Newsletter
December2017
MessagefromSARDAA,CEO
DearFriends,
Wewisheveryonegoodhealthandthebestforthisholidayseason.ThereissomuchstimulusaroundusthroughoutDecember.Evengoodtimesbringstressandoverexertion,overindulgenceandoverexpectations.Sothisisatimetohelpourselvestosomeself-careandlowerourexpectationsofourselfand
others.Ourfrustrationswithunrealizedexpectationscanleadtoexacerbationofdepressionandothertriggeredsymptoms.So,ifyousetrealisticexpectationsofyourselfandothers,thefrustrationcanbereduced,eveneliminated.SomeadvicethatI’vefoundtobehelpfulinclude:
1.ManageExpectations✓Endeavortoberealisticinexpectationsofyourselfandothers.Thisisatimetoenjoyyourfamilyandfriendsinamannerthatiscomfortablenotstressful.✓Thisisatimetoprotectyourselfandavoid/managewhatyouhavelearnedisstressfulforyou.
2.SetaBudget✓Berealisticinhowmuchyouareabletospendandsticktoyourpersonalabilities.Remember,thebestgiftscanbeofone’sself:artwork,music,handmadeitems–includingcards,andyourcompanyorphonecall.
3.KeepYourHealthyHabits✓Thisistougharoundthistimewhenfoodseemstobeatheme.Buttrytolimityourindulgences.Apieceortwoinsteadofhalfoftheboxcansatisfyyourtastebuds.
4.StopandBreathe✓Literallytaketimeforrefreshingdeepbreaths.✓Attendthepartyorpartiesthataretrulyenjoyableforyouandyouhavetheenergytoattend.✓Askyourselfthis:“doesattendingthiseventcausemorestressthanhappiness?”
5.Self-Care!✓Journalingandtrackingyourmoodcanreallyhelpdecreaseyourstresslevelovertheholidays.✓Usethe"dailymood"trackerinourSchizophreniaHealthStorylinesappandstarttrackingyourmoodwithonlyafewclicksaday.✓YoucanjournalbysimplyusingourjournaltoolintheSchizophreniaHealthStorylinesapp,thenwatchyourprogressovertime.
Finally,knowthatyouareindeedsomeonewecareaboutandwewishyoupeace,safety,happinessandgoodwill.
Warmestregards,LindaStalters,MSNCEOSchizophreniaAndRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmerica
MessagefromFFS,FamilyandFriends,
CoordinatorReflectingongratitude,ofwhichmanyareespeciallymindfulofinNovember,I'dliketosaythatI'mnotsureofmuchinlife,butofthisIamsure...I'mgratefulforhavingmetyouonthischallengingpathwhichlifehaschosenforus.I'venotmetastronger,moreloving,committedgroupofpeoplethanwepeers,wefamily.Iwishyou,andthespecialoneinyourlife,loveand
serenityinthecomingholidayseason.
WithHeart,MaryRoss
MessagefromSAStaffSupporter
RequirementstostartanSAgroupBySandyDimiterchik
Friday,December1wasmyfirsttimetoleadaSchizophreniaAlliancegroup.ThemeetingwasheldatTheExtraMilehereinLafayette,LA.The
turnoutwasgood–8people--andallparticipatedwhilewestartedoffwithanaffirmation,readthroughvariouspartsoftheBlueBookaboutSAgroups,andwentovertheSixSteps.EverythingislaidoutintheBlueBook.Allyouneedisempathyandagoodlistener’sear.Well,andacoupleofotherthings.
Firstofall,youneedtohaveschizophreniaorarelateddisorder(mainlywithanoccurrenceofpsychosis).Thedisordersincludebipolardisorder,schizo-affectivedisorder,anddepressionwithpsychosis.Next,youneedtohaveaplacetoholdthemeeting.Thiscanincludeothernon-profitorganizations(likeIhave),churches,libraries,anywherethatitisfreetoholdameeting.Lastofall,youneedtocontactSARDAAsothatwecansendyouanSAGroupLeaderManual,acoupleofBlueBooks,andsomebrochuresonSAandSARDAA.Onceyouhavecontactedheadquarters,youprobablywillhearfromme,actingasaliaisonandresourceforSAGroupLeaders.
Otherthingsyoumightwanttoconsiderincludeparticipatinginoneofourfiveweeklyteleconferencecalls.Bycallingin,yougetaliveversionofhowyourmeetingswillflow.EverybodyusestheBlueBooktooutlinemeetings.So,allmeetingshavethesimilarformat.Ofcourse,wealsostressthateachgroupisindependentandyoucanholdsocialeventstooifyouwantto.Itisalluptothemembersofthegroup!Also,weareholdingaSAworkshopinApril2018atourannualSARDAAconferenceinHouston,TX.SAGroupLeaders,including
myself,willtrainyoutoleadSAgroupsusingtheSAGroupLeaderManual.Thisisanexcitingopportunity.Formoreinformationaboutattending,[email protected].
Anotherthingyoumightconsideristakingthingstoanotherdegree,bytrainingtobeacertifiedpeersupportspecialist.Youwillgainskillsthatwillhelpyourunthemeetingsmoresmoothly.Everystatehasitsowncertificationprocess.Contactmeifyouwanttolearnmoreaboutthatoption!Ofcourse,definitelycontactmeifyouwanttostartaSAgroup–[email protected].
PeerSubmissions
AGatheringBySandyDimiterchik
Agatheringofpeoplecanbecalledbydifferentnames.Itisameetingofpeople,sometimestoplaygames,orgettingtogethertofellowshipornetwork.Someeventsarefun,otherstostopajerk.Whattheyhaveincommonisasimilarcause,andforeveryoneinvolvedeachtakesapausefromlifeandone’ssurrounding.Sometimesspiritual,othertimesjustbeingahumanbeing.Itdoesn’tmakeadifferencehowoldthepeopleare,justthattheyagreedtogather,nothingmore.
Wewelcomeyourmessage/artfromSAMembersforinclusioninthenewsletter.Pleasesubmityourmessageto:[email protected],Houston,TX77094-8222forconsiderationfornextmonth'snewsletter.
YourstorymightbeincludedinaSARDAAnewsletterandmightbepublishedinafutureeditionoftheSABlueBook.
Excitingholidaynews!
SARDAAisparticipatingintheNewman'sOwnFoundation$500KHolidayChallenge.It'safriendlyfundraisingcampaignwhere
nonprofitorganizationscompetetoraisethemostmoneywithtopteamswinninggrandprizecashdonations.
SARDAAisraisingfundstoreclassifyschizophreniatoaneurologicalbraindisorder.Reclassificationwillmeanmorescientificresearch,
accesstohospitalbedsandimprovetreatmentoutcomes.Fundswillhelpsupporttrainings,traveltomeetwithlegislators,educationand
promotionmaterials.
TheCampaignlaunchedonTuesday,November21standatotalof$500KwillbegivenawaytoorganizationsintheChallenge.
SchizophreniaisaneurologicalbraindisorderthatrequirestreatmentNOTincarcerationorresultinhomelessness!
Togetherwecanaccomplishthis!
HOWYOUCANHELP
Joinourteamasafundraiserbysettingupacampaignforourcauseandreachingouttoyournetworkoffriends,familymembers,co-workers,everyoneyouknow.Ittakeslessthan5minutestosetup
yourfundraiser.
Gotohttps://www.crowdrise.com/sardaaandclickJointheTeamandCreateYourFundraisernowanddonate.Thenshareyourpage
withyourcontacts.
Thankyouinadvanceforyoursupport.Everydollarhelps,bigorsmall.
Let'sworktogethertoReclassifySchizophreniaNow!
SARDAAextendsitsappreciationandgratitudetoBoardMember,Dr.RaymondCho,forenthusiasticallyCo-Chairingthesymposium.
WatchformoredetailsinthenewsletterandontheSARDAAwebsite.Opportunitiestosponsortheconferenceandvendorexhibitsareavailable.ContactFloraDavis,DirectorofExternalAffairsformoreinformationatflora.davis@sardaa.orgorcall817.925.4421.
FromtheDeskofJohnP.“HappinessSeries”
Howdowesumupallthisbusinessonhappiness?Firstofall,thoseofuswithmentalillnessneedtobecarefulaboutself-blameifweareunhappy.Scientistsbelievethat50percentoftheequationonhappinessisaresultofinheritedbrainchemistry.AsonescientistinterviewedonABC-Newssaid:"Therearecertainbrainsthataremorepredisposedtoexperiencehappinesscomparedtootherbrains."Itwouldbeadoubleinjustice,ifwepsychologicallybeatuponyourselfoverhabitualunhappiness,ortakeseriouslyotherswhotrytodoso,wheninfactthesourceoftheproblemissomethingbiologicaloverwhichwehavelittlecontrol.
Wecantakeheartthathumanbeingsusuallyadjusttotheircircumstancesandreturntotheiroriginalstateofhappinessafterdifficultperiods.OnestudyattheUniversityofIllinoisshowedthatphysicallydisabledstudentshadthesamereportedlevelsofhappinessasable-bodiedstudents,towithinonepercentagepoint.
Itmightbeworthrememberingthattherecanbemeaningtoperiodsofunhappiness--thatwemightgrowinunexpectedwaysifwearecalledto"climbagreatmountain"ofdifficulty.
READMORE
PhoneSupportGroups
SAConferenceCallGroupsOnlyforindividualsdiagnosedSundays-7pmEasternTimeMondays-4pmEasternTimeThursdays-7pmEasternTimeFridays-7pmEasternTime
Saturdays-4pmEasternTime
SpiritofSAConferenceCallForSALeadersandPotentialLeaders
FirstWednesdayofEachMonth-7pmEasternTime
FamilyandFriendsSupportGroupNotforindividualsdiagnosedEveryTuesday-7pmEasternTime
Toll-freeCallsCall-ininformation(855)640-8271
EntryCode88286491#InternationalNumber(720)362-6499
FacebookSupportGroupOnlyforindividualsdiagnosedJOINTheFacebookGroupHere
ThisisaClosedgroup,asktobeadded.
***HOWTOSTARTANDGROWANSAGROUP***
ByMargeryWakefieldWelcometoSA(SchizophrenicsAlliance)!IunderstandthatyouwanttostartanSAgroup,andthatisgreat!READMORE
HelpforpeoplewithSchizophreniaandRelated
Disorders.
Nowitiseasytorecorddetailsandspecificsaboutsymptoms,medication,moods,andmore.Choosewhatyouwanttotrack,andseealltheinformationyouneedtohelpyouoryourlovedonewhoislivingwithschizophreniaandrelateddisorders.
GettheSchizophreniaHealthStorylines™MobileAppToday!ThemobileappisFREEforallusersoniOSandAndroiddevices.Thereisalsoawebversionavailable,accessiblethroughthebrowserofanydesktopcomputerormobiledevice.
SARDAAandSelfCareCatalystshadtheopportunitytoworkwithKristySpeaks,anindividual,likeyou,livingwithschizophrenia.Kristyisamotherof3,whoaftergraduatingfromnursingschoolwasdiagnosedwithschizophrenia.
Shesaidthatoutofalltheappsinthemarket,SchizophreniaHealthStorylinesself-careappwasthemostsupportiveasitallowshertotrackhersymptoms,moods,andjournalherthoughts.
ToshowyoursupportforKristy,wearereachingouttoyoutodownloadtheapptoday!Wehopethatyoubenefitthesamewayshedoes!
DownloadSchizophreniaHealthStorylinestoday!
AcalltoactionfromaCEOonthefrontlinesoftheopioidcrisisByRICHARDF.POPSDecember7,2017Mycompany,Alkermes,hasbeenatworksincethelate1990sdevelopingandbringingtopatientsamedicinethathelpsthemfightaddictiontoopioids.Aswesetoutonthatpath,CEOsoflargercompaniesurgedmetoreconsiderthatdecision.Theypointedoutthataddictionisadifficultdiseasewithchallengingpatients,afragmentedtreatmentsystem,andplentyofstigma.Wewentaheadanyway,convincedinthepowerofourscienceandthecompellingmedicalneed.READMORE
AripiprazoleMayReduceCocaineCravingsinPeopleWithSchizophreniaNovember2,2017cravingsbetterthanthedopamineblockerperphenazineafteranacclimationperiod,accordingtoasmall,double-blindarandomizedtrial.READMORE
ChangingattitudesaboutschizophreniaturnsTheBlocintoawardwinnerNovember4,2017ThehitskeepcomingforNewYorkCity-basedadagencyTheBloc,whichwasawardedtheBestinShowinthisyear'sHealthcareMarketingIMPACTAwards.TheprizecomesayearafterbeingnamedAgencyoftheYear.READMORE
HumanitarianAwardsNomineeNovember2017Drivenbyitsmissionto"BeGreattoDoGood,"TheBlociscommittedtopromotingpositivechangeinoursociety.READMORE
MedicationAdherenceandHospitalizationCostsinSchizophreniaMedicationadherenceisessentialtomanageacutesymptomsandreduceriskofrelapseinadultswithschizophrenia.READMORE
ThePM360TrailblazerAwardWinners
AcuteandchronicpainarearealityformillionsofAmericans.READMORE
SchizophreniaOriginatesEarlyinPregnancyNovember20,2017Summary:Usingmini-brainsgrowninthelab,researchershavediscoveredschizophrenialikelybeginstowardtheendofthefirsttrimesteroffetaldevelopment.Researchersbelieve,basedontheirfindings,schizophreniacouldpotentiallybetreatedinutero.READMORE
ResearchfindingswillhelpidentifygeneticcausesofbraindisordersNovember27,2017Newfindingswillhelptoidentifythegeneticcausesofbraindisorders:researchersattheUniversitiesofBasel,BonnandColognehavepresentedasystematiccatalogofspecificvariablelocationsinthegenomethatinfluencegeneactivityinthehumanhippocampus,astheyreportinthejournalNatureCommunications.READMORE
Genome-WideStudiesAidInvestigationofDualDiagnosisofSchizophreniaandSubstanceUseDisorderNovember28,2017Severalnewgenome-wideinvestigationsofschizophreniaandsubstance-usedisordersarehelpingresearchersunderstandhowthesetwoconditionsmayberelated,accordingtoapaperpublishedinGenomeMedicine.READMORE
DonatetoSARDAA
BrainCampaign:TakethePledge
IwillchangemylanguagefromBehavioralorMentaldisordertoBraindisorder.Iwilleducateotherstochangetheirlanguagefrommentalillnessestobrainillness.Iwillnotusestigmatizing,discriminatoryorderogatorylanguagerelatedtobraindisorders.Iwillencouragemypeers,familymembers,andcolleaguestoadvocatewhentheyseediscriminatorylanguageorpracticesinthemediaorinpublic.Iwilladvocatethatpeoplewithbraindisordershaveequalandcomprehensivehealthcare.Iwilltreatallpeoplewithbraindisorderswithrespectandcompassion.
HelpSupportSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceof
America
AmazondonatestoSchizophrenia&RelatedDisordersAlliance.Shopforgreatdealsatsmile.amazon.com/ch/33-1213657
EasystepstosupportSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericathroughAmazonSmile:
SignintoyourAmazonaccountatsmile.amazon.com.
SelectSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericaSearchforandselectSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericaasyourcharity.Onceselected,youwillreceiveaconfirmationemail.
ShopandcheckoutasyouwouldonAmazon.Noextracostispassedontoyou,butAmazonwillautomaticallydonate0.5%ofyourpurchasestoSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmerica.
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PleasetakeamomenttofindouthowyoucanhelpsupportSARDAA,notonlytodaybuteveryday-atnoextracosttoyou!!
IT'SSOSIMPLE:justbookmarkthislinkhttp://smile.amazon.com/ch/33-1213657,startshoppingandsupportuseverytimeyoushop.
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TexasandLouisianaFriends:
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YoucansupportSARDAAwithoutspendingapenny!Register
SchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersonyourKrogerPlusCardandtheywilldonateapercentagetoSARDAAeachtimeyouuseyour
card.
Pleaseregisteronlineatwww.krogercommunityrewards.com
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ThankyoutothosewhoalreadymadeadonationEverycontributionmakesadifference.
Sincerely,AngelWhite,EditorJordanHelwig,CreativeDesigner