There's no way around it, everyone experiences stress! So for Stress Awareness Month, this issue of the NAMI-NYS ENews will focus on ways to manage stress and setting healthy boundaries to protect your well-being. Our main article focuses on understanding stress as not always a bad thing and offers mechanisms to manage your stress so that it doesn't negatively impact your life. You will also find in this issue a Mental Health Tip From Someone Who Gets It on setting boundaries as a way of self-care and preventing stress, a journaling prompt that can help you think about what your assumptions related to productivity, worthiness, and success are, and how this impacts your ability to set boundaries for your mental health. Resources on stress and stress management are also included. | |
Wow I'm Stressed! Understanding and Managing Stress | | |
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There’s no way around it: we all experience stress.
It’s not all bad. During times when we need to protect ourselves, the body’s stress response can help keep us safe. But when stress is frequent and intense, it can strain your body and make it impossible to function. Finding effective ways to deal with stress is crucial to living well.
If you’re feeling stressed, you can experience a myriad of symptoms, including headaches, jaw pain, mood swings, changes in appetite, trouble sleeping or concentrating, and feeling overwhelmed. When experiencing long-term stress, your brain is exposed to increased levels of a hormone called cortisol. This exposure weakens your immune system, making it easier for you to get sick.
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What has NAMI-NYS been up to? | |
NAMI-NYS Legislative Action Day and Other Advocacy Efforts As State Budget Negotiations Continue
On March 13th, the NAMI-NYS board along with our incredible affiliate members and staff came together at the Capitol in Albany for the annual NAMI-NYS Legislative Action Day. NAMI-NYS and our members participated in 40 meetings with legislators to advocate for our 2024 Action Agenda to increase access to mental health services, care for those who care for us, reimagine crisis and criminal justice and addressing children’s mental health.
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NAMI-NYS Congratulates NAMI Westchester for Celebrating its 40th Anniversary of Supporting its Communities
On Thursday, March 21, NAMI Westchester celebrated its 40th Anniversary with its inspiring Find Help, Find Hope Gala held at the Surf Club on the Sound. The event heightened the incredible work NAMI Westchester has done providing help, hope, and healing to countless people and family members impacted by mental illness.
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Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, whether at home or in the workplace, is a common experience for many of us. It's okay to decline additional responsibilities or social engagements if they contribute to your stress. Your mental health comes first, and it's important to protect your well-being.
There are practical strategies we can employ to safeguard our mental well-being and prevent burnout. By mastering the art of setting healthy boundaries, we can create spaces that foster balance, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. One practical approach is to communicate your limits and needs to those around you. At home, this might involve scheduling regular check-ins with family members or housemates to discuss expectations and responsibilities. Encourage open dialogue about how everyone can support each other while respecting individual boundaries.
Similarly in the workplace, be assertive about your workload and availability. Learn to say no to tasks or projects that exceed your capacity or compromise your well-being. Utilize tools like time-blocking to prioritize tasks and ensure you have dedicated time for rest. Remember setting boundaries is not selfish - it's a form of self-care that ultimately benefits both you and those around you.
| For more information on upcoming NAMI-NYS and Affiliate programs, events, and training sessions, please visit the NAMI-NYS Calendar on our website naminys.org, or click the button below. | |
Collaboration Between Integrated Ulster and NAMI Mid-Hudson
NAMI Mid-Hudson Program Director, Jo Ann Brown, joined Integrated Ulster at a meeting on Friday, March 15th, 2024 at Suny Ulster College. Integrated Ulster is a partnership of organizations of all types to create an efficient System of Care that is welcoming and effective in addressing the complex needs of all people in Ulster County. Thank you, Katrina Williams, Deputy Commissioner of Ulster County Dept. of Mental Health, Tara McDonald, Commissioner of Ulster County Dept. of Mental Health and Joleen Darby, Special Projects Director of Ulster County Dept. of Mental Health.
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NAMI Mid-Hudson Thanks Family Support Group Facilitator and Family-to-Family Teacher, Kie Ahmed
Thank you Kie Ahmed for being a member and volunteering with NAMI Mid-Hudson since 2017. Our faithful 4th Monday Ulster Family Support Group Facilitator and certified Family-to-Family teacher. We appreciate all you do for the community!
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NAMI Mid-Hudson celebrates the graduation of the Winter 2024 Family-to-Family Class on March 19th, 2024.
In this 8-week evidence-based class, participants learn how to better understand their loved one who is living with a mental health condition. We learn communication and problem-solving skills. Comments from participants: “The teaching/support team was excellent with shared, lived knowledge and experience and strong empathy for each participant. Preparation of class materials was OUTSTANDING as was its presentation! I appreciated the warm care, enthusiasm, and dedication of the instructors Jo Ann, Judy, and Kevin, and the class support volunteer, Natalie! They went the extra mile!” “Judy, Kevin, and JoAnn were an amazing support team. They were open and honest and shared their stories along with providing support. They were able to offer advice or lead you to another community resource to get the information you needed. They did all this in a kind and humorous way that fostered the feeling of not being alone in the battle of mental health concerns.” NAMI Mid-Hudson will be hosting two more Family-to-Family classes in 2024.
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Comment from grateful Family-to-Family graduate from NAMI Mid Hudson
“Oh yes. I am SO grateful that you continued to contact me over time to check to see if we were ready yet to take the Family-to-Family class. I only wish I had signed up sooner. I now have 2 NAMI bumper stickers which will go on my car as soon as I get it washed. Just so you know, I have never had bumper stickers on any of my cars. But this time I just must do it. Plus, I intend to get a T-shirt or sweatshirt. I will be a supportive and grateful member.”
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NAMI-NYS wants to know what your NAMI Affiliate is doing to help those impacted by mental illness!
Share the work your Affiliate is doing with NAMI-NYS for an opportunity to be featured on the Enews and our social media platforms. To submit your Affiliate News please complete the Affiliate Newsletter Submission Form and send it to communications@naminys.org. You can find the Affiliate Newsletter Submission Form on the Affiliate Portal.
| NAMI Signature Program Highlight | NAMI Family-to-Family Program | |
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for families, partners, and friends of people who live with mental health conditions. Research has shown that this program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person living with mental illness.
NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there and includes presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises.
NAMI Family-to-Family provides information and strategies for caring for the person you love, while also providing reassurance that you are not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.
In this program you'll learn about:
- How to solve problems and communicate effectively
- Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
- Supporting your loved one with compassion
- Finding and using local support and services
- Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
- How to handle a crisis
- Current treatments and therapies
- The impact of mental health conditions on the entire family
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At NAMI-NYS we'd love to have you, your family, friends, and colleagues join any of our free NAMI Signature Programs to learn how to support people with mental illness or to support your recovery journey. To learn when NAMI-NYS or our Affiliates offer this and other programs, please click on the button below. | Journaling to Heal and Grow | |
Kimberlé Crenshaw once said, "You can't change what you don't see." Self-reflection and self-awareness are needed to heal and change toxic or detrimental behaviors. Journaling is a good way to focus on exploring the many unconscious images, biases, assumptions, and stereotypes we carry about ourselves and others.
Knowing that no one is going to judge or even read your response, be completely honest and write down the first thing that comes to mind when you read the following questions:
| Have you experienced feelings of shame and guilt associated with prioritizing your mental health? Are there any beliefs you have internalized about productivity, worthiness, or success that make it difficult for you to prioritize your well-being? How can you challenge these beliefs and cultivate a healthier mindset towards rest and boundaries? | Suicide & Crisis Lifelines & Mental Health Helplines | |
Resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Resources
General Resources
Books
- "The Stress-Proof Brain" by Melanie Greenberg, PhD
- "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" by Robert M. Sapolsky
- "The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook" by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, and Matthew McKay
- "The Upside of Stress" by Kelly McGonigal
- "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, MD
- "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" by Emily Nagoski, PhD and Amelia Nagoski, DMA
These resources cover a wide range of topics related to stress, stress management, toxic stress, types of stress, stress responses, and stress's impact on mental health.
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