We are all on a spectrum of mental health and everyone will struggle at some point in their life. Let’s build a toolbox for living better.
Beyond Well With Sheila Hamilton is here to listen, affirm and share stories to help you feel less alone in the world.
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I think we all have a tendency to believe other people have it easier than we do and that the lives of people we admire are filled with richness and meaning. And very little suffering.
Somehow, this was the story I told myself about Liz Prato, a brilliant writer and editor at large at Forest Avenue Press. But, I'd made up a completely limited story of another human being.
Liz shared an excruciating painful post about living with #ChronicFatigueSyndrome and its effect on her mental health. How does someone remain so positive while coping with a misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and wildly debilitating chronic illness?
We are all human. And Liz helped me learn to widen my lens. Everyone is going through something. So, the most important thing we can do is be kind. And ask questions. How are you really? How can I help? And what can we all learn from people who live well, despite their suffering? Listen in:
#ChronicFatigueSyndrome #ChronicIllness #Psychology #Recovery #CopingMechanisms #Insight #Psychiatry
Beyond Well with Sheila Hamilton: Liz Prato, Chronic Fatigue and Creativity
Liz Prato is the author of several award-winning books and story collections. She talks with Beyond Well about the challenge of a creative life while living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Liz says...🙏❤️✨✨✨✨
After the Show Notes from Jenna:
Rei Skoczylas - From Homeless to Helping
Rei Skoczyles wasn’t dealt an easy hand in this life. But, as you can hear in our conversation, Rei’s
story isn’t just one of struggle. In fact, that’s not even the most compelling part of their story. In
Rei’s story we see how powerful, in their case, actually life-saving having a sense of belonging can be
for people.
When Rei walked into Outside-In they found not just help or “treatment,” they found belonging.
The people at Outside-In didn’t just try to “fix” Rei or solve their problems. They took the time to
listen and showed that they saw Rei as a whole person. Through that connection and common
humanity, Rei was encouraged and supported in going back to school and completing their degree.
Now Rei is back at Outside-In, but this time, as a member of the medical team. They are also on the
organization’s Board, helping make sure that the voices of the youth that Outside-In serves have a
seat at the table, that they belong.
We talk so much about the need for better mental health services in our country. And yes, of course
that is true. But it seems like we’re forgetting something important in that conversation. What do we
mean when we say “mental health services?” If our mental health care is only focused on treating
people as if they were problems to solve or “illnesses” to be cured, then we’ll never make the kind of
life-saving changes we see in Rei’s story. We need to connect with the common humanity in all our
suffering, to see in everyone a whole and complete human, not just a list of symptoms or problems.
That is key if we want to see real success stories like Rei’s.
You can do something today to help make a real difference. As Rei suggested, today, when you see
someone on the street, someone you might be tempted to avoid because you feel some discomfort
(e.g. guilt, sadness, fear, anxiety, helplessness, etc.) when you connect with them, see if you can make
room for that discomfort and actually connect with that person. Look them in the eye, say hello, tell
them you hope they have a good day, or simply smile. That simple act of “I see you” is one very
small thing you can do to help create that sense of belonging. You never know what that sense of
belonging can mean to someone. And, please, consider supporting Outside-In or whatever fantastic
similar resource is (hopefully) in your area in whatever way you can.
As a teenager, @ReiSkoczylas was using drugs to compensate for undiagnosed bipolar disorder, seeking out other marginalized friends, and homeless.
Rei says, "It took someone from Outside In to see me as a human being, as someone who had potential and something to offer. It was the first time in my life someone saw me as valuable."
Since 1968, Outside In has transformed thousands of lives by helping break the cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, those experiencing homelessness, and the underserved. The health clinic and young adult programs strive to meet people where they are and provide safe, affirming spaces to receive judgment-free care and support.
Rei is now working full-time and serving on the board of Outside In.
#compassion #inclusion #homeslessness #bipolardisorder #OutsideIn #Youth #advocacy
Beyond Well with Sheila Hamilton: Rei Scozylakas: From homeless to helping
If you’ve ever passed a homeless teen on the street and wondered, “How did they get there?” or “How can I help?” this interview with Rei Scozylakas is worthy of your time. Rei Scozylakas was...We are only human. But, one of the most extraordinary gifts we have as humans is to use our most difficult challenges to remake ourselves, again and again.
My message is this to people who are suffering: You are never alone. And hidden in this terrible, awful, time is your opportunity for growth. Listen closely. Be curious about your human condition. And never, ever give up.
One day, your story about what you are going through will help someone else survive another day. Because to nurture the loss, to stoke nihilism and defeat is to disrespect this gift—this one challenging and audacious life we’ve been given.
#depression #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #workplace #suicidelreventionmonth
Thank you ❤️😢
She worked for me im good
Davey Peppers you should follow Sheila. Great stuff !
More than 800,000 people die by suicide every year. And for every suicide completion, there are twenty attempts. The chances are high that you are working alongside someone who has either lost someone they love to suicide or who has a family member suffering from suicidal ideation.
We spend eight to ten hours a day at our workplaces. And the tired, worn-out idea that you should check your personal life at the door is no longer working. The best companies in the world are now taking a proactive approach to workplace mental health and welcoming the whole person to work.
This interview with Lois Chaunce and her Supervisor, Paul Sale, is one of the most inspiring and emotional conversations we've had because it shows the extent of support and caring that can come from a supportive workplace. Lois lost her husband to suicide in May and complicating her grief was the fear that she would also lose her job.
Just the opposite occurred. Listen in. Paul and Lois' team provide a textbook example of how companies can help #suicidelosssurvivors recover.
#suicideprevention #suicidepreventionweek #workplacementalhealth #employees #humanresources
When A Co-Worker Loses Someone They Love to Suicide
In honor of Suicide Prevention Week, www.BeyondWellWithSheilaHamilton.