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Caring about someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol can be very emotionally painful. If you're in that situation, there are things you can do to help yourself…and also possibly help the person in your life who is addicted.

Journaling is one of the best tools you can put in your mental health toolbox. Researcher Silvia Bastos writes, “Many of us, when we face anxious thoughts, try to deny them — push them away, and think of something else.” and “You probably know how it feels to lie in bed for hours unable to sleep because you’re worried about problems, commitments, or the future.”

Working on your sleep hygiene is something to take seriously and be intentional about. According to Helpguide’s resource on getting better sleep, try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. This helps set your body’s internal clock and optimizes the quality of your sleep. Choose a bed time when you normally feel tired, so that you don’t toss and turn.

Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day. Our country is known as a melting pot because of the important role immigration and diversity has had on our history. July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme for BIPOC Mental Health Month is #BeyondTheNumbers.

It is important to recognize the mental health needs of the LGBTQ+ members of our community. According to NAMI, LGB youth are more than twice as likely to report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness than their heterosexual peers. Transgender youth face are twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide compared to cisgender lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and questioning youth.

Giving yourself permission to take care of yourself is essential for good mental health care. None of us can burn the candle at both ends and up in a good place. We eventually wear down. When you feel yourself being emotionally tapped out, take time to refuel. This will look different for each of us. For some, getting away with family and friends is reenergizing. For others a weekend of solitude does the trick. However you are wired, make sure you keep a check on your emotional tank and when it is getting empty, take the time to recharge. 

Being mentally healthy requires us to take a holistic approach. As Mr. Miyagi said in the 1st karate kid movie, “our whole life is a balance”. We need to make sure that we are taking care of our mind, body and spirit. We do that through activities and exercises that connect us to those domains of our life. Behavioral Health care is part of our mission at Appleseed.

As we watch things start to grow and enjoy more and more daylight, it's a good time to recommit ourselves to our mental health care. Do some mental health spring cleaning.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing or being an active bystander in instances of sexual assault. There are many different ways that you make a difference.

During times of high stress we are more likely to engage in unhealthy or addictive behaviors. We can easily get caught up in spending all of our mental energy focusing on how menacing our world is. The message we are getting right now is “You should be afraid and hypervigilant.” Worry becomes easy.

Ohio Governor Mike Dewine has appointed Ashland County’s Jerry Strausbaugh, EdD, LPCCS, Executive Director of Appleseed Community Mental Health to the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.

When we set these boundaries with others and have much-needed time for ourselves, remembering to spend that time in a positive way is important. It’s easy to get caught up in negative self-talk, but one way to improve your mental health is to talk to yourself rather than listen to yourself. Too often we listen to ourselves and hear complaints, self-doubt, fear, and negativity.