Just Breathe

You are more than your negative thoughts. Whether facing a diagnosis or any other life challenge, take some time to strengthen your mind-body connection by practicing mindfulness. Today on World Mental Health Day, download our 10 Prompts to Mindfulness Guide to help you begin or continue living in the moment. #MoreThanBCAM

Be Aware of What Your Kids are Doing Online A child may be involved in cyberbullying in several ways. A child can be bullied, bully others, or witness bullying . Parents, teachers, and other adults may not be aware of all the digital media and apps that a child is using. The more digital platforms that a child uses, the more opportunities there are for being exposed to potential cyberbullying. Warning Signs a Child is Being Cyberbullied or is Cyberbullying Others Many of the warning signs that cyberbullying is occurring happen around a child’s use of their device. Some of the warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying are: Noticeable increases or decreases in device use, including texting. A child exhibits emotional responses (laughter, anger, upset) to what is happening on their device. A child hides their screen or device when others are near, and avoids discussion about what they are doing on their device. Social media accounts are shut down or new ones appear. A child starts to avoid social situations, even those that were enjoyed in the past. A child becomes withdrawn or depressed, or loses interest in people and activities. What to Do When Cyberbullying Happens If you notice warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying , take steps to investigate that child’s digital behavior. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying , and adults should take the same approach to address it: support the child being bullied, address the bullying behavior of a participant, and show children that cyberbullying is taken seriously. Because cyberbullying happens online, responding to it requires different approaches. If you think that a child is involved in cyberbullying, there are several things you can do: Notice – Recognize if there has been a change in mood or behavior and explore what the cause might be. Try to determine if these changes happen around a child’s use of their digital devices. Talk – Ask questions to learn what is happening, how it started, and who is involved. Document – Keep a record of what is happening and where. Take screenshots of harmful posts or content if possible. Most laws and policies note that bullying is a repeated behavior, so records help to document it. Report – Most social media platforms and schools have clear policies and reporting processes. If a classmate is cyberbullying, report it the school. You can also contact app or social media platforms to report offensive content and have it removed. If a child has received physical threats, or if a potential crime or illegal behavior is occurring, report it to the police. Support – Peers, mentors, and trusted adults can sometimes intervene publicly to positively influence a situation where negative or hurtful content posts about a child. Public Intervention can include posting positive comments about the person targeted with bullying to try to shift the conversation in a positive direction. It can also help to reach out to the child who is bullying and the target of the bullying to express your concern. If possible, try to determine if more professional support is needed for those involved, such as speaking with a guidance counselor or mental health professional. cyberbullying.org

The Day With the Most Light is the Day We Fight ® . Help raise awareness and support the cause by visiting Alz.org Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or Dementia can be challenging. Learning to build a supportive team with resources and assistance is critical to the health and safety of both the caregiver and the cared for! Alzheimer's association has many resources for caregivers. Here are some tips that may help... Tips for Caregivers and Families of People With Dementia Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day. Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar. Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day. Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly. When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible. Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles. Use a sturdy shower chair to support a person who is unsteady and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores. Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed. Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat. From alzheimers.gov

May is an amazing time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma often placed on issues surrounding behavioral health. Lets highlight ways to help our community in support of each other. Taking steps to alter behaviors and support positive change is a great place to start. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month Take MHTTC's 30 day Mental health challenge below. https://mhttcnetwork.org/sites/mhttc/files/2022-06/MHTTC_30daychallengecalendar.pdf

There are lots of daily tasks — eating vegetables, doing homework, brushing teeth — that kids might not understand, or care, are beneficial. But forming these habits are necessary for them to become well-adjusted adults. Though, there is one less-talked-about activity that is crucial for child development : engaging with and creating art. “Children who are using the arts are better problem solvers,” says Susan Magsamen, co-author of “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us.” Magsamen is also the founder of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “They are building stronger prefrontal cortex skills like executive function and memory. They are able to regulate their emotions better.” And they don’t have to do it for all that long to see long-term effects, she says. “To start, integrate 20 minutes of some kind of art experience everyday, whether you are a maker or beholder,” she says. “We think it starts to regulate the nervous system in a way that changes how we feel.” ‘We are wired to express ourselves’ Both parents and kids often stop prioritizing art when it becomes a skill that they don’t consider a legitimate career avenue, says Ivy Ross, co-author of “Your Brain on Art” and the vice president of hardware design at Google. “Judgment comes in or a teacher says, ‘no that’s not the way you draw a tree’ and it shuts down these kids’ desire to make art, and, ironically, that’s the worst thing that could happen because we are wired to express ourselves and art is an amazing medium,” she says. With the understandable desire for their kids to be successful, many parents only want their children engaging in subjects that they feel can be monetized. “We’ve created these pathologies in our culture about wasting time,” says Magsamen. Leaving some space between school and sports and extracurriculars isn’t wasting time, though. “Providing that time and space allows you to figure out what you like and don’t like and what you think is beautiful,” she says.  "Providing that time and space allows you to figure out what you like and don’t like and what you think is beautiful." Susan Magsamen CO-AUTHOR OF “YOUR BRAIN ON ART” ‘Kids love novelty and surprise, and they are super curious’ Engaging with art doesn’t have to mean enrolling your kids in classes. It can be economical and low-pressure. In fact, it can be as easy as just going outside. “Looking up at the clouds and finding pictures in the clouds, called pareidolia, that’s a really amazing activity that kids love,” Magsamen says. “Kids love novelty and surprise, and they are super curious. Where are places you can take kids where there is awe, and surprise and wonder? Once you’ve got that and you see their energy raise, then you can move them toward activities that are gonna continue to build on that.” Even certain television programs that prioritize storytelling can be part of your child’s engagement with art. As long as it’s accompanied by other experiences. “It’s about time and balance,” Ross says. “There’s taking in storytelling and music, then there is making with your hands and feeling. It’s almost this diet you want for your child. This well-balanced diet.”

At EdgeCare 360 we use the Seven Pillars or Dimensions of Wellness as a tool to ensure we're helping our clients in all 360 degrees of their lives. The dimensions of wellness are interdependent and influence each other. When one dimension of our well-being is out of balance, the other dimensions are affected. To strive for wellness is to take a proactive approach by learning how to be well in each dimension and taking action to build wellness-affirming habits, routines, and coping strategies. Wellness is commonly viewed as having seven dimensions: mental or emotional, intellectual, social, physical, spiritual, environmental, and financial. Here are some questions in each area of the model to help you self-assess where you are right now. (Source: youthempowerment.com )

Signs and Symptoms It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends. A child with ADHD might: daydream a lot forget or lose things a lot squirm or fidget talk too much make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks have a hard time resisting temptation have trouble taking turns have difficulty getting along with others To Learn More about signs and symptoms, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ Get information and support from the National Resource Center on ADHD Types There are three different ways ADHD presents itself, depending on which types of symptoms are strongest in the individual: Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, pay attention to details, or follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others. Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person. Because symptoms can change over time, the presentation may change over time as well. From: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov

Food for thought Gratitude is powerful when it's expressed frequently. When life gives you lemons, look for the silver lining to keep smiling and growing in strength. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, recognize the good feelings you receive when you are truthful. Don’t forget to set boundaries to safeguard your sobriety. Avoid people-pleasing behavior because your growth depends on it.  It's important to understand the value of your life when recovering from addiction. Be mindful that the meaning of your life can come from areas in your life that are important. This includes your work life, social connections, many facets of nature, spirituality, and other things you find important. When you look at the effects of, one's self-esteem ranks high as it relates to mental health stability. It's important to be mindful of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected in order to combat negative self-talk that hinders growth.