POSTS | depression hurts us

Taraji P. Henson is fighting the stigma around mental illness

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Post published:May 27, 2021
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Talking about mental health can be hard. But the founders of the Boris Lawrence Henderson foundation, actor Taraji P. Henson and friend Tracie Jade Jenkins, who is the organization’s executive director, want to make it easier to just that.

The foundation was named after Henson’s father, who had bipolar disorder and PTSD after serving in the Vietnam War.”[My father] was very honest about his struggles,” says Henson. “He was unapologetically himself. I learned [from him] that it’s okay to fall. And just get back up and don’t fall in that hole again.”

WATCH: ‘It’s killing us.’ How Taraji P. Henson is tackling Black mental health

With the foundation, Henson and Jenkins hope to address the stigma around mental health, especially in the Black community. Black people who have a mental illness experience extra challenges due to systemic racism, says Henson. She sees how inaccurate terminology can be weaponized against people, noting that if a Black person experiences a mental health crisis publicly, they can face deadly repercussions. “We get the worst diagnoses,” she says. “We don’t get [a diagnosis] of being bipolar; we get schizophrenia. And if we have an episode, nine out of 10 times we’re going to get killed.”

The two friends have known each other since they were kids. Both have struggled with anxiety and depression, and frequently lean on each other so they can feel supported—so “it’s not a secret anymore,” says Henson. Establishing an openness with each other around mental health has been helpful, the pair say. They are working to bring all types of mental illnesses to light, from eating disorders to emotional distress from police brutality, on their Facebook Watch show, Peace of Mind with Taraji.

Jenkins emphasizes that an important way to support individuals is simply hearing them out, rather than offering advice. “I’ve learned not to compare my own struggles and challenges with somebody else’s, even if my intentions are good,” says Jenkins. “I’ve learned to ask more questions [and] offer different avenues so folks can have their own healing.”

They launched their foundation three years ago, and have been trying new things during the pandemic, including a virtual fundraiser that drove awareness (and celebrity eyeballs), leading to new partnerships.

The success feels affirming, Henson says, but she remains focused on dismantling taboos and normalizing that it’s “okay to feel like crap,” especially to those who are struggling to find community and/or financial support.

“I was compelled to do something when I started thinking about the millions of people who can’t afford [support and treatment], can’t get to it, or who just are too afraid to say, ‘I need help.’”

She found her voice while recovering from mental illness

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Post published:May 27, 2021
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Chelsea Kucera has found her voice as a mental-health advocate through her songs.

Kucera, a 25-year-old Arlington native who goes by Chelsey Ann on stage, is releasing a follow-up single to her 2020 self-titled EP on May 28.

The country song, titled “She is Brave,” is about Kucera’s lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression.

“I hope to help others feel less alone in their struggles when they hear this song,” said Kucera, who is an Arlington High School graduate. “I want my music to always be encouraging and uplifting.”

Along with the song release, Kucera is selling “She is Brave” T-shirts to benefit This is My Brave. Go to www.chelseyann.com for more information.

This is My Brave, which was recently featured on “The Today Show,” is a national organization that empowers those struggling with mental illness and addiction to share their stories of recovery on stage.

Since 2014, This Is My Brave has produced over 75 touring shows featuring nearly 875 storytellers sharing their stories of overcoming depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, anorexia, bulimia, sexual assault, alcoholism, substance use disorder and more.

Kucera, who likens her sound to singer-songwriters Kacey Musgraves and Brandi Carlile, played “She is Brave” for herself frequently in 2020. The song served as a personal reminder during her stay in rehab for mental illness in California.

“It was uplifting for me to sing it,” she said. “It was my mantra.”

Her mother, Shelly Larson, said she likes her daughter’s new song. But it also makes her sad.

“It’s emotional. It was a really hard time in her life and, of course, her song is about that,” said Larson, who is a school nurse at Eagle Creek Elementary in Arlington. “It’s a happy and a sad, just reliving some of those hard times with her until I could get her help.”

Larson admires her daughter’s commitment to her music.

“I would have never been able to handle that industry — you’re going to hear a million ‘no’s’ before you hear a ‘yes.’ ” Larson said. “It’s hard to hear all those no’s, so it can be a downer at times. But she just keeps going. She keeps aspiring to live out her dreams, which I think is amazing.”

A choir and theater kid at Arlington High School, Kucera has enjoyed singing and playing the guitar since she was 15. She dreamed of becoming the next Shania Twain. But she didn’t think she had what it takes to pursue a music career until about two years ago.

“I realized this is what I want to do and what’s going to make me happy, so why not go for it?” Kucera said. “I would regret it even more if I didn’t follow my dreams. I’m the one, at the end of the day, who has to live with my decisions.”

After signing with Seattle Talent, Kucera auditioned in 2019 with the International Modeling & Talent Association, which has helped launch the careers of actors such as Katie Holmes, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel and Eva Longoria.

Kucera earned recognition for her singing and songwriting talent at the New York convention. With the connections she made through IMTA, Kucera recorded an EP with the Ni Music Group. Ni stands for “Nothing’s Impossible.”

Her self-titled EP has five tracks: “Chase,” “Best Vibes,” “Too Late,” “Always Tomorrow” and “Daydream.”

Then the pandemic hit, along with a depressive episode. Kucera was filled with so much pain and grief that she tried to take her own life. Her mom found her just in time.

When she couldn’t find the right kind of rehabilitation close to home, Kucera moved to California. She found the help she needed a year ago at the Mental Health Collective in Newport Beach.

“That’s where I did a lot of self-discovery,” Kucera said, adding that music has served as a form of therapy through all of her ups and downs. “This whole new creative side of me came out, where I was able to write a bunch of songs. I finally felt like I had something to say, where I could help people.”

Larson noticed that Kucera’s resolve to be a musician strengthened when she wrote songs about her struggles with mental illness.

“With her music, she gets the word out there,” Larson said. “She’s opening up and letting them know that she has had mental health problems. Before she got treatment, she would have never done that. She got that (openness) from treatment.”

Kucera moved back home to Arlington for a time after COVID-19 hit — she lost her job and couldn’t afford her apartment — but she’s now living in Newport Beach again.

Expect more from Chelsey Ann. She said she plans to release more songs she wrote while in rehab, not unlike “She is Brave,” next year after she moves to Nashville.

“I’m an advocate for mental-health awareness,” she said. “I feel that is my calling now.”

Mark your calendar: Chelsea Ann will perform at Legion Memorial Park in Arlington on July 3.

Sara Bruestle: 425-339-3046; sbruestle@heraldnet.com; @sarabruestle.

If you stream

Chelsea Ann’s single “She is Brave” will be available on May 28. Along with the song release, the country singer-songwriter is selling “She is Brave” T-shirts to benefit This is My Brave. Go to www.chelseyann.com for more information.

Also: Chelsey Ann will perform at Legion Memorial Park, 114 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington, from noon to 2 p.m. on July 3.

Talk to us

Chelsey Ann has struggled with anxiety and depression her entire life. (Mixed Media)

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5 ways to soothe agoraphobia

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Post published:May 27, 2021
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Tackle the anxiety that comes with this fear of open spaces and being trapped in situations that are difficult to escape

It’s a panic disorder that centres on an intense fear about the possibility of experiencing anxiety or panic attacks in a situation where it’s difficult to escape, or of being in open spaces – and as we prepare to re-enter the world after more than a year of lockdown, agoraphobia is something many may be facing.

“This anticipatory anxiety is based on assumptions by the sufferer that they may have a panic attack where help is not available, or even humiliate themselves in front of others,” explains Paul Dodd, an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor. “Fear and anxiety lead them to engage in safety behaviours, choosing to stay away from certain places or situations that they perceive could trigger panic attacks.”

Paul notes that the causes of agoraphobia are the subject of debate, but they may be linked to unconscious defence mechanisms that reinforce anxiety based on underlying assumptions about places or activities. If you are experiencing agoraphobia to the point where it is disrupting your life, it’s important to speak to a mental health professional or your GP. But here we outline some self-help strategies, to softly soothe these fears as we take the next steps back to normality.

1. Take action, now

It can be easy to brush things under the rug, or to avoid reaching out for help for fear of judgement or misunderstanding. But the sooner you address feelings of agoraphobia, the sooner you can start engaging in strategies to take back control.

“Don’t hide from your fears or engage in safety behaviours to keep you safe from anxiety, as this only serves as a temporary cure – the avoidance of an anxiety trigger may only prolong the panic disorder,” Paul explains. While these actions may feel soothing in the moment, long-term they could trap you in an unforgiving cycle.

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2. Refocus your thoughts

“Move from the ‘what if’, catastrophic, negative scenarios, to something based in fact – rather than making assumptions or holding automatic negative thoughts about a situation,” suggests Paul.

Letting go of those automatic negative thoughts isn’t easy, but if you notice you’re having one, call yourself out. Stop what you’re doing, acknowledge that anxious thought, label it, and try to move on with the rest of your day.

“Move from the ‘what if’, catastrophic, negative scenarios, to something based in facts”

3. Actively explore and engage in exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a technique for treating anxiety and phobias where the individual is exposed to their fear in a safe, controlled way. It may feel daunting, but Paul explains that this method could be useful for dealing with agoraphobia.

“Find a friend or family member who is reliable and supportive, who can accompany you when engaging with this. Take one small step at a time, and gradually build up your tolerance to each triggering scenario,” he explains. “For example, you may be afraid of taking train journeys. I suggest having a friend accompany you on a train journey lasting just one-stop, then revisiting the same journey, but going for two stops with your friend. Finally, repeating the same route alone, going just one stop, and so on – slowly building your confidence in this way, one step at a time.”

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4. Practise mindfulness

“This means being able to be fully present in the moment rather than ‘time travelling’ – thinking of the past or future – for example when engaging in ‘what if’ scenarios which are often based solely on the future, instead of the here and now,” Paul says. “Concentrate on your surroundings, feel your feet on the floor – what can you hear, see or smell? This helps to reduce symptoms.”

5. Learn and practise breathing exercises

The power of our own breath should never be underestimated, and having a few breathing exercises in the back of your mind, to bring out when you begin to feel panic rising is an effective way to stay in control. Try the ‘4,7,8’ exercise: inhale through your nose to a count of four, hold your breath for a count of seven, and exhale through your mouth to a count of eight.

“Current advice is also to engage in ‘tapping’,” Paul adds. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, teaches you to rhythmically tap specific parts of your body to help deal with stress. “The advantage of EFT is that it can be done alone, it can be very effective, and it can be done anywhere.”

Police reforms bring renewed focus on mental illness

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Post published:May 26, 2021
Post category:POSTS

News 12 Staff

May 26, 2021, 10:52pm EDT

Updated on:May 26, 2021, 10:52pm EDT

Reforms in the wake of George Floyd’s death have brought a renewed focus on police response and mental illness.

For decades, many have continued to raise their voices advocating for the mentally ill. The cry for changes to policing remain as the mentally ill in the tri-state area and across the nation have sometimes died during police interventions.

Hawa Bah, the mother of Mohamed Bah, continues to advocate for changes. Her son was killed in 2012 when she called an ambulance for help.

“I really don’t want other New Yorkers to get killed in front their family as they killed my son,” says Bah.

However, mental health crises are common. According to 2017 numbers by the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five U.S adults live with a mental illness.

The mayor’s office tells News12 that an initiative, the Mental Health Emergency Pilot Program, covers Harlem and East Harlem and will respond to 911 mental health calls that do not involve a weapon or show signs of violence.

“This is a brand-new approach and it’s taken an extraordinary team to pull it together and let’s be clear, it’s a health-centered approach,” says Mayor Bill de Blasio.

While this program rolls out, lawmakers are hoping to reimagine public safety nationwide.

“Unfortunately, the criminal justice response is the default response. So, if you have currently somebody who’s having a mental health crisis they don’t need the police, they need help,” says state Sen. Kevin Parker.

Reporting and text by Phil Taitt.

Psychedelic analog reverses effects of stress in mouse study

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Post published:May 25, 2021
Post category:POSTS

A novel compound similar in structure to the psychedelic drug ibogaine, but lacking its toxic and hallucinogenic effects, has been found to rapidly reverse the effects of stress in mice.

Researchers found that a single dose of tabernanthalog (TBG) can correct stress-induced behavioral deficits, including anxiety and cognitive inflexibility, and also promotes the regrowth of neuronal connections and restores neural circuits in the brain that are disrupted by stress. The study was published May 25 in Molecular Psychiatry.

“It was very surprising that a single treatment with a low dose had such dramatic effects within a day,” said corresponding author Yi Zuo, professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz. “I had a hard time believing it even when I saw the initial data.”

TBG was developed in the lab of coauthor David Olson at UC Davis. Zuo’s lab worked with Olson on the initial studies of TBG, reported in Nature in 2020. The new study focused on the deleterious effects of stress using a protocol in which mice are subjected to mild, unpredictable stressors over a period of several days.

On the behavioral level, stress causes increased anxiety, deficits in sensory processing, and reduced flexibility in decision-making. In the brain, stress disrupts the connections between neurons and alters the neuronal circuitry, resulting in an imbalance between excitation and inhibition.

“Amazingly, TBG reversed all of the effects of stress,” Zuo said. “This study provides significant insights into neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelic analogs on mental illnesses and paves the way for future investigations to understand their cellular and circuit mechanisms.”

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of psychedelic substances for treating illnesses such as addiction, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The hallucinogenic effects of these drugs remain a concern, however, and scientists have been unsure whether the hallucinations are therapeutically important or just a side effect.

Ibogaine has shown promise for treating addiction, but it causes dangerous heart arrhythmias in addition to being a powerful hallucinogen. TBG has not yet been tested in humans, but it lacks ibogaine’s toxicity in animal tests, and it doesn’t induce the head-twitch behavior in mice caused by known hallucinogens.

Initial studies of TBG found that it had antidepressant effects and reduced addictive behaviors in rodents. The new study was initiated by co-first author Michelle Tjia, then a graduate student in Zuo’s lab studying the effects of stress. After Tjia left for a postdoctoral position, co-first author Ju Lu, a project scientist in the lab, led additional studies. The researchers conducted a range of tests to evaluate behavioral responses to stress and the effects of treatment with TBG. They also performed imaging studies to assess changes in the brains of the mice at the neuronal level.

Studies using animal models — conducted in accordance with NIH regulations and reviewed and approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees — remain vital to investigating complex psychiatric disorders.

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of California – Santa Cruz. Original written by Tim Stephens. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.