Commonwealth Counseling

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

We hope you grow.

This may not be the happiest season for those you know. It may not be for you. It's okay. Seasonal depression and anxiety, as well as grief play a big part. Old hurts and new unmet hopes don't make it any easier. Be kind to yourself. We are here for you.

Wednesday Wisdom

It’s never too late to try something new.

This time of year there is a lot of talk about hope.

As we transition to back to school time, you will want to send your students to school with all the supplies on the list. You will also want to send them back with some tools to manage their stress in healthy and productive ways!

https://www.apa.org/topics/child-development/stress?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=apa-stress&utm_content=manage-teen-stress&fbclid=IwAR3cJ28IMnvELyZBGbByk_ZPUZG4N0yCiJ15dofYkYtho2lzc4BUHELth-Y #

How to help children and teens manage their stress The pandemic pushed stress to historic highs. Here are healthy ways for children and teens to cope.

With temperatures rising as summer approaches, remember that heat impacts more than just your physical well-being.

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/04/757034136/how-high-heat-can-impact-mental-health

How High Heat Can Impact Mental Health A new NPR probe found low-income areas in dozens of major U.S. cities are more likely to be hotter than wealthier ones, and people with severe mental illness are impacted by that increase in heat.

Please say hello and welcome to our new office manager, Kelly! We are thrilled to have her on the team. When not on the job Kelly loves being with family and crafting. She is glad to be here to be of service to others particularly those who are struggling right now.

Remember, we create our own happiness.

Congratulations to Macey Frommel on her graduation from Murray State with a Bachelors in Health Care Administration! We are so proud of you!

Life lesson from the Kentucky Derby!

>>>Another incredible horse teaches us a valuable life lesson 🐎🌹❤️

Never lose hope…
Never doubt your ability to succeed…
Never listen to the well meaning who tell you you can’t…
His story is your story…. ❤️

🏆 Rich Strike wins $1.86Million.
🏆 Entered the race yesterday 30 seconds before the deadline.
🏆 Only got in the race because the 20th horse had to scratch yesterday.
🏆 Started from the worst post position on the outside of the track.
🏆 Had to make his way through the field of 19 other horses from the back.
🏆 Lost his previous 6 races and has only won one other race in his career.
🏆 His jockey, Sonny Leon, had never been to the Kentucky Derby.
🏆 His trainer, Eric Reed, has never had a horse in the Kentucky Derby.
🏆 Eric Reed tragically lost nearly two dozen race horses in a barn fire a few years ago and struggled with quitting.
🏆 Rich Strike was purchased in a claiming race last fall for only $30,000.
🏆 80-1 odds.

Rich Strike wins the 148th Kentucky Derby!!

Thank you Rich Strike… I’m sure by now you know how special you truly are…❤️🌹❤️

Thinking of you all….

Keep this in mind!

May the Fourth be with you!

Just a reminder for this Monday morning.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We hope you take time this month to help and care for yourself. The road is not always easy but is rewarding!

Looking for things to do during your Spring Break?

MEDIA RELEASE

Join us for Spring Break Activities at the Library beginning Monday, April 4th through Saturday, April 9th!

🚨Scholarship Opportunity 🚨

The Antoinette C. Hodes Academic Scholarship is given to a student who is enrolled in a Kentucky college or university, has performed volunteer service in a mental health setting, and is preparing for a career in the mental health field. The late Ms. Hodes was a Kentucky philanthropist.

The Evan and Katherine Harrod Academic Scholarship was established in memory of the parents of late board member Evan "Pete" Harrod and is given to a student who qualifies for a Hodes scholarship and is from a rural area. Mr. Harrod was a long-standing member of the board of directors of MHA-Kentucky who lived and farmed in Henry County.

You may apply for both, however only one scholarship will be awarded per person.

We will be awarding six (6) scholarships this year.

Applications are Due APRIL 1, 2022. Award recipients will be notified by April 30, 2022.
Awardees will be invited to attend our in-person event in Frankfort on May 3, 2022. Details: [www.mhaky.org](https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mhaky.org&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1648137145494498&usg=AOvVaw29OXyu7UkbD-gqcKDac8x6)

If you experience difficulties with the form, please email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) with SCHOLARSHIP HELP in the subject line. We can also be reached at 859-684-7778.

This hits home…..for us and all of our depression/anxiety warriors!!!

Sertraline- Zoloft
Venlafaxine- Effexor
Citalopram- Celexa
Mirtazapine-Remeron
Fluoxetine- Prozac
Duloxetine- Cymbalta
Seroquel- Quetiapine
Lamictal- Lamotrigine
Lexapro- Escitalopram
Wellbutrin- Bupropion
Lorazepam- Ativan
Klonopin- Clonazepam

You may know what these tablets are or know a loved one who takes them, but in case you don't, I will fill you in. That medication allows people to deal with a normal day to day life. Although most days it leaves them tired, spaced out, emotionless, or even super emotional.

Crazy right? Why would anyone want to feel like that?

Well this is why!!

You see, some people suffer from severe depression and anxiety.
In their brain it doesn't sit right, something seems different. They notice little differences that other people wouldn't. Most days they wake up sick and feel sleepless.

They consistently overthink every situation.
Was a comment about them; was it a joke?
Was that person supposed to laugh?
Or did they mean it?
Are they being nice?
Are they talking about them?
Do they talk about them?
They then think, I bet they don’t like me really.

They say sorry all the time. They feel like they annoy everyone.
And for all those questions they will spend hours trying to answer. Let it all build up in their mind, until it sends them to tears...... it's mental that they see things that way.

It's not only mental changes, but physical changes. They don't eat a lot or they eat way too much. Insomnia, up all night answering questions to situations that don't even exist, or sleep too much and waste half their day still feeling tired.

They still smile and they have every excuse for when you ask why.
But the tablets can help them. Because they know when they start to feel this way or think this way, they need help.

They know that when their behavior starts to change, They need guidance. And they understand that they don't need to be ashamed. They don't need to be understood. They just need to be accepted. Everyone is fighting a battle and sometimes you need to be kinder.

So I may just be another person who's talking about mental health....

Living with this illness is hard, but trying to understand it, is even harder. It’s also 100 times harder if they have another condition on top of this.

Don't suffer in silence.


Mental health is just as important as physical health.

Be part of the healing.
Be understanding.
Be kind.🖤💜🖤

Happy World Social Work Day!

We hope today something happens today to remind you of just how wonderful and worthy you are. We hope you realize that the world is a better place because you are here. We hope you recognize that you are complete within yourself whether you are with someone or on your own. If you’re struggling, there is help and hope.

Sometimes it’s all about a shift in perspective. Sometimes we need an attitude adjustment. Sometimes we just need to give ourselves a break.

“There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.” –Hannah Gadsby

Just keep going!

We all go through seasons. Be kind to yourself. Your spring is coming.

https://youtu.be/um0E5GjNHX0

Rhys Lewis - Seasons (Lyric Video) Music video by Rhys Lewis performing Seasons (Lyric Video). A Decca Records recording; © 2021 Universal Music Operations Limitedhttp://vevo.ly/sBqVbs

Happy Valentines Day to All

There's no shame in taking care of your mental health In a personal talk, Sangu Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions.