Healthy Living Article March 10, 2008

By: Kelly Gottschling

On February 13, we laid to rest one of the greatest men I had ever known. He never had a title, or a fancy office, instead he had the streets. They belonged to him. He walked from one end of town to the other everyday. Hour after hour wearing out shoes and touching lives.

Eddie Cloutier was a giant of a man. In stature and in substance. His commitment to his mother, brother, church and his CKCFN family was always evident. Everyone knew Eddie, everyone liked him. Although the years had not been kind to him, Eddie showed no bitterness. He had grown up, and lived well below the poverty level his entire life. He had survived living on the streets of Toronto for five years before returning to his community. His life was hard. He had little to offer, but offered everything he had to those he felt were needy.

Words were not Eddie's friend. We all hung onto them and listened carefully to understand what he had to say. We never wanted to miss a thought or idea that he had worked so hard to create. Although Eddie had never read a book, or written a sentence he taught us more than many years of post secondary ever could. He taught us about forgiveness, loyalty, and hard work.

Eddie lived and died with dignity thanks in part because to the Chatham Kent Police department. Officer Brent Milne was instrumental in assuring that Eddie was indeed understood. Without even knowing it, Brent rebuilt trust with the police department that had been lost years ago. Slowly Brent began a friendship with Eddie. It made Eddie feel important and valuable. Brent listened carefully; he treated Eddie like the respectable citizen that he truly was. In death Brent proudly carried his friend’s body to its final resting place. Following Brent's assignment to the Mobile Crisis Response Team a few other police officers followed. Jason St. Dennis, Cheryl McVictar, and Sherri Keller and of course Eddie's long time friend and favorite cop, Amy Finn. Their guidance and dedication to respecting all vulnerable persons within our community has not gone unnoticed. They are members of the HELP Team for a good reason, all with special gifts and a strong commitment to ensuring that all citizens have a voice.

Following Eddie's funeral Sergeant Jim Biskey organized a police escort from the funeral home to the cemetery. Never had I felt such an overwhelming sense of pride in my community.  It literally took my breath away to see many police officers standing at attention and saluting. The most touching moment was seeing Sergeant Jim Biskey standing in the cold leading his fellow officers and honoring a man who made such an impact on all that knew him. Eddie would have been so proud and honored. This type of event was usually reserved for dignitaries. It would have made Eddie laugh to think of himself in that way.

Eddie's big blue eyes and contagious smile will be forever in our minds. His love of life, humility and goodness will be our example. Thank you to all of those that saw Eddie's gifts. We will never forget your kindness. We will never forget Eddie.

By: Kelly Gottschling

As a mom on my own with three teens and a busy career, I have had to learn time saving strategies in order to survive and maintain some sort of peace and harmony at home and at work.

The two most important rules that I live by are: It’s OK to say no, and I can only do what I can do, the work will still be there in the morning. In my twenties and thirties I would stress myself to the point of exhaustion. Now that I am 40ish I take life a little slower and organize my time better.

The balance between a happy home and a productive work day is something that most parents struggle with. I used to feel guilty if I had to leave work early to attend a school meeting or take my kids to the orthodontist. I would also feel badly if I have to go back to work for a few hours or attend a training course on the weekend. I no longer do this. Guilt is a waste of energy! I believe that I show my children that anyone can have (with organization) a happy and relatively stress free existence. Life is a balancing act, leaning how to mange time and tasks will save a great deal of frustration and stress. I came to the realization that I had to develop an attitude of discipline and focus on new habits that involve taking responsibility for the controllable things in my life. Originally I implemented a few of the following ideas. Now all of them are part of my daily work and home life.

• It takes less time to fix a problem before it happens.
• Whenever a job seems too big break it down into smaller pieces, share responsibilities if you can.
• Finding a way to become less rigid just might help you find a solution.
• Small changes can make a huge difference in the lives of other people.
• I may be able to do some things but not everything. Surround yourself with people who have different abilities.
• See the gifts.
• The right answer may not be the same answer as yesterday.
• Before sending an email that you are uncertain about, sleep on it an reread it in the morning.
• Stand back, observe, and listen.
• Things don’t get done unless somebody does them.
• Whatever it is that has been nagging you and causing stress, deal with it and move on!
• It is easier to mange your time when you feel good about what you are doing.

Healthy Living Article September 15, 2008

By: Kelly Gottschling

a

Panic Disorders may mimic heart attack

a

What is a panic disorder? Panic attacks can occur at any time, anywhere. A panic attack is a sudden and unexpected episode of intense and overwhelming fear that has a distinct beginning and end point. Fear is coupled with physical symptoms that often mimic a heart attack or being suffocated. With a panic attack the symptoms often come to a peak within ten minutes. A person experiencing a panic attack feels as though something terrible is going to happen. They may also feel as though they must flee or escape.

a

Approximately one person in seven experiences a panic attack at least once in their lives. This does not mean that a person is suffering from a panic disorder. The only way that doctors can diagnose a panic disorder is if it occurs more than once and is unexpected.

a

A panic disorder is a medical illness. A person with a panic disorder will experience repeated attacks accompanied by the following symptoms:

a

v     Chest pain, pressure or discomfort

v     Heart palpitations or rapid heart beat

v     A choking sensation or lump in the throat

v     Excessive sweating; light headedness or dizziness

v     Tingling or numbness in parts of the body

v     Chills or hot flashes, shaking or trembling, feelings of being detached from the body

v     Fear of dying

a

Things to remember:

a

The symptoms of panic disorder usually appear in late adolescence or early adulthood. Women are more likely than men to develop a panic disorder. Panic disorder is treatable. It is indeed a medical condition. When left untreated it may go on for years causing extreme difficulties in school or job performance, as well as in social situations. Panic disorder often occurs with agoraphobia, in which people are afraid of having a panic attack in a place from which escape would be difficult. They therefore avoid these places. Help is available. Talk to your doctor about all of your symptoms. He/she will probably want to perform a complete physical to rule out heart conditions, respiratory illness, thyroid or digestive disorders. All symptoms are treatable. If you are looking for a support group we can help, please contact 519-351-3100.

Recently, we lost a very valued member of our organization. His name was John Claus. He was the first person that entered our doors in the morning, and the last person to leave. He was a true gentleman living with a mental illness, and he lived well.   

Losing John so suddenly was a tragic shock. As we reflected as a group, we realized that although we as staff, and other members of our organization had family that we were born into, John like so many others that we share our days with had become family. In fact, most of us spend more hours a day with each other than with our own families. It is amazing! I can’t imagine doing anything else. Neither could John.  

For many people that live with a mental illness, biological families are non-existent or rarely seen, especially with older adults. Although, this saddened me early on in my career, it no longer does. The people who share their days at the Chatham Kent Consumer and Family Network choose their families. Many of whom have known each other through the consumer initiative for 15 years. They are a strong and tenacious group of people rallying around, supporting and nurturing each other as families do. When I think about what people need most, I always come to the same conclusion…each other. Human contact, human connection, someone who will listen, a hug, a smile, all of these things can help us get through even the most difficult times in our lives. In addition, the members at CKCFN all know what it is like to struggle with, and often recover from a mental health diagnosis. They have knowledge of, and strategies that they share with our group. They choose their family members for various reasons. It is so wonderful to see people grow and trust.   

John chose us as family. We chose him. We will continue to honor his strength and kindness by living well and working hard, in spite of the obstacles. We will take care of our family.  

I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of support groups over the past few  years, many of which I have found extremely helpful, interesting and empowering.

The ability to sit in a room with ones peers, and know that you are not being judged, or criticized is crutial. Having one person understand what you are going through offers a bit of peace in an otherwise chaotic day.

A diagnosis of a serious mental illness is often very frightening at first. Because it does not usually occur until late teens or early twenties, the life that the family had in mind for their loved one is often interrupted. Everyone involved usually feels overwhelmed. Initially fear and exhaustion may keep a family from searching for help for themselves. Please remember, if you the caregiver are not taking care of yourself, it is difficult to take care of someone else.

Families need support and education to understand the illness. Co-workers and friends will ask questions, being honest is the best way to dispel stigma. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. As families you must remember that you did not cause it. Many parents feel guilt; they sometimes believe that they must have done something to “cause” their child to have a serious mental illness. In time and with education they realize that this is not the case. There is hope now more than ever. People recover and live rich full lives.

Caregiver counseling is available in Chatham Kent, as are support groups. For a list of organizations who offer these services free of charge please contact Kelly Gottschling

519-351-3100. You are not alone! You deserve answers, you deserve support, you deserve understanding. We can help you find it.

Throughout the world teens are at high risk for mental illness. According to the Canadian Psychiatric Association one out of five children between the ages of 4 to 16 years live with some type of mental health issue.

A number of myths surround child, adolescent and adult mental illness. If we as a community better understand the issues, we can assist with destigmatizing the negative effects associated with mental health issues.

There are many different types of mental illness that are commonly seen in adolescents, all of which have a significant effect on teens, and how they proceed in their daily living.

They include:

v    Teens and Depression: Many adolescents feel “blue” at times, however; these feelings do not go away. Life for them appears to be a chore. They may not realize that the symptoms they are experiencing are treatable if they are on-going.

v    Teens and Suicide: Thoughts of suicide may be associated with depression. Suicide is the second most common killer of Canadian adolescents. Please remember that thoughts or suicidal behavior may be impulsive, any mention of suicidal thoughts and/or actions must be taken seriously. Seek help immediately.

v    Teens and Anxiety: Many physical symptoms may manifest themselves because of anxiety associated with adolescents. They may include headaches or stomach aches. Feelings of fear and dread can become so overwhelming that they may not want to go to school. They may not want to associate with their friends and withdraw from activities that they may have enjoyed previously. Anxiety may be tied to past trauma (e.g., car accident, abuse, the loss of a loved one)

v    Adolescents and Risk-taking behavior: Accidents remain the leading cause of death in Canadian teens. Risk-taking encompasses a broad category of behaviors. They include among others; alcohol and substance abuse, unprotected sex, thrill seeking and delinquent behaviors. Such behaviors may be a sign of the beginning of a mental illness; they often lead to tragedy.

Parents, siblings, friends and teachers are usually the first to recognize that a teen may be having a significant issue.

The following are signs that intervention may be necessary:

v    drop in grades or absenteeism from school

v    excessive use of alcohol or drugs

v    noticeable personality change

v    withdrawal from friends, family

v    many physical complaints

v    unusual neglect of personal appearance

v    frequent outburst of anger and rage

v    low energy level, poor concentration, complaints of boredom

v    intense fear of becoming obese

v    changes in sleeping and/or eating habits

v    low energy level, poor concentration, complaints of boredom

v    uncharacteristic delinquent, thrill seeking or promiscuous behavior

v    comments about feeling rotten inside, wanting to end things

If any of theses signs or symptoms become apparent please seek professional help.

For more information contact Chatham-Kent Consumer and Family Network 519-351-3100 or visit our website www.ckcfn.com

• Healthy Living Article Archive [23]
• Events [5]

• Main
• archives
• Albums

• Chatham Kent Police Care
• Healthy Living Article
• Panic Disorders may mimic heart attack
• The Family We Choose
• Support for Families
• Adolescence and Mental Illness

• RSS 0.90
• RSS 1.0
• RSS 2.0
• Atom