Trinity Behavioral Health

We’re going to deviate slightly from our normal posts. Before we begin, I want to state that we’re doing this due to the struggle we’ve seen lately with families and individuals being able to pay for their medications. These medications are critical to the overall quality of life and – in some cases – the extension of life for not only our clients but their family members and friends.

We’ve seen the profits of pharmaceutical companies balloon over the past decade. Billions of dollars have flowed into their coffers while struggling families have been forced to make hard and damaging choices concerning buying needed meds, or – in some cases – paying rent. We’re not going to dig into this, because that is not what our purpose and mission are for Trinity Behavioral Health. However, supporting the community and people at large is our mission and purpose. To that extent, we have recently discovered an amazing option for those on a budget – or people who are just cost-conscious – and want a break from the exceedingly exorbitant cost of prescription drugs. We are in no way, shape, or form endorsed, affiliated, or financially compensated by this company or any of its leadership. The company is, www.costplusdrugs.com

CostPlus deals only with generic medications, and they currently do not accept any insurance, but you can use your FSA or HSA account to pay for the prescriptions. When you consider the extremely low costs compared to what you could pay even with insurance, this may be a viable option for those struggling to keep up with rising healthcare costs.

For example, Tamiflu normally runs about $96 to $115 per prescription. Through Cost Plus Drugs, you can purchase the generic version called Oseltamivir for $3.60 – that is a huge savings! The company also has generics for Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, and Zoloft as well as hundreds of other pharmaceutical categories. The information for how to register and what they offer is located on their website.

The company is associated with investor Mark Cuban and CEO Dr. Alexander Oshmyansky. Fulfillment is handled by Truepill and there is a $5 to $15 charge for shipping. You can read their Mission Statement and see the cost breakdown of each supported medication on their website.

Again, we don’t endorse, nor are we supported by, this company, but we do recognize the stress many families have with meeting their medical bills and provide this as a resource to consider.

It’s the universally hated question, “… where do YOU want to go eat …” and the indecision begins there. Of course, that is normal indecisiveness that we all face – sometimes every day. It is frustrating to be sure, but we inherently know that we are going to eat and that we will ultimately make a decision.

Life is full of uncertainty. We never know for absolute certainty what the next moment will bring. We work under the presumption that things will go well, and that everything will turn out positively. For example, we never operate under the presumption that when we’re traveling, and drive through an intersection, that another vehicle will collide with us. But it does happen. Everyday people experience that type of probable outcome.

Now imagine living a life where due to your uncertainty and your indecisiveness, you were paralyzed with fear. Fear of making any decision because you couldn’t be certain of the outcome and the question, “… what if …” is so dominating in your consciousness that you’re frozen in place. This goes far beyond anxiety into the realm of phobias. In the past, this severe type of fear would be called ‘xenophobia’ – which today we use in the description of a fear of strangers or foreigners, but in the original meaning it was much broader in covering a fear of the ‘unknown.’

There is a saying which goes something to the effect of, “ … any decision is better than no decision …” I don’t necessarily agree with that saying all of the time, but I do recognize the necessity of making a decision and following through with it. We all know that choices have consequences – some are good, and some are bad – yet perhaps the worse consequence is remorse due to inaction. Again, that “… what if …” question comes into play. Unfortunately, the’… what if …’ becomes, ‘… if only …’ Such as, ‘… if only I had asked her to dance …,’ ‘… if only I had gone to that seminar …,’ ‘… if only …’. The whole phrase bemoans regret and missed opportunities that could leave lingering psychological scars depending on the magnitude of the loss.

We want to always be aware of dangers, bad consequences, and potentially disastrous possibilities, but we do not want to contrive a poor outcome in our minds to the point where even a slim change of failure suspends our ability to choose or act. When we – or those around us – notice and point out that our ability to make decisions has become chronically impeded, it is time to seek help.

Our friends, doctor Martin Seif and Sally Winston have a wonderful article that addresses the anxiety which comes from making decisions in the link below. It’s an insightful read and can be very helpful.

Why Some People Just Can't Make Up Their Minds How anxiety makes even trivial decisions torturous.

This month we’re focusing on Mental Health and Getting Back to Nature. There’s no denying the many benefits of spending time outdoors in Nature. But, with the current situation, everyone is facing around the world, there will be some who see venturing out as a ‘risky endeavor.’ So over the course of this week, we’re going to examine the benefits, concerns, and views around how mental and behavioral health can be enhanced, bettered, and reenforced by spending some time in Nature.

Right off the bat, let’s address the “elephant-in-the-room” – SARS-CoV-2 or, better known as “COVID-19.” As we continue to face a world dominated by information, news, allegations, political jockeying, sensationalism, and misinformation – on all sides of the topic – surrounding this virus, we know one thing to be absolutely certain … our mental health has taken a dramatic and detrimental hit because of it.

The vast majority of immunologists, virologists, and geneticists agree that Coronavirus has always been around – and COVID-19 is something that we will have to live with forever. It is never going to go away. There will be variants, new strains, changes in intensity … but … most scientists and doctors studying the virus agree, that it is here to stay. That being said, increasing research and reliable data shows that proper care, natural immunity, and immunity therapy treatments will lessen the effects and dramatically mitigate terminal cases of infection. Included in that proper care, is a positive mental outlook and spending time outdoors in Nature.

Think back to the last time you went outside to enjoy and bask in the sunshine. The smile that came across your face as you soaked in that energy. Think back to the last time you took a walk in the park or down a wooded trail. Remember the last time you stopped and listened to the birds singing outside or watched bees buzzing around some flowers. If you pause for a moment, and intently remember those events, you’ll remember the sense of serenity and joy that you felt. The calm and connected emotions that washed over you. The peace of Nature.

It is universally acknowledged that we live in a world moving too fast for our minds to adjust to. Today’s society is too stressed, too busy, too quick-to-judge, too focused on “Likes” and “Selfies,” too wrapped up in who’s-doing-what and Celebrity. We post – oftentimes – fake photos of us living our best life (… look, if it takes more than two attempts to get the perfect photo, you’re faking it …), we posture about where to be seen, and we are petrified to leave the house without our phones. All of this is a detriment to our emotional, mental, and behavioral health. Evolutionists and sociologists will tell you that it is not our natural state. In short, we’ve lost touch with something essential to wellbeing – communion with Nature.

Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “… here we go, another tree-hugger …,” what we’re saying is there is a direct scientific correlation between mental health in humans and connection with Nature. Dr. Yoshifumi Miyazaki is the author of the book, ‘Shinrin Yoku’ and is a leading researcher in the links between modern man, nature, and the mental health connection. His research has shown that being in Nature – especially forest environments – has a positive effect on our stress reduction levels. He calls the results of his research, Forest Therapy – although the direct translation to English calls it, “Forest Bathing.” (Japanese doesn’t always translate well to our English hearing ears.)

Dr. Yoshifumi Miyazaki states that the three major global trends of our time are urbanization, stress, and the rise and influence of digital technology in our daily lives. Getting outside, however briefly, is a powerful antidote to all three, as it allows us to “lower our base state.” Being outside makes us happier, less stressed, more creative, and more socially connected. It can improve short-term memory and focus, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, fight against anxiety and depression, and boost our overall immune systems. Plus, access to fresh air and natural light supports healthier respiratory function and more balanced circadian rhythms, supporting better, deeper sleep. People who exercise outside report feeling happier, more confident, and more energetic than those who opt to exercise indoors.

As this week of attention to mental health continues, we will be posting and presenting additional articles and contacts for everyone who has questions or is suffering the impacts of situations associated with Mental and Behavioral Health struggles.

In the attached article, Dr. Miyazaki Yoshifumi discusses the Healing Power of the Forest and how he came to see Nature as a component of good mental health and relaxation.

Miyazaki Yoshifumi Explores the Healing Power of the Forest Shinrin-yoku, literally “forest bathing,” is a Japanese term that means relaxing in the forest to improve health. The term was first coined in the 1980s, but is now attracting increasing attention around the world. Miyazaki Yoshifumi has been researching shinrin-yoku for three decades and is the...