Post # 151 –
Let’s Not Forget November😊
Dear Family
and Friends
I know that October
is exciting – especially the end of the month and Halloween festivities for all
of the children in our midst, no matter what their age is😊
it is also exciting for the farmers and their harvest, I hope and I pray that
all of the farmers in our wonderful country do have a good harvest! And it is also exciting for the fall season
itself! I love Fall, the changing colors, the changing weather it’s all so
beautiful😊 the one thing that saddens me about
this time of year is that we sort of go straight from Halloween right into
Christmas.
Now don’t get
me wrong, I love Christmas😊 I wish we could and more of us would
celebrate it all year long. People are so much kinder during the Christmas
holiday season😊 but don’t you think that we should be
like that, feel like that, all year long – to be kinder, more generous, more
helpful, more willing to go the extra mile to make someone else’s lives better.
Our hearts
are filled with the Christ like love we need to make their hopes and dreams and yes,
to help make their Christmas wishes to come true! I feel like more people come
closer to Christ during this special holiday season, but this is something that
we should be actively doing every day of our lives😊
Coming closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ! I didn’t always know this, in fact I
was in my thirties when I learned about my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love
teaching my preschoolers about the birth of Jesus.
Oh, but here I
a getting ahead of myself, the very reason for this post is to put November
back into the mix of our lives and not to let it slide by without sharing with
each one of you the gratitude I have in my heart for all of those who are
serving or who have ever served in the military, as well as those of you who
give service in any capacity in protecting our towns cities, states, and our
country!!! 😊 You are ALL so amazing!!! And so too,
are all of your spouses and families who keep the home fires burning while you
are serving your towns, cities, and country😊
I don’t know
if I have mentioned it before and if I have, please bear with me😊
I was raised in a military home. My father died from a disease he contracted
while in Korea. Then my first stepfather was active military, so we moved
around a lot. It was hard for me to make friends because we generally didn’t stay
in the same place for very long, so I learned how to keep to myself☹
I grew up
under a huge dark cloud of depression, childhood trauma and abuse, and I had
what they called a convulsive disorder which further ostracized me from my
peers😊 I mention this because I am quite
certain that there are many of you out there in this world who suffer from some
form of mental illness – and yes, I believe that depression is considered one
of those illnesses☹
I also grew
up learning how to not talk about my feelings and how to best deal with my
problems in my own way – not always the best way, as I realize in looking back
on my life and in trying the best I can to give support to those I love who are
suffering from mental illnesses of their own in different forms!! Yes, it is
hard to be a support to someone in these situations – especially as a mom – you
just want to be able to make everything all right for your children and all of
those you love😊
I have
realized that sadly I can not fix everything for them☹ I am
not always going to be the best support system for them. I have to trust in the
Lord and trust their care to others who are better trained in these areas of the
mind and body and how it works. Or how they think it is supposed to work😊I
have not had too many personal experiences with mental health doctors that have
been good, so I have been quite a bit Leary to put my trust in them.
I don’t pretend to be an expert in anything I only
have my life experiences to share with you and hopefully something that I share
with you is helpful and uplifting in some small way and hopefully lead you to
have a desire to want to come closer to your Savior, Jesus Christ😊I
have learned over the years to put my trust in my Heavenly Father and in His
Son, Jesus Christ. I have also learned that there is great power in prayer, in
the priesthood, and in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and that these things are
in our reach😊
So, back to
the reason for this post today – I wanted to say than you to all of the
military personal and other professionals who often times give their lives for
our individual and collective protection. Our country is safe because of your
service and selflessness and your willingness to serve your country, your town,
your city, and your state – Thank You!!
The other
reason is to remind each of you that if you do not have a family member who has
or you have not experienced some type of mental illness – it is out there –
everywhere , all around us☹ For some people it is a way of life
and often times a struggle to get through each day. I have found that sometimes
it is helpful to them for you to just be there for them and to listen, to
believe in them! To help them to understand that they are not crazy!
I ran across
some information about these two subjects – veterans and mental illnesses, no
they are not specifically connected. You do not need to be a veteran to have a mental
illness and if you have a mental illness that doesn’t make you a veteran, but
for some reason the two have been on my mind lately😊
I felt the need to share some information with all of you regarding the two
subjects.
I do know personally
people in my life that are veterans and do have a mental illness and I know
some veterans personally who do not have a mental illness😊
And too, I know personally some wonderful people, some amazing people who have
a mental illness and who are not veterans!
This is the
website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which has a lot of
information not only to help in supporting our military families but also there
are resources for military personal as well.
Supporting Military
Families -- A military family is one
that has a member serving on active duty or in the reserves or National Guard.
The duties and responsibilities of military members vary greatly depending on
their specialty or chosen career fields. Although they will normally have set
duty hours, they are subject to recall 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They
are also likely to experience periods of family separation ranging from a few
days to many months, especially during periods of international tension or war.
The pamphlet
addresses such issues as:
- Military deployments and the subsequent challenges associated with family separation.
- Ways to remain connected and involved with family members while physically separated.
- The importance of being true to covenants and avoiding temptations during periods of loneliness.
- Problems that can surface after returning home, including signs of post-traumatic stress disorders.
- The long-term family needs if the military member is killed, wounded, or missing in action.
- The resources available through the military and Veterans’ Affairs.Although the pamphlet addresses challenges specific to Church members who are serving in the United States Armed Forces, the basic principles—when followed with the guidance of the Spirit—have worldwide application.This is a pdf you can download and read here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/callings/military/supporting-military-families-eng.pdf
- This next site has information on how to support military families from AARP:
Do-It-Yourself Project:
Help Military Families
Time Needed: One or More Days
Skills Needed: No special skills required
Causes: Veterans & Military Families
Project Categories: Family Friendly
Overview
U.S. military personnel are deployed in
approximately 150 countries across the globe. Many service members are
geographically separated from their families during assignments.
Deployed military members leave behind spouses, children and parents who must try to maintain life as usual while their loved one is away. In addition, they are often left to settle into a new community without the support of local family and friends.
Deployed military members leave behind spouses, children and parents who must try to maintain life as usual while their loved one is away. In addition, they are often left to settle into a new community without the support of local family and friends.
Because the military family may be new to town
or on their own, it can be even more stressful for them to locate childcare,
register children for school, schedule doctor appointments and maintain a home.
These problems are compounded when the spouse is deployed. In many instances,
it can be just as stressful when a spouse returns from deployment, especially
if that person has been injured.
this is the
website of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it has a lot of different sources with good resources for help
with various mental issues and diseases, disorders, and more😊 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/mentalhealth
there is a
talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that
is called ‘Like A Broken Vessel’ that I loved. After hearing it I had hope that
maybe I was doing something right or my loved ones and for myself. I remember
hearing this talk and I wanted to share it with each of you as it may also be
beneficial for you and give you hope as well😊
Like a Broken
Vessel
By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
How do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges
confront you or those you love?
The Apostle Peter wrote that disciples of Jesus Christ are to have
“compassion one of another.”1 In that spirit I wish to speak to those
who suffer from some form of mental illness or emotional disorder, whether
those afflictions be slight or severe, of brief duration or persistent over a
lifetime.
We sense the complexity of such matters when we hear professionals speak of neuroses and psychoses, of genetic predispositions and chromosome defects, of bipolarity, paranoia, and schizophrenia.
However bewildering this all may be, these afflictions are some of the realities of mortal life, and there should be no more shame in acknowledging them than in acknowledging a battle with high blood pressure or the sudden appearance of a malignant tumor.
We sense the complexity of such matters when we hear professionals speak of neuroses and psychoses, of genetic predispositions and chromosome defects, of bipolarity, paranoia, and schizophrenia.
However bewildering this all may be, these afflictions are some of the realities of mortal life, and there should be no more shame in acknowledging them than in acknowledging a battle with high blood pressure or the sudden appearance of a malignant tumor.
In striving for some
peace and understanding in these difficult matters, it is crucial to remember
that we are living—and chose to live—in a fallen world where for
divine purposes our pursuit of godliness will be tested and tried again and
again.
Of greatest assurance in God’s plan is that a Savior was promised, a Redeemer, who through our faith in Him would lift us triumphantly over those tests and trials, even though the cost to do so would be unfathomable for both the Father who sent Him and the Son who came. It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.
Of greatest assurance in God’s plan is that a Savior was promised, a Redeemer, who through our faith in Him would lift us triumphantly over those tests and trials, even though the cost to do so would be unfathomable for both the Father who sent Him and the Son who came. It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.
Let me leave the extraordinary illnesses I have mentioned to
concentrate on MDD—“major depressive disorder”—or, more commonly, “depression.” When I speak of
this, I am not speaking of bad hair days, tax deadlines, or other discouraging
moments we all have. Everyone is going to be anxious or downhearted on
occasion. The Book of Mormon says Ammon and his brethren were depressed at a
very difficult time,2 and so can the rest of us be.
But today I am speaking of something more serious, of an affliction so severe that it significantly restricts a person’s ability to function fully, a crater in the mind so deep that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders and think more positively—though I am a vigorous advocate of square shoulders and positive thinking!
But today I am speaking of something more serious, of an affliction so severe that it significantly restricts a person’s ability to function fully, a crater in the mind so deep that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders and think more positively—though I am a vigorous advocate of square shoulders and positive thinking!
No, this dark night
of the mind and spirit is more than mere discouragement. I have seen it come to
an absolutely angelic man when his beloved spouse of 50 years passed away. I
have seen it in new mothers with what is euphemistically labeled “after-baby
blues.” I have seen it strike anxious students, military veterans, and
grandmothers worried about the well-being of their grown children.
And I have seen it in young fathers trying to provide for their
families. In that regard I once terrifyingly saw it in myself. At one point in
our married life when financial fears collided with staggering fatigue, I took
a psychic blow that was as unanticipated as it was real. With the grace of God
and the love of my family, I kept functioning and kept working, but even after
all these years I continue to feel a deep sympathy for others more chronically
or more deeply afflicted with such gloom than I was.
In any case we have all taken courage from those who, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, “search[ed] … and contemplate[d] the darkest abyss”3 and persevered through it—not the least of whom were Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Elder George Albert Smith, the latter being one of the most gentle and Christlike men of our dispensation, who battled recurring depression for some years before later becoming the universally beloved eighth prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In any case we have all taken courage from those who, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, “search[ed] … and contemplate[d] the darkest abyss”3 and persevered through it—not the least of whom were Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Elder George Albert Smith, the latter being one of the most gentle and Christlike men of our dispensation, who battled recurring depression for some years before later becoming the universally beloved eighth prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
So how do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges
confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in
Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. As President Monson said to
the Relief Society sisters so movingly last Saturday evening: “That love never
changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or
hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it].
It is simply always there.”4 Never, ever doubt that, and never harden
your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring
the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys
for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. Take
the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them
come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those
miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s
own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong,
trusting in happier days ahead.5
In preventing
illness whenever possible, watch for the stress indicators in yourself and in
others you may be able to help. As with your automobile, be alert to rising
temperatures, excessive speed, or a tank low on fuel. When you face “depletion
depression,” make the requisite adjustments. Fatigue is the common enemy of us
all—so slow down, rest up, replenish,
and refill. Physicians promise us that if we do not take time to be well, we
most assuredly will take time later on to be ill.
If things continue to be debilitating, seek the advice of reputable
people with certified training, professional skills, and good values. Be honest
with them about your history and your struggles. Prayerfully and responsibly
consider the counsel they give and the solutions they prescribe. If you had
appendicitis, God would expect you to seek a priesthood blessing and get the best medical
care available. So too with emotional disorders. Our Father in Heaven expects
us to use all of the marvelous
gifts He has provided in this glorious dispensation.
If you are the one afflicted or a caregiver to such, try not to be
overwhelmed with the size of your task. Don’t assume you can fix everything,
but fix what you can. If those are only small victories, be grateful for them
and be patient. Dozens of times in the scriptures, the Lord commands someone to
“stand still” or “be still”—and wait.6 Patiently
enduring some things is part of our mortal education.
For caregivers, in your devoted effort to assist with another’s
health, do not destroy your own. In all these things be wise. Do not run faster
than you have strength.7 Whatever else you may or may not be able
to provide, you can offer your prayers and you can give “love unfeigned.”8 “Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; … [it] beareth all things, … hopeth all things,
endureth all things. Charity never faileth.”9
Also let us remember
that through any illness or difficult challenge, there is still much in life to
be hopeful about and grateful for. We are infinitely more than our limitations
or our afflictions! Stephanie Clark Nielson and her family have been our
friends for more than 30 years. On August 16, 2008, Stephanie and her husband,
Christian, were in a plane crash and subsequent fire that scarred her so
horrifically that only her painted toenails were recognizable when family
members came to identify the victims. There was almost no chance Stephanie
could live.
After three months in a sleep-induced coma, she awoke to see herself. With that, the psyche-scarring and horrendous depression came. Having four children under the age of seven, Stephanie did not want them to see her ever again. She felt it would be better not to live. “I thought it would be easier,” Stephanie once told me in my office, “if they just forgot about me and I quietly slipped out of their life.”
After three months in a sleep-induced coma, she awoke to see herself. With that, the psyche-scarring and horrendous depression came. Having four children under the age of seven, Stephanie did not want them to see her ever again. She felt it would be better not to live. “I thought it would be easier,” Stephanie once told me in my office, “if they just forgot about me and I quietly slipped out of their life.”
But to her eternal credit, and with the prayers of her husband,
family, friends, four beautiful children, and a fifth born to the Nielsons just
18 months ago, Stephanie fought her way back from the abyss of self-destruction
to be one of the most popular “mommy bloggers” in the nation, openly declaring
to the four million who follow her blog that her “divine purpose” in life is to
be a mom and to cherish every day she has been given on this beautiful earth.
Whatever your struggle, my brothers and sisters—mental or emotional or
physical or otherwise—do not vote against the
preciousness of life by ending it! Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that
one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee.
Though we may feel we are “like a broken vessel,” as the Psalmist says,10 we
must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds
can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God
is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful,
nonjudgmental, and kind.
I testify of the holy Resurrection, that unspeakable cornerstone
gift in the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ! With the Apostle Paul, I
testify that that which was sown in corruption will one day be raised in incorruption
and that which was sown in weakness will ultimately be raised in power.11 I bear
witness of that day when loved ones whom we knew to have disabilities in
mortality will stand before us glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in
body and mind.
What a thrilling moment that will be! I do not know whether we will be happier for ourselves that we have witnessed such a miracle or happier for them that they are fully perfect and finally “free at last.”12 Until that hour when Christ’s consummate gift is evident to us all, may we live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show “compassion one of another,”13 I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
What a thrilling moment that will be! I do not know whether we will be happier for ourselves that we have witnessed such a miracle or happier for them that they are fully perfect and finally “free at last.”12 Until that hour when Christ’s consummate gift is evident to us all, may we live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show “compassion one of another,”13 I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Isn’t this
talk great? I was so uplifted by the messages that he shared that I had to
share the whole talk with each of you. I did include the website just in case
you might like to hear this talk in Elder Holland’s own voice – he is a very
powerful speaker and you can learn a lot from his experience and wisdom as an
Apostle of God.
We should
remember November and remember to have gratitude for ALL of those selfless
people who give their service for our protection. We should show our gratitude
for all who have come before us giving their lives to help create this great
country in which we live – we should gather our Family and Friends together for
this Thanksgiving holiday and give thanks to our God for all of our blessings
large or small – we should be thankful for them all😊
Mental Health Awareness Month
Quality of care for Veteran’s includes raising awareness
around important health topics. By highlighting some of the national health
awareness campaigns each month, Veterans can get ideas, information, and
resources on a variety of health matters.
May is Mental
Health Awareness Month and an ideal time to educate Veterans on the conditions
that encompass mental health, how to seek help if needed, and live a mentally
healthy life!
Mental health
issues can cause changes in thinking, feelings, behavior, and physical
activity, but it can be difficult to tell if you or your loved ones are
affected by a mental health condition. Without seeking help, mental health
issues could potentially impact careers, families, social interactions, and
overall wellbeing.
You can read the rest of this article and
find further information and other resources from this site here: https://www.va.gov/QUALITYOFCARE/education/Mental_Health_Awareness_Month.asp
I know
that mental health awareness month is in May, but as you can see from the very
first line of this article that they want to educate Veterans about mental
health, so I guess I am not too crazy and it is not a bad thing to bring up in
the month of November when we celebrate the Veterans that we know and love. As
well as those with whom we may never meet or even know their names, but we can
celebrate their service, can’t we? 😊
So, I want
to encourage each of you to remember November and to show your gratitude. Be aware of the signs of
mental and emotional health in ourselves as well as in your Family members and
Friends. Give help and support and trust in God. Never give up!! And like Elder
Holland said may we live by
faith, hold fast to hope, and show “compassion one of another,” we are all here together in this
mortal journey called life. We are here to help and encourage one another to return
to our Father in Heaven😊
I hope and I pray
that I have shared something today that was in some small way helpful to you my
dear Family and Friends. Remember who you are and where you can go for help, at
any time any place, in any given situation, you can access His divine help
through prayer. You are His child! He loves each one of you! He knows each one
of you individually! He knows your struggles! Reach out to Him😊
Until my next post, please make it a terrific week! And Happy Thanksgiving to
each one of you. I hope you and those you love are able to get together and
have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day😊
