depression

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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

Practical Steps to Wellness

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC aging, Anxiety, arapahoe county, colorado, community, connection, counseling, depression, douglas county, education, exercise, geriatric, gratitude, happiness, health, Healthy Practices, help, isolation, kindness, meditation, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, psychology, recovery, seniors, sleep, social, stigma, support group, time management, well-being, wellness, whole health

Life is not merely being alive, but being well. – Marcus Aurelius Studies show that sleep and exercise are the two most important factors contributing to wellness and happiness. My Wellness Plan – Part Two focuses on sleep and movement/exercise, as well as the importance of spending time in nature. Adequate Sleep A few nights without sleep can gravely impair mood, judgement, and concentration. Unfortunately, a great number of us are chronically sleep deprived. Stressful schedules, lack of genuine connection, too much screen time, and too little exercise are some common reasons for sleeplessness. Anxiety caused me to have insomnia,Read More

Wellness as a Practice

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC NAMI Blog
Wellness as a Practice

My Wellness Plan – Part One Who doesn’t want to feel healthy and happy on a consistent basis? Since being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, I’ve gradually adopted a set of wellness practices that help the good days outnumber the bad and reduce the likelihood of poor health and low mood. My wellness practices aren’t unique. Consistent practice helps me be my best self; when I slip, I begin again. For me, the following are important components of wellness; connection with others, mindfulness and meditation, healthy eating, adequate sleep, movement/exercise, spending time in nature, gratitude, massage, and medication. In PartRead More

Getting more Connected in the New Year

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC aging, Anxiety, arapahoe county, colorado, community, connection, counseling, depression, douglas county, education, exercise, geriatric, gratitude, happiness, health, Healthy Practices, healthy students, help, isolation, journaling, kindness, meditation, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, recovery, seniors, sleep, social, Students, support group, teachers, time management, well-being, wellness, whole health
Getting more Connected in the New Year

Welcome to 2019! The New Year is a time most of us set intentions. We put closure on the past and look forward to the future with a renewed hope and anticipation. Right? Maybe that’s my own idealistic view. For many, optimism for the coming year doesn’t look any brighter than what’s come and gone. Mental Health and its effects can weigh us down, forging ahead in what feels like concrete boots. But it doesn’t have too… Those challenges can be compounded by those resolutions we set and don’t keep. You know the ones…to lose weight, to exercise more, or to makeRead More

Mental stability can be challenge for aging

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC aging, arapahoe county, colorado, community, connection, counseling, depression, douglas county, education, exercise, geriatric, geriatric, gratitude, happiness, health, Healthy Practices, help, isolation, meditation, mental health, mental health care, NAMI Blog, psychology, seniors, sleep, stigma, support group, well-being, wellness, whole health
Mental stability can be challenge for aging

Contributed by: Jessica Gibbs jgibbs@coloradocommunitymedia.com Isolation, depression key issues as seniors go through life changes Toward the front of a crowded conference room at Legacy Village senior community in Castle Pines, 82-year-old Marilyn McQueary sat quietly through a presentation on finding purpose in life after retirement. Then the speaker asked the gathered seniors a question: What were their needs? McQueary wanted to share. She knew from personal experience that connection to resources and social interaction can be key to healthy aging. She has lived in Castle Rock with her son and daughter-in-law for about 14 months, moving from Florida afterRead More

Scholarship to Connect the Dots Between Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC Anxiety, arapahoe county, colorado, community, counseling, criminal justice, depression, douglas county, education, educators, health, healthy students, mental health, mental health care, mental illness, NAMI Blog, psychology, recovery, Scholarship, sociology, special edcuation, stigma, Students, teachers, well-being, wellness

My name is Morgan Miller and I am a proud recipient of a 2018 NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties Seeds of Hope Scholarship. Receiving a scholarship from NAMI ADCO helps support my goal of becoming a special education teacher. In my studies and work, I have observed an often overlooked correlation between learning disabilities and mental health. My passion for this work has been a dream since childhood. I believe as a future educator, I can help highlight the need for educators to know about mental illnesses and their prevalence in those with learning disabilities. In recent years, I have worked with individuals who haveRead More

Making Mental Health Care Accessible in Denver

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC NAMI Blog
Making Mental Health Care Accessible in Denver

As an educator training new mental health providers, it is my goal to prepare professionals who can address the growing demands for mental health care.  As a licensed professional counselor and nationally certified counselor, I believe that it is our profession’s responsibility to also help break down barriers to care – whether they are stigmas, access to services or overall awareness of managing one’s own mental health. In Colorado, mass casualty events in recent years have reinforced the importance of building skills and resources within our communities to help cope with and prevent these tragic events. In an in-depth report,Read More

Depression Survival Guide

Jason Hopcus, CLC, MSLC NAMI Blog
Depression Survival Guide

Post submitted to NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties by guest contributor: Larry Godwin, an excerpt from Depression Survival Guide: 35 Suggestions Although I am not a health ­care professional, I’ve seen depression from the inside. My expertise is rooted in the trials and errors of personal experience. Every person is different and therefore not all of these suggestions will work for you, just as they haven’t all worked for me. My hope is that through this list you can gain insight into at least one strategy that helps assuage your depression. Recognize That Depression Is Not A Sign Of Weakness It’s notRead More