What a Difference a Year Makes

A year ago, I was feeling crappy about the direction my life was going so I decided to do something about it.  Writing this blog has been one of the highlights of the year.  Also, I got a counselor position, started my doctoral program, and found a LMHC supervisor so I can start studying for the exam.  The year was going pretty well with the exception with some financial crises towards the end that I'm getting through (Christmas did not help at all) and my LMHC supervisor dropping me a few weeks ago (it's all for the best; she only wanted my money).  One of my friends has information for a LMHC supervisor who is much cheaper and hopefully more understanding of my current job and lack of clients I'm seeing.  I'm also looking for jobs that will get me closer to the 2000 hours I need.

School is going okay.  Honestly I don't like the program at all but it's a means to an end and I'm getting through the coursework portion of the program.  I'm also going to do my residency this summer and fall to start on the dissertation part of the program. I got the only C I can get in the program so I gotta watch my grades going forward so I don't get kicked out.

I just wanted to take some time to thank my readers for reading the blog and I hope you gained some insight and were amused somehow.  I wish all of you the best in 2013.

Take care,
-Kimmy

Counseling Can Be a Dangerous Job

A couple of days ago, I was helping my department with HIV testing and apparently one of our clients carjacked a woman at gunpoint before coming to get tested.  Because they believed he had a gun, the police raided the mobile testing van regardless of whether client confidentiality was going to be broken (yes there were clients testing on the van).  I will say this:  having guns pointed at you does not feel good, especially when it is known that your local police shoots first and asks questions later.  The incident reminded me that working in people who are in need can be very dangerous.  There are many individuals in need who have made decisions that put them in dangerous situations.  There may be times where a mental health professional may be in the middle of the dangerous situation.  Hopefully an employer has whatever means to keep their employees safe.  Unfortunately, this was not the case at mine.  I hope that they will make the appropriate changes needed to keep us safe in the future.  I've been in some dangerous places but my current job takes the cake.  In any case, counseling, like any job, has its risks.  If you are a counselor or working with individuals in need and unaware of these risks, you need to reevaluate your life because you'll be in for a very rude awakening.

-Kimmy

Guns and Mental Illness

I posted this a while back to my friends on Facebook.

What happened in Connecticut is sad and my prayers go out to the families of the children slain...however (yes, I'm going to go there)...I will say this: Mental Illness is real. There are too many people with mental illness who go untreated because those around them refuse to accept that the person is mentally ill and they don't want to deal with it. There are a large number of people who are not resilient and cannot cope with the rough patches of life; they need medication and/or psychotherapy to learn how to cope. Society is not doing enough to help the mentally ill (there are people who do not think it's society responsibility to help those people) and depending on how the fiscal cliff situation goes, they're going to be at a bigger disadvantage. Current gun laws allow those with mental illness to bear arms. Unless society collectively decides to deal with the mentally ill with dignity and respect these shootings and incidents of this nature will continue.

The right to bear arms is a Constitutional right however our founding fathers wrote that amendment in context of the 18th century.  They didn't have a look into the future and never in a million years would've predicted that mass murders would occur.  With that said, gun control needs to be reevaluated and updated to the context of the 21st century (whatever that means).

 When the Sandy Hook shootings happened, I along with everyone else in the country was in complete shock.  Once my shock passed, I started looking at the details.  I'm sorry, who in their right mind would take their child with a history of mental illness with aggressive behaviors to a gun range?  Why weren't the guns locked away?  My father has a mental illness and because my family knows how bad it can get, we will NEVER have guns in my parent's house.  It's common sense (to me).  It should be common sense to all families of people with mental illness.  In addition, I'm aware it's difficult for individuals with mental illness to remain complaint on their treatment because the side effects of some of those medications are God awful but support from family, friends and treatment providers goes a very long way.  I wonder why the shooter's father and brother did not speak up when they noticed a change in the shooter's behavior.  A mentally ill individual with active symptoms is very hard to ignore.  Unfortunately, in this family's case and with many other families of mentally ill individuals, they don't want to deal with it so they ignore it.  For those families, this is the hand you've been dealt and therefore MUST at least try to be a part of your loved one's life and treatment.  I did a little research and Connecticut has involuntary commitment for mentally ill individuals who are a threat to themselves and others.  I strongly believe that if the family paid a little more attention, he could have been committed and put under observation, preventing the shootings.

Another part of the gun control argument is that young people are killed by the hands of guns everyday, especially in urban areas.  Guns are a way of life in these areas because no one is there to teach them otherwise.  Why?  I don't know.  The young people in those areas do not know of any other way to resolve conflict because there aren't any mature male adults to teach them and some urban music is not helping the situation either.  Further, those guns are usually obtained illegally so the government and the community have to develop creative means to eliminate guns in these areas.

In order to prevent these type of shootings in this country, both gun control and mental illness have to be reevaluated.

-Kimmy

He's just not that into you (sorry)...

Attention ladies!

I'm going to make this one short and sweet.

If a guy likes you, he will make it known.  He will make effort to communicate with you.  He will flat out tell you. He will introduce you to his friends and family as his partner.  He will make sure you are okay.

Men are simple.  Take what they say and do at face value.  If they are not doing what I mentioned above, I'm sorry, he's not that into you.  Plain and simple.  No need for further analysis.

Another thing, men will do to you what you allow them to do.  If you don't like something they say or do, shut it down early.  If they continue, cut them loose.  Men will only change for the woman they know in their heart is the woman for them.  If a man is not trying to improve your relationship, he's just not that into you.

Unreciprocated feelings are the worst however they are like all other emotions:  they come and go if you do not hold them hostage.  It's going to feel like crap for a (long) while but it will pass.  Just remember that you deserve someone who will love all of you, treat you right and not string you along.

Never settle for less.

Take care,
Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Eating Disorders

Everyone has at some point in their life said to his/herself "I need to lose or gain a couple of pounds"and may adjust their diet accordingly.  However there are those who take it to extremes.  Eating disorders are abnormal eating habits that are harmful to one's health.  Eating disorders affect both men and women.  In the United States, eating disorders are more common than Alzheimer's disease.  In addition to abnormal eating habits, people with eating disorders engage in unhealthy behaviors such as  skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting and taking laxatives. 

There are three eating disorders in the DSM-IV-TR:  Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder. 

Symptoms of Anorexia include

• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height.
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.
• Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
• Amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. 

Symptoms of Bulimia include:

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by both eating, in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during the same time frame and a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
• Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behavior both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.
• Self evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder include:

• Loss of control over amount of eating
• Marked distress over binge episode
• Occurs at least 1x per week for 3 months
• Eating more rapidly than normal (i.e. 2 hr period)
• Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
• Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
• Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
• Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed or very guilty over after overeating

Treatment for eating disorders include adequate nutrition, reducing excessive exercise, and stopping purging behaviors. Specific forms of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, and medication are effective for many eating disorders.  However treating eating disorders can be expensive. For example, a residential program for anorexia can cost upwards of $30,000 a month.

If you think that you or someone you know may have a eating disorder, seek help from a doctor or mental health professional as soon as you can.  That's their job.  Here is some online resources.

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
www.anad.org

Take care,
-Kimmy

Late Nights, Early Mornings

Greetings!

I'm just checking in...I've been working late a lot lately so I haven't had the chance to post anything because I'm sleeping.  I'm nodding my head as we speak.

School is fine...I'm taking two leadership classes and honestly they're quite boring.  I'm definitely a clinician.

I'm still waiting for the OK from the NBCC to take the LMHC exam.  I expect to go into crisis procrastination mode shortly.

I have two papers due Sunday but I'm going try to sneak a post in while I'm awake this weekend.  I plan on staying home.

I'm at a little over 5,000 views on the blog now...yay!  Thanks for reading :)

That's all I got...falling asleep in 5,4,3.....

(Almost) 4000 Views (!)

OMG!  I can't believe it!  I'm a little over 200 views from 4000!  What's crazy about that is that I haven't really posted over the past couple of months.

While I'm here, I'm going to update you on what's going on with me...

I'm working on a post on eating disorders and I just thought of a post on being used in relationships.  Be on the lookout for those in the next couple of weeks. 

I'm on my last week of break from school...I got a B and an A in my classes last quarter.  Next I'm taking Interdisciplinary Leadership and Ethics (yuck!).

I'm studying for the LMHC board exam.  I'm in the process of obtaining permission from the state board to take the exam.  I'll be taking it soon ready or not.

I'm taking baby steps in developing my non-profit.  I have the mission statement down now I'm trying to think of a "cool" name for the organization.  Once I get the meat and potatoes done I'll recruit for my board inbetween semesters.

I'm looking for a part-time job for the holidays and getting ready to work for Jackson Hewitt again.  I don't want to but I'm not making any money from ads.

Continue to check in and spread the word about me!

Until next time...
-Kimmy

A Breakup is NOT the End of the World!

I've been MIA (school kicked my butt so I had to take a time out to regroup) but I'm back now!

I want to talk about breakups a little bit...

They hurt (a lot)...it's miserable...I would not wish such pain on anyone.

There are people who feel like there's no point in living when a relationship ends HOWEVER I'm here to tell you that your life does not end when your relationship does!

The end of a relationship is a lot like a loved one dying...the pain is similar and you may find yourself asking "Why?".  Because of this similarity, I say that you have to give yourself time to grieve the end of a relationship.  Allow yourself to feel the anger, sadness, hurt, confusion so it gets out of your system.  The thing with emotions is that they come and they go...they're not permanent. 

After a breakup, it's good to have some friends or family to lean on and be an ear for you to vent.  They could be old friends or new ones.  The best way to get through any rough patch in life is a solid support system.

Use a breakup as an opportunity to gain a  life lesson out of the relationship.  When something goes wrong, those times are the best life lessons.  You are never too old to learn so figure out what you needed to learn then move on. 

Although you must grieve and learn from a breakup, do not allow yourself to sink in your depression.  Keep away from triggers (songs, environments, etc.) that may make you feel any sadder.  If the sadness does not go away after a few months or you are so sad you begin to feel hopeless, reach out to your doctor or a counselor because there may be something more serious going on. 

Some people may feel that no one else will be able to love them after a relationship ends but this is not the case at all.  If you grieve, surround yourself with positive people and things and learn from your mistakes of the past relationship, you put yourself in a position to allow someone new who is better than the last partner.  Never, never, NEVER give up!

If you're going through a breakup, hang in there because believe it or not, it gets better!

Until next time,
-Kimmy

I'm starting a non-profit! (God help me!)

Hi all,

I know it's been a while since I've posted but I've gotten very behind in one of my classes and my progress in catching up has been really slow.  That and working has sucked up most of my energy.  My apologies...I have some things I want to post about but it'll have to wait another couple of weeks.  I'm also going to incorporate pictures to make things more appealing to the eye.

Now back to the topic at hand...

I'm working on starting a non-profit that involves getting youth involved in fighting discrimination.  Instilling that in them early.  I was researching for a homework assignment and there weren't any anti-discrimination groups in my area so I thought well, I'll make up one myself.  Why not?  So I'll be working on that little by little.  If you have any suggestions for what I should cover on this blog, leave a comment.

While school has been kicking my ass, my blog reached 3200 views...I'm very happy about that.  Thank you  for your support!

I want to give a MAJOR shoutout to my readers in Germany!  I appreciate you and encourage you to spread the word about this blog!

Until next time...

Take care,
-Kimmy

Second Chances

Is it ever a good idea to resume a relationship with an ex?  Can a broken friendship be reestablished?

Well, it depends on the circumstances, how you and the other person feel, and whether both parties are willing to make the changes to make the relationship work.

Here are some things to help you decide whether to give the other person another shot:

• Reflect (on your own) the pros and cons of reconnecting with the other person.  It helps to write it down.
• If the other person has wronged you in some way, you must decide to forgive them for your own peace of mind.
• Have a discussion with the other person about the deterioration of the relationship and let each other know what needs to change to make the relationship work.  Further, both parts must agree to work on making the agreed changes.

Family and friends may have concerns about you giving someone a second chance and that's because they care about you and do not want you be get hurt again.  Briefly discuss why you are giving the other person another chance and let them know that's the end of it.  It does not help when you have outside people buzzing in your ear when you are trying to repair a relationship.  It may be best to keep them out of it.

Another thing to remember is that repairing a relationship takes a lot of work and there's a chance things may not work out and you may need to let go permanently.  Take peace in the fact that you made an active attempt to make the relationship work.

There is nothing wrong with giving someone another chance because you have the right as a person to have whoever you want in your life.  If the other person continues to do you wrong, it may be best to end things for good.

Until next time...

Take care,
-Kimmy

Back in Town

Greetings!

I'm back in town! I had a blast but it's great to be back home.  Once I get caught up with school I'll get back to the posts!  Until then...

Take care,
-Kimmy

P.S. 2,300 views!?  Amazing! :)

Family Time

I'm getting ready to leave for the British Virgin Islands in a few days to visit family.  I'll be gone for abut two weeks.  I will try to post a couple of time while I'm there since I'll have more time on my hands but I'm not sure what my Internet access is looking like right now.  I'm currently working on a paper, cleaning my house, doing laundry, and packing at the same time LOL!  Once I get back, I'll be posting more frequently.  If I don't check in before I leave, take care!

-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Fetishism

People get sexually aroused in different ways...some are "normal" and others are well, not so much...


Fetishism is the term used to describe atypical sexual behavior, was noted in the writings of 19th century French psychologist Alfred Binet. Fetishism or fetishes describe an intense sexual attraction of either non-living objects and/or specific body parts that were symbolically associated with a person. Fetishes, as with other paraphilic disorders, are almost exclusively found in men. Fetishes typically develop in childhood or early adolescence and are usually persistent into adulthood.  Fetishes can co-occur with other paraphilic (sexual arousal and gratification depend on fantasizing about and engaging in sexual behavior that is atypical and extreme...more on those in another post) behaviors, especially sadism and/or masochism but are uncommon among sexual offender paraphiliacs.   Someone with a fetish can have one or several fetishes including sexual attraction to body parts and non-living objects.  Common fetishes are female undergarments, body parts especially feet, footwear including socks, shoes and boots, and leather objects; the most popular fetish in the world is high heels.  Someone with a fetish can be sexually aroused by smell, taste, touch, insert, rub or be visually aroused of the object or body part but the object is needed in order.  


Most people do not have any issues with their fetish however it may be a problem if it interferes with your everyday life or you are harming others.  Remember, an issue is not a mental health disorder until you are unable to function in your everyday life normally.  If that's the case, it's a good idea to seek treatment from am mental health professional.  Treatment approaches have included traditional psychoanalysis, hypnosis, cognitive and behavior therapy as well as medication.  There are also support groups you can find online.  Here are a couple I found.


http://www.allinthefamilycounselling.com/index.php/groups/partners-of-sex-addictionfetishes
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/bdsm-fetish-body-mod-and-alternative-lifestyles

I hope you guys learned something new :) until next time...

Take care,
-Kimmy

Work in progress

Hey all!

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still around.  I'm working on a post on fetishism but I don't think it's a good idea to work on it from a work computer.  I'm at a temporary location at work and I don't want to bring my personal laptop because it's too chaotic where I'm at otherwise I'd work on stuff during my lunch breaks.  I'm going to finish editing it tonight after I get my workout on (I'm trying to make that one of my priorities).

School is kicking my butt and I'm getting ready to go see my family in the British Virgin Islands next week.   It's been hectic but I'm getting there little by little. 

I've joined IBOsocial yesterday after seeing a friend talk about it on Facebook.  We'll see how that goes and whether it helps me.

Until I get the new stuff out, check out my old posts and comment with suggestions of what you want me to write about because it'll help me out a lot as to what I write about next and I don't take as long :)

Take care,
-Kimmy

School, Supervision, and Board Exams

I started school this week and once of my classes is a major thorn in my side.  I have assignments due almost every weekend this quarter including while I'm in the BVI visiting family (I haven't seen them in five years because I was working on my Master's).  I have to buy an international air card which are not cheap at all so I'm pretty peeved about that.  I also switched professors in one of my classes because my professor (by mistake I assume) stated that the class was supposed to be taken towards the end of the program and did not address my and other students' concerns about being in the wrong class quickly (it was the weekend for goodness sake) so I wanted out because I'm not trying to be in the wrong class right now.  After some back and forth with my academic adviser, she agreed to switched professors.  My new professor appears to be more together but the class is still hardcore.  Ugh.  Story of my life.  Before you think I'm being a brat, I'm not a fan of my program because the database search functions Capella uses are not sensitive, making it a royal pain in the ass to find articles for assignments.  I took a seminar on searching through databases so I know I'm not losing it.  Something I could find in 30 minutes at Webster takes 90 minutes at Capella using the same databases.  My boss, who also attends Capella, agrees with me on this one too.

I'm also studying for my state board exam because I want to get that out of the way before the holidays and we start the new fiscal year at work.  That is going pretty okay I just need to work on the treatment interventions part since I used that knowledge sparingly since I graduated school.

Once I get around to looking at my DSM-IV (not looking forward to buying the DSM-5 because those suckers are NOT cheap but I digress) and pick my next disorder, I'll post another mental health 101 post.

Hope everyone is doing well...until next time...

Take care,
-Kimmy

social network sites

Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to deactivate my Facebook and Twitter accounts.  This is because I do not have many followers and with school I don't have much time to tweet and post consistently on a regular basis.  I'm going to wait until I start making decent money on this blog before I reactivate them.  If you were following me on Twitter, my apologies.  I'm currently looking into other ways to promote this blog so I can make some mula!  Clinical supervision isn't cheap you know! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Anger

Think about the last time you got angry.  There's probably a good chance that you were feeling other emotions before or while you were angry even if you didn't notice at the time.  This is because anger is a secondary emotion.  Anger is often called a secondary emotion because people get angry to protect themselves from or cover up vulnerable feelings. What people feel immediately before getting angry is called a primary emotion; we almost always feel something else first before we get angry.  We might first feel scared, attacked, offended, disrespected, forced, trapped, hurt, or pressured. If any of these feelings are intense enough, it's easy to confuse them with anger.  


Many cultures and societal norms have taught people to not show "negative" emotions such as fear, sadness, or confusion so people become angry because it is the more accepted response.  However expressing anger instead of what one is truly feeling can create more stressful situations and misunderstandings with other people.


If you're always angry and you are having issues with it, it's important to find out what is underneath the anger in order to control it.  Once you figure that out, you then need to learn how to cope with the underlying emotions.  As always, a counselor or anger management group can help you with that journey.  I also provided a link below if you want to go the online route.


http://www.angermanagementonline.com


As always, take care!


-Kimmy :)

The Aftermath: Semester 1

Well after all was said and done, I managed to earn As in both of my classes.  Who would've thought?  Good thing I put effort into my weekly discussions otherwise my grades would've been crap.  Now I know that I MUST manage my time better.  Here's to more evenings weekends doing homework at the house!  No more slacking...I see that I don't have time to anymore!

I met with my clinical supervisor yesterday.  It went well.  I'm going to start studying for the state board exam while I'm on break for the semester.  The good thing is that I can validate buying a new ipod. :)

I'm still figuring out what topics I'm going to write about next.  I gotta take advantage of this free time over the next couple of weeks to compensate for the next semester. 

That's all I have for now...I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Take care,
Kimmy

Time Management (Because there's only so much you can do!)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed?  What about those times you were doing many things at once but it felt like you were not accomplishing anything at all?  When you look back at these times do you notice that you were not making the most of your time?  Time management is an important skill to have because it saves you from a lot of stress, anxiety, and problems that may arise as a result of those feelings at the job or in your personal life.  


I've compiled a list of things to help manage your time.  

• Evaluate how you're spending your time.  Look for areas that can be used to complete something else.
• Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don't start your day until you complete your time plan. 
• Prioritize your tasks. Things that are not important can be completed later.
• Schedule time for interruptions.  Leaving room for interruptions make them appear less time consuming.
• Say no to nonessential tasks.  Put your own responsibilities and tasks first before taking on anything else.
• Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Work on them a few minutes at a time until you get everything done.
• Practice the 10-minute rule. Work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find you can finish it.
• Put up a "Do not disturb" sign when you absolutely have to get work done
• Practice not answering the phone just because it's ringing and e-mails just because they show up. Disconnect instant messaging. Don't instantly give people your attention unless it's absolutely crucial in your business to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls
• Limit distractions. Block out time on your calendar for big projects. During that time, close your door and turn off your phone, pager and email.
• Take a break when needed. Too much stress can derail your attempts at getting organized. When you need a break, take one. Take a walk. Do some quick stretches at your workstation or take a short walk. If you need to, take a day of vacation to rest and re-energize.
• Block out  Facebook and other forms of social media while you are at work unless you use these tools to generate business.
• Get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. A healthy lifestyle can improve your focus and concentration, making you a more efficient worker.
• Take a time management course. If your employer offers continuing education, take a time management class. If your workplace doesn't have one, find out if a local community college, university or community education program does.
• Remember that it's impossible to get everything done

Try to incorporate some of these tips to make your days a little easier to get through.  


Until next time, take care! :)


Kimmy


References 


Matthews, J., Debolt, D., & Percival, D. (n.d.). 10 time management tips that work. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219553


Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Stress management. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/wl00048

I Survived the First Semester of my PhD. Program (somewhat)

Hi everyone!

First, I'd like to apologize for disappearing for the past couple of weeks.  It was crunch-time with my schoolwork.  Unfortunately my poor time management skills and my notorious procrastination got the best of me and I ended up turning in assignments late and it was a complete disaster.  I'm sure my grades are going to be crap this term however I'm going make some changes to my schedule and people are not going to like it but oh well...school has to come first going forward.  I'll let you guys know of the damage I did to myself when my grades post.  Honestly, I don't care about my grades anymore because my GPA during my Master's program was 3.91 and it DID NOT help me get a job at all...so...I'm just going to do the best I can and not stress.

One of my good friends is letting me borrow her study materials for the Florida LMHC exam so I'm going to take the mock test in a couple of weeks then take the real thing after I finish the next semester of school.  When I get my book voucher from school I'm going to buy some more study materials and some treatment planning books.

I had to skip a supervision session because I ran out of funds after paying the bills.  I'm good to go now.

I'm going to start working on Mental Health 101 posts tomorrow after I get caught up with my progress notes for clinical supervision tomorrow.

In the meantime, thanks for checking out my blog during my absence (nearly 1500 views...wow!) and take care!

-Kimmy

Communication is Key!

Think about the last time you had a disagreement...was the person you were arguing with listening to you?  Were you listening?  Was there a compromise?  Did the disagreement escalate?  Did you get your point across?  If you have a difficult time making your point or you get into misunderstandings frequently, it may be time to make some changes in how you communicate.  

Try making I statements:  an "I" statement goes like this:  I feel _______________ when you ___________.  For example, "I feel annoyed when you do not take out the trash."

Listen to what is being SAID not what you WANT to hear.  Don't interrupt or get offensive.  Listen to what the other person is saying then repeat what was said to ensure you heard what they said.  The other person will either confirm or clarify for you.

If you start to get angry, take a time out.  When you see that you or the other person is getting angry, it's okay to drop the conversation for a few minutes then return to it when you calm down.  Remember to return to the conversation and not "drop it" completely.

Compromise or agree to disagree.  Communication is not about being right in every conversation.  The main point of communication is to get to a solution to an issue not winning.  If you can come up with a solution both parties can agree with then the problem is solved. :)

Take responsibility for what you said and/or did:  right or wrong.  Being called out is never fun but owning up to your words and actions is the mature thing to do.  We're all adults here.  Accountability also opens many new lines of communication.

Try to understand the other side.  When you understand the other person's view, regardless of whether you agree with it or not, it's easier to make your point.  If you don't understand, ask questions!

If all else fails, get a third party involved.  If you're at a standstill, get a friend, family member, or mediator involved who can assist in your communication skills.  Therapists often use couples therapy to teach better communication skills.  If the other person is not open to a mediator, you can still go alone for you are the only person responsible for what you say and/or do.

Many relationships fail because of poor communication.  If the relationship is valued, everyone involved is responsible for communicating and ensuring understanding.

I hope everyone has a great short week!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Clinical Supervision

Sorry I haven't had to post anything this week but I was busy with work and school. I haven't decided which disorder I wanted to do for my next mental health 101 post. I haven't forgotten about you guys I promise.

I had my first clinical supervision yesterday and my first order of business is to create some business cards.  I have some ready to print on the 9-5 but I need to make some for Kimmy's Counseling Services because my supervisor wants me to set up groups on Saturday mornings (the only time I'm free) so I can get some hours toward licensure because I'm not getting many hours at the job.  She also told me to study for the mock LMHC test for a week then take it and see how I do.  It sounds like a good plan to me...once I survive this first semester of school.

On the upside, I have a business line and it was FREE! I set up a Google Voice account (I LOVE Google!) with a local number and all the calls will go to my cell phone which is pretty awesome.  I'll put the phone number on my website  in the next few weeks or so.  I'm still working on locations and cost of my groups.  You can also email me if you live in Jacksonville in the meantime.  If you haven't noticed, I have ads on the blog...I do intend to have this blog as a means of income as I get more views and eventually subscribers.  If they're annoying I apologize in advance but the bills gotta get paid somehow! :)

Well I'm going to finish packing because I'm heading out of town in a couple of hours.  Everyone needs to de-stress once in a while.

I have over 600 views on the blog now...very excited!  Thanks so much for the support!!

Until next time...

Take care,
-Kimmy :)

Avery Two-Side Printable Clean Edge Business Cards for Laser Printers
Rolodex Black Vinyl Business Card Book, 96 Card Capacity

Knocked Out

I had a mini meltdown the other day because I was trying to do too much at the exact same time.  Little did I know I wore myself out so when I sat down to do my homework that night I fell asleep while waiting for my computer to finish their updates.  I woke up at 12:35am...the assignments were due at 1am.  Needless to say my work was late.  I think I may have a repeat tonight because I feel the sleep coming on as I write this.  Too many May birthdays.  I'm definitely sitting out next year for the sake of my sanity.  And I have work in the morning.  Yucky!  Okay I just wanted to check in.  I'll have a mental health 101 post sometime this week...I have a paper due and it's kind of long.  I'm trying not to procrastinate like I usually do but we'll see how it goes.

Before I forget, I got an A on the annotated bibliography after all that confusion.  I felt pretty awesome when I saw that grade.

Hope all is well with everyone...be sure to tell your friends about my blog

Take care,

-Kimmy

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Intern...that's me!

I called the state board earlier today and I was assigned my number last Thursday!  I'm so happy I could cry...one year of struggle and stress and I did it!  Now I'm going to start studying for my LMHC exam next month.  Once I pass the test, the only thing I need to focus on is my hours. 

Like my first post says...sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands...

What a difference 5 months makes!!

I'm almost at the 550 view mark on the blog.  I appreciate everyone's support!  Let's see how quickly I can get to the 1000 mark...tell your friends about my misadventures in mental health! 

Hope everyone has a great week! Be on the lookout for more posts!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Misadventures with an Annotated Bibliography

So I had an annotated bibliography due yesterday but the thing is that I've never done one before because my master's program was more clinical than scholarly writing.  Well I looked at some samples and I gathered that all it is is that it's a summary of some articles.  I asked my boss to confirm my thoughts on this and she said "well not really" so at this point I'm very confused.  I look for some more samples and I go though my school's online writing center (it doesn't help that I'm procrastinating either) for a couple of days to figure out the style of this thing.  I combine all this with my teacher's requirements and I think I have a pretty decent result.  I know I should have emailed my teacher for help but my pride got in the way some...I'm not going to lie.  I'll know later in the week how I did.

On a side note, I got a B on the assignment I turned in three minutes late and it looks like he didn't take off points for being "late" so that's good.

Boy I tell you, this class is kicking my butt.  My other class is going okay though.

I hope all the mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday.  I'm not a mom but I'm an aunt :) my nephew is pretty awesome!  His birthday is Thursday.  Anyway, I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Phobias

Happy Friday everyone! 


Here's a new Mental Health 101 post! :)


Most people are scared of something and if they can help it they try to avoid it. However some people are so scared of something that it is dehabilitating. They are commonly known as phobias but the technical term is Specific Phobia.   The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about 5%-12% of Americans have phobias.

Specific phobia is an unreasonable fear fear caused by the presence or thought of a specific object or situation that usually poses little or no actual danger. Exposure to the object or situation brings about an immediate reaction, causing the person to endure intense nervousness or avoid the object or situation entirely. The distress that comes with the phobia and/or the need to avoid the object or situation can interfere with the person's ability to function normally. Adults with a specific phobia recognize that the fear is excessive or unreasonable, yet they cannot overcome it.

There are four types of specific phobias:  animal, natural environment (i.e., heights, storms, water), blood-injection-injury, and situational (i.e., airplanes, elevators, enclosed spaces).  Symptoms of specific phobia include:

• Excessive or irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
• Avoiding the object or situation or enduring it with great distress
• Physical symptoms, such as a pounding heart, nausea, sweating, trembling or shaking, numbness or tingling, shortness of breath, feeling dizzy, or feeling like you are choking.
• Becoming nervous ahead of time about being in certain situations or coming into contact with the object of your phobia.

For a list of phobias click here.  

If you think that you have a phobia that is negatively impacting your life, see your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist for help.  There are many therapies available to help those with phobias.  There are also support groups for people with phobias.  

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Phobia/support-group

http://phobia.meetup.com/

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  

Take care,

-Kimmy

References

WebMd (2012). Specific Phobias. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/specific-phobias

Guess who is gonna be a LMHC Intern??

Greetings!

I call the Florida Board earlier today about my application and they told me that my number will be assigned by the end of the week!!  Now I can meet with my supervisor and start studying for the LMHC exam!!  Whoo hoo!!!!  One major hurdle has been knocked over!

I turned in one of my assignments three minutes late (due to last minute technical difficulties...so mad at myself!) and this teacher's policy is that you get a 0 for assignments turned in late so depending on how much of a hard-ass he is I may have to drop the class for the sake of my G.P.A...I'm waiting for his feedback as we speak.  Now I know I absolutely cannot procrastinate but I'm not going to lie, old habits die hard!

I bought a new laptop for school and blogging.  My old laptop had a short in the screen and it would go out when I changed electrical outlets so when I found a spot in the house where the screen light would stay on the laptop stayed there.  Now I'm not limited to where I can work on things, which makes all that I'm trying to do less stressful.

I'm almost at 450 views on the blog!  I'm excited but now I need to get subscribers to build a following and start my online life coach business.

Thanks for your continued support and be on the lookout for bigger and better things from me!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Doctoral Comprehensive Exam!?

My teachers in my Master's program warned me that a PhD. program is no joke but did I listen?  Noooooo!

Last week, I checked out my academic plan and saw that I had a class by itself one quarter:  Doctoral Comprehensive Exam. I thought that it was odd because Capella knows that it is not financially prudent for me to take a class by itself because I'm running out of Stafford Loan money. 

My academic advisor called me a little while ago to tell me about some changes to my schedule next semester and I asked her about this class.  She proceeds to tell me that it's to ensure that I'm ready to write the dissertation and it consists of three research questions that I submit for review and they butcher it (not her words by the way) and I revise it.  She also tells me that it's the equivalent to writing a book.  I knew that I was going to write a book for my doctoral program but two really shocked me.  I was like OMG baby Jesus what did I get myself into!?!?  I don't have to worry about it for a couple of years but still...OMG!  Now I definitely gotta finish my LMHC before I start my dissertation.

This is what I get for trying to do too much lol  Do other doctoral programs have this requirement? 

Okay, I'm done venting.  Hope all is well with everyone.  Be on the lookout for future posts and tell your friends about me!

Until next time...

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This one is going to be short (sorry!)...

Everyone has that one friend that is particular about certain things...you may have said that they have OCD because they are very anal (and quite annoying) but OCD is actually a serious anxiety disorder that can get in the way of someone's everyday life.  OCD affects approximately three percent of the world's population and runs in families.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions, inappropriate and repetitive thoughts, feelings, or ideas; and/or compulsions, behaviors that make them feel like they have to do in response to their obsessions.  These thoughts and behaviors are more than everyday worries or routines; they are unrealistic, time consuming, very distressing to the person, and can get in the way of a person's everyday life.   An OCD diagnosis can be specified by whether the person is aware that their obsessions and compulsions are a problem. 

The best treatment for OCD is a combination of therapy and medication.  If you or someone else you know experience obsessions and compulsions seek help from a mental health provider or your primary care provider.  There are also support groups online for OCD that are local and national.  Below are just a couple of start you off.

http://www.ocdtribe.com/groups/
http://ocd.supportgroups.com/

Be on the lookout for more posts!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Participatory Action Research (yucky!)

One of my classes is kicking my butt!

The class is called Contemporary Issues in Studies in Human Behavior and the class is about Participatory Action Research or PAR.  PARs get different groups together to collaborate on a community problem and solve it.  With that said, the class gives me a major headache! I find PARs quite boring and the readings for the class either put me to sleep or give me a headache...sometimes both! The professor says I'm doing a good job but geez!  The next eight weeks are going to be torture!

On the LMHC Intern front, I mailed all my additional documents for my application early last week.  Now I wait...

I'm done with the tax preparer job...super yay!!

I'm now at 340 views on the blog!  Let's get to 500!

Thank you guys for your support!  A new Mental Health 101 post is coming this week in-between the school assignments.

Well, have a AWESOME week!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Everyone hopes to not experience anything traumatic in their life but as we know no one is immune to bad things happening to them.  Some people may through or witness some very horrific things and it may stay with them...in some cases to the point that it's debilitating to their everyday life. 

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the brain's normal reaction to abnormal events.  Symptoms to PTSD can appear days, months, or even years after a traumatic event.  Diagnostic criteria for PTSD include a history of exposure to a traumatic event meeting two criteria and symptoms from each of three symptom clusters: intrusive recollections, avoidant/numbing symptoms, and hyper-arousal symptoms. A fifth criterion concerns duration of symptoms and a sixth assesses functioning. The person's response to the traumatic event involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. In children, it may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.

A person with PTSD recollects the traumatic event through recollections, flashbacks, dreams, and/or internal and external triggers.  They may also avoid the trauma by memory lapses, blackouts, avoiding things, places, and people associated with the trauma, detaching themselves from loved ones, or have a shortened sense of future.  A person with PTSD are easily aroused, meaning that they easily startled, irritable, or have difficulty sleeping and/or concentrating.  Symptoms like I just stated have to be present for a least one month for a possible PTSD diagnosis. 

If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms, please seek help immediately.  If you are someone is in crisis call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room!!  There are medications and therapy available to treat PTSD.  There are also a lot of support groups.  As always, here are some links to help you.

http://www.abct.org/Members/?m=FindTherapist&fa=FT_Form&nolm=1
http://locator.apa.org/
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php
http://store.samhsa.gov/mhlocator

For Veterans
http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/ptsd_flsh.asp
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/get_help_with_va.asp
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/
Call 1-800-273-8255 and press "1"

Support Groups
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-ptsd&lgnF=y
http://www.adaa.org/finding-help/getting-support/support-groups

Take care,
-Kimmy

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (Revised 4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Readjusting to online learning

Well I'm wrapping up my first week of school at Capella...online school is a beast!  Since this is a doctoral program, I gotta bring it...which required more time that I'd thought I would spend on my discussion posts.  It took a while for me to come up with intelligent postings.  I managed to turn them in on time although I was cutting it close with the SafeAssign...now I know I DEFINITELY can't procrastinate.  *Sigh*

I applied for a grant and if I get selected I'll be heading to California in June.  I'll find out in the next few weeks or so.  I definitely need that grant since I'll max out my Stafford loan limit when I get around to my dissertation.  I'm also looking into fellowships to lessen the blow.  There's also a scholarship I'm going to apply for next month...one of the requirements is that I gotta sucessfully complete a class (which I haven't done yet) and some other stuff...I gotta get this free money to pay for school!

If I get all my work done, I may sneak in a Mental Health 101 post this afternoon but I definitely plan of doing some posts over the next few days since tax season is over.  I'm definitely looking forward to going back to Zumba and I can officially start looking for a dog to adopt. 

I would like to than @Hypno_Gary for mentioning me to his followers on Twitter.  You support means a lot! :)

That's it for now...just wanted to check in. :)

Take care,
-Kimmy

Bouncing Back

Christians celebrate Easter to observe Jesus Christ rising from the dead after he was crucified.  They believe that by his rising from the dead, he overcame the devil which represents evil.  Most Christians use this time to reflect on triumphing over the bad and because of that triumph, their sins are forgiven and they will go to heaven.  With that said, I want to talk about overcoming adversary...

No one is immune to life's tribulations...it's a matter of how you react to them.  Some people feel hopeless and give up while others push through to get past their troubles.  Some things are out of one's control while other situations are a result of one's choices.  It's important to be able to differentiate between the two.  Some problems are fixable while others are not.  Only you can figure that part out. 

While going through the tough times it's important to have support of the people you love and care about.  Hopefully you're not at a point where you have no support system but if you are it's your responsibility to seek a new support system.  You also have to do what you can and take it a day at a time.  A storm doesn't suddenly end.  Also use adversity as a time of self-reflection:  what do you need to do so you're not in the same mess again?  You may also find that some people may stick around while others will run.  The ones who run most likely do not need to be in your life in the first place.  If you need to, religion and spiritually may help you through your tough times.  Take the time to strengthen your faith or find a new faith/belief system.  A counselor or mental health professional can help you with your journey if you need it.  Many therapists have low cost options for those with financial hardships.

While you spend time with the people you care about most this Easter, remember that you can overcome the hard times.  This too shall pass...

Happy Easter!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Back to School

School, school, school...

I've been some kind of orientation all week for school...like 3 or 4. I guess Capella wants to be sure that I don't flunk out.  My enrollment advisor dropped the ball with my book voucher info and I was lost for a minute but it's fixed although I'm not going to have my books in time for my first week of class.  It's all good though.  I will admit I'm getting tired of the orientations because I don't like repetition.  The next few years will be interesting.

On a high note, I've submitted my LMHC application!  I'm so excited!  I gotta turn in some additional documents but I think I'll have my number by late May/early June and I can start studying for the exam over the summer.  If I can get the LMHC exam out of the way by early fall I'll be able to focus on my PhD and working. 

Despite the craziness I'm going out of town quite a bit (I LOVE traveling!). I'm going to Orlando, NYC, Daytona Beach, Tampa, Biloxi/New Orleans, and to see my family in the BVI.  All of this while I'm doing my studies.  I'm not worried because I've been more mischievous and gotten my schoolwork done. 

As always, I'll keep you posted and be on the lookout for more posts.  I still want to do my advice column so email me at kimmycounselingservices@gmail.com with your questions! :)

Website

Hi guys!

I'm not sure if I mentioned this or not but I have a website.  It has more information about myself and my current services.  Some of the blog posts are on there too.  It's also viewable on your cell phone.  Check it out and tell your friends about me!

http://kimmycounselingservices.webs.com/

Hope everyone has a great Sunday and try not to become an April's fool! :)

-Take care,
Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Bipolar Disorder

How many times have you heard the phrase "Oh he/she is Bipolar!"?  Many times I bet.  Bipolar is often used to describe someone who is moody however Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental health disorder that can be very dehabilitating. What's the difference between someone who is moody and someone with Bipolar Disorder you ask? Well, I'll explain some.

People with Bipolar Disorder have periods of mania, depression or a combination of both (mixed episodes). 

The DSM-IV-TR (the book mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health disorders) defines mania as a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least one week and consisting of three or more of the following:

• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
• Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feeling rested after only 3 hours of sleep).
• More talkative than usual or feeling pressure to keep talking.
• Racing thoughts or thoughts that seem to jump from topic to topic.
• Distractibility (e.g., attention is easily drawn to unimportant details).
• Increased goal-directed activity (either socially, at school or work, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation.
• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for negative consequences (e.g., going on buying sprees, foolish business investments, promiscuous sex).

The DSM-IV-TR defines a depressive episode as a distinct period lasting at least 2 weeks of symptoms including: Insomnia or hypersomnia. As I said before, a mixed episode is a combination of both manic and depressive symptoms.

The DSM-IV-TR identifies two types of Bipolar Disorder (didn't know that huh?):

Bipolar I: Manic or mixed episodes are present.
Bipolar II:  Hypomanic (which means symptoms of mania are present but not enough to call a manic episode) and depressive episodes are present.

As you can see, someone who is bipolar clearly not just someone in a bad mood or has temperament changes.  If you or someone you know have symptoms of Bipolar Disorder seek help from your doctor or a mental health professional so they can tell you for sure  since symptoms of Bipolar Disorder are similar to symptoms of other mental health disorders. 

There are support groups out there for people with Bipolar Disorder out there...here are some links.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support_findsupportlanding
http://www.mdjunction.com/bipolar-in-the-family- this is a support site for family members of people with Bipolar Disorder.

Since you have an idea of what Bipolar Disorder is, use caution when calling someone Bipolar.

Take care,
-Kimmy

•  Depressed mood.
•  Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or
• almost all activities.
• Signiifcant (>5% body weight) weight loss or gain,
• or increase or decrease in appetite.

Psychomotor agitation or retardation.

Fatigue or loss of energy.

Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.

Diminished concentration or indecisiveness.

Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Perception is Reality

I'm sure that many have heard of Albert Einstein's Relativity Theory at some point of their lives.  To break it down, it means nothing is set in stone so therefore everything is up for interpretation.  With that said, anything seen, heard, done can be percieved differently by different people.

An important thing to remember is someone's perception is their reality.  Perception can be influenced by past experiences, environment, culture, the media, beliefs, attitudes, genetics...a number of things.  For example the delusions and hallucinations a person with schizophrenia experience is their reality because they see and hear them.  It doesn't matter if no one else does because that's how the world is to that person because the hallucinations and delusions are how their brain is percieving the world making it their reality.

Now let's apply this to everyday life.  Let's use both people that are very well off and the impoverished.  I say both groups live in bubbles because neither group is exposed to much outside of their immediate environment.  Because of this lack of exposure, the rich are unable to see the poor's plight and the poor are unable to see a way out of their situation because they're not percieving these things in their immediate environment...it's a part of their "reality".

I'm also going to apply this perception is reality to stereotypes and prejudice.  If a person's knowledge of a certain race, culture, sexuality, or socioeconomic status comes from the news, media, the prejudices of people of their life and good or bad the prejudices they are percieving are the person's reality.  Reinforcements in the form of news reports, media, life experiences, etc., are stregthening the reality of the prejudice causing the person to generalize that all people of that race, culture, socieoeconomic status are what they percieve.  Prejudice (coming from their reality) can create assumptions, which may or may not be true, and that can create some disasterous situations.

How can we prevent such situations?  Two things have to happen:  New information has to be presented and the people have to be open to the new information.  Ignorance is bliss and new information may not be what they want to know.  People get comfortable with their reality.  It may also help to stop glorifying and reinforcing negavive stereotypes regardless of your culture, skin color, or how much (or little) you make.  People are not going to see things differently if they are percieving the same things over and over.  For change to happen a lot of people have to get involved and create enough stir to create a situation that change is the only option (peacefully).

With that said, what are you going to do to change reality?

Take care,
-Kimmy

Update

Time to catch up with you guys!

I started my new position earlier this week and I'm working on what I'm incorporating in my sessions and recruiting clients.  I gotta see 25 clients in a resistant population by the end of September, mind you they're going to gone for 3 months on summer break.  I can do it...just gotta hustle.

As soon as I find out my schedule for April, I'm going to call the LMHC supervisor lady about starting my supervision.

Getting ready to start school in a few weeks...gotta buy my books (which are expensive) and go through orientation.  I gotta pay for my dissertation part of my program out of pocket (to the tune of $35-40k) but I'm gonna be alright.  Staying positive about that situation because I want my PhD badly enough to get the money.

I've been working on my website piece by piece.  I'm offering life coaching via email right now...price is negotiable but it won't be more than $40.  Contact me at kimmycounselingservices@gmail.com if you want some life coaching!  My website (still a work in progress) is http://kimmycounselingservices.webs.com/.

I also want to do an advice column on this blog so email me with your life and relationship issues!

That's all I have for now...as always I'll keep you posted!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Owing Uncle Sam

Last night at my part-time job I came in to start my shift and the client my co-worker was working with was crying.  My co-worker asked me to double check the tax return so I did...everything was correct so I confirmed the client's worst nightmare:  she owed the IRS $8900.  She took a lump sum distribution of her deceased father's 401k and bought a condo cash.  She thought she did a good thing (and she did) but she did not consider the tax man.  She was hysterical and crying...it took a while to discuss her options and finish the tax return because she was freaking out big time.  Because of her tax bill she had to postpone her wedding.  I want to use her example to talk a little about taxes because owing taxes becomes a mental health issue depending on what you owe and your options.  Here are some things you can do so you don't develop a mental disorder as a result of dealing with the tax man.

• If you are going through a major event in your life, Set up a consultation with an accountant, financial planner, or tax preparer to find out how it's going to affect your taxes.  Some life events may help your tax situation and others will put you in a situation that you may owe taxes. When I say life events I mean, getting married, having kids, job promotions, inheritances, retiring, losing a spouse or child, your child turning 17...you can even go to a H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt office.  Just see SOMEBODY!
• If you're making more money, make sure more money goes to Uncle Sam.  Period. Go to your human resources and change the exemptions on your W-4. The less exemptions you take, the more money comes out of your check.  Zero exemptions is the most.  Beware some jobs take less taxes out of your paycheck than they should (they have a formula so I've heard) that might put you in a bad situation with the tax man.
• Midway through the year, take a look at your income and your withholding and have someone give you an estimate of what you might owe in taxes so you'll have time to get the amount of money you need to pay the tax man.
• If you're self employed or an independent contractor, send in estimated tax payments.  Period.  I doubt you want to pay the tax man everything during tax time.  Estimated tax payments will help you reduce what you owe. Check this out for more info and find a tax professional if you feel like you're reading Greek: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf 
• If you owe, DON'T FREAK OUT AND GET MAD! The IRS will work with you!  I owed a good chunk of change and they were quite nice to me.  You can set up a payment plan with the IRS. You can pay as little as $25 per month.  You can mail your payments in or have them take it out of your bank account.  The IRS will also keep your refunds until your debt is paid.  Better that than them garnishing your wages and seizing your assets.  DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IGNORE THE IRS NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU OWE! You will be sorry if you do! Check this out and find a professional if you don't understand:  http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f9465.pdf 

As Benjamin Franklin said "There are only two things certain in life:  death and taxes." Owing the IRS is not a death sentence and it's preventable if you have competent professionals to help you.

Signing off for now...

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Substance Abuse

Many people who use drugs never think that they will develop a drug problem because they just want to try it or they are using for fun.  However, the signs of a problem are always there. One may not notice because they are caught up in getting high and what they perceive as good things happening. They may be making new "friends" or beginning to get more attention from the opposite sex.  They like their personality when they're high because they're more outgoing or personable under the influence and they're not like that sober.

While these "good" things are going on, other things are brewing as well:  a substance abuse problem.  One might get caught up having a good time but I'm sure there are some not so good things going on as well. 

• The drug use may be interfering with work, school, or home (i.e., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; or neglect of children or household).
• The drug use may put you in situations that are dangerous (i.e., driving while drunk or high or having unprotected sex while drunk or high)
• Legal issues may arise (such as arrests for DUI/DWI, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, etc. because you were drunk or high at the time).
• Even though your friends and family are calling you out on your drug use and how it's becoming a problem, you still use them.

If any of these things...or all of them...happened to you quite a few times over the past year, you may need to slow down because you might have a substance abuse problem.  Depending on how bad your situation is, you may be able to stop using the drugs on your own or you may need to seek some help by means of a professional or outpatient facility.  If it's really bad you may need to seek residential treatment. 

A drug problem is something you can't deal with on your own so get the support of your friends, family, and employer...yes, the job will have your back too.  You won't lose your job if you let them know you have a problem and you are seeking treatment through their Employee Assistance Program.  I've provided some websites to help if you or someone you know has a drug problem.

http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ - A Federal substance abuse directory.

http://www.smartrecovery.org/ - An online substance abuse recovery group.

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ - Support group for family and friends of substance abusers/addicts.

http://www.aa.org/ - Alcoholics Anonymous

It's a good idea to work on drug problems before they become drug addictions however a person will not change until they are good and ready.

With that said...

Take care,

-Kimmy

Good News All Around

I found out last night that Capella is applying 32 hours towards my PhD program...comes out to a few quarters worth which is good.  I also got promoted to a counselor position at my job.  I signed my papers this morning.  It's funny how everything happens all at once when you decide to do your own thing.  I'm still going to write because it's rewarding to me.  My writing has been getting some news on InfoBarrel which is exciting. I do have an idea for an article that I'll work on tomorrow.

As always, stay tuned for the saga continues...

Take care,

-Kimmy

Another Infobarrel Article

Check it out and tell your friends about it!

http://www.infobarrel.com/Talking_Safe_Sex_With_Your_Partner

Take care,
-Kimmy

I need a plan!

I met with the potential LMHC supervisor today...we talked about a lot of things. The biggesf thing I got out of it is that I need to have a plan of what I want to dop with my practice and how to promote it. I'm going to work on that and check out a couple other supervisors. With good marketing I can afford to work privately once a week and pay for the office rent and supervision.

I also need to figure out which population I want to work with and who I worked well with. I didn't give it much thought when I was in school because I was trying to finish and get out of there. Now I'm working on mastering my craft so I can take over the world!

But first I gotta have a plan...

Mental Health 101: Anxiety

What makes you anxious?

Upcoming events, things you're looking forward (or not) to, people, situations...all kinds of things make people anxious.  Anxiety is the body's way of dealing with stress.

What if EVERYTHING makes you anxious?  What if it's so bad you cannot work, go to school, or be around friends and family?  What if one specific thing gives you very bad anxiety?  Then you may have an anxiety disorder.

There are many disorders that fall into the anxiety disorder spectrum.  Panic disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and phobias.  Diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorder depend on what kind of symptoms you have and have severe they are.  Symptoms of anxiety disorders include nervousness, tension, shortness of breath, feelings of depersonalization, worry, agitation, insomnia, inability to concentrate, rapid hearbeat, and dizziness.  I will go into more detail of each anxiety disorder in future posts. 

Treatment for anxiety disorders are medications such as SSRIs and in more severe cases Benzos and mood stabilizers.  Psychotherapy is another treatment for anxiety.  For severe cases, a combination of medication and therapy works best.

If you feel you have anxiety issues, see your private doctor and have them refer you to a therapist to help cope with the symptoms and the cause behind your anxiety.  I've listed some websites as well.

www.dailystrength.org/c/Anxiety/support-group
http://anxiety.supportgroups.com
www.adaa.org/supportgroups

Anxiety is something everyone experiences at one point or another however it does not have to be dehabilitating.  If you are struggling, seek help!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Major step!

Over the weekend I made contact with a LMHC supervisor in town and she wants to meet me!  She's also offering me office space on a part-time basis if I want it...exactly everything I'm looking for! Holy cow did that just happen!???? As you can see I'm really looking forward to meeting her.

I'm waiting for the two articles I wrote to be approved or denied by InfoBarrel and I plan on finishing my latest post by tonight...we'll see how it goes.

Not too shabby for a Monday huh?

I'll keep you posted on my shenanegans and be on the lookout for my writings!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Now Live on Infobarrel!

I wrote an article for InfoBarrel and it's been live since yesterday!  I was so happy when I found out I almost started crying...I'm a wussy I know lol. The blog is at 90 views now so that's exciting too!  Can we get to 100 by my birthday on Wednesday??  We shall see!

Here's a link to the article.

http://www.infobarrel.com/Getting_Started_on_Online_Dating

Comment and let me know what you guys think!

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Local Current Events: School Shooting

I live in Jacksonville, Florida and today the Headmistress of a local private school was shot multiple times by an employee who was fired earlier this morning.  Details are coming out little by little...as of right now, the teacher went home after he was fired, packed an AK-47 in a guitar case, went to the Headmistress's office, shot her then killed himself. It was chaos...parents rushed to the school to get their children but luckily, no students were hurt. There are a couple of mental health things I want to talk about in light of this event:  work and how you handle tough situations.

The first thing I want to talk about is being fired.  I was fired from a very good job.  It sucked.  I cried.  I was in a financial crisis for a few years. HOWEVER I did not take out my negative emotions on anyone from my former employer. Despite all the bad things resulting from my getting fired, I always knew it was just a job...I could always get another one despite the bad economy at the time.  People need to realize that work is NOT your everything!  It should only be a part of your life.  These days, people can lose their job at any time for any reason so you cannot take it so personally when you are fired after XX years and you put in 110% everyday and you love what you do.  Life happens and you must be able to roll with it.  People have been getting laid off and/or fired for a few years in this economical climate unfortunately it should be considered a norm at this point.  When you're working, prepare for the worst...period. What is the point in harming your former boss? Feel better for a little bit...you're not going to get your job back...it's going to be business as usual at your former employer so why not go about yours?

Another thing I want to point out is that students said to the news that students made fun of this particular teacher because he was "different" and they didn't think he was a good teacher.  I could say a lot but since the shooting happened a few hours ago and I don't condone what this man did today I'm not going to go there. I'm just going to say this:  Be Kind.  Always.  You do not know what is going on inside a person's head, you do not know what they're going through outside of work/school/activity, you do not know how close they are to the edge.  Therefore, ALWAYS BE KIND!

If you want to keep up with what's going on here's a link...

http://www.news4jax.com/news/Head-of-Episcopal-School-killed-in-murder-suicide/-/475880/9234044/-/155ypba/-/index.html

Mental Health 101: Insomnia

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep?

Everyone has had some sleep trouble in some point in their lives for many reasons:  stress, excitement, anxiety...the list goes on and on...

There are three kinds of insomnia: initial, middle, and terminal. Initial insomnia is having difficulty falling asleep. Middle insomnia is constantly waking up throughout the night. Terminal insommia is waking up early and not able to fall asleep again.

There are many things you can do on your own to alleviate insomnia.

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
• Avoid naps.
• Use your bed for sleep only.
• Relax or unwind for an hour before going to bed.
• Try not to go to bed hungry.
• Exercise helps alleviate insomnia.
• Take a warm bath before bed.
• Make a "to-do" list of what you need to do the next day to reduce stress.
• Adjust the room temperature, lighting, and noise before going to bed.

If you cannot fall asleep, get out of the bed and go elsewhere in your home until you feel sleepy again.

In some cases, medications such as Lunesta can help with insomnia for a short period of time. A professional can assist in sleep problems as well.

To learn more about insomnia, check out these sites.

insomnia.supportgroups.com
http://www.insomnialand.com/

Take care,
-Kimmy

Good news!

I just found out that I got accepted to Capella! Whoohoo! I start in May... I'll definitely be keeping you guys up to date on that...I'm also going to blog about my online dating adventures at the suggestion of my coworker...she finds them entertaining so you may too...

I got the promotion to the counselor position at my 9-5 but I havent heard from HR yet so we'll see...

Im working on some mental health 101 posts so be on the lookout for insominia and substance abuse by week's end. One of my professors checked out my blog...I hope she's proud of me... :-)

That's all have for you guys for now...I'm at 80 views now...my goal is to get 100 by my birthday next week. Help me out and tell your friends about me!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Do you know the difference between a child with ADHD and a child that's just acting out?

Do you think they are one in the same?

Well I'm here to tell you that they are not.  A child may act out for a variety of reasons...which will have to wait until another post.  I'm focusing on ADHD.

What is ADHD?  Well, it is a mental health disorder in which a person is unable to focus, hyperactive, or a combination of both, and it negatively affects their quality of life. Remember, a mental illness is not a mental illness until symptoms affect a person's functioning (work, school, relationships, etc.). A person with ADHD may appear all over the place, possibly on purpose, however that is not the case.

ADHD is the most common childhood disorder and 70% of children with ADHD will have symptoms into adulthood.  ADHD runs in families oftentimes and can be present with other disorders.  ADHD affects parts of the brain such as the frontal lobe and frontial striatal, which acts as the brain's screen. The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for ADHD is either six or more symptoms of inactivity or six or more symptoms of hyperactivity and either have to be present for at least six months and to the point that it is detrimental to the person.

Inattention symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Not paying attention to details or making careless mistakes
• Difficulty maintaining attention on tasks on activities
• Doesn't seem to be paying attention when someone is talking to them directly.
• Does not follow instructions or fails to complete schoolwork or work duties

Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Fidgeting with hands or feet.
• Often getting up from their seat.
• Has trouble enjoying leisure activities quietly.
• Often "on the go".
• Talks excessively.
• Has trouble waiting their turn.

Treatment for ADHD are psychological treatment such as social skills training, time management, and coping skills training. Medications, mostly stimulants, can also be used to treat ADHD.  As with most mental health disorders a combination of both psychotherapy and medication works best with ADHD.  

If you or someone you know have symptoms of ADHD or if you're not sure, you can do some more research then reach out to your local psychologist or psychiatrist to get screened.  Here are some resources to help you online.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/complete-index.shtml

http://www.adhd.com/index.html

Hope you learned a basic understanding of ADHD :)

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Take care,

-Kimmy