S.A. eLetter (5-18-11)

[John P.]

Greetings S.A. family on the Internet,

We continue our discussion of the S.A. Guiding Principles. Here is
the fifth such principle.

Guiding Principle #5: Each group may establish its own meeting format
within the standards set by central SA leadership.

The format of the home group of SA is described in the Blue Booklet.
SA meetings are held at a variety of settings. The meeting format that
works at the home group may not work in meetings at the local state
hospital. For example, the home group meeting was very structured and
ran for two hours, whereas the SA meeting in the state hospital was
less structured and ran between a half-hour and one hour. Group
leaders should consult with the SA Group Support Specialist in
determining the format for a specific group.

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


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

--Stress Management, part #48

Goal-setting as a Stress-buster

Parade magazine had a neat article on stress a while back, focusing on
a book called Stress Less by author Thea Singer. The article had a
well-worded beginning--

"There's no way around it: We're living in exceedingly stressful
times. And stress doesn't just do a number on your mood; research
shows it can also have a detrimental effect on your health. But there
is a way to manage it."

The article suggests goal-setting and attainment as a way of beating
stress. The idea is each week make a list of attainable goals for the
next seven days. Then each day work to attain those goals. The author
feels that as these goals are attained, we will get a better sense of
control over our lives, despite the stress. And by doing this our
perception of the stressful stuff will be altered. The hopeful idea is
that we could cope better even though the stress is still around.

The author also brings up the idea that some stress can be good, like
if it is revving up your mind to solve problems--in which case your
brain cells can grow.

The bad deal is when stress is chronic, and produces a whole lot of
the stress hormone cortisol. Lots of lousy stuff in the body can
happen. We can even gain more weight, because the cortisol make one
crave fatty, sweet, salty foods. The author says these foods work as a
kind of tranquilizer--for a short period of time. They produce a short-
term calm--hence they are called comfort foods. But, the effect wears
off and we keep wanting to gobble these tranquilizing foods. The
author thinks it's a better idea to exercise to stress-proof your
brain, as she puts it.

Two other familiar ideas are offered in the article--

* Keeping a gratitude record of things you are thankful for.

* Try being mindful via concentration for ten minutes each day.



SOURCE: Parade magazine (Dec. 12, 2010), article by Emily Listfield


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


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

--Website of the Week

NHMH (No Health without Mental Health) "is an emerging communications
and marketing group whose mission is to demystify and humanize mental
illness and remove the stigma that prevents those with mental
disorders from seeking the help that could lead to their leading full,
productive, independent lives."

Their web address:

http://www.nhmh.org/


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

--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:

Springtime Flooding

The spring season often brings flooding to many areas as snows melt
and rain storms become frequent. This is happening this year in record
proportions. It is leaving many people in states like Tennessee,
Mississippi, and Louisiana with destroyed neighborhoods and rampant
homelessness.


We do not suffer alone.


SOURCE: Associated Press reports

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

--Quote of the Week

"I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple
smile."

-Goldie Hawn, contemporary American entertainer

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

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)