Download November MH Carer Newsletter

Barwon Health Mental Health and Drugs & Alcohol Services Family
& Friends Newsletter
November
Carers, Family and Friends Support Groups
November
Wednesday 5th November – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Thursday 6th November – Mental Health Carer Peer Support in the activities
room at Barwon Health Community Health Services 104 – 108 Bellarine Hwy
Newcomb from 1.00 – 3.00 By popular demand psych registrar Jossy Antony
returns to share ideas and respond to questions about mental health options
and treatments. This is a great opportunity to meet with a clinician in a safe
and supportive environment
Thursday 13th November – Creative Carers – in the activities room at Newcomb
from 1.00 – 3.00 – for those NOT attending the Yoga session at Waurn Ponds –
bring your current craft work and share a cuppa and a laugh or two
Wednesday 19th November – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Thursday 20th November – Drop-In to the Green Room at the Swanston Centre
Annex for peer support from 2.30 – 4.00 – Note changed time
We have purchased some new books for our carers’ library. You may like to
join us for an afternoon covering them in protective film or just sit and watch.
Advance notice:
We are planning a ‘Christmas lunch’ at CATS for Wednesday 10th December –
depending on interest.
Please let us know if you would like to attend. Ring Pamela or Jennifer. This
would be a free event and take the place of our usual break-up afternoon teas.
Our ‘Caring for the carer’ day at Suma Park was delightful.
An hour-long physio chi session was followed by lunch in the conservatory of
the beautiful mansion house. During the afternoon, while waiting for massage
and bush flower essence treatments, participants made individual dreamcatchers – a lovely reminder of a perfect day. We thank Jennifer for her
creative inspiration and patient instruction.
Coping With Mental Illness
Mental illness may bring feelings of frustration and other negative feelings.
Recovering from mental health can be as stressful as the original factors that caused
the anguish and to make matters worse the initial recovery can often be plagued by
set-backs while you and your medical team discover which treatment methods work
best for you. So try not to get despondent, this is not an unusual occurrence, it is best
to be patient. Discovering what is best for your own unique recovery is therefore a
challenge. While many of us cope well with normal life experiences, few of us know
much about what to do when faced with varying degrees of mental dysfunction. After
all, it's not like the flu or breaking an arm!
‘Mental Illness Explained’ Mental Health Foundation of Australia (Vic) Website
http://mentalhealthvic.org.au/index.php?id=132
Medications
Mental health medications are the primary treatment for many mental illnesses.
Different medications are used for different illnesses. Drugs come with risks as well
as benefits and they should only ever be taken under a doctor's supervision.
Depression medications
Taking medications for depression is not a sign of personal weakness - there is good
evidence that they do help. Whether antidepressant medication is the best treatment
option depends on how severe the person's depression is and their history of the
illness and also their age. For adults depression there is strong evidence that
antidepressants are more effective than any other treatment. If depression is mild or
moderate, psychotherapy alone may be sufficient, though even in this case, shortterm antidepressant drug treatment can help people get to the point where they can
engage in therapy.
How Antidepressants Work
Most antidepressants are believed to work by slowing the removal of certain
chemicals from the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters (such as
serotonin and norepinephrine). Neurotransmitters are needed for normal brain
function and are involved in the control of mood and in other responses and
functions, such as eating, sleep, pain, and thinking.
Antidepressants help people with depression by making these natural chemicals
more available to the brain. By restoring the brain's chemical balance,
antidepressants help relieve the symptoms of depression.
Specifically, antidepressant drugs help reduce the extreme sadness, hopelessness,
and lack of interest in life that are typical in people with depression. These drugs also
may be used to treat other conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder,
premenstrual syndrome, chronic pain, and eating disorders.
Typically, antidepressants are taken for 4 to 6 months. In some cases, however,
patients and their doctors may decide that antidepressants are needed for a longer
time.
Types of Antidepressants

SSRIs
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are members of a group of
antidepressants that includes drugs such as citalopram (brand name of Celexa),
fluoxetine (brand name of Prozac), paroxetine (brand name of Paxil) and sertraline
(brand name of Zoloft).

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which were some of the first antidepressants
to be developed, may be helpful for people with so-called 'atypical' depression, where
a person's mood may brighten up with positive events but there may be other
symptoms such as oversleeping, sensitivity to rejection, and intense fatigue. The
MAOIs are also used to treat so-called "major" depression.
MAOIs used in Australia are phenelzine (brand name Nardil) and tranylcypromine
(brand name Parnate).

Other Disorders Treated by Antidepressant Medications
The SSRIs may be an effective treatment for other disorders besides depression.
Some have been approved for treating various anxiety disorders including panic
attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder and social
anxiety disorder. Some are used to treat eating disorders and chronic pain.
Antipsychotic Medications
Antipsychotic medications may reduce or eliminate symptoms of psychosis. They are
not a "cure" for mental illnesses, but can be an effective part of treatment. Psychosis
can be caused by any one of a number of illnesses that affect the brain and cause the
person to lose contact with reality. Some examples include schizophrenia or bipolar
mood disorder. During a psychotic episode, the person may experience delusions,
hallucinations and thought disturbances. Antipsychotic medications work to minimize
these symptoms.
Medical research has shown that symptoms of psychosis are associated with
changes in brain chemistry. Antipsychotic medications help to restore the brain's
natural chemical balance, thereby reducing or getting rid of the psychotic symptoms.
It can take some weeks before the medication starts to work. Although antipsychotic
medications cannot cure mental illnesses, they are effective in eliminating or reducing
psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and thought disorders.
Types of antipsychotic medications
There are two types of antipsychotic medications. These are known as:


Typical – this refers to the older type of medications
Atypical – this refers to the newer type of medications.
While both are effective, in general the newer medications have several advantages
over the older ones. These advantages include:

Fewer side effects such as trembling or stiffening of muscles
Less risk of developing "tardive dyskinesia" - movement of the mouth,
tongue and sometimes other parts of the body over which the person has no
control.
Some evidence suggests that the atypical medications may be effective in improving
overall mood, thinking and motivation. While these newer antipsychotic medications
are more commonly used than the older ones, some people find that the older
medications suit them better. It is important to discuss with your doctor the different
treatment options that are available and which might be the best for you.
‘Medicines Explained’ Mental Health Foundation of Australia (Vic) Website.
http://mentalhealthvic.org.au/index.php?id=130
Exercising outdoors can increase wellbeing …19.05.2010
Just five minutes of exercise a day in the great outdoors can improve mental health.
Researchers from the University of Essex found that as little as five minutes of a
"green activity" such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming can boost mood and
self -esteem.
"We believe that there would be a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to
the costs of the health service if all groups of people were to self-medicate more with
green exercise," says co-author Dr. Barton.
The study appears in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Many studies have shown that outdoor exercise can reduce the risk of mental illness
and improve a sense of well-being. But Barton and colleague Professor Jules Pretty
say that until now no one knew how much time needed to be spent on green exercise
for the benefits to show.
Barton and Pretty looked at data from 1252 people of different ages, genders and
mental health status taken from 10 existing studies in Britain.
They analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horseriding and farming.
They found that the greatest health changes occurred in the young and the mentally
ill, although people of all ages and social groups benefited. The largest positive effect
on self-esteem came from a five-minute dose of "green exercise".
All natural environments were beneficial, including parks in towns or cities, they say,
but green areas with water appeared to have a more positive effect.
In a commentary appearing in the same issue of the journal, researchers point out
that none of the studies in the analysis were randomized trials.
But William Sullivan of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign says it will be
valuable to those advocating the building of green spaces.
"Planners and consultants can put this in front of policy makers and say this is
serious research that's been published in the scientific literature."
Monday, 3 May 2010 Kate Kelland
Reuters
4 Easy ways with AVOCADO
Creamy avocado dip - Combine mashed ripe avocado, low-fat natural yoghurt,
ground cumin and chopped coriander.
Spicy Mexican salad – Mix corn kernels, kidney beans, tomato and diced
avocado. Add finely chopped red chilli, fresh coriander leaves and lime juice
for tantalising taste.
Eggy brekkie avos – Cut a small ripe avocado in half, remove the seed and
scoop out 2 tablespoons of the flesh. Crack an egg into each avocado half and
bake for 15 to 20 mins or until egg just sets. Use the scooped out avocado on
toast while waiting for the eggs to set.
Avo bruschetta – Combine diced ripe avocados, chopped tomato, red onion
and shredded basil with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve on sourdough
toast.
STOP FOR ONE MINUTE
You don’t have to do a 90-minute yoga class to feel Zen. One of the easiest
ways to stop the stress from mounting is to pause for a minute (or even a few
seconds) between tasks. “Let your attention rest on your breath, feeling it
enter and leave the body,” Dr Craig Hassed, a mindfulness consultant at
Monash University, says. “It helps our brain’s executive functions – such as
information processing, decision-making and remembering things – work a lot
better. Otherwise stress builds up in the day until we get tense and agitated.”
Sun/Herald Body & Soul July 27th 2014
Cup of calmness
View simple moments as an opportunity for relaxation and contemplation, like
your morning cup of tea.
The Zen monks of Japan believed that tea was sacred – something to be
savoured, not gulped down between bites of your toast! Take inspiration from
them and try this tomorrow morning when you’re having your cuppa. Close
your eyes and take a deep breath. If you’re into positive affirmations, silently
repeat one to yourself or set an intention for your day, such as being
productive and happy in whatever you do. Then really pay attention to each
sip. You could also up the Zen-factor by ditching the English breakfast in
favour of a calming, caffeine-free sip.
“Herbal teas have amazing properties to send you into a state of relaxation,”
confirms nutritionist, naturopath and herbalist Cassie Mendoza-Jones. They’re
perfect in the evenings too, so keep your pantry stocked with her top five
balancing herbal teas, which come with bonus benefits.





Peppermint tea: “This is beautiful for digestive support. It also detoxifies
the body and helps calm nerves.”
Rooibos tea: “A great caffeine-free antioxidant hit, rooibos improves
vitality and eases tension in the body. It can also assist with colds, flu
and headaches.”
Calendula tea: “A wonderful liver tonic that also helps to relieve
indigestion and flush toxins from the body.”
Nettle tea:
A cup of nettle tea is like a multi-mineral boost. It helps with fluid
retention, urinary infections and aching joints. It can also ease nasty hay
fever symptoms and allergies.”
Lavender tea: “Soothing and stress-busting, lavender tea improves
sleep and can ease tension headaches.”
Women’s Fitness, May 2014
(You may like to visit the Leaf tea shop at 124 Ryrie Street or their new shop at
108 Pakington St Geelong West and ask to try some of the huge range of
herbal teas – or simply try peppermint, rooibos or nettle teas available from
supermarkets)
My current favourite from Leaf tea is Buddha’s tears – this white tea has an
exquisite jasmine flavour – 2-3 balls in a cup or glass and re-infuse all day.
Surf the urge
The next time you’re overwhelmed by a negative emotion, don’t ignore it.
Instead, close your eyes, take some slow, measured and calm breaths, and
allow the emotion to completely wash over you like a wave. Sit with it, until,
like a wave, it tumbles and spins, but then slowly dissipates and becomes
calm again.
Women’s Fitness May 2014
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
Albert Einstein
A great read:
‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’
Written by Rachel Joyce
Published by Black Swan $13.00 – or look for it in your library
When Harold Fry leaves home one morning to post a letter, with his wife
hovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the
country to the other.
He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof (jacket) or
mobile phone.
All he knows is that he must keep walking…to save someone’s life.
For carer support & information about mental health
services
Ring Pamela – 421 52418 or mob 0437 663 845
Jennifer – 421 52419 or mob 0490 346 694
Note land line numbers – recently all Barwon Health telephone numbers changed and
the prefix to the land lines is 421
We both work part time so leave a message & we will call you as soon as possible
For respite services
Ring the intake worker – FREECALL 1800 052 222
National Family Drug Support
Available 7 days a week 24 hours a day – phone 1300 368 186
Lifeline 131114
This is a 24-hour telephone crisis service available every day of the year to
anyone, anytime and from anywhere in Australia for just the cost of a local call
Beyond Blue
Talk it through day or night
1300 224 636
SANE Helpline
Information and advice 9 – 5 weekdays
Suicide Helpline 1300 651 251