great stress relievers, not only did it divert my time and energy but it improved my outlook. I want to note that the support of my boss and leadership was also a critical element. They displayed genuine empathy without judgment. If you ever find yourself in a situation where one of your subordinates is experiencing a life stressor, give them your time and give them your support. You can maintain good conduct and order and you can do it in a caring and compassionate way. Despite how hard I was on myself, it was important to know that others were supportive of me. At this point, I used the guidance of my leadership as well as utilizing professional assistance that could support my efforts in dealing with the issues that I had to resolve. These actions were key, in not only dealing with the difficulties in a pro-active way but kept me physically and mentally healthy. I’m sharing this with you because I want you to know that no one is immune to struggles, because I want you to believe that you too can overcome difficult obstacles and when you confront them, and because it always gets better. Life is comprised of ups and downs, good times and bad, happiness and sadness. You are stronger than these challenges and you can and will overcome! BE Strong! NEVER Give up! NEVER Surrender!
September is Suicide Prevention Month.
MAJ Alvarado, LCSW: (860) 883-2035 Susan Tobenkin, LCSW: (860) 830-8991 Alissa Wurtzel, LCSW, Army DPH: (860) 655-0296 Michael Dutko, LPC, LADC: (860) 946-9810 Lynn Biella, LCSW, Wing DPH: (860) 519-8125
Look for our September calendar with upcoming events. Show your support!
Help Fight Stigma Today Stigma is shame. Shame causes silence. Silence hurts us all. Stigma refers to any attribute, trait, or disorder that causes a person to be labeled as unacceptably different. Negative stereotypes of people with mental illness fuel stigma, and they are just as inaccurate and dehumanizing as stereotypes of racial minorities, people with physical and developmental disabilities, women, and people from other diverse groups. There are many ways that we can all help to fight stigma and make it easier for people with mental health issues to get needed help. 1. Learn more about it. When you are better informed about mental illness, you will be able to more efficiently evaluate and resist inaccurate and negative stereotypes. 2. Listen to people who have experienced mental illness. Stigma is diminished just by talking with someone who has a mental illness. Moreover, listen as they describe what they find stigmatizing, how stigma affects their lives, and how they would like to be viewed and treated. 3. Watch your language. We commonly hear the phrases "Going to see BH ? Must be crazy!" or "They’re crazy!" Yet, every time we do that we attach Service Members and others with mental health disorders to all things unbelievable, ridiculous, negative, and sometimes dangerous. Remember that a person is not defined by his or her mental health disorder. 4. Talk openly about it. While it is certainly up to you to decide who you’re comfortable telling and how much you want to share, don’t be afraid to let others know of your mental illness or the mental illness of a loved one. The more mental illness remains hidden the more people continue to believe that it is a shameful thing to be concealed. 5. Support mental health treatment. If you need help, seek it. If someone you know needs help, encourage them to do so. By conveying support that seeking help is OK, you will help diminish stigma. 6. Contribute to research related to mental illness and stigma. To the extent that mental illness can be understood and treated, stigma will be reduced. Research will help us advance that treatment.