Self Help
The Daunting Statistics on Depression & Suicide: More Awareness = Less Stigma
According to recent depression statistics, amongst Americans one out of ten claim to be suffering from depression. Nationally, out of all those who suffer only 20 percent actually get treated. In other words, 80 percent of clinically depressed individuals aren’t being treated at all. And the number of depressed individuals increases by 20 percent annually.
Why are so many individuals not receiving treatment for clinical depression? Perhaps the stigma, fear of what family, loved ones, and friends might think or say? Perhaps clinically depressed or the 80 percent that have symptoms of clinical depression are too proud or even embarrassed. Most people do not say that they really enjoy being around someone who is feeling down, especially if the “low days” tend to be often. When depression takes a hold of people susceptible to the illness, it can be situational where the depression is more or less seasonal. Read the rest of this entry »
R.I.P. Robin Williams: The Road to Mental Health Awareness is Not Without its Potholes
R.I.P. Robin Williams
DEPRESSION: A Serious Illness
In memory of the very tragic, shocking and sudden suicide of Robin Williams, I am re-posting the following article because I find it fitting for the moment. This was written in April and in my article Are Your Feelings Running Your Life, I provided a list of comedians that I learned had suffered or suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, or some form of mental illness. And yes, Robin Williams was apart of this list. Read the rest of this entry »
The Biggest Mistakes Family-Owned Companies & Small Businesses Make
One of the things that I’ve noticed in working with various companies on a freelance basis is how businesses distribute finances and allocate for expenses.
Unfortunately, the biggest thing that I’ve noticed is the show of favoritism especially with small businesses that are family owned. Because, there are several individuals who might be a family friend or someone who’s worked with the company for a long time (10-20 plus years.) Unfortunately, this means that these individuals end up getting overpaid hundreds, if not, thousands of dollars more to do what anyone can do. And let’s not forget, others can probably execute and deliver the product or project at a fraction of the cost. It’s like companies play favorites with long time family friends, which wind up causing further complications in the end. Read the rest of this entry »
The Best Stress-Free Traveling Tip: Over-Prepare
Have you ever had a stress-free travel situation where everything just went absolutely perfect? I doubt that anything flows in perfect order, especially when it comes to traveling. I recently had to travel for a freelance gig and started at home attempting to gather my dogs before the work trip, only to find out that they both had fleas. Again. So, I had to get them both in the bath tub, wash them in special flea shampoo and then drop them off to relatives, that would watch them while I was gone. Then, I forgot where I left my car keys and I was scrambling to find them. Ugh.
The airport was sooo crowded as well and so was the airplane. I was stuck on a Southwest Airline flight that doesn’t assign seating. So, I ended up squeezed in a middle seat between two, let’s just say, very large people. In general, traveling can be really stressful. Unexpected situations and scenarios erupt unexpectedly. I didn’t expect my babies (my dogs) to suddenly have fleas. I didn’t expect to have to rush and get everything together at the last minute. Read the rest of this entry »
Be Happy with Who You are and Who You are Not
Upon introspection have you discovered that there are things about your personality that you’d like to change? Has anyone tried to give you unsolicited advice on your character and how to improve it? They might say that you should smile more, speak softer or be more assertive. You might be told to stop interrupting people when they talk or that you’re too quiet and you need to speak up. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing With Hope 