emu – WFYI

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The rate of mental illness among youth is increasing. One city organization works to spread awareness about the importance of mental health through the Emotional and Mental Understanding (EMU) Campaign.

LaMarr Davis II is a consultant for the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) and the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council encounters teens who are not staying silent about issues concerning them.

“This generation speaks up a little bit more and wants to have say a little bit more than previous generations have.”

Davis says although teens are willing to talk, at times, there is a roadblock to productive discussion.

“They have a lot of concerns but one of them is communication. Not only that they’re being heard sometimes, but the communication is just not understanding.”

The campaign is Sunday at Riverside Park and will feature speakers to motivate and inspire youth. Businesses and organizations will also gather to discuss the impact of mental illness.

Continue Readingemu – WFYI

Charges dropped against man with mental illness shoved off rapid platform by RTA police officer in Cleveland – cleveland.com

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Prosecutors dropped misdemeanor charges against a 68-year-old man shoved off a rapid stop platform by an RTA police officer.

A psychiatrist at Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, a state-run psychiatric facility, found Edward McDermott is incompetent to stand trial because of his unspecified mental illness.

Cleveland Municipal Judge Anne Oakar on Monday dismissed charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing and ordered McDermott to get treatment at Northcoast. A Cuyahoga County Probate Court judge will oversee McDermott’s case and determine when he should be released.

Surveillance video from the Feb. 16 incident showed RTA police officer Patrick Rivera shove McDermott off the platform and on to the tracks, which were active at the time.

Rivera avoided a suspension or firing by signing an agreement with RTA police officials that says he will be fired if he makes another mistake in the next year. Former RTA Police Chief Michael Gettings also ordered Rivera attend 40 hours of crisis intervention training and one day of de-escalation and judgement training.

RTA officials released video of the incident to cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer only after the news outlet filed a claim in the Ohio Court of Claims to compel them to do so.

Rivera showed up to the Brook Park rapid station because McDermott refused to move his belongings for a custodian cleaning the area. Rivera wrote in his report that McDermott became aggressive and hurled insults at him.

The video showed a brief interaction before McDermott appeared to lunge at Rivera twice. Rivera shoved McDermott in the side after McDermott started turning around. McDermott fell off the platform and Rivera and another officer blocked him from climbing off the tracks.

Gettings in his letter of discipline called the incident “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” and found Rivera used unnecessary force on McDermott. He also wrote that Rivera should have tried to help McDermott off the tracks instead of blocking him.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Video shows RTA officer shove mentally-ill man off Cleveland rapid platform onto tracks

RTA won’t release of video of officer shoving man with mental illness off rapid stop platform

RTA police officer fired after shoving man, slamming him to ground at Cleveland rapid station

Continue ReadingCharges dropped against man with mental illness shoved off rapid platform by RTA police officer in Cleveland – cleveland.com

Group Therapy For PTSD: What Are Its Benefits?

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benefits of Group-Therapy-For-PTSD

When we talk about seeking treatment for mental health, the first thing that comes to mind is psychotherapy, right? When we talk about psychotherapy, our mind conjures up images of a therapist sitting in a chair and their client on a couch. I mean, that’s the image TV shows and movies have created for us.

But have you ever considered group therapy when you’re seeking therapy? I can understand that sharing your problems and traumatic experiences with others might seem daunting but did you know that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy?

In this article though, I’ll share with you some of the benefits of group therapy for PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) treatment.

But first, let’s revisit some of the advantages of group therapy. Group therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental health disorders can help:

  • Provide support
  • Provide a different perception of your condition
  • Provide you with motivation
  • Improve your social skills
  • Understand yourself a little better

Along with other benefits, group therapy can also help you form a strong support system to fall back on if needed.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of trauma group therapy.

4 Benefits Of Group Therapy For PTSD

PTSD group therapy can help in the following ways:

1. Provides Validation

Provides Validation

If you ask me, “what is a major benefit of group therapy?”, I’d say – acceptance and authenticity. When you’re in group therapy, you meet other people struggling with similar problems as you. You see that you are not alone in your fight, in healing. Whether you seek help for relationship issues, substance abuse, depression, sleep disorders, or eating disorders, you meet others struggling with the same problems as you.

In group therapy, you meet people who accept you as you are, people who understand where you’re coming from.

When it comes to PTSD, it can be difficult for someone going through trauma to make others understand their struggle. Not everyone understands what someone with PTSD is going through.

In such cases, group therapy can help you meet others with traumatic past and resonate with them and their experiences. In a group therapy setting, you don’t need to fight for validation, acceptance, and authentication.

2. Helps You Learn From Others

Helps You Learn From Others

Another advantage of group therapy is that you get to listen to people with similar problems and learn from their experiences. People in group therapy share their coping mechanisms – which are effective, which aren’t. In group therapy, you get to listen to others’ perspectives in dealing with problems and learn from them.

Sometimes, you hear about problems, experiences, and solutions you might not even have considered yourself.

For PTSD group therapy, one of the major benefits is that you might meet people who have been struggling for a longer time and some who have already recovered from the trauma. By being in group therapy you can learn ways you can relate to others and learn coping skills that might help you overcome your trauma.

3. Help Others

Help Others

Group therapy is a give-and-take setting. If you’re benefiting from listening to others deal with their problems, remember that someone else might benefit from your experiences too. Helping others can help increase your self-confidence and self-esteem. It can also improve your belief in yourself and your coping skills.

Another amazing benefit, right?

4. Provides Social Support

Provides Social Support

As I’ve mentioned before, in group therapy you meet people with similar experiences whether they be trauma, PTSD, or other mental health issues. Another benefit of trauma group therapy is that it provides an excellent way to build a support system.

Getting support from others who are going through the same problem as you can give you a kind of a safety net you can fall back on if ever needed. Dealing with PTSD and trauma can bring up some strong emotions that might not always be easy to deal with. In such cases, asking for social support from your support system can help.

Group therapy can also help you build strong, nurturing, dependable, and healthy relationships with others as well.

Book Your Therapy Appointment Now

Sharing Is Healing….

Listening and sharing our experiences with others going through similar situations can be as meaningful as it can be healing. After all, we heal better in social settings.

While group therapy has its advantages, it has some disadvantages as well. If you’re looking for a session where you require all attention, then group therapy might not be as helpful as an individual session. Also, in a group therapy setting, not everyone might be comfortable sharing their problems with others as they will be in a one-on-one session.

Group therapy is a safe space to share experiences and problems but if you’re struggling with severe or complex PTSD, then some shares might trigger a panic attack. In trauma group therapy, some topics are off-limits to avoid such situations. So before opting for group therapy,

please consult with your therapist.

When it comes to therapy, the primary goal is to understand what you’d like to get from the therapy. Will you benefit from group therapy or individual therapy?

If you or someone you know are struggling with the symptoms of PTSD or trauma, it is recommended you seek a professional therapist and discuss your goals with them before choosing a treatment option.

I hope the above information helped you understand the benefits of group therapy for PTSD. For more, you can contact us at info@calmsage.com or connect with us on our social media. We always look forward to hearing from you!

Lastly, remember that you are not alone!

Take care and stay safe!

Continue ReadingGroup Therapy For PTSD: What Are Its Benefits?

Alcohol Addiction Recovery Apps

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Best Alcohol Addiction Recovery Apps

Recovering from alcohol addiction is not an easy journey. On that road to recovery, you stumble, you face challenges, but in the end, you come out a winner. A healthy, strong, and sober person.

When you’ve started down that road, it can be difficult to find support, motivation, and positivity in your daily life. With so many advancements in the field of technology, you can access positivity, motivation, and support from an app on your phone – anytime you need.

In this blog, I’ve tried to compile some of the best alcohol addiction recovery apps you can count on for high-quality content, a user-friendly interface, and most importantly the positive boost you’re looking for when it comes to maintaining your sobriety or the health of someone you love.

Read: Best Drug Addiction Rehab Centers Of 2021

8 Best Alcohol Addiction Recovery Apps

1. I Am Sober

I Am Sober

I Am Sober is an alcohol addiction treatment app that will not only keep you motivated but also help you keep track of your sober days. The app also helps you build new habits by providing daily motivational quotes and phrases. One of the best features of this app is that it also connects you to sober communities where you can share your experiences and help others going through addiction recovery.

Features of the I Am Sober app include:

  • Daily tracker
  • Daily pledges
  • Trigger analyzer
  • Sober groups to share stories
  • Milestone tracker

Among other things, this app is user-friendly and you can customize it according to your needs. The app is available to download on Android via Google Play Store and on iOS via Apple App Store. While the app is free, there might be some in-app purchases.

I Am Sober For Android |  For iOS

2. Sober Tool

Sober Tool

Sober Tool was developed to help people in recovery learn techniques to stay sober – whether it be alcohol, drugs, gambling, or any other substances. Sober Tool is one of the best apps for addiction recovery and is for you if you’re new to sobriety, if your sobriety is causing you stress if you’re struggling with keeping your sobriety and if you’re dealing with problems in your recovery.

The app offers features such as:

  • Daily messages
  • Keyword search
  • Rewards for sobriety
  • Community forum
  • Journal

Let’s face it, staying sober isn’t easy but with the help of SoberTool, you receive support on addiction recovery. The app is available for download, free of cost, on Android and iOS platforms.

SoberTool For Android | For iOS

3. Nomo

Nomo

Rated one of the best apps for recovering addicts, Nomo is a sobriety tracker app. Created by Parker as a passion project, this app helps recovering addicts stay on track and motivated. On Nomo, you can create sobriety clocks, get a detailed breakdown of your progress, add accountability partners, earn chips when you reach milestones in your recovery, share your success with others, among other things.

Nomo sobriety app is for people who are recovering addicts from alcoholism, self-harm, smoking, drugs, depression, or any other bad habits.

The Nomo app is available for free download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Nomo For Android | For iOS

4. Joe & Charlie

Joe & Charlie

Joe & Charlie is another addiction recovery app with a 4.7 stars review on Play Store as well as the App Store. This app contains audiotapes of speakers, workshops, reflections, and user stories to help people in recovery. The Joe & Charlie app offers help to anyone struggling with addiction, sobriety, or other recovery challenges.

Joe & Charlie app features include:

  • 1000+ audio tracks
  • Offline listening
  • Sleep and meditation stories
  • Relaxation sounds
  • Daily inspiration

Content of the app includes 12 step stories, AA recovery stories, Joe & Charlie Big Book, Al-Anon speaker stories, guided meditations, among other stories and audio tracks. While the app is free to download, there is a subscription fee. A 1-month subscription costs $3.99 while a 3-month subscription costs $6.99.

The app is available for download on Android and iOS platforms.

Joe & Charlie For Android | For iOS

5. Simple Habit

Simple Habit

One of the top apps in the wellness and health category, Simple Habit provides help in managing daily stresses in life, marriage, parenthood, or work. The app offers guided meditations, daily motivation, sleep sessions, and coaching by experts. Whether you need help de-stressing or better your sleep, Simple Habit can help.

Simple Habit is for you if you’re looking for:

  • Guided mindfulness and meditation
  • Improving wellness
  • Boosting relaxation
  • Motivational content

The app will help you learn new and healthy habits, relax, increase focus, and self-awareness, among other benefits. While Simple Habit is free to download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, you can get unlimited access with a subscription.

Simple Habit For Android | For iOS

6. Sober Time

Sober Time

Another addiction recovery app, Sober Time is a tracking app to help you track your sober days. The app aims to help recovering addicts of alcohol, substance abuse, drugs, and smoking.

The features of the app include:

  • Sober day tracker
  • Sober community and groups
  • Daily motivation
  • Milestone tracker
  • Statistics and savings

The app is customizable according to your needs. With Sober Time you can connect with other recovering addicts and share your experiences on the forum. The app helps you keep a track of your progress and keeps you motivated with daily motivational messages.

The app is available for download on Android and iOS platforms and is free.

Sober Time For Android | For iOS

7. I Am

I Am

With 4.8+ stars reviews on Play Store and App Store, I Am is a daily affirmation app that can help increase your self-esteem, change negative thinking, and keep you positive every day. Daily affirmations can help increase your awareness and keep you open to positive thoughts and opportunities.

For someone in recovery, it is easier to fall back on old habits than face another day of struggle. With this app’s daily affirmations, you can keep yourself motivated and inspired while facing another difficult day.

The app, I Am, is free to download on Play Store and App Store.

I Am For Android  | For iOS

8. BetterHelp

BetterHelp

One of the most popular online counseling apps, BetterHelp can help you connect with over 10,000 counselors to help you in your recovery. The app features include connecting with highly trained and experienced therapists, scheduling appointments or live sessions, and access to educational resources and webinars. With this app, you get access to some of the best online counselors you can chat with from the comfort of your home.

If you’re struggling to adjust after your addiction treatment, BetterHelp counselors can help you.

While the app is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, there is a subscription fee to access BetterHelp. Counseling through BetterHelp can cost $60-$90 a week. With a subscription, you get access to unlimited texting, video, audio messaging, and live sessions with your chosen therapist.

BetterHelp For Android | For iOS

Asking for help when in need is okay. I hope these alcohol addiction recovery apps will help you in your journey of recovery and provide you with the support you need. For more, you can write to us at info@calmsage.com or connect with us on our social media.

Take one step at a time.

Continue ReadingAlcohol Addiction Recovery Apps

Do Psychologists Cause ‘Mental Illness’? – The Wall Street Journal

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President Biden’s education plan proposes to double the number of psychologists in U.S. schools. This is partly a response to an apparent crisis in childhood mental health. According to a 2019 study in the Journal of Pediatrics, some 30% of American adolescents with fair or poor physical health have been diagnosed with anxiety, between 13% and 20% with behavior disorders, and almost 15% with mood disorders. The study finds that the reported prevalence of these disorders doubled over the previous decade. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, the number of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 1999 was 7.6%, and in 2018 it rose to 12.9%; that’s an almost 70% increase in 20 years.

The apparent decline in childhood mental health is itself depressing. I suspect, however, that one of the factors driving it is increased diagnosis due precisely to the increasing prevalence of mental-health services. It is one thing to detect diseases with well-established biological bases; early detection of cancer has saved many lives. It is quite another to detect diseases on the basis of a rough group of ill-defined symptoms.

When the DSM-5, the standard manual for psychiatric diagnosis, characterizes ADHD, it does so in a way that doesn’t neatly separate any population into those who have it and those who don’t. It specifies that a child with ADHD displays “six or more” symptoms of “inattention.” Such a child, for instance, may be easily distracted. Psychologists don’t, one might remark, diagnose teachers and curriculums as insufficiently interesting to maintain attention. Before you treat a child with powerful stimulants, you might ask whether education would give you six varieties of inattention, too.

The grab bag of supposed symptoms of the disease amounts to a description of the average boy’s behavior in the average classroom before the era of school psychology: “often fidgets” or “squirms,” “often leaves seat,” “often runs about,” “often talks excessively.” These aren’t symptoms of an illness. They are symptoms of being a normal human child.

School psychologists may not themselves prescribe medication but often encourage its use and direct parents to prescribing physicians. The diagnoses provided and medications mobilized by child psychology are devoted largely to getting students to sit quietly and still, goals formerly pursued by the cane or the knuckle-rap. It’s a new form of school discipline, one that leaves parents certain that their children are diseased, and that quickly leads the children to the same conclusion about themselves. The line drawn by the DSM-5 between normal or reasonable worry and diagnosable anxiety, or between appropriate sadness and depression, is just as blurry.

Continue ReadingDo Psychologists Cause ‘Mental Illness’? – The Wall Street Journal