Dec 13, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
We have some really creative and artistic people in this discussion group. There’s also people like me, who perhaps aren’t naturally artistic but strive to be more creative and appreciative of the art we encounter. This week we’re going to explore a few different ways in which mental health and art can intersect, from giving us a language to express complex feelings to connecting us with people and ideas that can bring healing.
Our warm-up question for this week:
Check out this website of Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest winners. Which image stands out to you, and why?
See you soon,
Alex
Oct 12, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Just last week we had a lighthearted (but thoughtful and productive) conversation about joy. What a difference a week can make.
I suspect you are as heartbroken as I am, and maybe more. Let’s talk about it tomorrow, shall we?
I also want to share with you an article sent to me that was published in WaPo. On the surface it’s about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, which we’ve discussed previously in Stronger Together. The underlying theme, however, is about how we prepare for mental health struggles ahead. The article was published Oct. 5, two days before the attack on Israel.
Our warm-up question for this week:
How are you feeling right now, and what have been the range of emotions you’ve felt over the past few days?
See you soon,
Alex
Sep 5, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
I’m excited because we’re going to make a new friend this week! It’s someone you’ve known for a while, but probably have had a cordial relationship with, at best: stress. That’s right, we’re going to make friends with stress.
Right about now you might be asking yourself, “with friends like these, who needs enemies?” Let’s just say stress is that neighbor, family member, or co-worker who is kind of intense, but just misunderstood.
We’ll learn more by watching parts of the video “How to Make Stress Your Friend” by psychologist Kelly McGonigal, who walks us through a few studies to elucidate key points about the effects of stress, and importantly, how we can create a “biology of courage” in the face of stress.
Our warm-up question for this week:
What’s the most courageous thing you’ve witnessed someone do? Try to think of someone you knew well, and not a distant celebrity, historical, or political figure.
Jul 14, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
Have you ever wanted to yell at someone to “stop being so emotional!” Perhaps someone has said something similar to you? Or maybe sometimes you feel overtaken by emotion, and you wonder how other people are able to keep them at bay?
It turns out that a lot of what we think is happening with our emotions is closer to mythology than fact. Worse yet, our own brain will trick us into thinking emotions are something other than what they really are. What should we do about this to support strong mental well-being?
As always, we need to start with awareness and education. This week we’re going to watch a helpful video to get better educated about emotions and debunk some commonly-held myths. This learning can go a long way to helping us not just understand our own emotions better, but also turning them into a tool for personal growth.
Our warm-up question for this week:
Who is the most “emotional” character you can think of from a movie or TV show, and what makes them “emotional”?
See you soon,
Alex
Jun 22, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
When we think about being “burned out,” we might be tempted to assume it’s an issue just for people in high-pressure workplaces. The truth is, you can experience burnout from volunteerism, family/health/medical issues, school, and more.
Of course we want to prevent burnout wherever possible, but just as importantly we want to find healthy ways to bounce back from burnout when it inevitably affects us. In this week’s conversation we’ll watch a video together to understand burnout better and how it differs from stress, and then talk about how we help ourselves and each other recover. Some things to think about between now and then:
- What did we use to call “burnout” before the term became commonplace?
- What cues do you look for in your own life to know when you’re at risk of being burnt out?
- Have you ever felt like you’re on a recurring cycle of feeling burnt out, taking a break to recover, and then getting burnt out again?
- How do you help other people when you sense they are feeling burnt out?
Our warm-up question for this week:
When was the last time you trusted someone “blindly,” and why?
