Greetings fellow readers,
As the year 2008 draws nearer to a close, many of you may have become victims of the current economic crunch. You may be experiencing home mortgages in or near default, while falling behind in payments with utility and credit card companies. This economic crisis may have contributed to the dwindling of your once prized 401K plan to near pennies on the dollar. Perhaps you are questioning your financial stability and ability to send your children to the college of their choice.
Given these overwhelming concerns and holiday blues, it is likely that some of you may begin to experience symptoms correlated with depression, anxiety, and or adjustment disorders. I encourage you to seek help from any local mental health center/clinic, physician, psychologist, and mental health professional if you are recently experiencing any two or more of the following symptoms: lack of motivation, lack of interest, increased fatigue, sadness, despair, helplessness/hopelessness, crying spells, changes in appetite and sleep.
I encourage you to phone 911 or your local emergency number if you are experiencing thoughts of hurting your self. Many people will seek assistance from a local physician when sick and or in physical pain. However due to the stigma that persists in many communities, people are less likely to seek assistance for emotional pain and suffering. A healthy body includes both mental health and physical health.
I leave you with this thought, “Your experience in living is primarily based on your interpretive experience of living.” As always, enrich and feed your spiritual soul so that your life may be more fulfilled and purposed.
Dr. Adam M. Evans, Psy.D.,
Postdoctoral Fellow
