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Happy New Year !
Looking back on 2021 to figure out what we want to leave behind, what we want to bring forward, and what we want to create in 2022.  

Questions to ask yourself: 
*What were your Experiences in 2021?  - loss, distance, connection, isolation, travel 
* What did last year teach you?      Trust vs Mistrust
                                                                            Acceptance vs resistance 
                                                                            Creation/Change vs Stagnation 
                                                                            Hope vs Disappointment 
*What were the most difficult parts/aspects of your 2021? 
          How were you able to get through the difficult parts? 
          What can you do to prevent or minimize a recurrence of the negative parts of 
               2021 (what do you have control of?)
*What beliefs or characteristics of yourself helped to bring you through the challenges? 
*What beliefs or characteristics of yourself served as obstacles during the past year? 
*What were the best parts of your 2021? 
*What was your overall Tone/emotion during 2021? 
*What was the overall Theme of your 2021? 
*What changes need to occur in 2022 to help provide a better, more satisfying year? 
*What do you want/need to let go of in 2022? 
*What do you want/need to carry with you in 2022? 
*What do you want to create in 2022, what do you want 2022 to look like? 

The Serenity Prayer 
God grand me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change
The COURAGE to change the things I can 
And the WISDOME to know the difference 

My word for 2021: Fruition 
My word for 2022: Manifest 

The cool website I mentioned: www. myintent.org 

PLEASE email me with your thoughts, answers to these questions, what you want to create for yourself in 2022!!  
[email protected] 

Check out the Website:  www.embracethewrestle.net 

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Listen to some tips to help your family gatherings be more like a Hallmark picture than an episode of the Jerry Springer show!  :) 

Check out the Website:  embracethewrestle.net  

Happy Thanksgiving!  

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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month, so what better time than now to talk about Suicide.  

SUICIDAL IDEATION:  This refers to someone thinking about killing themselves, entertaining thoughts of DEATH, and perhaps considering a PLAN of how they will end their life. 

SUICIDE ATTEMPT is when someone carries out a potentially lethal plan, but lives through it, sometimes completely unscathed.  Other times the person lives through the SUICIDE ATTEMPT, but not without serious injury, such as medical emergencies related to Overdose, Gunshot wounds, and the like.  

SUICIDE which is defined as an actual DEATH INTENTIOINALLY caused by a self-directed injurious behavior with the intent to die.  

RISK FACTORS: 
*Mental Illness with Depression being the most prevalent; also Bipolar Disorder, Substance Use Disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis, PTSD
*Crying out for help
*Loneliness and Isolation
*Feeling like a Failure
*Impulsivity
*Family History of Suicide
*Terminal Illnesses

PROTECTIVE FACTORS: 
*Faith or Belief System
*Family/Friends/Pets 
*Sense of Responsibility to someone or something
*Lack of access to the means of a suicide plan

WARNING SIGNS: 
*Acting differently:     Different Sleep/Appetite patterns 
                                               Withdrawal/Isolation
                                                Appearing Anxious or Agitated
                                                Looking Depressed 
                                                Becoming Impulsive; doing things out of character 
                                                Becoming Angry or full of Rage; focusing on Revenge
*Talking about being a Burden to others
*Feeling Hopeless/Helpless
*Feelings of having No Purpose in life
*Talking about extreme Guilt 
*Researching ways to commit Suicide 
*Focusing on Death
*Writing good by letters 
*Giving away prized possessions 
*Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: 
*Talk to the person.  Ask them if they are ok.  Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves.   Use good listening skills and let the person know they are being heard.  Don't try to minimize what they are going through or try to convince them that things really aren't that bad.  

*Keep the person safe.  Eliminate potential methods of Suicide such as guns, lethal medications, ropes, etc.  Enlist the help of someone close to the person and who the person trusts.  

*Help CONNECT the person to a professional for help.  Help the person call the National Suicide Prevention number: 1-800-273-8255 (Press option 1 for Veterans).  Help the person connect with treatment at a Community Mental Health Center or other Mental Health agency.  Contact clergy if indicated or wanted by the person.  Call 911 if there is eminent risk of suicide. 

*Stay connected with the person after the Crisis. 

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Mental Pressure is discussed and examined with regard to Internal vs External focus; various sources and issues related to Mental Pressure.  Tips on managing symptoms of Mental Pressure as well as methods of deflecting Mental Pressure.  

Sources:  family/parents/significant others/partners/spouses ; Work/peers/bosses; School/teachers/coaches

Issues: School/Career/Performance/Appearance/Relationships/Sexual Orientation/Sexual Activity/Use of Alcohol/Tobacco/Drugs 

Breath
Realize YOU are in control of You
Evaluate your Values/Goals 
Have Conversations 
Take Breaks 
Have a Healthy Routine:  Move your body daily; Inhale fresh air daily; Recharge your battery routinely 

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Happiness....is it something elusive, or is it something that we can strive for? 

LaDema talks about why Happiness is important in our lives, and how we can create it within ourselves.  By changing our thoughts, and brain chemistry, we can develop a sense of happiness that then leads to different actions and behaviors.  Happiness really can be a choice!  

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Today we will be talking about LONELINESS: Before, During, and After the Pandemic, or at least as things are beginning to loosen up with the Pandemic… 

 I will also be sharing with you what a few people had to say about Loneliness and the Pandemic.  

We'll talk about Embracing and Wrestling with the Loneliness in order to be able to release the negative emotions associated with it.  

We'll also look at what can be learned from loneliness, as well as ways to manage it.  

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Welcome to the 1st episode  of Embrace the Wrestle: Everything Mental Health and Life in general!  A podcast hosted by LaDema Cummings, an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse who has worn many hats in the field of Mental Health/Psychiatry for the past 30 years.   

In this episode LaDema introduces herself and what you can expect from the Embrace the Wrestle Podcast.  

Mental Health issues can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug.  Let's STOMP out the STIGMA related to Mental Health

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Welcome to the trailer of Embrace the Wrestle: Everything Mental Health and Life in general!  
Listen to a brief introduction of Embrace the Wrestle, a podcast hosted by LaDema Cummings, an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse who has worn many hats in the field of Mental Health/Psychiatry for the past 30 years.   

Mental Health issues can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug.  Let's STOMP out the STIGMA related to Mental Health!  

You can expect to hear a new episode of this podcast the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month.  

Please enjoy, like, and subscribe.  Thank-you