Tehachapi Family Support Group - NAMItehachapisg's Blog - Tehachapi News

Start a New Year

The first 2008 NAMI Family Support Group will be held on Tuesday, Jan 8. The meetings start promptly at 5:30 and are held at College Community Services, 113 Est F Street (enter through the alley on the north side of the building).

NAMI Support Groups are different. They are not therapy sessions. Trained peer facilitators lead the group through sharing the here and now, solving immediate problems, and looking to the future for family members suffering with a mental illness. All attendees get an opportunity to share and participate.

NAMI also has a support group for those dealing with a mental illness, Connections. NAMI Connections meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Consumer Family Learning Center on Mill Street.

Connections is also lead by trained peers and are not therapy sessions.

For more information about either group tehachapisg@namikern.org

Not-So-Jolly Holidays

"It's a holly, jolly Christmas." "

"Tis the season to be jolly."

If these statements are hollow for you, you are not alone. Millions of Americans don't find this time of year full of joy, family, and laughter. Instead, they are sad or depressed. The less than jolly feeling can be the result of any number of factors.

1. Holiday Blues - The Holiday Blues can come before Christmas or after New Year's Day. It is usually the result of the stress of unrealistic expectations, financial concerns, unusual sleeping routine, or even over-eating.

2. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - SAD is a biological illness that is triggered by the darker days of winter.

3. Grief - This grief could be brought from the loss of a loved one, being in a new location away from family and friends, having a loved on deployed with the military, or caring for an ill loved on.

In addition to sadness, symptoms may also be headaches, sleep disturbance, or over indulgence.

Some suggestions from the National Mental Health Association (www.nmha.org) are:

A. Keep expectations manageable

B. Try something new; leave yesteryear in the past

C Spend time with people you enjoy or doing a hobby you enjoy

D Make time for yourself

If you are overwhelmed by the feelings of sadness or depression, seek medical help. In Kern County, you can call the Department of Mental Health 24 hours a day, 888-343-4756.

However you choose to spend your holiday season, make it meaningful for you.

Family Support

"I'm not terminally different," was the comment of one mother who found out that other parents and family members deal with the same issues when a loved one suffers with a serious and persistent mental illness.

The NAMI Family Support Group is one way to connect with other family members who are going through the same trials and the same joys.

NAMI Support Groups are led by trained family members and are not therapy sessions. Everyone is heard; all are respected.

Beginning December 11, NAMI Family Support Group will meet the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month at College Community Services, 113 East F Street (enter through the alley on the north side of the building).

All family members and friends of people with mental illnesses are welcome. NAMI membership is not required.

You are not alone.

Peer-to-Peer

Thursday evening is a special event for the Tehachapi Support Group. A celebration will be held to honor the graduates of the recent Peer-to-Peer class.

Peer-to-Peer is a unique program for people with serious illness mental illness. The program teaches a “relapse prevention plan” to help identify tell-tale feelings, thoughts, behavior, or events that may warn of impending relapse and to organize for intervention.

Peer-to-Peer consists of nine two-hour units and is taught by a team of three trained “Mentors” who are personally experienced at living well with mental illness.

Special guest for the celebration will be Rebecca Hawkins, Peer-to-Peer Coordinator for NAMI California.

The celebration begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be held at College Community Services.

NAMI Tehachapi Support Group Blog Now Open

The Tehachapi NAMI Support Group has been in existence for two years. Now, we are opening this blog to educate, encourage, and support all people who are dealing with mental illness - either as a consumer or a family member.

This will be the place to meet between meetings and events. Also, will be a place to keep informed about local services and events.

You are invited to join us. Post questions, answers, frustrations (be nice though), and information about what is going on with you and your family. Photos are welcome.

Please note: This blog is primarily about NAMI and mental health services in Tehachapi. Other organizations please contact us by e-mail for posting of your announcments. We welcome other organizations that serve those dealing with mental illness, but want to ensure that all who are represented here have the same goals and mission as the Tehachapi NAMI Support Group.