Can we please as a united #wlscommunity better support our peers when they have severe bariatric surgical complications…

Important Disclaimers: I am NOT a clinically trained medical or mental health professional.

I’ll always recommend that those in medical and/or mental health crisis due to bariatric surgical complications get evaluation and treatment from clinically trained professionals.

I do though have as a non clinically trained professional, some more pro-active reach and skills to help those who are in crisis given my own experiences with my gastric bypass complications, my need for a gastric bypass reversal, the intense and comprehensive study of patients and treatments provided for bariatric surgical complications, which I have been doing for almost a decade, now.

That DOES allow me some leeway with both accomplished credibility and multiple necessary skillsets  in helping  bariatric surgical complications patients when they are in need and I do this on a global scale.

I CANNOT stress this enough that I am NOT against ANY of the weight loss surgeries that are performed and I do remain in the weight loss surgery communities also, as a long term ally.

HOWEVER, the reasons and the immediate need  this blog be written right now, will be abundantly clear because even the best intentioned kindest people in the weight loss surgery community DO need direction and oversight on how to best support their peers who had bad outcomes from their weight loss surgeries.

***

The reason why is somehow in the past week, both on social media and off of it, when the topic of gastric bypass reversals coming up not originally directed at me, while well intentioned by some members of the weight loss surgery community to help, some peers offered advice that could be detrimental, if NOT deadly to a bariatric patient of ANY of the weight loss surgeries who need a takedown of them and/or a serious intervention of another kind.

Because I’ve been doing this for so long and I understand for a lot of people, people have weight loss surgery in hopes they will be better off for it.

And a lot of patients ARE actually better off from the various weight loss surgeries that are performed.

The problem is, NOT all of us are.

And in times where reversals and takedowns of bariatric surgeries come up, they are life and death situations.

This is what I usually observe other weight loss surgery peers say when a reversal comes up:

# 1 “Oh NO, don’t do it, I know someone who did it and they became fat AGAIN!!!”.

#2 “Oh NO don’t do it, I know someone who did it and they still were super sick after it !!!”

#3 “Oh NO don’t do it, and I can’t even imagine how non compliant you were, to be at risk of losing your bariatric surgery!!! You apparently have NO IDEA  know how many people wish they could have bariatric surgery and can’t!!!”

#4 “Oh NO I’m sorry this happened to you, but I am glad I had surgery and that it went so good for me and about 500 of my closest wls peeps!!!”

There is ONE reason and ONLY one reason that when I see crap like above being spewed that I don’t go screaming into the night vowing to be off the internet ETERNALLY and become a recluse living in the middle of nowhere.

People WILL ACTUALLY DIE, if I’d do that.

Specifically, bariatric patients in crisis who would NOT be able to personally contact me any longer looking for guidance and support.

I could teach those in the weight loss community and I am willing to do that, when people ask me how to help their fellow peers in bariatric surgically created  crisis.

AND  I cannot overstate, that I do understand, a patient who’s had a good experience with weight loss surgery may be supporting their peers in a helpful way and not need or may be too busy to learn how to comprehensively and constructively help their peers who are in crisis and that’s okay.

This is the ONLY thing you need to know to help those patients, it’s super easy.

The answer is saying the following:

“I’m sorry you’re going through this, I can try to help you find peers who have had bariatric surgical complications and/or reversal of their particular weight loss surgery.”

Or you could just suggest they use a search engine and putting in there “bariatric surgery complications” and/or internet searching for surgical specific such as gastric bypass, DS/duodenal switch and adjustable gastric banding reversal and/or take downs.

Your desire to positively help our fellow wls  peers in crisis with care and consideration is in need and appreciated!!!

And no, it doesn’t take away from your right to be happy, if you had a better, if not ideal outcome post bariatric surgery.

Just realize that all our journeys post bariatric surgery are worth of support and kindness.

Thank You!!!

 

A NOT so gentle reminder about the medical and mental health HAZARDS of fireworks, not just around Independence Day but any day in the #COVID19 era…

(REPOST/Originally published 2017, due to the safety issues this blog addresses, especially now in the COVID-19 era, as well as with all the social unrest thought it was worth re-working and re-publishing)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/06/22/firework-salesand-complaintsskyrocket-across-america/#4428181d515e

Fireworks, Triggers, PTSD, and Veterans

http://www.militarywithptsd.org/fireworks-triggers-ptsd-and-veterans/embed/

http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Babies-Fireworks-Yes-27331158

http://www.westsoundwildlife.org/wildlife/Coexisting/CO_Fireworks.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2174&aid=2545

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2014/CPSC-Reports-Increase-in-Fireworks-Related-Deaths-and-Injuries-in-20131/

http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/fireworks

For those who shoot off fireworks near their cabin, that doesn’t have any neighbors within a 100 acre radius,  this blog isn’t for you….Although it still might help due to the safety issues consumer fireworks, pose on people,pets and property.

As Independence Day approaches, this needs to be said. I LOVE elaborate  firework displays, as far as municipal/professional firework displays, executed by pyrotechnic professionals , just like most people, who might be sad that they are cancelled this year because of COVID-19.

While I don’t have PTSD triggers from fireworks ( I do from other life issues), lots of people and pets, DO have PTSD triggers from fireworks.

Although the noise from fireworks, does cause physical and emotional distress for me personally, as I get older and more sensitive to noise and light,  but can’t be classified as a PTSD trigger, as it for so many people.

And that’s one of the  the reasons for this blog. The safety issues that consumer fireworks can pose, is the other reason for this blog.

As well as  the reason why this blog is being re-written, is given the increase in amount of consumer firework usage in 2020, which while great for makers of those products, it’s not so great for so many where the noise is nuisance at best, to causing panic and fear and increase risk of injury being an additional unnecessary health threat in already overworked healthcare system.

The above links do explain the PTSD triggers and physical and emotional distress that fireworks can cause in our military people with PTSD, babies and toddlers and pets.

Consumer fireworks can also cause PTSD triggers in people who have survived shootings and/or have lost a loved one, who either died or survived a being shot by a gun.

Going into this weekend and the holiday weekend afterwards and going forward, this is a gentle reminder, that if one loves to shoot off consumer fireworks, please understand you could be cause psychological if not physical harm to both people and pets.

So please keep in mind, that while even if it may be legal for you to shoot off consumer fireworks, it’s not a good idea for multiple reasons to do so over and over on any given day or night.

In addition to the PTSD trigger  issues that it may trigger in what I said in above and in links, 8 people died  and 11,400 people were injured due to consumer fireworks in 2013. That’s an increase from years prior, as more states have made them legal.

Just because they are legal, doesn’t mean they aren’t a safety hazard both physically and mentally, is the point I’m trying to get across.

And if you’re going to do so, do so on the 4th of July, around dusk, when people expect to have to deal with the noise from them.

Any other day and any other time,  makes it harder on those with PTSD triggers and is still a safety threat.

So if you wouldn’t drive a car or operate a boat, intoxicated, don’t think that you’re any better off personally or to the public , if you’re randomly shooting fireworks, to either celebrate the 4th of July or any other holiday or personal celebration, multiple times on random days or nights.

There are better ways to show that you’re patriotic, that doesn’t have an adverse effect on others, like consumer fireworks DO.

Don’t even bother trying to argue with me, that this  a free country and you can do what you like, just because it may be legal, where you live.

People who fought for your freedoms, are being adversely effected by consumer fireworks being launched on any other day or time, so you’re not honoring them.

What you’re actually doing is showing that you’re a jerk, with a total disregard for people, pets and the general public, by launching fireworks at any other time, than dusk on the 4th of July.

So if boredom is one of the reasons that consumer firework sales and usage is up this year, instead of scaring babies, toddlers and pets unnecessarily, how about learning a new skill?

A great wise witty blogger has suggested for those so bored during the pandemic and maybe that’s why some are shooting off fireworks willy nilly, how about doing  something quietly useful, like learning how to save a life:
https://unstapledlisa.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/learn-how-to-save-a-life/

There’s many ways to honor our nation and our nation’s birthday without explosives, exploitation, cancel culture and death threats, just cause someone differs in aesthetics and opinions than one another, that does actually  honor and celebrates our great diverse nation, not divides and tries to decimate it.

Note: Respectful difference of opinions will be published. Feedback as far as those who suffer from PTSD triggered  by consumer fireworks are also welcomed.

Disrespectful comments are not going to be welcomed , NOR  will they be published.

My blog, while NOT a dictatorship, ain’t a democracy, either. So please don’t waste your time or mine, with anything hateful.  Thanks!!!!

Sending thoughts of thanks,love and care to the #MinneapolisPoliceDepartment and to any law enforcement officer who may need it…

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: I’m not here to defend to the actions of one police officer who committed a heinous crime to a black man that led to his death 9 days ago and the other 3 who were complicit or to cause hurt in a society where black people ARE still adversely effected, if not judged or killed by the color of their skin.

HOWEVER, I identify as someone who does care about human rights and systemic bias and hatred that does ALSO occur outside of racism, which I’ve already made clear I find repugnant and have risked my safety when calling out white supremacy and sovereign citizens and there’s a need for change immediately, a long time against systemic racism.

But, there’s also a war being waged against an entire a profession.

A profession that knows everyday they go to work, they may NOT come home but end up in the morgue in the municipality which they served.

I’ve blogged about the one non existent issue with the MPD a year ago, when there should’ve been one when I called 911 and no one responded to my call for help.

Again, I’ve gotten death threats before, normally because I’ve called out White Supremacists, Sovereign Citizens for hate crimes against blacks and Muslims and people who hate on others due to weight issues, issues based on differences of aesthetics.

So, if you are completely devoid of rational thought, just because someone has the opinion that an entire profession or in this case, an entire department of law enforcement is under hate and scrutiny globally, because of the despicable last actions on the job of 4 officers and feel the need to want to take me out, just let me know where to meet you, as the community I live in, shouldn’t have to be subjected to hate or violence based upon the fact I cannot keep silent and watch an entire profession, let alone up until 6 months ago, when I moved out of Downtown Minneapolis, after living there for almost 7 years, vilify the entire Minneapolis police force that myself and others of all socio-economics, race and genders who have felt protected by.

***

Dear MPD,

Saying I’m SO sorry that your entire department is being vilified and no one is willing to call out how wrong that is.

When I lived in Downtown Minneapolis, I lived in a building and a block where there was quite a bit of crime, due to opioid addiction despite the owner’s attempt to keep us safe as possible, whether in my building, my block or around the city.

I thanked every police officer, every fire department member (which they were at my building a lot) just like I did with HCMC EMS, who also was at my former residence a lot during the ENTIRE duration of my residing in Downtown Minneapolis.

I’m not saying my saying thank you makes me a wonderful person, cause it doesn’t as I’m kind of an introverted coward.

I said thank you though because it was all of your bravery and hard work and attempt to keep the city as safe as possible and be there when people were in crisis, where a simple thank you then, was not anywhere enough to express the gratitude I have for you and for all the great peace officers out there.

I know it took me awhile to get brave enough to say this publicly and I honestly believe I can’t be the only one who’s heartbroken at the hatred that’s been directed to the entire Minneapolis Police Department, let alone peace officers around the nation.

I didn’t have to be a niece of a NYPD officer to feel this way.

It’s surrealistic in the 2 years and 4 months since Superbowl 52, where people applauded the efforts of the MPD to keep people safe, that court of public opinion could change so drastically, with so much hate coming from people who NEVER in set foot in Minnesota, let alone Minneapolis who have no idea of how wonderful so many of you are.

Anyways, I am so sorry that all of you have to suffer, that others put shame that is not for every officer to bear, given your sacrifices and willingness to put your life on the line to save others.

Please know that others do care and are heartbroken for your suffering and some of us can never thank you enough for your service, the lives you have helped,if not saved and sacrifice.

With much gratitude, the still wordy disabled activist blogger but now former Minneapolis/ Hennepin County resident, Lisa …..

Important Note: Actually… Death threats to myself WILL be reported to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

I cannot and will NOT allow anyone to think it’s okay to threaten someone’s life, without potential legal consequences, just based upon a respectful verbal expression of disagreeing what’s wrong and what’s right, whether the threat is made against my life or any other, that’s one of the reasons why I’ve written this blog and many others on violent crime prevention and awareness.

#SuicidePrevention help for those who are frontline workers in the era of #COVID19 who know how to save others lives BUT not their own….

http://www.befrienders.org
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Important Disclaimers: I am NOT a clinically trained medical or mental health professional, nor do I have any training in public safety.

I will always advise those in crisis seek immediate professional assistance from emergency services, going to the closest acute care facility or contacting above links for help.

The BUT though of why people especially physicians, nurses and first responders who know the resources but for reasons that I’ll address in blog, when in crisis themselves, would be the last people on the planet to actually contact them.

So, while the resources posted above are either for those who don’t know about the resources and are in need of them or  really are in hopes for those people who know crisis resources due to profession to have a change of heart or mind, but if they aren’t able to, to talk more about their suicidal ideation by seeking other avenues of support that hopefully can help with bring some calm, comfort and clarity, which is so hard to come by, when one is in actual crisis.

But if one is not able to, something I understand, as someone who’s struggled with suicidal ideation knows all the resources, knows and has saved other people’s lives but has struggled when it’s come to saving my own life, hopefully this will help.

I don’t though want to trigger anyone, if topic matter is not able to provide constructive help, hope and healing, I beg of you to find something that will help you find the support you need to get through the crisis you are dealing with.

***

IF a picture is worth a thousand words, the above picture quote in this blog is worth about 10 million.

I’m not digressing by saying that, it just says as concisely and correctly as possible, how people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

The target population of this blog, is physicians, other frontline workers, first responders who are at risk of suicide, not that I don’t hope that what I say could help anyone who may be in need, and while I’ve addressed multiple times for suicide prevention/awareness in society, I’ve only addressed this in physician populations only once before prior to the COVID-19 era.

As a non clinical professional who still in a roundabout way treats patients (bariatric surgical complication patients) but more of a last responder than a first one, having medical and mental health crisis due to my own bariatric complications that were unpleasant, unprecedented, life threatening and unpredictable even after they were no longer life threatening, for years that have left me for almost 1/3rd of my life now, to live a life with a new normal, I know but only a tiny bit but so well the struggle and the suffering.

Just like most medical professionals, frontline workers and first responders didn’t need COVID-19 to know the fragility and complexity of disease to humans, it’s just that now we are all are confronted by so much more unprecedented unpredictable crisis beyond what even the most stable of psyches couldn’t still possibly comprehend and process constructively, especially in a global state of crisis.

The thing first and foremost is the realization, you didn’t sign up for this, while none of us did, those who spent years in medical school or some formal medical, mental health or first responder training there was really no way to fully psychologically prepare any one regardless of specialty to the challenges and crisis professionally you’re all facing, let alone the personal ones.

If one has taken the Hippocratic Oath, that was to vow to not do intentional harm, it wasn’t to say that as much of a calling wanting to save others lives is, that it is to be at your own peril and the ones you love, all day, everyday with not just a lack of essential tools but no back up support in sight with all the unknowns that we still have with the pandemic.

The point I’m trying to make, is if the reason why you’re reading this, finding that you’re psychologically drowning in the abundance of others medical and psychological suffering, as well as your own, I’m not going to tell you that you don’t have a right to feel the way you feel.

Because you absolutely have every right to feel overwhelmed, overworked and unsupported and the devastation that comes with that  with no end that’s close in sight with the pandemic.

I’m also not going to throw out all the reasons why it’s wrong for you to be suicidal, that doesn’t help.

As well intentioned as hokey quotes like “put your hand over your heart and feel your heartbeat, that’s purpose and your life matters’ or harsher quotes that claim “suicide ends your suffering and just transfers it to another”, that isn’t going to help either, it’s  just going to make you feel worse.

What I am going though to now ask of you, is where you are now, emotionally?

Thinking about suicide, as a possible path out of your suffering?

Actually having a plan, with means and a date and your reasons regardless if you’ve wrote them out or not?

Now, I am going to ask you that if you are acutely suicidal and are unwilling to seek out professional help, that if you cannot bear right now to see that suicide is not the only path that’s left for you yet, to at least think about postponing it, where you are willing to try and understand better the trauma and grief that’s behind that current chosen path for you as a Plan A and maybe for the time being, make it a Plan B,C,D,E or never, but you may not be ready not to have it as an option.

One thing that is not talked about in the complexity of suicidality, is that while grief and trauma play into it, there is that part where when some of us who’ve tried to die by suicide, there is sometimes a complex component that can contain a misplaced sense of thinking and finding comfort that our suffering would finally be over.

This is not the place but it bears mention, as I’m duty bound and ethically committed to doing right by people in crisis and I don’t want to hurt anyone who might be reading this blog, who’s lost a loved one due to suicide, where again you’re not the target audience for this blog and I do address that in other blogs of mine.

The hopes that I have for physicians, nurses, first responders who are suicidal is that they ideally will get the help they need from others.

But if there is an unwillingness to do that, to try and honor the grief one is experiencing and the trauma and hopefully it will spark the realization that your life right now being in jeopardy, is the priority and hopefully getting you to see that the tools you have to save others lives can be directed in saving your own life, if there is an unwillingness to get professional help.

There is more initiatives now that see the psychological toll but there has to be more plans in place to get more medical staff in the frontlines, not just because of concern that is justified with frontline staff getting COVID-19, as well as other medical health issues that don’t stop just because of the pandemic but because burnout and suicide in physicians and frontline, first responders was an issue prior to the pandemic.

Please know that if you’re a physician, frontline and/or first responder who’s despondent there is help and hope for you, the peace though you desperately need right now, can happen in small doses, as the trauma this has caused, isn’t close to being over either in society or in your psyche but progress can be made where despair isn’t all consuming, as I’m not going to lie and say that it’s a matter of mindset that’s causing your horrific suffering, or that how you feel is going to completely go away soon, as it may not. as it’s the trauma, grief and fear of helplessness and being so overwhelmed in such unprecedented circumstances that cause the despondency and working to overcome it where it isn’t a risk to your life, as far as suicide, will take time, trying a combination of therapies.

And again, I’m so sorry for all of you being so tested and for your sacrifice and suffering the trauma you’ve experienced and your grief.

I hope and pray  though you can find it within yourself your value as a human first, as well as a healer that deserves to take time you may need to work on your own healing before you can save more lives but if you never save another life but your own, I hope you can see the heroes that you are and have always been and always will be.

I can’t stress again, I hope you get outside professional help but if you can’t, I hope you give yourself the dedication and attention to saving your own life like you would with another.

Sending peace and love and hopes and prayers that those who need it will accept that from me and so many who are wanting to help, having some understanding of why you are where you are emotionally…

#SuicidePrevention help for those who are frontline workers in the era of #COVID19 who know how to save others lives BUT not their own….

http://www.befrienders.org
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Important Disclaimers: I am NOT a clinically trained medical or mental health professional, nor do I have any training in public safety.

I will always advise those in crisis seek immediate professional assistance from emergency services, going to the closest acute care facility or contacting above links for help.

The BUT though of why people especially physicians, nurses and first responders who know the resources but for reasons that I’ll address in blog, when in crisis themselves, would be the last people on the planet to actually contact them.

So, while the resources posted above are either for those who don’t know about the resources and are in need of them or  really are in hopes for those people who know crisis resources due to profession to have a change of heart or mind, but if they aren’t able to, to talk more about their suicidal ideation by seeking other avenues of support that hopefully can help with bring some calm, comfort and clarity, which is so hard to come by, when one is in actual crisis.

But if one is not able to, something I understand, as someone who’s struggled with suicidal ideation knows all the resources, knows and has saved other people’s lives but has struggled when it’s come to saving my own life, hopefully this will help.

I don’t though want to trigger anyone, if topic matter is not able to provide constructive help, hope and healing, I beg of you to find something that will help you find the support you need to get through the crisis you are dealing with.

***

IF a picture is worth a thousand words, the above picture quote in this blog is worth about 10 million.

I’m not digressing by saying that, it just says as concisely and correctly as possible, how people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

The target population of this blog, is physicians, other frontline workers, first responders who are at risk of suicide, not that I don’t hope that what I say could help anyone who may be in need, and while I’ve addressed multiple times for suicide prevention/awareness in society, I’ve only addressed this in physician populations only once before prior to the COVID-19 era.

As a non clinical professional who still in a roundabout way treats patients (bariatric surgical complication patients) but more of a last responder than a first one, having medical and mental health crisis due to my own bariatric complications that were unpleasant, unprecedented, life threatening and unpredictable even after they were no longer life threatening, for years that have left me for almost 1/3rd of my life now, to live a life with a new normal, I know but only a tiny bit but so well the struggle and the suffering.

Just like most medical professionals, frontline workers and first responders didn’t need COVID-19 to know the fragility and complexity of disease to humans, it’s just that now we are all are confronted by so much more unprecedented unpredictable crisis beyond what even the most stable of psyches couldn’t still possibly comprehend and process constructively, especially in a global state of crisis.

The thing first and foremost is the realization, you didn’t sign up for this, while none of us did, those who spent years in medical school or some formal medical, mental health or first responder training there was really no way to fully psychologically prepare any one regardless of specialty to the challenges and crisis professionally you’re all facing, let alone the personal ones.

If you took the Hippocratic Oath, that was to vow to not do intentional harm, it wasn’t to say that as much of a calling wanting to save others lives is, that it is to be at your own peril and the ones you love, all day, everyday with not just a lack of essential tools but no back up support in sight with all the unknowns that we still have with the pandemic.

The point I’m trying to make, is if the reason why you’re reading this, finding that you’re psychologically drowning in the abundance of others medical and psychological suffering, as well as your own, I’m not going to tell you that you don’t have a right to feel the way you feel.

Because you absolutely have every right to feel overwhelmed, overworked and unsupported and the devastation that comes with that  with no end that’s close in sight with the pandemic.

I’m also not going to throw out all the reasons why it’s wrong for you to be suicidal, that doesn’t help.

As well intentioned as hokey quotes like “put your hand over your heart and feel your heartbeat, that’s purpose and your life matters’ or harsher quotes that claim “suicide ends your suffering and just transfers it to another”, that ain’t probably going to help either, it’s  just going to make you feel worse.

What I am going though to now ask of you, is where you are now, emotionally?

Thinking about suicide, as a possible path out of your suffering? Actually having a plan, with means and a date and your reasons regardless if you’ve wrote them out or not?

Now I am going to ask you that if you are acutely suicidal and are unwilling to seek out professional help, that if you cannot bear right now to see that suicide is not the only path that’s left for you yet, to at least think about postponing it, where you are willing to try and understand better the trauma and grief that’s behind that current chosen path for you as a Plan A and maybe for the time being, make it a Plan B,C,D,E or never, but you may not be ready not to have it as an option.

One thing that is not talked about in the complexity of suicidality, is that while grief and trauma play into it, there is that part where when some of us who’ve tried to die by suicide, it was a misplaced sense of knowing and finding comfort that our suffering would finally be over.

This is not the place but it bears mention, as I’m duty bound and ethically committed to doing right by people in crisis and I don’t want to hurt anyone who might be reading this blog, who’s lost a loved one due to suicide, where again you’re not the target audience for this blog and I do address that in other blogs of mine.

The hopes that I have for physicians, nurses, first responders who are suicidal is that they ideally will get the help they need from others.

But if there is an unwillingness to do that, to try and honor the grief one is experiencing and the trauma and hopefully it will spark the realization that your life right now being in jeopardy, is the priority and hopefully getting you to see that the tools you have to save others lives can be directed in saving your own life, if there is an unwillingness to get professional help.

There is more initiatives now that see the psychological toll but there has to be more plans in place to get more medical staff in the frontlines, not just because of concern that is justified with frontline staff getting COVID-19, as well as other medical health issues that don’t stop just because of the pandemic but because burnout and suicide in physicians and frontline, first responders was an issue prior to the pandemic.

Please know that if you’re a physician, frontline and/or first responder who’s despondent there is help and hope for you, the peace though you desperately need right now, can happen in small doses, as the trauma this has caused, isn’t close to being over either in society or in your psyche but progress can be made where despair isn’t all consuming, as I’m not going to lie and say that it’s a matter of mindset that’s causing your horrific suffering, or that how you feel is going to completely go away soon, as it may not. as it’s the trauma, grief and fear of helplessness and being so overwhelmed in such unprecedented circumstances that cause the despondency and working to overcome it where it isn’t a risk to your life, as far as suicide, will take time, trying a combination of therapies.

And again, I’m so sorry for all of you being so tested and for your sacrifice and suffering the trauma you’ve experienced and your grief.

I hope and pray  though you can find it within yourself your value as a human first, as well as a healer that deserves to take time you may need to work on your own healing before you can save more lives but if you never save another life but your own, I hope you can see the heroes that you are and have always been and always will be.

I can’t stress again, I hope you get outside professional help but if you can’t, I hope you give yourself the dedication and attention to saving your own life like you would with another.

Sending peace and love and hopes and prayers that those who need it will accept that from me and so many who are wanting to help, having some understanding of why you are where you are emotionally…

#ViolentCrimePrevention initiatives HAVE to be strengthened NOW #COVID19

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/06/europe/russia-shooting-lockdown-scli-intl/index.html

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akwpqe/shopper-upset-by-coronavirus-restrictions-runs-over-walmart-security-guard

http://www.befrienders.org

Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Important Disclaimers: I am NOT a clinically trained medical or mental health professional or in matters of public safety.

If you or anyone you know, poses a threat to oneself or others, please contact emergency services (again, half my readers aren’t in the U.S. and aren’t even in North America).

***

When I saw above linked articles, I was really sad.

What made me even more sad, was that I wasn’t surprised.

I’m not trying to come off like  I’m this uncredentialed, unrealized and unappreciated genius, cause I’m not.

I’m saying though as an activist/blogger who writes about medical, mental health and violent crime prevention awareness, that I’ve been worried that  it was possible people could/would weaponize the virus itself, a vehicle or actual weapons intending to wound, if not possibly cause fatal harm either online and/or offline, psychologically and/or medically consequentially, in and around homes, places of businesses and in acute care facilities, including, if not especially in and/or around a  hospital.

And I’m also saying that it’s very possible that violent actions are going to still escalate and while I cannot be the person, nor do I think only one person can help solve this, we all must try as hard to be  vigilantly working  on our mental health, tenacity, level of patience and preparedness, as we move through this unprecedented crisis.

As tragic as so many people dying from COVID-19 due to the actuality of the virus, deaths are just as tragic because of it.

The unprecedented #mentalhealth crisis that #COVID19 presents now and will continue to provide after it’s contained…

http://www.befrienders.org

The next pandemic will be in mental health

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/04/politics/what-matters-april-3/index.html

Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Important Disclaimers: I am not a medical or mental clinically trained professional, if someone is in danger of hurting themselves and/or others, please contact emergency services, immediately.

Okay, back up to a few days before Valentine’s Day 2020.

My boyfriend comes home from work where he works for a global shipping company, and asks me “Guess what we’re getting slammed with in packages???”…

I reply back “Guns”.

He’s like “how did you know???”…

Because by then, that Wuhan based physician who tried to warn us about the virus had already passed away.

Because while I’m  not a clinically trained medical or mental health professional nor do I have any form of education in public safety, that in an uncertain time, that has become even more uncertain and scary to so many in the last 6 weeks , a gun would give stable people, possibly a feeling of some control, in a constructive way to protect their people and their possessions.

It would give those who were less stable, a tool to feel more in control in what was looking to possibly be to them, more uncertainty than they could bear.

You see now those who are reporting the news are in the news because of COVID-19.

We’ve seen famous, wealthy, noteworthy  and/or health people succumb to the damage the virus causes, as well as the first responders and frontline health workers become infected, some passing away, but everyday fighting to save other people’s lives, in circumstances most of us could’ve NEVER seen coming unless one is Bill Gates or was the genius that was Dr. Stephen Hawking.

We’ve seen people licking toilets or coughing in public saying they have COVID-19 whether they do or not.

We’ve seen people who know they have COVID-19 or suspect it and  not warn others, not social distance for what would be reasonable reason normally, such as having a loved one in the hospital and wanting to be there for them or unreasonable and unconscionable reasons to spread the virus.

Law Enforcement has seen an increase in domestic violence calls.

You have people who can’t seek acute care either without risk or even in epicenter like NYC now (and for some time) patients dying in unprecedented circumstances and their loved ones and medical professionals responses and their own suffering and knowing that here in the U.S., the feeling of being in crisis will have it’s effect on people.

I’ve been very blessed that everyone I love the most so far, is okay.

And today was supposed to be for my own mental health, a day where I took a break from watching the news but even the little I’m online or offline, as I got out today which is rare but was needed as I had prescriptions and food to get, there’s a reminder everywhere of the challenges COVID-19 has presented.

As others have said, we can’t just look for the helpers, like Mr. Rogers was famous for comforting us, we have to be the helpers, if we can.

And if one can’t help, at least be careful as they are capable of, to not to do any further harm to one another.

I can’t stress how important though it can help, that if you can just positively help someone is that you do so when you can.

Sometimes doing that is just reminding one another that we care and you see many initiatives online and off, that is doing this.

Sometimes, though it’s more sad and scary, but necessary to say at times, that people have to be just as vigilant about their mental fitness and agility, as some are with their physical health and fitness and realize some aren’t in control of either and/or the risks they present to others and be prepared for that and the unexpected in people and in patients that may have been physically and mentally fit in the past.

As sometimes medical crisis can cause mental health ones and I would know about that, almost better than anyone, unfortunately.

As much as we can try to convey and we can’t stop, that we’re in this together, there are so many factors here that will provide mental health challenges and crisis, that while may not rival  the medical crisis we’re in, that we still have to personally and as a community, professional or not, have to actively and constructively prepare for, both in ourselves and with others and we’re going to have to do this in a manner that’s  consistently, comprehensively and with patience and vigilance going forward as we all adjust and evolve because of the devastation and challenge that COVID-19 has now presented to everyone globally.

Kindness and patience with ourselves and with one another, while has always been important, is going to be of utmost importance, now, as we try hard to move forward.

#mentalhealth #covid19

http://www.befrienders.org

The next pandemic will be in mental health

Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak

While I didn’t think I was the only one worrying what is said on this blog that I’m linking, I have been wracking my brain for the last 3 days, feeling an urgent need to see something like this or a need to write something similar and then gratefully the blog linked up above, that came in Kevin M.D email tonight.

I’m so grateful that my non clinically trained cognitively disabled self didn’t have to address this, as while I’m good at providing comfort, I suck at being calm or concise.

I am so grateful for Dr. Hamdani for writing this wonderfully insightful and helpful blog.

And you will be grateful too, if you choose to read it, whether topic is and/or was on your mind.

Even if it wasn’t…

Peace…

Shhhh, #essentialworkers need their sleep!!!

 

I get that for a multitude of reasons, people need to get outside or in their homes let off some steam.

Just please keep in mind that different neighbors may be taking a 5 p.m nap on a Thursday or a 10 a.m one on a Sunday,  because they work in a job that isn’t set to a traditional schedule in time or day of the week.

Please realize that most people do not want to hear loud nuisance noise for extended period of times and try to do better.

If one is feloniously stupid and/or thoughtless enough to think they should be able to do what they want, when they want like all the time,  when they live in any kind of community, well I’ll still wish you well.

As well as hope that they’ll come to realize one day that they don’t want to want to be without common consideration, any longer, either.

Peace… like literally!!!

griefyard…

http://www.befrienders.org

Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak

This blog is with the intent to provide some kind of showing of care, concern and comfort for those who are suffering or feeling some level of grief stricken in time of global loss of life and sudden major change of life circumstances that are filled with uncertainty.

I’ve found while above song that I’m linking is perfect as it is, in the chorus “bring them all back to life”, I’ve added in my head “please don’t let them die” and “please let them all stay alive”, help me identify the sense of empathy I have for those who are suffering, and a desire to show caring, even though there’s so next to nothing I can do, other than that and identify how demoralizing it can feel so powerless.

As well give safe space  for  humans to help stay united, in our joined humanity and caring for others, that just putting out there that others have concern and compassion, can hopefully help someone who needs gentle reminding in time of suffering, that others care enormously about them and their loved ones and their losses.

Anyways I’m so sorry for those who are suffering for so many different reasons and I’m so  terribly sorry for your loss.