S.A. eLetter (8-8-11)

[John P.]

Greetings S.A. family on the Internet,

The biggest part of S.A. involves the S.A. meetings. But members also
get to like each other, and do social things together. The Blue
Booklet describes it this way--

Social Activities: Many groups sponsor things such as an annual picnic
or an annual holiday party for its members and their families. Groups
have put on “Card and Game Nights” where members play games such as
euchre, Trivial Pursuit, and chess. After many group meetings, members
meet at a local restaurant and socialize. Members have also
participated in outings to such places as baseball games, the zoo, an
art institute, movie nights, or a metro park.



SOURCE: S.A. Blue Booklet (program text, first published in 1989)


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--Stress Management, part #54


Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Many assume that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) happens only to
men coming back from war. But any person may be so stressed out from a
traumatic event such that PTSD can happen. It's the event that brings
on the disorder. Examples of such events are car accidents,
robberies, hurricanes, floods, and others things like this.

People with PTSD often have flashbacks, a hyperactive startle reflex,
and are emotionally drained. Descriptions below--


Flashbacks--vivid memories of the traumatic event, where one almost
relives it.

Hyperactive startle reflex--an experience of being "jumpy" at small
things. An example is being startled when a balloon pops.

Emotional drained--being aloof or disengaged because one is drained
from being "amped up" by the traumatic event.


People with PTSD require professional help. It is not an easy
disorder to treat. Self-help books on this don't usually do the job.
Stress management and medical help at a high level is needed.
Recognizing that one has the symptoms connected with a traumatic event
can move one towards getting help.



SOURCE: Info and some of the wording from USA Weekend (Sept. 10,
2010), article by Tedd Mitchell, M.D.


Stress Management Series Prior Editions

Below are links to the first 40 parts of the Stress Management Series
to
date. The more recent parts are at the S.A. eLetter site at Google.

Stress Management Series I (Parts #1 to #16):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/584aa4af7b45c502

Stress Management Series II (Parts #17 to #29):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/f240f7bad9902a81#

Stress Management Series III (Parts #30 to #40):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/e0f98e3ce6dafc7f

------------------------------------------

--Our Suffering in Perspective

The suffering of schizophrenia patients is real. And other people
suffer too. We wish to also recognize the struggles of other
suffering people. For instance:

Famine

There is a serious drought in the Horn of Africa now. It is causing a
famine there. Especially affected is the country of Somalia.
Millions of people are at risk. Hunger can kill people directly by
starvation, or may reduce the life span of some people indirectly by
making them generally weaker. Children are most vulnerable.


We do not suffer alone.
.


SOURCE: Time magazine (8-15-11)



-----------------------------------------------

--Website of the Week

National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the U.S. federal
government is the largest scientific organization in the world
dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and
prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.

Its website--

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml



--------------------------------------------------

--Quote of the Week

"Strength grows out of struggle."

-Napoleon Hill (1883-1970), American motivational writer


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Bye for now, and everyone have a great couple of weeks.
--John P., member of S.A.

=============================================

For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
The new S.A. website is at:
http://www.sardaa.org
----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
NOTE: Earlier editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia News
Links are posted at the Google information group for S.A. (link given
above). Also, the S.A. eLetter will come
to your e-mail inbox when published by signing up at the S.A.
Information Group at Google.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Fact Sheet Information about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective
Disorder--
* National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
----------------------
* Mental Health America ( formerly the National Mental Health
Association):
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/schizophrenia
--------------------
* National Alliance for the Mentally Il
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
--description of schizoaffective disorder:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
(Organization now called National Alliance on Mental Illness)