Hearing aids: Medicare will

Mental Health Color your world

Different color schemes generate different moods

By Barbara Pierce

“Colors are powerful!” said Tara D’Amico, real estate and interior design adviser for Coldwell Banker Sexton, of Clinton.

Colors play a starring role in our lives, from the clothes we wear and the cars we drive, to how we decorate our homes and work spaces.

Colors influence our moods, impact our lives and provide a glimpse as to who we are.

“We all know that walking into a beautiful room with calming cool blue walls and richly toned fabrics can instantly lower our stress and soothe our soul,” D’Amico continued.

“On the contrary, when your child dresses himself in a red shirt and orange pants, it’s like nails on a chalk board to our inner feng shui.” In today’s hectic world, we should be selective about what colors we surround ourselves with, she suggested. It’s an easy way to bring peace into lives through our wardrobes, homes and work spaces.

Color can be a mood lifter or a depressor. Colors and emotions are closely linked; every color creates different emotions and feelings.

Our reaction to colors is highly individualized, rooted in our experiences. Colors can make us feel happy or sad; they can make us feel relaxed, and even make us feel hungry. Warm colors — reds, oranges, and yellows — often evoke feelings of happiness, optimism and energy. They change our heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.

On the other side of the color spectrum, cool colors — blues, purples and greens — tend to evoke feelings of calm, but can also trigger sadness and indifference.

D’Amico offers these color tips for your home: — Whites, creams and light neutrals (my personal favorites) bring peace, serenity, clarity, promote cleanliness and cultivate communication. — Neutral, neutral, neutral when it comes to painting walls, furniture, and décor: Whites, creams, grays and tans; the lighter the better.

Neutrals are peaceful colors. They’re a great choice for us here. When it’s dreary outdoors, they help to make indoors a comfortable and

D’Amico

happy place.

Whites bring light into any space and overall soothe. My home is about 10 different shades of white. People say, ‘You’re so brave having white with three kids!’ But here’s a secret: White is the easiest color to clean and it doesn’t fade. Not to mention it’s very soothing. I think it’s heavenly.

Amazing grays Grays are amazing, and are very neutral to use as a whole house paint color. Classic gray, by Benjamin Moore, is my favorite. I recommend this color to my real estate and design clients and use it in my own properties; it’s a fabulous color.

Some may think gray is boring or dreary, but that is not so. That perfect gray sofa, accented with creamy velvet drapes, makes your living room the favorite spot in the house.

From HGTV.com: “Gray has an inherent calmness and sophistication. Choose a solid gray that symbolizes strength, or a softer gray that offers a delicate feel.”

Using light neutrals for the majority of your home and accenting with beautiful pops of color is a smart and cost-effective decorating philosophy, D’Amico said. We get sick of color quickly and seasons change — using interchangeable items such as throw pillows, blankets and rugs keeps visual interest up and

Country music show gets rescheduled

The Friends of The Arc Foundation announces multi-platinum MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turner will perform at The Stanley Theatre in Utica Oct. 23.

The concert, originally scheduled for April 3, was postponed due to COVID-19 prevention practices and concerns. Proceeds from this show will benefit The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter.

Fans who have already purchased tickets, either through the Stanley Box Office or Ticketmaster. com, and would like a refund due to a conflict with the new date are asked to call 315-724-4000 or email bbaker@ thestanley.org.

Fans with tickets who plan to attend the show on Oct. 23 are unaffected. cost down. — If you love fire engine red, sunshine yellow, or vivid orange, fear not. You don’t have to give them up completely. Just incorporate them sparingly and consistently. Use pops of these colors as accents. — Cooler blues and greens can be relaxing and serene. They are said to infuse wisdom and creativity. Blues are lovely for bedrooms to promote rest. Blue makes you feel safe and relaxed.

Workers in blue offices feel the most centered, calm and hopeful, say experts. Since blue can lower heart rates and green reduces anxiety, a combination of blue and green is best for the workplace.

For most people, cool colors are calming. Green, a prevalent color in nature, makes us feel peaceful. Use as

a wall color or incorporate it subtly.

Adding houseplants makes your space feel calmer and look brighter and warmer.

The fewer colors you combine and the simpler and more pared back a design is, the more calming it will feel.

— Reds, yellows, bright pinks and oranges are very stimulating to the brain. They are uplifting, lively colors. Art studios, classrooms, or think tank spaces could benefit from them.

Add a dash of color here and there in your world — a glass vase with brightly colored flowers or a plant to your dining room table, a vibrant blanket thrown over the back of the couch — and see if it makes you smile. It might just be what your soul is searching for.

LOL! What can you find to laugh about?

By Barbara Pierce

Life is grim these days. Watch the news for even a few minutes and your stress response will probably hit all-time highs.

The stress response is your body’s way of responding to any kind of threat. When you sense danger — whether it’s real or imagined — your body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction.

This is your body’s way of protecting you. It works to help you stay focused, energetic and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life — giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid a car accident.

Stress can also help you rise to meet challenges. It’s what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work, sharpens your concentration when you’re attempting the game-winning free throw, or drives you to study for an exam when you’d rather be watching TV. But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, mood, productivity, relationships, and your quality of life. Too much stress can work against you, said Dominick Nicotera, a licensed clinical social worker and founder and executive director of DRN Counseling and Consulting Services in Utica. DRN Counseling focuses on teaching effective ways of coping with life’s challenges.

When your stress response kicks in, your body releases a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, he explained. Overexposure to these hormones can do harm to your body and puts you at increased risk of many health problems.

That’s why it’s so important to learn healthy ways to cope with the stressors we’re facing.

One of the best ways to take a break from life’s harsh realities is laughter. We all have a genuine need to roar with laughter, delight in the absurd, do wacky things, and laugh so hard water shoots out of our nose. “Laughter is definitely a good way to relieve stress,” said Nicotera. “Laughter creates endorphins, the feel-good chemical. Just like exercise

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• Confidential counseling in home or office • Licensed friendly therapists • Support groups and relapse prevention • Family therapy • Child behavior training • Help with any problem • Veteran services Free/low-cost mobile counseling services Dominick R. Nicotera, LCSW-R Executive Director (315)-570-5058 Comprehensive Mental Health Counseling and Support SERVING THE GREATER UTICA, SYRACUSE, AND ALBANY AREAS We accept most health insurances CALL OR TEXT- L INES ARE OP EN 24/7 DRNCounselingandConsulting.com MAIN OFFICE 2606 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13502 (315) 507-3858 STAY CONNECTED DRNCounselingandConsulting.com Like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn Need an Appointment? Call or text us and get connected to a counselor within 48 hours! (315)-570-5058 Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business About Us Always KNOW YOUR Providers Executive Director Bio. Dominick R Nicotera LCSW-R began his career in Syracuse, NY as a Practitioner, Social Work Supervisor and Athletic Coach for the SU Big Orange Basketball Camp. He has an extensive history of providing clinical services “In Office”, and “In Home Therapy” for over 30 years. After relocating to Utica, NY he has held position for various non-for-profit agencies such as Elmcrest Children’s Center, Family Services, House of the Good Shepherd & Kids Oneida, Ex Dir. of the local YMCA, and as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner for Mohawk Valley Community College. He now brings many of his practitioners to our area to provide a comprehensive approach to treatment of mental health that includes free in Home Therapy for patients who seek professional psycho-therapy counseling. As a practitioner, OASAS provider & Coach Mr. Nicotera upholds the principals of ethics and integrity to high standards as he understands that every provider, client/patient should know the professional history of their providers. He encourages all stakeholders to research such history. Dominick R Nicotera LCSW-R Licensed Mental Health Provider OASAS/IDS Provider Undertake major life changes. our practice is committed to transforming mental health treatment in New York State. With over 40 licensed counselors and providers on our team, we rapidly connect individuals and families in Central New York with qualified mobile counselors. • Confidential counseling in home or office • Licensed friendly therapists • Support groups and relapse prevention • Family therapy • Child behavior training • Help with any problem • Veteran services Free/low-cost mobile counseling services Dominick R. Nicotera, LCSW-R Executive Director

creates endorphins, laughter is in the same category — it creates endorphins and decreases stress.”

Whether you’re laughing loudly with friends or chuckling quietly at a TV show, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke.

Laughter actually causes physical changes in your body that cool down your stress response. Researchers found that 30 minutes after participants in a study laughed, the level of their stress hormone fell by 40%.

Laughter, health tie As well as lowering your stress hormones, laughter has so many

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awesome benefits to your body: — It boosts your immune system; effects last several hours after you laugh. — It relieves pain by causing your body to produce its own natural painkiller. — A rowdy laugh increases and then decreases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result is a good, relaxed feeling. — It helps you connect with other people. — It improves your mood, lessens depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. — Put humor in your life: Many of us get more serious as we age. Watch babies and young children — they laugh easily and so hardily at the dumbest things.

You can encourage and develop your sense of humor; it’s easier than you think. — A good place to start is with yourself. Find a way to laugh about your own situations and watch your stress begin to fade away. Just think for a moment of the incredibly stupid, klutzy, harebrained things you’ve done in your life.

The key is in looking — you can usually find what you’re looking for. — Find a few simple items such as photos, jokes, cartoons, greeting cards or comic strips that make you chuckle. Then hang them up at home or in your office. Keep funny movies, books, magazines or comedy videos on hand for when you need an added humor boost. — Hang out with people who make you laugh. Share your favorite funny stories or jokes with those around you. If you don’t have a good memory for funny stuff, make notes and carry them with you. — Play a game with others that makes you all laugh. Taboo played with my family makes me laugh hysterically.

— The Internet has a treasure trove of things to make you laugh. It makes me laugh to see others laughing; laughter is truly contagious. Try youtube.com. I crack up when I watch CNN’s Anderson Cooper describing the celebration of “Dyngus Day” in Buffalo. He can’t stop laughing and I can’t as well. — Practice laughing. Even if it feels forced at first, it still does your body good. Fake it until you make it; your body can’t tell the difference. Fake works just as good as the real thing.