Author: Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC

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Refresh and Recharge Kids with Fun and Mindful Activities

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC gratitude, happiness, Healthy Practices, healthy students, kindness, mental health, mental health care, NAMI Blog, self-care, Teens, wellness
Refresh and Recharge Kids with Fun and Mindful Activities

In today’s fast-paced world, children often face a myriad of activities and expectations that can lead to stress and fatigue. To help them refresh and recharge, integrating fun and mindful activities into their routine is crucial. Here are some suggestions from NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties for activities that not only provide relaxation but also promote emotional and physical well-being, enhancing their overall development. Establishing a Relaxing Bedtime Routine Creating a consistent bedtime routine is crucial for enhancing children’s sleep quality. By signaling the brain that it’s time to wind down, activities such as reading, listening to calming music, or gentle stretchesRead More

Nobody’s Perfect Recognizes Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2024

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC caregiver, depression, estate planning, Estate planning attorney, family caregiver, family law, insurance policy, life insurance, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, Serious mental illness, trust
Nobody’s Perfect Recognizes Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2024

The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) raises awareness each year on individuals who struggle with eating disorders by recognizing Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) 2024. This year, #EDAW2024 runs from February 26 to March 3 and supports anyone battling an eating disorder to feel empowered seeking the treatment and support they need when it comes to mental health and body positivity. Here at Nobody’s Perfect Community, we’re building off the momentum of #EDAW2024 with some quick, powerful tips and suggestions for parents and caregivers trying to assist a child or loved one battling an eating disorder. Actively listen and resistRead More

Renewing Your Spirit After the Loss of a Loved One

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC caregiver, depression, estate planning, Estate planning attorney, family caregiver, family law, insurance policy, life insurance, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, Serious mental illness, trust
Renewing Your Spirit After the Loss of a Loved One

  Few things in life are as draining as the death of a close friend or family member. Restoring yourself to normal may seem an impossible feat, but with patience and healthy goals, you can find a way to cope with your grief. Identify and Address Your Feelings In the aftermath of a loved one’s passing, your emotions may be reeling. You will likely pass through the five classic grieving stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The process is unique to every individual and no two people grieve the same way. Consider keeping a daily journal to provideRead More

Recognizing the Warning Signs of Mental Illness

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC caregiver, depression, estate planning, Estate planning attorney, family caregiver, family law, insurance policy, life insurance, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, Serious mental illness, trust
Recognizing the Warning Signs of Mental Illness

As of the year 2021, there are 47.1 million people in the United States who live with a mental health condition. That is 19% of America. That is a 1.5 million increase from what was reported in the prior year. The numbers are real, and each one represents someone’s son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother, or distant relative. On the other side of the statistics are human beings who have a voice that needs to be heard over the noise of shame, opinions, and perspectives that seek to sway society in one direction over the other. Coming together as a unifiedRead More

4 Steps to Take After Being Diagnosed with a Mental Illness

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC caregiver, depression, estate planning, Estate planning attorney, family caregiver, family law, insurance policy, life insurance, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, Serious mental illness, trust
4 Steps to Take After Being Diagnosed with a Mental Illness

In recent years, the conversations around mental illness have evolved from taboo to mainstream. Celebrities like Lady Gaga and Prince Harry are becoming advocates and are helping shed the misconceptions around mental health. But as wonderful as this newfound solidarity is, it doesn’t really make a mental health diagnosis any less overwhelming. It can be a scary, sad, comforting, and confusing experience all at once. If you find yourself asking “what now?” don’t worry — here are some simple ways you can begin to move forward: 1. Talk to a Loved One Mental illness can feel incredibly isolating. Compounded withRead More

Long term financial planning for Families affected by Mental Illness

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC caregiver, depression, estate planning, Estate planning attorney, family caregiver, family law, insurance policy, life insurance, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, Serious mental illness, trust
Long term financial planning for Families affected by Mental Illness

If you live with a loved one affected by mental illness and are concerned for their continued care after you pass, there are arrangements you can make to ensure their care that is not as complicated or expensive as you might think. Once you are not available to help a family member battling serious mental illness (SMI) with housing, assistance with daily activities, and getting to rehabilitation or counseling sessions, who will take over? You can arrange this in advance of your death and fund future care arrangements through trust and life insurance. This article will explain how this isRead More

The Courage to Face Addiction

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC addiction, colorado, connection, counseling, exercise, gratitude, happiness, health, Healthy Practices, healthy students, high school, life pressures, meditation, mental health, mental health care, pressure, psychology, recovery, Scholarship, self-care, sociology, stigma, Students, substance abuse, substance use, support group, Teens, well-being, wellness, whole health
The Courage to Face Addiction

Addiction is a struggle that many face. To do so, takes an immense amount of sacrifice, and willingness to beat. A task that is not easily done. The first step requires one to acknowledge their addiction. This can be the hardest step, as it has become part of the addict’s life, habits, and takes priority over most things in life. The mindset of an addict is counter-intuitive to a non-addict. The struggle of someone who wants to fix their problem but is not able to because of their internal conflict can be a relentless back and forth cycle of attemptsRead More

Life pressures have teens on overload

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC Anxiety, college, colorado, community, connection, depression, education, educators, gratitude, happiness, health, Healthy Practices, healthy students, help, high school, kindness, life pressures, meditation, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, pressure, Scholarship, social, Students, teachers, Teens, time management, well-being, wellness, whole health
Life pressures have teens on overload

Today, teens get a lot of ‘future’ pressure from parents and older adults to be a certain way and succeed in the ways they see best, which can result in considerable undue stress. The expected norm is that you have to do well in school while taking part in extracurricular activities to secure admission to a choice school or prestigious university. This pressure can make a youth feel as though they aren’t doing enough, aren’t good enough, and ultimately can lead to them giving up overall. Personally, my parents have always pushed me to do my best. Once, I hadRead More

Practicing Self-Care After a Traumatic Injury

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC aging, Anxiety, colorado, community, connection, counseling, depression, douglas county, education, exercise, gratitude, happiness, Healthy Practices, help, kindness, meditation, mental health, mental health care, NAMI Blog, nursing, psychology, recovery, self-care, sleep, well-being, wellness, whole health
Practicing Self-Care After a Traumatic Injury

Recently, I was walking my daughter’s adorable dog Raleigh when I saw two other cute dogs with their owner approaching on the path. All three dogs barked excitedly and jumped joyfully. Raleigh accidentally bumped my legs and I fell down hard on the pavement. Instantly, I knew I was seriously injured. The man with the two dogs quickly called 911, paramedics came, and later that night I had surgery to repair my crushed right femur. After a couple days in the hospital, I went to a rehab/nursing center for three weeks until I could safely handle myself at home. Self-careRead More