FEATUREDDISPARITY
MENTAL HEALTH
DIVAS and DEPRESSION
by Dr. Lia Knox
Hey Divas, did you know that approximately one in eight women will experience depression in their lifetimes, regardless of race or ethnic background? Middle-aged Hispanic women have the highest rate of depressive symptoms, followed by middle-aged African American women. Young Asian American women have the highest rate of younger groups and the second highest rate of suicide among 15 to 24 year olds. American Indians and Alaska Native adolescents are the most likely to attempt suicide and die from it.
What are the symptoms of major depression?
The onset of the first episode of major depression may not be obvious. The symptoms of major depression appear as a significant change from how a person functioned before the illness and
Include:
Persistently sad or irritable mood
Pronounced changes in sleep, appetite and energy
Difficulty thinking, concentrating and remembering;
Physical slowing or agitation;
Lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that were once enjoyed;
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness;
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide;
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain.
What to Do? do?
Recognize the symptoms: 
Use social support networks: usually found in social support networks, family, church, neighborhood, and community.
Build Self Confidence: Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and constantly remind yourself that you are a valuable, beautiful, fantastic woman every single day of your life!
Be Optimistic:
Have a positive attitude daily. Be hopeful and forgiving of others
Talk about it: Share your feelings and thoughts both negative and positive.
FEATUREDDISPARITY
MENTAL HEALTH
COPING WITH GRIEF & LOSS
Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. You may associate grief with the death of a loved one – and this type of loss often causes the most intense grief. But any loss can cause grief, including:
A relationship breakup
Loss of health
Losing a job
Loss of financial stability
A miscarriage •Death of a pet
•Death of a pet Loss of a cherished dream
A loved one’s serious illness
Loss of a friendship
Loss of safety after a trauma
EVERYONE GRIEVES DIFFERENTLY
Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and the nature of the loss. The grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can’t be forced or hurried – and there is no “normal” timetable for grieving. Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.
• Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOTUT GRIEF.
MYTH: The pain will go away faster if you ignore it.
Fact: Trying to ignore your pain or keep it from surfacing will only make it worse in the long run. For real healing it is necessary to face your grief and actively deal with it.
MYTH: It’s important to be “be strong” in the face of loss.
Fact: Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal reaction to loss. Crying doesn’t mean you are weak. You don’t need to “protect” your family or friends by putting on a brave front. Showing your true feelings can help them and you.
MYTH: If you don’t cry, it means you aren’t sorry about the loss.
Fact: Crying is a normal response to sadness, but it’s not the only one. Those who don’t cry may feel the pain just as deeply as others. They may simply have other ways of showing it.
MYTH: Grief should last about a year.
Fact: There is no right or wrong time frame for grieving. How long it takes can differ from person to person.
Source: Center for Grief and Healing
COPING WITH GRIEF AND LOSS:
1. Get support: Draw comfort from your faith, Turn to friends and family members, Join a support group, Talk to a therapist or grief counselor
2. Take care of yourself: Face your feelings, Express your feelings in a creative way, take care of your physical health, Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either, Plan ahead for grief “triggers” such as anniversaries and birthdays.
Written By: Dr. Lia A. Knox
Psychologist
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
THE 5 STAGES OF GRIEF:
• Shock and Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”
• Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”
• Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I will _.”
•Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what happened.”
Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what happened.”No. 5
No. 4
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
grief
FEATUREDDISPARITY
MENTAL HEALTH
DIVAS DISCOVERING THE LEADER WITHIN
Hey Girlfriends! Did you know that we are divinely inspired to be leaders? Many of us do not know this important fact but once we recognize this, we can start to discover the leader within and excel to superior performance.
At times, there are barriers that may block us from discovering the leader within.
BARRIERS:
1.Lack of Self-Confidence.
Lack of Self-Confidence.2.Lack of Self-Esteem.
Lack of Self-Esteem.3.Negative People (Family members, friends, co-workers, peers, on-lookers).
Negative People (Family members, friends, co-workers, peers, on-lookers).4.Negative Environment.
Negative Environment.5.Negative Messages.
Negative Messages.6.Past Trauma.
Past Trauma.7.Perceived Failures.
Perceived Failures.8.Discrimination, Racism, Sexism, and Prejudice.
Discrimination, Racism, Sexism, and Prejudice.9.Self-Destructive Behavior
Self-Destructive Behavior10.Lack of Faith.
Lack of Faith.Once we have assessed our individual barriers, only then can we begin the journey to discover the leader within! So, LET’S GET STARTED!!
HOW TO DISCOVER THE LEADER WITHIN:
1.Surround yourself with positive people.
Surround yourself with positive people.2.Challenge yourself.
Challenge yourself.3.Get organized. De-clutter your space, De-clutter your life.
Get organized. De-clutter your space, De-clutter your life.4.Re-Invent yourself! If you don’t like what you see, what you are doing, or who you have become…..CHANGE IT!!!
Re-Invent yourself! If you don’t like what you see, what you are doing, or who you have become…..CHANGE IT!!!5.Be OPTIMISTIC!! Know that you can do whatever you put your mind to!!
Be OPTIMISTIC!! Know that you can do whatever you put your mind to!!6.STOP MAKING EXCUSES!! You can come up with a million excuses “not to”, why not come up with a million reasons to “just do it?”
STOP MAKING EXCUSES!! You can come up with a million excuses “not to”, why not come up with a million reasons to “just do it?”7.Get rid of useless, stagnant energy in your life.
Get rid of useless, stagnant energy in your life.8.Be assertive! Stand up for yourself!
Be assertive! Stand up for yourself!9.Focus within! Get to know yourself! Quiet those outside voices and listen to YOU!!
Focus within! Get to know yourself! Quiet those outside voices and listen to YOU!!10.TRUST YOUR GUT!!! IT WILL RARELY LEAD YOU ASTRAY!
TRUST YOUR GUT!!! IT WILL RARELY LEAD YOU ASTRAY!Now that we have the tools to discover the leader within….how can we EXCELL TO SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE? Below is a list of suggestions that have worked for some of the most successful people in the world!
EXCELL TO SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE:
1.Success Attracts Success!
Success Attracts Success!2.Strive to become more. (Go back to school, get certified, get that license, change careers, go for that promotion, choose to be that full-time mommy, whatever you want)!
Strive to become more. (Go back to school, get certified, get that license, change careers, go for that promotion, choose to be that full-time mommy, whatever you want)!3.Ask yourself: “What do I love to do?” “What would I do every day for free?”
Ask yourself: “What do I love to do?” “What would I do every day for free?”4.“Step Outside Of The Box”! Be creative!!
“Step Outside Of The Box”! Be creative!!5.Ask yourself: “What steps do I need to take every day to make my dreams come true?”
Ask yourself: “What steps do I need to take every day to make my dreams come true?”6.Set concrete goals. Include start and finish dates.
Set concrete goals. Include start and finish dates. 7.Re-adjust your priorities. We waste a lot of time and energy on activities and people who don’t advance our goals.
Re-adjust your priorities. We waste a lot of time and energy on activities and people who don’t advance our goals.8.Spend time with those who are doing what you want to do. Ask them questions. Shadow them. Tell them what you want to do and ask them for advice.
Spend time with those who are doing what you want to do. Ask them questions. Shadow them. Tell them what you want to do and ask them for advice.9.NETWORK!! Get out there!! Meet people who are doing what you want to do!!
NETWORK!! Get out there!! Meet people who are doing what you want to do!!10.MARKET YOURSELF!! You are your own commercial!
MARKET YOURSELF!! You are your own commercial!Written By: Dr. Lia A. Knox
Dr. Lia Knox,
Psychologist
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
| ||||
