Have you watched the depression videos on this website?
Stress tools help with depression, as do relationship tools and self-esteem tools.
Need help assisting young people with their emotions?
Do you know about the mental health and suicide helpline? 988
Check out the N.A.M.I resources
The Map to Emotional Health, describes the steps of working through depression and grief:
1. Acknowledge the emotion in both mind and body
2. Learn coping strategies to tolerate negative emotions
3. Let Go. Release the need to hold on to negative thoughts and bad habits.
Telka's 4 Choices Tool helps differentiate your "Fight, Flight, Freeze" responses from your wiser, more logical, problem-solving mind. Don't make fear-based decisions. Align your actions with your values using the map and the worksheets to improve mental health.
Depression the emotion- or depression the brain disease?
Everyone feels grief, sadness and other depressed emotions as a healthy brain response. From 2022 to present day, 20-30% of people in the United States have suffered from the brain disease also named "depression", which NOT a normal emotion.
Use the testing below to gather information about your mental health and physical wellness. Print your results to share and discuss with your health care providers. These materials are not intended to diagnose or treat depression. For more support and understanding about mental illness check out NAMI
For the best grief video, check out Nora McInerny on Ted.com
Watch the depression videos on this site for greater understanding of depression.
Use tools below to understand and cope. National Alliance of Mental Illness: NAMI Lansing offers Zoom Support
Understanding Death by Suicide
Suicide prevention is valuable training and provides good medical information. But just like diabetes, heart disease and cancer, prevention awareness alone will not save every life. The information below is intended to remind us that the human brain is a complicated organ. Medical science has yet to find a means to preventing every death by suicide.
Please email Telka directly at Therapy@TelkaArend-Ritter.com with your question.
Let’s start with a clarification, are you asking about an emotion or a brain disease? Depression is a normal human emotion used to label a sad feeling. Unfortunately, the word depression is also used to describe brain diseases ranging from mild to severe mood disorders. These brain diseases are commonly referred to as mental illness and impact approximately 25% of the adults in the U.S. Severe mental illness represents less than 6% of the adults in the U.S. Testing will solve the mystery of normal verses illness. Use the Tool #4 Testing, Testing, Testing" on this page to identify mood disorders' symptoms, severity and duration. Discuss your test results with your healthcare provider.
Bottom line: Differences between normal emotions and symptoms of mental illness:
1. Emotions come and go while symptoms of mood disorders/brain disease remain consistently troublesome for a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks and may also include additional physical symptoms. Using a mood tracker may help with this distinction.
2. Uncomfortable emotions improve with distractions and vacations, while mood disorders, like broken bones and infections, continue to cause discomfort even after a winning lottery ticket.
3. Mental illness, like other brain diseases, may disrupt sleep, energy levels, pain sensitivity, inflammation, digestion, appetite, motivation, concentration, memory, focus and mood.
4. Depressed and anxious emotions may respond well to healthy lifestyle, good coping skills and social support. Brain diseases may also respond well to healthy lifestyle, good coping skills and social support, however, just like any damaged organ, the brain needs time to repair and heal. Recovery from brain disease is not as swift as recovery from the normal fight, flight or freeze, stress responses.
5. For additional clarification, check out the depression and anxiety videos as well as the stress materials on this site and speak directly with your health care provider.
Check out the “Creating Best Results” pdf on this site. In addition to those 20 tips, I also suggest that you take responsibility for your emotions. Use the map, it’s your journey and your choice of destination. You are welcome to use all the tools, videos and resources on this site with the therapist of your choice.
Grief and loss resources in Lansing area
Beginning Experience Loss of a spouse through separation, divorce or death
First let me say that I am so sorry you and your family have to ask this question. I am glad you reached out. Although I no longer specialize in work with children or families, (it's been over 30 years ago now that I worked as a pediatric medical social worker), the resources on my Parenting Stuff page of this site may be of some help. That said, I will defer to the recommendations given to you by specialists in the field of treating children and families impacted by serious illness. Those specialists have an abundance of resources much greater than mine.
Moving forward in your search:
1. Ask the hospital, facility, or clinic that is treating the family member's illness about their recommendations and resources to assist with child and family support including services of the medical social worker or the Child Life coordinator.
2. Utilize resources available through specific diagnoses when applicable. For example: Family member diagnosed with addiction. Cancer Care For Kids, Alzheimer's Association for Kids.
3. Ask about resources your child's school may offer or for their community recommendations.
4. Additional options may be found at your local library or on the internet:
Life Kit Podcast (2020) Tips for Talking with Kids About Death
Kathleen McCue, (2011) How to Help Children Through a Parent's Serious Illness
MATERIALS ON THIS SITE ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUBSTITUTE OR REPLACE MEDICAL CARE . This site is not intended to diagnose or treat emergencies, medical conditions or psychiatric concerns. Consult your own health care professional with your concerns. Telka does not offer emergency services or crisis intervention. Telka is not a physician, does not prescribe medication. Suicide Prevention Hot line
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