We all owe a lot to our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and all the other amazing caregivers who have helped us grow and become the people we are today. Certainly none of us would be here without them. They held us when we cried. They guided us when we acted inappropriately. They taught us how to laugh, how to tie our shoes, how to fold our clothes, and—maybe most importantly–how to create art from macaroni noodles.

Motherhood is an exceptional responsibility and there is no greater joy than raising a child, but being a caregiver can also be difficult at times. It’s easy to get caught up in soccer practice and gymnastic class while figuring out what’s for dinner all at the same time. Luckily there are many ways to reduce the stress of parenthood both for new mothers and for experienced caregivers. The most important thing is to remember that everyone needs a timeout (in a good way) every once in a while!

To all the dedicated caregivers out there: remember to take a minute for yourself today—relax, take a breath, and mosey in the beautiful sunshine. You deserve it!

-excerpt from a blog My Mental Health Day

Mental Health First Aid

Good mental health is essential to overall health and personal well-being. It also contributes to the ability to lead a healthy, balanced, and productive life. Emotional problems can impair a person’s thinking, feelings, and behavior and, over time, can become increasingly serious and disabling.

Unfortunately, many people do not seek treatment for mental health issues for a number of reasons. They may not be completely aware of the extent of their problem, they may be hesitant to make contact with a mental health professional because they fear they will be stigmatized, or they may not know how to access services.

Yet, overall quality of life is greatly improved when a person with a mental health concern or problem seeks help and receives appropriate treatment from a qualified professional.  Treatment works, contact the experts at the Ben Gordon Center and call 815-756-4875 today!

Did you know that May is National Mental Health Month? And have you ever thought about having a mental health “checkup”? Too often, when we think of our health we think of physical ailments – but our mental health is just as important, if not more so. In fact, if you’re depressed, for example, all kinds of physical aches and pains and other symptoms can follow.

 Mental health month is the perfect time to take a free, anonymous screening for a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety or alcohol.  See the SCREENINGS BUTTON ON THE RIGHT to take your free self-assessment. The screenings aren’t diagnostic but rather a great first step to appraising your mental health.

 And encourage your family and friends to give a little time and attention to their mental health as well. Let them know about the screenings and how simple they are.  If you would like to talk to someone in person call the Ben Gordon Center today to schedule an appointment at 815-756-4875.

This month The Ben Gordon Center wants to help people rethink how they drink.  April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

Take a brief, anonymous, online screening that will provide you with important insights into your drinking habits and behaviors. While many people believe binge drinking is harmless, the effects can be powerful including worsening your mood and increasing risky behavior.

Alcohol is widely used and yet so many people don’t understand their own drinking habits and whether they might be headed for trouble. Research indicates that screening and brief intervention can help resolve mild to moderate alcohol problems as well as encourage those with more serious problems to seek treatment.

Trust the experts and call the Ben Gordon Center today if you need to rethink how you drink or take the self- assessment at www.bengordoncenter.org.

The human body is an amazing machine. Do you know what it accomplishes in 24 hours? The following are some facts for an adult of average height and weight.

In 24 hours:

• · Your heart beats about 100,000 times
• · Your blood travels 168,000,000 miles
• · You take approximately 20,000 breaths
• · You inhale more than 2600 gallons of air through the lungs
• · You eat 3.5 pounds (lb) of food
• · You drink 2.9 lb of liquids
• · You lose in weight 7.8 lb of waste
• · You perspire 1.43 pints
• · You give off heat at 85.6° F
• · You turn in your sleep 25-35 times
• · You speak 48,000 words
• · You move 750 major muscles
• · Your nails grow 0.000046 inch
• · Your hair grows .01714 inch
• · You exercise 7,000,000 brain cells with each thought

It pays to take care of this incredible machine with proper nutrition, water, and exercise. Do all you can to keep this machine in good running order. Remember, spare parts are not included.  We know that proper nutrition can alleviate many of the psychological symptoms people feel, in addition to improving your overall physical health.  For more information on Healthy Eating, please contact the Ben Gordon Center Special Programs team at 815-756-4875.

References:

Greene M. The human body—an incredible machine. Available at: www.bellaonline.com/articles/art16043.asp. Accessed March 2, 2009.

McMillan B. Human Body: A Visual Guide. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books; 2006.

Restak R, Bechtel S, Daniels P, et al. Body: The Complete Human. Washington, DC: National Geographic; 2007.

Ben Gordon Center Accepts Building Donation from Resource Bank

(Pictured L to R:  Richard Katz, Resource Bank President,  Michael Flora, Ben Gordon Center President & CEO, and Mark Leach, Ben Gordon Center Board Chairman)

(March 12, 2013) DeKalb, IL – The Ben Gordon Center is pleased and grateful to announce the donation of the former Resource Bank building in Malta, IL from Resource Bank. The Ben Gordon Center will use the building as an additional location to provide outpatient behavioral healthcare services to adults, children and families to meet the growing need in DeKalb County.  The location will also be a convenient site for our current clients from Creston, Kishwaukee College, Malta and Rochelle along with the consumers from southwest DeKalb.  Community services will include prevention and education, individual, group and family counseling, substance abuse therapy, as well as psychiatric evaluation and treatment.

 “We are very thankful for the generosity of Resource Bank for the donation of the property.  We continue to experience a 12% increase annually in many of the services we provide.  For over 45 years, the Ben Gordon Center has provided comprehensive, quality mental health and substance abuse services for adults, children and families.  The building  in Malta allows for us to continue to meet the needs of our growing community,” said Michael Flora, MBA, M.A.Ed.,LCPC, President and CEO. 

“The Malta bank building is a wonderful gift.  Credit goes to the creative thinking of the Resource Bank management & staff who crafted a way for the community to continue to benefit from the structure.  This gift will have an immediate impact at the Center by alleviating the tight accommodations at our main building.   It will also help us better serve our ever-expanding client base, especially those clients who come to us from the western parts of the county,” said Mark Leach, Ben Gordon Center Board Chairman.

Founded in 1901 in Malta, Illinois, Resource Bank was originally known as The First National Bank of Malta. Since its inception, the bank has expanded to its current size of nine offices throughout DeKalb County.  Richard Katz, President of Resource Bank, is aware of the services Ben Gordon Center has provided to the community for many years and is pleased to be able to donate this beautiful facility to them in support of their efforts.

Watch the Brain Basics video

Welcome. Brain Basics provides information on how the brain works, how mental illnesses are disorders of the brain, and ongoing research that helps us better understand and treat disorders.

Mental disorders are common. You may have a friend, colleague, or relative with a mental disorder, or perhaps you have experienced one yourself at some point. Such disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and many others.

Some people who develop a mental illness may recover completely; others may have repeated episodes of illness with relatively stable periods in between. Still others live with symptoms of mental illness every day. They can be moderate, or serious and cause severe disability.

Through research, we know that mental disorders are brain disorders. Evidence shows that they can be related to changes in the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the nervous system. When the brain cannot effectively coordinate the billions of cells in the body, the results can affect many aspects of life.

Scientists are continually learning more about how the brain grows and works in healthy people, and how normal brain development and function can go awry, leading to mental illnesses.

Brain Basics will introduce you to some of this science, such as:

• How the brain develops
• How genes and the environment affect the brain
• The basic structure of the brain
• How different parts of the brain communicate and work with each other
• How changes in the brain can lead to mental disorders, such as depression.

http://1.usa.gov/12I9Lah

Time-Tested Ways to Cope with the Time Change
– By Liza Barnes, Health Educator

It’s that time of year again, when we reset our clocks and try to readjust to the time change associated with Daylight Saving Time (DST). Some of us breeze through the change seamlessly, yet others feel out of sorts for days. If you have trouble dealing with this sudden disruption in your routine, it is for good reason.

Even though your brain knows that the time on the clock has changed, your body’s internal clock does not. In the fall, when you’ve gained an hour of sleep, you might not feel tired, but you may get cranky when you have to wait an extra hour before your lunch break or when it feels like work should have ended an hour ago. When the clocks move forward in the spring, you’ll be robbed of an hour of sleep. That night, you may not be able to fall into your normal sleep rhythms an hour earlier than you’re used to, and you won’t get as much quality sleep as you need.

Since its inception in the early 1900s, DST has been the subject of controversy. Studies are contradictory, showing that DST has both positive and negative impacts on health, safety, energy consumption, and the economy.  Despite the controversy, one thing is certain—DST will be around for a long time. So here are some time-tested tips for dealing with the time change:

• Start early. The time change is usually scheduled for the wee hours of Sunday morning, in order to reduce the disruption of the workweek. To give yourself more time to adjust before the workweek begins, reset one of your clocks at the start of the weekend, such as Friday night or Saturday morning. Try to eat meals, sleep, and wake according to that clock. When Monday comes, you’ll be on your way to feeling adjusted. However, if you have activities and events during the weekend, make sure you don’t get confused about the correct time!
•  Exercise. Working out releases serotonin, a chemical in the brain that helps our bodies adjust. Exercise regularly, preferably outdoors, and early in the day. A brisk morning walk is perfect. Avoid exercising too late in the evening though, as this could interfere with the quality of your sleep.
• Nap wisely. Try to resist the urge to take long naps late in the day. If you get tired, take a short, energizing walk around the block instead. If you must nap, keep it earlier in the day and limit your snooze time to no more than 20 minutes.
• Don’t imbibe. Alcohol interferes with normal sleep cycles, so don’t rely on a nightcap to fall asleep.
• Digest. After the time changes, you may be hungry for meals earlier or later than before. Be sure to give yourself ample time to digest your dinner before heading off to bed. A heavy meal in your stomach will interfere with the quality of your sleep, too.
• Lighten up. The right combination of light and dark can help your body’s circadian rhythm readjust so you can fall asleep on your new schedule and sleep more soundly. In the morning, open the shades and brighten the lights. Try to spend time outside during the day, if possible. Dim the lights in the evening, so that your body understands that it’s time to wind down.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you adjust more easily to the biannual time changes.