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Want to be happier and healthier?
Practice gratitude
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You've probably seen it before-gratitude (being thankful) is the adrenaline of life. Taking time to notice and reflect upon the things that you are thankful for can make you happier and improve sleep, help you feel more alive, and even strengthen your immune system.
While gratitude might not be the "magic pill," it's pretty close. "Developing an 'attitude of gratitude' is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life," writes Amy Morin, a psychotherapist, and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do. A dozen or more studies confirm that.
It's a habit and practice you can begin no matter where you're coming from. "The best way to reap the benefits of gratitude is to notice new things you're grateful for every day," suggests researcher and writer Derrick Carpenter. "...it gives us the kick we need to start making changes."
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| Our gift to you: The Art of Hope Calendar |
Through
The Art of Hope, Jefferson Center for Mental Health's annual calendar, we are proud to support and showcase artwork produced by Jefferson Center clients.
In our 11th annual Art of Hope calendar, Jefferson Center for Mental Health is proud to showcase the creative talents of our clients These individuals choose to focus on strengths rather than challenges. Thank you to all the artists who shared their art with us. We are honored to partner with you and are pleased to share your art with the community!
More than 130 works of art were submitted this year from 43 artists of all ages. Congratulations to all of the artists who submitted work for consideration for this year's calendar! If you are interested in purchasing artwork featured in the calendar, or would like to contact one of the artists, call the Jefferson Center Communications Office at 303-432-5167.
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From time to time we all feel anxious. That's normal. But sometime anxiety can take over our life and we feel overwhelmed by a sense of fear or dread. Anxiety is actually one of the most common health disorders affecting nearly 1 of every 5 adults in the U.S.
We can often expect to feel a bit anxious when we have to take a difficult exam or speak in front of a group. When we're reacting normally, that's a temporary feeling. When we still feel the fear or dread after the stress is gone, or we feel a general panic that doesn't go away, or it gets worse over time and affects our daily activities, then is when getting specific treatment is recommended.
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| Bring a little brightness into your day |
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We in Colorado are spoiled with our 300+ days of sunshine a year, so when the sun starts setting at 4:30 pm, it can throw us off a bit, put us into a funk or make us feel a little down.
Since we still have a few weeks left of these shorter days, here are a few tips of quick, simple ideas to bring a little bit of brightness into your day:
- Make your environment sunnier and brighter.Open blinds, trim tree branches that block sunlight or add skylights to your home. Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.
- Uplift with aromatherapy - Aromatherapy studies have shown to lower anxiety and stress levels and improve quality of life. But you don't need fancy oils and diffusers to benefit - throw some cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peel and cranberries into a pot and simmer on your stove top. Your home will smell like holiday cheer in no time!
- Exercise - Exercise is a common prescription to ease depression. Moderate exercise like walking, running and yoga release endorphins and neurotransmitters to the brain. These chemicals can increase your mood and keep your immune system healthy.
- Get outside.Take a long walk, eat lunch at a nearby park, or simply sit on a bench and soak up the sun. Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help - especially if you spend some time outside within two hours of getting up in the morning.
- Drink a hot beverage - whether it's hot tea or hot chocolate, enjoying a warm drink helps improve blood circulation and may even make you friendlier (per an experiment at the University of Colorado-Boulder).
- Nourish your heart - Spend time with friends and family. Holidays can be a wonderful time to deepen your relationships with them.
It's normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed or if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation.
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How long have you worked for Jefferson Center? I've been with Jefferson Center for 18 years as a Peer Specialist, someone who has lived the experience of mental illness and now works with clients. As a peer specialist, clients understand "you've been there," yourself, and it's far more credible for them to trust a peer specialist. They can see in person someone who has dealt with their challenges (and sometimes still does) and pushes through them. It gives them real hope.
What is the best thing about your job? I really enjoy taking clients on outings - from trips to the store to art museums to the mountains. It's part of reconnecting clients back into the community, especially when they're alone a lot, so they can feel more like they are part of society. It's also fun and creates strong bonding within the group.
Tell me about Hearts for the Homeless. Many mentally ill clients are homeless so it's always something we are aware of. So we started a holiday coat drive to bring needed items to the homeless in Denver. Now we collect coats, gloves, sleeping bags, backpacks and even Snickers bars (a favorite!) Clients join us and we load up the vans and head out to the streets. I remember the very first day, when we pulled up to a stoplight and handed out a sleeping bag to a man and he said, "You made my day!" People are so grateful for whatever we give them, even if it's just a pair of gloves. We pray with them or just visit with them. It's our way of making "happy holidays" more real to them in ways they can see, touch, and feel. "I love doing this every year. It brings out the holiday spirit in everyone!"
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1-in-5 people in our community struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The good news? When you support Jefferson Center, you help them lead meaningful lives and offer them hope for the future. What a gift - to these community members and to yourself! Plus, when you schedule your donation for
Colorado Gives Day
, your donation is increased by the $1 million
Community First Foundation and FirstBank incentive fund!
Join the movement TODAY - giving feels good!
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Jefferson Center for Mental Health | 303-425-0300 | info@jcmh.org|
www.jcmh.org
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