Some turned to drugs and alcohol why others may turn to relationships.
If you’re on a hike and a bear comes crashing out of the bushes you better believe that stress is the perfect response. If though, on an on-going basis, you’re dealing with a miserable situation like an unhappy relationship, money worries or a crazy, unpredictable boss, you’re depleting your mental and physical health bit by bit. The stress of unrelenting demands and pressure can cause a whole lot of problems. Numerous studies have shown that this type of long-term stress takes a toll on your immune system and can lead to high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, heart disease and even weight gain.
The worst part is that we sometimes get so used to this chronic stress that it actually becomes normal and almost comfortable. Here are just some of the symptoms of chronic stress (in case you were wondering):
- Dizziness or a general feeling of “being out of it”
- Grinding your teeth, a clenched jaw
- Headaches
- Indigestion or acid reflux
- Muscle tension in your neck, face, or shoulders
- Problems sleeping
- Upset stomach, diarrhea
As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, The Republican-Herald interviewed Schuylkill County residents affected by mental illnesses and is publishing a series of articles detailing their struggles and how they manage each day. The goal is to raise awareness about mental health. Due to client confidentiality concerns, a caseworker requested their name not be used in this story.
NHS Human Services was turned into an art gallery Thursday with the work of Phil Christman on proud display.
Nearly all the walls in the second-floor office at 1 Norwegian Plaza were covered with his impressionist paintings of seasonal landscapes or the detailed drawings of his friends.
“Art is therapeutic for him,” his caseworker at Service Access and Management said. “This is what he loves.”
Christman, 30, of Pine Grove, has been receiving independent living services from NHS for several years now. He has lived by himself since his early 20s.
“My young adult life has been taken up with drawing and painting,” Christman said. “This is what I want to do full time.”
A 2004 graduate of Schuylkill Haven Area, Christman said he has been told by doctors he has a form of autism, possibly Asperger’s Syndrome, a learning disability, and also struggles with depression or a bipolar disorder.
“I can handle my own bills, sometimes my emotions just get in the way,” Christman said.
http://republicanherald.com/news/mental-health-awareness-month-pine-grove-man-uses-art-to-deal-with-autism-1.2042946Today you can learn what is the best way to handle depression and we hope this brief article is helped you. Let us know your feedback and let us know what works for you when you're dealing with different stressors in your life. Together, we can get through depression and we can help one another.
