OTTherapyEdge

As OT's we get caught up in helping people resolve issues and be able to participate in what's important in their life. When thinking about mental health we can't ignore setting boundaries as well. We need to be able to be assertive. We need to be able to say no. We have to protect our own mental well-being.

With that being said, I myself have been taking steps to protect my own well-being and setting boundaries. Although not perfect, it makes a difference.

Know your priorities

Happy

What do OTs do?
A lot of times you get "they're like PT but different." That's not a definition.

"OTs work with upper body and PT works with lower body" sometimes but no. OTs can work with the lower body as well and PTs work with your upper body sometimes... try again

OTs work with ADLs like dressing and feeding to regain independence. Not bad, but that is such a small percentage of what OTs can really do.

In my opinion the definition of what OTs are capable of doing is simple.

"We help you to remove barriers to living your best life"

OTtherapyEdge
www.OTtherapyEdge.com

"Seeking help doesn't make you weak; it makes you wise" - anonymous

There are multiple types of stigma that individuals can experience. Two of the most common types are public stigma and self stigma.

Stigma is one the main reasons individuals do not seek mental health care. People believe that individuals with a mental illness are more dangerous, incompetent, or are more likely to engage in criminal activity. With that mindset, it's not surprising that people don't seek the help that they need. Imagine how it can impact relationships, their occupations, social life, and their own self-esteem. The way the public views and reacts to mental illness, sometimes due the media we consume, is the reason people are fearful.
Self stigma happens when the individual with the mental illness begins to agree and internalize the negative stereotypes that are put on them. Whether being called lazy, violent, psycho, dangerous, etc, they begin to truly believe that's who they are, even though it is not true. It all goes back to how others view them and the interactions they have with the public.

Stigma is not an attribute of the person, but an attribute of their social context.

The first and most important thing you can do is educate yourself and seek information to learn the truth about mental illness. Also....Be kind.

The mind and body are both important but not separate. When you have a physical diagnosis, it impacts your mentality in many different ways. Lack of mobility can cause isolation from loved ones, realizing a loss of independence and relying on others can cause decreased motivation, cardiac diseases decrease your ability to do the things you love...the list goes on. Your mental health can impact your physical health the same way! Disorders such as depression and schizophrenia have been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, sleep disorders can become more prevalent which causes your body to not function the way it should.

Mental health is just as important as physical health and both need to have the the same amount of attention. Body and mind are one. 🧠 🏋🏾‍♂️

A lot of times when discussing OT, people will envision assisting someone with physical health so that they can continue living their life in the best way they can. While this can be the case, mental health is just as important and can substantially impact your ability to participate and be active. Developing healthy coping mechanisms, stress relief strategies, engaging in healthy routines and habits, and mindfulness techniques are some of the ways your OT can help you on the journey to positive mental health!

OTtherapyEdge.com
865-272-4857

Part 2.
You know why I am doing what I am doing, now why should you call us? As a general practice Occupational Therapist, we can assist you in many different aspects of your life. Home exercise programs, health promotion, exercise guidance, and ways to increase independence with ADL's (activities of daily living) are some of the way we can help. Not all inclusive, but some ideas of how we may be able to help you. If you want to call and discuss your next OT appointment, let us know!!!

[email protected]
OTtherapyEdge.com
865-272-4857

Part 1.
Knowing why you do something can be just as important as doing it. So here is a brief intro to my story. I started out as an Occupational Therapist for three reasons. 1. I didn't want to sit at a desk all day. I wanted to interact with people and do something I enjoyed. 2. The answer you hear from everyone, I wanted to help people. I wanted to make people's days and lives better anyway I could. 3. It sounded fun. I've been blessed to get to experience and accomplish all of these things. But as I have mentioned before I wanted to do more. Then I transitioned into teaching. I had realized the pros and cons in healthcare and figured by teaching I could touch a lot more peoples lives by being an educator and helping to guide them in the best ways to improve people's lives. As much as I have enjoyed teaching, I missed working with my clients, but knew I wanted to do it my way so that the clients always came first and to hopefully make a more client-focused practice.

So here I am.

OTtherapyEdge.com

This is the beginning.
With this company my goal is to help. As simple or cliché as that may seem, it's true. I've been an OT for almost 7 years now and worked in Healthcare even longer. The individuals I've seen have been in some of the worst points in their lives and on top of treatment and getting better, they appreciate someone who will listen to their needs and treat them as a unique individual. Someone who truly cares. That's what I want to be able to do for you. My goal is to be able to provide occupational therapy in your home with 100% respect regarding your needs. You're the client. No one knows you better than you.