Breaking Free

Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Awareness Month

Roots of Mental Health Awareness.

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May since 1949, and it was started by the Mental Health America organization. This particular month is a time when advocates and activists come together throughout the country with a common goal: to draw attention to mental health issues through education and greater understanding, outreaching to millions of people through media, local events, social media and free screenings. Mental Health conditions ranging from varying degrees of depression, anxiety states, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, mood disorders, attention deficit disorder and psychotic conditions are part of the array of mental health behaviors/disorders that affect approximately one out of five American adults each year. That’s 43.8 million people, or more than 18% of the population. Also, according to the Child Mind Institute, of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a psychiatric/mental health disorder. Suicide today in the U.S. takes more lives than car accidents or homicides. And, every day twenty-two veterans, who have bravely served our country, commit suicide. These staggering numbers are more than statistics; they are our friends and neighbors, family members and people we pass each day on the street. read more

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When is Alcohol a problem?

Alcohol Awareness

Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol has been part of the tapestry of human life for thousands of years. Fermented beverages date back to China from around 7,000 B.C. Time has brought nearly every civilization and culture “a drink” which down the road turned into extreme consumption. For example, in the eighteenth century gin consumption reached eighteen million gallons in Britain, lighting alcoholism on fire. The nineteenth century brought a push to moderate consumption, leading to prohibition in the U.S. in the twentieth century. However, the illegal making and selling of alcohol boomed and by 1933 prohibition came to an end. read more

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A Leading Cause of Cancer-Related Deaths

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is expected to cause about 50,630 deaths during 2018. Knowing the proper information, including your own risk factors and getting screened as needed could save and add years to your life. We encourage you to take a few minutes, read, and start with these basics.

What is colorectal cancer?

Both the colon, which is about six feet long, and the rectum are parts of the large intestine and the body’s digestive system. Every day our bodies in general, including the digestive system, undergo massive processes of destruction and repair because our cells wear out and need to be replaced. In the complex processes of replacing cells, errors may occur, and cancer of the colon and rectum start when these processes of normal replacement go awry. As these abnormal cells grow and divide and multiply, they can lead to growths inside the colon called polyps. Often these polyps grow slow and may be precancerous tumors that don’t produce symptoms. Over time, some of these polyps can become cancerous, which is how most colorectal cancers begin: silent. read more

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The Heart – More Than Just a Pump

Heart Awareness

Your Heart Awareness

February is Heart Awareness Month, and our goal is to make sure we open the digital dialogue about the organ that sustains all the others and your precious life. The heart is more than just a pump. It has great intelligence. How you treat your heart will affect your life and your overall health.

A heart’s inner nature

Our organs, especially the heart is sensitive and reactive. Every thought and feeling and a deluge of emotions course through it constantly. While we will address the physical side of the heart, as to what creates disease states, realizing the subjective content of the heart has tremendous merit. We remind you to be— gentle, kind, patient, caring, considerate, respectful, peaceful, and compassionate— toward your self, life circumstances, and others. Exercises in thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions also help build a healthy pump. These are the ingredients of one of the heart’s life-sustaining tonics. read more

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Renewal — It’s Not Just a Spring Thing

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder & Renewal

We have moved into to deep, dark chill of winter. The alarm goes off, it is still dark outside, yet work calls, “Get up, get up, you have to get moving.” Inside you answer, “I’m tired, it’s cold and dark and snowy; I need to sleep.” Your arm reaches out from under the warm covers and brushes against the cool comforter as you hit the snooze alarm several times. Your eyes open heavily. The glitter has fallen. The packages are unwrapped. All that time consumed in shopping, purchasing, wrapping, giving, receiving, and enjoying—now what? The ball has dropped, the horns have blown, the fireworks have boomed, and the party that streamed on for weeks has ended. Now what? read more

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