Personal Solutions Counseling Center

September is Su***de Prevention and Awareness month.

Below are some statistics to help one understand the seriousness of su***de. If you feel that someone may be suicidal speak up! Call or text 988 which is the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline.

Over 49,000 people died in 2022 from su***de. That is 1 death every 11 minutes.

Many adults think about or attempt su***de. 13.2 million seriously thought about su***de. 3.8 million made a plan for su***de. 1.6 million attempted su***de.

Su***de rates increased 37% between 2000-2018 and decreased 5% between 2018-2020. However, rates returned to their peak in 2022.

With fall right around the corner, let’s talk about Autumn Anxiety.

Some of you aren’t sure why but every year around this time of the year you’ve always felt the same. It’s led you to wonder why autumn makes you feel anxious. Well, let’s explore 3 possible reasons behind your increased anxiety during the fall.

1. Transitioning from Summer to Fall
The shift from the warm and carefree days of summer to the cooler and more routine-oriented days of fall can be a source of anxiety for some people. As summer ends, the start of a new academic year, work responsibilities, and various commitments can create a significant source of stress and anxiety. The laid-back vibe of summer is suddenly replaced by a need for increased productivity, which can lead to feelings of overwhelm and pressure.

2. Environmental Changes and Expectations
Autumn is a season that brings about changes in our surroundings, both physically and symbolically. The colder weather and the impending arrival of winter can create a subtle sense of foreboding or anticipation. After all, it signifies the approach of the holiday season and all the preparations, financial considerations, and family dynamics that it entails. Moreover, society's romanticized perceptions of autumn can inadvertently raise expectations and put undue pressure on individuals. The pressure to partake in fall activities like apple picking, pumpkin carving, and attending autumn-themed social events can create a sense of anxiety for those who may be prone to perfectionism or social comparison.

3. Personal Reflection & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Autumn's arrival often inspires introspection and self-reflection. With the year gradually coming to an end, we evaluate the goals we set and the progress we made throughout the year. This period of reflection can intensify our stress levels as we may feel overwhelmed by unmet expectations or the need to accomplish certain tasks before the year concludes. Autumn also often marks the beginning of shorter days and less sunlight, which can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (https://www.tiffanyspilove.com/main-line-psychology-blog/anxiety-reducing-techniques-for-adults)
for some individuals.

The article below has ways to help you cope with autumn anxiety and goes into more detail.

https://www.tiffanyspilove.com/main-line-psychology-blog/fall-depression-autumn-anxiety?format=amp (https://www.tiffanyspilove.com/main-line-psychology-blog/fall-depression-autumn-anxiety?format=amp

Happy Birthday Kathy!!!!❤️
Thank you for all you do for our community and Personal Solutions! Kathy takes good care of us when Melissa is out of office!

Some characteristics of Kathy are…

Despite a lot of tragedies and loss in her life, she exhibits joy, every day!

She knows a lot of people and a lot of things. She is a personal Google.

She has a heart the size of Texas.

She is a mother, grandmother (Mimi) and great grandmother.

If you want something done, tell Kathy Brown. She will make it happen.

Happy Birthday Bob!!!🎉🎉

Thank you Dr. Clanton for all that you do for Personal Solutions and our community!

Dr. Robert (Bob) Clanton is a Licensed Counseling Psychologist (LCP) who specializes in the psychological assessment of children, adolescents and adults. He also counsels with clients who have experienced traumatic events. Bob also provides psychological assessments for veterans and emergency service workers.

Here are a few fun facts about Bob:

1. He was raised in the Sarepta / Springhill area and attended school and has over a decade of experience working in hospital, community mental health, and private practice settings. He has also served as an instructor with the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

2. Bob holds a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech.

3. He taught and competed professionally as a dancer 💃 in a variety of dance genres. (Excluding ballet)

4. He is married to Saletha, a lieutenant in Shreveport Police Dept.

5. He is very tall and is a scuba diver.

Remember that you control which thoughts you choose to believe. You can retrain your brain to not be held captive to unwanted thoughts. You have more control over your thoughts than you realize! You just have to learn how to take over the reigns and no longer be a victim to your mind!

Your thoughts control the emotions that you feel. Your emotions control which actions you take. Your actions will drive your results, and in turn, your results will cause your feelings.

Refer to the article below:

https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-control-your-mind

Happy 4th of July! We hope you had an amazing day!🇺🇸 God Bless America!

Happy Birthday to our amazing counselor, Patti Bornaman!! Thank you for all you do for this community and us!

In honor of Patti, here are some fun facts about her:

1. She is a loving mother to both her handsome son named Riley and beautiful daughter named Kara. She also has a beautiful daughter-in-law named Lindsey.

2. She is a DOCTOR in which she worked hard to achieve her Ph.D in Psychology and Counseling.

3. She has served as an adjunct instructor with LSU-S and Bossier Parish Community College.

4. She serves on the prayer team at the current church she attends.

5. She loves cats and owns more than one.

6. She is a licensed supervisor helping other counselors. She supervises one of our other counselors on staff.

Thank you Patti for your endless hours of helping others in need! You are a SERVER!❤️❤️❤️

You are worth more than a label or struggle. You are not defined by diagnoses or mental health struggles. You are more than that! Just like you are more than your flaws🦋

Happy Birthday to the one and only Craig Kennedy! Thank you Craig for all that you have done for this community! We appreciate all your hard work. We also appreciate you allowing all of us to work for Personal Solutions haha. We couldn’t do this without you!

Some fun facts about Craig:

1. He is the wonderful husband to our office lady, Melissa.
2. He is a wonderful girl dad and has two beautiful daughters, Shelbi and Kaci. He also has two grandchildren, Everett and Kennedy, who have made him a grandpa named Pop.
3. He loves sports, especially any involving LSU! He enjoys playing golf and loves baseball.
4. He played and coached soccer.
5. He enjoys yard work and cooking.

Thank you for impacting not only us but our entire community with all your hard work!!!!!

Happy Memorial Day! Today, let us take time to honor those who passed away while serving. Thank you to all of you who have served or are currently serving to protect our country as well!

It’s officially summer! Kids are out of school, the sun is beaming, and summer festivities are starting!

Just like every season in life there comes positives and negatives to our well being and mental health. Below are positives of summer, negatives of summer, and ways to take care of yourself during summer!

***Positives of Summer on Mental Health:
According to University of Michigan research, the positive impact warm, sunny weather can have on mental health and mood are real. "Being outside in pleasant weather really offers a way to re-set your mind-set.”
- The sun provides a surge of vitamin D
- We tend to be more active
- We tend to reduce our work hours
- We have more time to spend with family and friends

However, for others, summer can be a bummer in more ways than one.

***Negatives of Summer on Mental Health:
You may have heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and assumed it is specifically a “Winter Depression”, but SAD is a type of depression that can affect people at anytime of the year. In fact, some people experience the symptoms of depression starting in the spring or summer months with mild symptoms then progressing and becoming more severe. Why?
1. Summertime stressors
- Disruption in routine / schedule / habits due to vacation, children being out of school
* Disruption in routine / schedule / habits due to vacation, children being out of school
* Change in sleep and eating habits due to disruption in routine
* Not being able to participate in summer vacations or outdoor activities due to limited finances
* Health reasons preventing participating in summer activities which could lead to isolation and sadness and feelings of loneliness
* Anxiety or avoiding participating in some outdoor summer activities due to concern about physical appearance
2. Extreme weather conditions
- Hot weather usually causes people to feel tired, unmotivated to do very much and maybe even a little bit grumpy. However, extreme weather conditions are more serious for our health then that. At present there is an intense heat wave covering much of North America. Climate change worries aside, this has also caused alarm among the health and mental health community. There are a host of heat related illnesses that are serious enough to result in hospitalization and death, including: dehydration, heat stroke, increased blood pressure and many other illnesses. There are also some serious mental health issues that result from the heat. This is evidenced by the fact that there is an increase in psychiatric hospitalizations during the summer months, an increase in su***de attempts, acts of violence, increased irritable and anger.

So, what can you do to ‘feel good’ this summer?

***Let’s start with the basics of summer self-care:
* Drink lots of water or other liquids to prevent dehydration
* Try to limit coffee and alcohol since they tend to dehydrate
* Wear a hat when you are going out, even when temperatures are cooler and sun is not intense
* Wear sunscreen and limit your exposure to direct, intense sunlight
* Try to do activities early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler (gardening, yardwork, exercise, etc.)
* Try to remain in air conditioned environments if you are sensitive to the heat and if you do not have air conditioning in your home, there are typically cooling stations or public spaces that can provide it for you
* If you are on any medications, you may need to limit your exposure to sunlight, so it is essential that you talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any possible side effects of heat and sunlight with your prescription
***Now for some summer self-care:
* Try to get 20 minutes of sunlight a day
* Avoid social withdrawal and social isolation by going out and engaging with a small group of friends and/or family
* Try to stay active, and engage in regular physical exercise for 30-45 minutes a day to increase your endorphin activity
* Try to maintain a healthy diet and a regular eating schedule to help keep your sleep, mood and energy levels balanced
* Try to maintain a proper sleep schedule, sticking to consistent wake up/go to sleep times
* Take advantage of the weather and find something you would normally do indoors and take it outside
* Take some time for YOURSELF by taking a calming walk, reading a book outside under a tree, enjoying the warmth of the sun and some refreshing cool, soothing ice water… whatever soothes your soul
* If you are not an outdoor person, then find an activity you like doing that makes you feel happy and relaxed so you can slow down and de-stress

Read more here:
https://www.peacheycounselling.ca/blog/2021/that-summer-feeling-and-how-summer-can-impact-mental-health #:~:text=Summertime%20stressors&text=Change%20in%20sleep%20and%20eating,sadness%20and%20feelings%20of%20loneliness

Sometimes what we need is simply a ministry of presence. Often there are no words, and there doesn’t have to be words. Sometimes we just need someone to sit with us.

"Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh.
There was a pause.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet.
"No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do."
"That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.
"What are you doing?" asked Pooh.
"Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.
"But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh."
And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right."
A.A. Milne

▪Mental illness affects more than 50 million Americans.
▪ A large percentage of people go without treatment for mental illness every year.
▪ Cost is the biggest reason people go without the help they need.

Mental illness is a pervasive problem among adults and children in the U.S., but we often don’t treat our mental health as well as we do our physical health.

How many people have a mental illness?

-Over 20% of American adults (more than 50 million) experience some sort of mental illness every year.
-5% encounter a more serious mental health concern every year.
-1 in 6 kids ages 6 to 17 in the U.S. experience a mental health disorder.
- Su***de remains the second-leading cause of death among all U.S. children ages 10 to 14.

What is the most common mental illness among U.S. adults?

- Anxiety is the most commonly reported mental illness among U.S. adults, with nearly 1 in 5 (19.1%) affected.

Anxiety
19.1%
Major depressive episode 8.3%
Post-traumatic stress disorder 3.6%
Bipolar disorder
2.8%
Borderline personality disorder
1.4%
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
1.2%
Schizophrenia
Less than 1%

How many people have a mental illness in Louisiana ?

Louisiana
21.18% U.S. adults affected
(That is about 733,000 people)

How many people with a mental illness don’t get treatment?

-More than half of U.S. adults with a mental illness (55%) are not getting treatment. That’s more than 28 million adults without the mental health care they need. Of those 28 million, more than a quarter (27%) reported having serious psychological distress in the past month.

How many people with a mental illness don’t get treatment in Louisiana?

Louisiana
52.9% of U.S. adults not getting treatment (That is about 385,000 people)

Mental health and Health Insurance

-More than 2 in 5 Americans say they don’t seek help for anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses simply because they can’t afford the care they need. Even many with insurance, many (17%) say they still can’t afford treatment.
If you’re suffering from mental health issues and don’t have health insurance (or health insurance that provides enough coverage for the care), the Affordable Care Act now ensures that most health insurance plans including all those on the Health Insurance Marketplace, cover mental health services.

To read more:

https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/health-insurance/mental-health-statistics/

Happy National Administrative Professional’s Day to our two beautiful ladies both inside and out!

Kathy, on the left, is our amazing fill in lady when Melissa is out of the office! Melissa, on the right, is our office lady who does it all!

We would not be able to do what we do without y’all! You guys are a wonderful blessing to us! Thank you for taking care of our clients and us! If you’re in the office this week or this month, please take time to thank these ladies when you see them! ❤️❤️

Happy Birthday to our SUPERHERO Melissa! She is the backbone and SUPERWOMAN that holds and grounds Personal Solutions!! We could not do our jobs without her! She takes loads of stress off of us to make our jobs easier in anyway she possibly can. Not only does she do the administrative part for 5 of us, she helps maintenance the place whether that’s ordering food and drinks to changing out a lightbulb… or unclogging a toilet 😂 she does it all!!!!! She is selfless and servile in every way and we appreciate all that she does for not only us but our clients!!!! This month if you’re in the office, please take a moment to tell her how much you appreciate her!

To celebrate this wonderful woman here are 5 interesting facts about her:

1. She has a background in finance and banking. (This makes her perfect for doing our pay role and all things financial!)
2. She has a Masters in Education. (This makes her smarter than all of us so she can educate us in all the things! 😉)
3. She has two daughters, Shelbi and Kaci. And Shelbi made Melissa a grandmother of two grandchildren, Everett and Kennedy. (She makes time for them always whether it’s a FaceTime or call to them during her breaks or time away from the office to be a wonderful mother and grandmother!)
4. She taught middle school and high school math at a local private school for about 17 years. (She actually taught one of our counselors, Hailey Slack, when she was in the 8th grade in a math class!)
5. She loves camping, fishing, and humming birds. (Sounds like she is not only professional in the office but down to nature in all other ways!!!)

Thank you Melissa Kennedy for all you do! We can never tell you enough!!! We love you!!!!😍 💕😘🤩

In today’s world our children face things that we never had to face growing up. Even as adults, we are trying to play catch up in today’s times and sometimes we feel overstimulated. Imagine how our kids and teens feel with their younger and developing brain. Children’s brains are still developing and they cannot handle situations the way adults can. Sometimes adults do not know how to navigate through situations either. The world is constantly being overstimulated in this go-go society that we live in. There is so much pressure put on our children to grow up faster than they should. Children face more uncertainty and overstimulation in today’s world. With that said, do your children appear more anxious? If so, do they….

-Fear going to school?
-Fear going in public?
-Appear fatigued and drained?
-Appear sad?
-Stay to themselves mostly?
-Appear to put a lot of pressure on themselves?
-Appear to sleep too much or not enough?
-Easily overwhelmed and stressed?
-Get bullied or bully?
-Appear addicted to social media and their phones?
-Fearful of things they cannot control?
-Affected by social media or the news
-Talk about not wanting to live anymore?
-Beat themselves up and think negatively of themselves?
-Avoid reality? (i.e. drown themselves in gaming or fantasy worlds?)
-Dissociate from reality? (i.e. think they are something else other than human?)

If so, parents you are not alone. Many children can be affected by some or all of these things. On the bright side, we are here to help! Having your child in therapy nowadays is a necessity to help them cope and navigate through all of the things the world throws at them.

It can be easy to take life for granted. We all have. We are especially reminded how precious life can be when a loved one young or old dies. Death is a complicated and unsettling thing to comprehend as humans… especially when it’s a loved one. I’m sure most of us have grieved the death of a loved one at some point in our lives so far. Just know you’re not alone and there are people here to help! Everyone handles death differently as well as copes differently. With all of that said, we are never promised tomorrow. Let’s try to never take life for granted. I was reminded of this with the passing of a young friend recently. It’s okay to struggle.

One thing that none of us like is uncertainty. We can get anxious or fearful in the unknown. The uncertainty can be off putting, upsetting, and even scary. Fear of the unknown can be one of the most crippling types of fear we can have as human beings. It is normal to feel scared when we do not know or feel out of control when our world feels out of control. We try to gain a sense of control by trying to figure out the unknown. We will always have unknown and uncertainty in our lives. There will be no answers at times. There will be no solutions at times. There will be waiting. And there will be a time you have to let go of trying to figure out the unknown. It is up to us on whether we are going to let uncertainty make us or break us. Learning to embrace and accept uncertainty is a freeing thing. I’m not saying you will never have anxiety or fear, but you can learn to live with it to where it is less crippling. What can you start doing to get more comfortable with the unknown? What can you start doing to accept you won’t always have all the answers?

Be KIND to your MIND🧠

Remember that broken crayons can still be used and create beautiful artwork just like broken people can still be successful and prosper❤️🖍️

Again, Happy New Year! 🎆
Here are some tips that were in an article I put down below:
1. Set realistic goals and manage your expectations.
2. Engage in self-care activities.
3. Practice gratitude.
4. Maintain strong social connections.
5. Take breaks from screens and technology.
6. Get enough sleep.
7. Implement regular physical activity.
8. Have a balanced and nutritious diet.
9. Talk to a healthcare provider for mental health.
10. Reduce or eliminate alcohol/substance use consumption.
11. Develop healthy coping mechanisms.
12. Find time to relax regularly.
13. Develop a support system you can confide in.
14. Try therapy or counseling
15. Practice mindfulness and being present in the moment.
16. Avoid toxic or negative people and situations, and surround yourself with positive influences.
17. Get regular check-ups and screenings for your physical health.
18. Engage in creative activities.
19. Ask for help when you need it.
20. Remind yourself it’s okay not to be okay.
21. Be mindful of your thoughts and emotions.
22. Try to reduce stress and develop stress management strategies.
23. Set boundaries.

https://www.cciph.ca/blog/23-mental-health-tips-for-the-new-year?format=amp

Our office will also be closed on Tuesday, January 16th, due to the continued inclement weather. We will make a decision about Wednesday sometime tomorrow.

Stay safe and off the roads if possible.

Our office will be closed today due to the inclement weather. We will make a decision about Tuesday later on today.

Stay home and off the roads if you can.

Happy New Year from PSI! We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Eve! We hope that you have a blessed and wonderful year!!! Happy 2024❤️! May this be your best year yet!!

Merry Christmas from Personal Solutions! We hope y’all have a wonderful holiday season filled with love, joy, and peace!

A friendly reminder that we will be out of the office from Monday 12/25/23 until Friday 1/5/24! We will be back in office on 1/8/24!

Sometimes the holidays are a wonderful time and sometimes they are not and that’s okay. I think as a society, we have taken on the mindset that we shouldn’t be sad or depressed during the holiday seasons. The holiday season can trigger many different things and can add stress too. It’s okay to not feel jolly this Christmas season. There is no expectation for you to buy gifts for people, decorate, attend all the parties… you focus on yourself and what you need this holiday season for your mental health!

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving from Personal Solutions! We hope you have a beautiful day!

We challenge you to write down or think of things you are grateful for! Gratitude journals help with mental health as well:)! ❤️

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🦃🍽 to you and your families!!!!! In order to allow our providers some well deserved time off and to enjoy time with their families we will be closed through next week. We will be back in the office on Monday, November 27th. Have a blessed holiday week and we look forward to seeing you when we return.

Better late than never they say!
Sorry about a late post, we meant to thank all of our veterans on the 11th, but in reality, we have thankfulness for you guys everyday! Thank you to all who served and are serving! ❤️