See, Believe, & Achieve

This is just a sincere note of thanks to all you dedicated readers who have been part of the See, Believe, & Achieve blog.  I still can't believe that in just a short time we have reached over 1,000 readers. It is even more exciting to know that this blog is being read in various parts of the world. What a beautiful and motivating way to end 2011. When I first started this blog, I didn't really know what to expect and honestly thought that this was a blog only my mom would read. Yet, I kept posting and you all kept reading. Your support has truly inspired me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you again. As with my first post remember, "The journey of a thousand miles, begins with one single step."  The idea for this project started so many years ago and lived dormant in my heart and mind, waiting for the right moment to arrive. For me, this is not just a blog, but an opportunity to share my love and passion for mental health, well being, and life. There also...

http://blog.samhsa.gov/2011/12/13/facebook-provides-first-of-a-kind-service-to-help-prevent-suicides/ What a great day for mental health! Today, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Facebook joined efforts to help prevent suicide through an innovative new chat link. Individuals on Facebook can now chat live with a professional crisis worker through the National Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (toll free 24/7 hotline). Individuals who see content related to threats of suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one can get help through Facebook's "Report Suicide Content" link  https://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=suicidal_content : Facebook will automatically send a message to the person who posted the content and encourage them to contact the National Crisis Hotline and provide them with a link to begin chatting with a professional crisis worker. It's that simple! A big high-five to all the folks at SAMHSA and ...

The Ties That Bind.... Holiday Blues:  With the holidays quickly approaching it is a time for us to be reunited with family and loved ones. However, for some this time of year can be emotionally overwhelming for various reasons. It is hard to dismiss the sights and sounds of holiday cheer, so if the holidays leaving you feeling a little bit more bahumbug than like jolly ol' St. Nick, the reason may be attributed to "seasonal blues" or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can set-in and cause one to struggle with feelings of depression during winter months. Some warning signs are:    Fatigue Feelings of increased isolation change in eating habits weight change Feelings of sadness  This is caused by hormonal changes within the brain that affect our mood from one extreme to another, especially during the colder months. As we've learned from previous blogs the chemical known as Serotonin plays an intricate part in mood development. D...