January 2011 Entries
Not every person who is depressed can tolerate the side effects of antidepressants, nor are the medications always effective. So if a new treatment with few side effects that targeted a specific region of the brain was available, would you be interested?
Last week, my blog was posted under the title, “Understanding Mental Illness.” It was not my original title, so I understand the frustration some of you felt after reading it. The main point was simply to move us away from all the political discourse regarding the Arizona shootings and to focus on mental illness. This week, I want to present a few options of what can be done when someone with mentally illness refuses treatment.
When a family member exhibits mental instability and no treatment is taken, the condition worsens. The end result can be a criminal act or a shooting like we saw last week in Tucson, Arizona, when Jared Lee Loughner killed six and critically wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
I finally made it back to the gym this week and noticed how crowded it was getting to my machines. I also know that by February, most of those eager faces will never brighten the YMCA again. Yes, we all have good intentions, but following through on them with consistent action is not so easy. We are one week into our New Year resolutions. If you made family resolutions, it is time to evaluate how you are doing.