NAMI Cobb

2019 Leadership Team

President – Peter Lyons lyonspeterm2@gmail.com

Secretary – Donna Hook secretary.namicobb@gmail.com

Treasurer – Jim Williams Jwilliams007@comcast.net CIT/Newsletter Editor – John Avery namicobbnewsletter17@gmail.com

Website Chair - Allen Spetnagel website.namicobb@gmail.com

Communications - Greg Ausham gregausham@yahoo.com Outreach - Tiffany Welch auburnaka@hotmail.com Education Chair— Melissa Pike mpike1@att.net Programs Chair—Neill Blake programs.namicobb@gmail.com Hospitality Chair – Debra Howard hospitality.namicobb@gmail.com Publicity Chair – Tiffany Conyers

tiffanytconyers@gmail.com Membership Chair – Jennifer Jacobs nissan10@aol.com Helpline Volunteer

Phone – Sylvia Oliphant sao66@yahoo.com

Email – Linda Javadi Namicobb1@gmail.com NAMI Walks Cobb Co-Captains Linda Hicks John Hicks

Website: www.namicobb.org

Email: NAMICobb1@gmail.com

Mailing address:

NAMI-Cobb

P.O. Box 999

Kennesaw, GA 30156

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1 Monthly Meeting

2 President’s Newsletter

3 Education Meeting

5 NAMI Cobb News & Events

6 Missing out on sleep turns you into a real-life zombie

7 New Normal

8 8 mental health tips that are so effective

10 10 Things People Constantly Get Wrong About PTSD

14 Meeting and Membership Information

Newsletter Date

Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2019 FRESH START

NAMI Cobb Educational

Meeting

Our new location is: Tommy Nobis Center 1480 Bells Ferry Road

Marietta, GA 30066

Page 2 Fresh Start

President’s Newsletter

August Presidents Letter

NAMI Cobb resumes our monthly educational meetings on Thursday, August 15th, with a presentation on Synergies Work. Aarti Sahgal, our presenter, started Synergies Work with a simple goal – helping individuals with disabilities earn a livelihood. Synergies work is building an inclusive community of mentors, business owners, and entrepreneurs, with and without disabilities, who partner together to support local businesses and advance financial empowerment of people with disabilities. I have heard Aarti speak before, and I can assure you that you will not want to miss this meeting at 7 PM, on August 15th, at the Tommy Nobis Center, 1480 Bells Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA. If you would like a preview, the Synergies Work website is www.synergieswork.org.

Our two weekly support groups continue to be well attended. One is called Connections and it is for people with a mental health condition. The other is called Family Support and it is for family members and friends who support those with a mental health condition. Both support groups are held every Monday night from 7 to 8:30 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, 189 Church St, Marietta, GA 30060. The only time the meetings do not occur is on the rare days that the church is closed.

NAMI Cobb relies entirely on volunteers to carry out our efforts to help people and families dealing with mental and emotional wellness issues. The more members and volunteers we can have, the more we can do. You can find out more about NAMI Cobb at our website NAMICobb.org. Our various programs are listed there, along with a link to join NAMI Cobb. Another great way to get involved and support NAMI Cobb is to join the NAMIWalks Cobb Stigma Busters Team. This year’s October 5th walk starts at Clark University and will walk around the Capital. It is our main fundraising event, and there is a link on our website.

Fresh Start Page 3

Education Speaker Series Presents:

Aarti Sahgal Founder, Synergies Work Inc.

Synergies Work is personal mission that stems from life experiences of Aarti Sahgal. As a parent of a child with Down syndrome she has always resisted against services for her son that might isolate or disempower him. Many a time services garbed under “special” are not really special and she continues to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations that exclude people with intellectual disabilities from living their true

potential. As a consultant to Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, she worked on building inclusive communities and workforce strategies for individuals with different abilities. Before that, she worked with parent to Parent of Georgia as a Diversity coordinator. In her previous avatar, she worked for 14 years with some of the leading marketing and advertising agencies in Asia.

This event is a FREE community service; all are welcome! August 15, 2019 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Tommy Nobis Center 1480 BELLS FERRY ROAD,

MARIETTA, GEORGIA 30066-6014

We will be serving light refreshments and a raffle for prizes!

Meeting contact: NAMI Cobb President Peter Lyons < lyonspeterm2@gmail.com>

Page 4 Fresh Start

NAMIWalks Georgia October 5, 2019

Location: Clark Atlanta University Panther Stadium Atlanta, GA

Event: 5k Route to Georgia State Capital

CHECK-IN BEGINS: 8:00 AM

WALK START TIME: 9:30 AM

NAMI Cobb TEAM STIGMA BUSTERS walk to raise funds and create awareness and change perceptions about mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is one of the largest fundraising events in the country. NAMI Cobb ranked as the largest Georgia team in 2017 and 2018. This year we work towards a $250,000 Goal We invite you to work with us to make this a reality. There is no registration fee for NAMIWalks. However, participants are encourage to collect donations from family members, friends & co-workers in support of their participation in the Walk. All donations support The Georgia Crisis Intervention (CIT) Program, local resources, education and state and local advocacy.

JOIN

NAMI Cobb Stigma Busters

Type this link in your browser to register: https://www.namiwalks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.team&teamID=28518

Contact the Walk Team Captain with questions:

Linda Hicks 847-807-9884

ALL TEAM WALKERS WILL RECEIVE A FREE NAMI COBB STIGMA BUSTER T-SHIRT Walkers raising $100 will receive an additional STATE T-Shirt and other great prizes (see website for details)

Fresh Start Page 5

ATTENTION FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS

NAMI Homefront is a free education program for family, friends and significant others of military service members and veterans with mental health conditions. It focuses on the unique needs of military service members and veterans.

The course is designed to help family members understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being. The trained teachers of this course are also family members who have experience with military culture and know what it is like to have a loved one living with mental illness.

WHAT: NAMI Homefront Information Classes - Free for Family Members of Veterans

WHEN: Six Weekly Sessions meet: Tuesdays 9/17/2019 - 10/22/2019, 6:00 - 8:30 pm

WHERE: Atlanta VA Medical Center, Room GB 151, Elevator Nearest Emergency Room

Preregistration Required! Family members, caregiving friends can register or learn more by contacting “Mr. NAMI” during business hours.

404-291-3908 – Leave your name and a good time to return the call. **VA Employees are not eligible for this group. **

Gain an understanding of symptoms, medications, VA services, empathy, coping, and communication

skills. Free education is available FOR Family Members!

Page 6 Fresh Start

Sure, it might be tempting to stay up late watching that show you just got hooked on, or reading a few extra chapters of that book you’ve been meaning to get to, or even cranking through that extra project for work that you just couldn’t leave at the office. However, there are some serious downsides to sacrificing your sleep, especially on a regular basis. Zombie-walking through life makes it all less enjoyable - here’s what happens when you don’t dedicate enough time to focus on the Zzz's.

Missing out on sleep turns you into a real-life zombie

You’re cranky. Tossing and turning through a restless night of poor sleep will leave you in a rotten

mood for most of the day, negatively affecting the health of your own internal headspace as well as your

interactions and relationships with others.

You forget things. Sleep plays a crucial role in almost all of your cognitive processes, especially

memory, learning, and critical thinking. When you don’t get enough of it, your brain is more likely to feel

foggy, disoriented, and easily confused. Does that sound like the best way to get through an intense

work day?

You’re accident-prone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy

driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes in 2013 alone. So yeah, it’s pretty likely that your bleary-eyed

self will make some mistakes, and technically they could be catastrophic.

You lose your sex drive. Sleep specialists report that both men and women who don’t get enough

sleep have disclosed lower libidos and feeling less interested in sex. It turns out, not getting enough

sleep can negatively affect other areas of your bedroom life, too.

You get sick. Sleep deprivation can do serious damage to your immune system, making it a lot more

likely that you’ll pick up some other nasty health problem on top of all the icky feelings that come along

with being constantly exhausted.

https://mailchi.mp/rebloom/make-the-most-of-your-day-699433?e=68ed3d8c10

Fresh Start Page 7

New Normal July 9, 2019| THOUGHTS

Through my struggles with PTSD, I have learned to recognize certain behaviors I engage in that are clues for my current mental state.

Usually, I first notice myself plucking hair from my chin. Usually in one certain spot until it becomes a bald spot.

Next, my demeanor become more reclusive. I am less apt to speak to anyone and I tend to be very short in my responses when asked a question. Unfortunately, my family usually points this out to me meaning I treat them in this fashion.

Finally, my biggest clue, RAGE. I become so angry at the slightest thing, that I can barely keep my temper. In some cases I have been unsuccessful and have even ended up in the hospital for a psychological evaluation.

While this is not an all inclusive list of behavioral traits I view as clues to my mental state. Once able to recognizing your behaviors which indicate you may not be thinking rationally, you may be able to stave off more severe reactions, such as a full blown panic attack or worse, resorting to alcohol or drugs to cope.

To my next point, PTSD is not an excuse to act however you want without taking responsibility for your actions. Regularly, I see people use PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety as an excuses for their actions.

"I did xyz because of my ptsd and anxiety".

This is where an important differentiation must take place. A person who becomes violent, attacks people, degrades them, or otherwise acts irrationally must take responsibility for their actions. While the individual may not have acted in this way except for the ailment, the individual is still responsible for their actions and the consequences thereafter.

One cannot burn their world down one day and expect all of their loved one's to stand around and watch. While we are going through a very painful experience, so are our loved ones. While we didn't ask for this to happen to us, our loved ones did not either. They should not be our personal punching bags while we act out irrationally.

It is each of our responsibilities to make a decision to manage our symptoms by recognizing behavioral traits which could act as indicators of irrational thought patterns. Once we learn to recognize changes in our own behaviors, we may better able to prevent these mindsets from leading us down dark roads toward depression, anxiety, or worse, suicide.

Remember brother's and sister's, while the triggers may never completely go away, we can learn to manage the stress, anger, anxiety, and depression associated with PTSD to find your NEW NORMAL.

https://relearningtolive.com/blog/f/new-normal?fbclid=IwAR1klIpr-dwVmpfdkyPgrHqXBSdihytaPnKUVvkf7WTKkze03wfKxfc_b8Y

Page 8 Fresh Start

8 mental health tips that are so effective,

therapists themselves swear by them Korin Miller March 15, 2019

Three are so many strategies for cultivating a solid sense of mental health (Rethinking your social-

media relationship! Scheduling a girls' night! Journaling!) Still, figuring out what tips really work and what’s just noise is a highly personalized and hardly simple process.

Since nobody knows what's what when it comes to mental health quite like the people who preach it each day, we asked therapists to weigh in. Here, the experts share which tools they personally reach for on a regular basis in order to help keep their own mental-health game strong.

1. Rethink the way you approach worrying

“We all have anxiety and things we worry about, but worry is thought garbage,” says Thea Gallagher, PsyD,

clinic director at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perlman

School of Medicine. “There is no correlation between worry and outcome,” she adds, and it’s important to

remind yourself of that fact when you start to stress.

When Dr. Gallagher finds herself worrying about something, she tries to put herself on the following thought

path: Can I solve this problem? And what can I do about it, if anything? “If I can’t do anything about it, I can’t

worry about it,” she says. “There’s no point.”

2. Find a good mindfulness app, and stick with it

The app Stop, Breathe & Think is a go-to for Tamar Gur, MD, PhD, a women's health expert and reproductive

psychiatrist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “I use it almost daily,” she says. The app

offers a few minutes of targeted, guided mediation based on emotions you’re feeling in that moment, and Dr.

Gur fires it up when she gets to work, before tackling her long to-do list. “I use it to energize and ground

myself,” and also sometimes to unwind before bed. She even encourages her kids to use it.

3. Take anxiety to the end

When anxiety creeps up on you (it can and it will), Dr. Gallagher recommends thinking about the worst that can

happen in order to stay in control of it. When she was planning her outdoor wedding, for example, she knew

bad weather was in the realm of possibility. “I took myself down the road of if it was bad, the wedding would

be gross, and people might hate me and tell others I should have been more conscientious,” she says.

But she eventually realized that she’d still be married, and that was the whole point. “Sometimes taking yourself

to the end of your fear or anxiety helps you realize that even if the worst thing happens, you’ll survive it,” she

says. “It’s unlikely the worst will happen anyway.”

Fresh Start Page 9

4. Make meditation an integral part of your day

Though meditation sounds like a fairly obvious means of boosting mental health, if you don't plan for it in

advance, squeezing in a session can prove tough. That’s why for David Klow, LMFT, author of You Are Not

Crazy: Letters From Your Therapist, it's simply routine.

“In the morning, I will take 30 minutes to do centering, grounding, and energy meditation practices,” he says.

And before he leaves work for the night, he sits in his office for 15 minutes and “clears out” the stress from the

day using meditation. “Doing this in the office, right after the sessions have ended, can be the most helpful

while the work is still fresh,” he says. Finally, Klow does another 30-minute meditation before bed “to wrap up

the day and get prepared for a restful night of sleep.”

5. Try not to read too much into things

When you, say, don't hear back from a friend after you text them, it's easy to let your mind spiral and assume

something negative is the cause—like that your friend is mad at you. But next time this happens, don't jump to

conclusions. Think of other possible explanations. “Instead of a friend not responding to a text because they’re

mad at me, I think that maybe they’re having a busy day," Dr. Gallagher says. "Plus, if they are mad, they’ll

need to tell me at some point.”

6. Take a big-picture approach to exercise

Regular exercise can boost both physical and mental health, but if you're not able to dedicate as much time or

intensity to your sweat sesh as you'd like, still try to be good to yourself. “You have to understand that you’re

doing the best you can,” says psychologist Kathryn Moore, PhD. “I practice self-compassion and realize that I

have to listen to my body. If I need to sleep a little later instead of going to a 6 a.m. workout class, that’s okay.”

It’s important to allow yourself some flexibility around your exercise routine so that you don’t feel shame or

guilt if things don’t work out, Dr. Moore says.

7. Think twice about the types of content you consume

It’s easy to get wrapped up in a great book or show—and that can heavily influence your emotions. That’s why

licensed clinical psychologist John Mayer, PhD, author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life, has a “no sad

entertainment” policy for himself. “I prefer not to see entertainment that portray real life drama, sad stories, and

negative endings,” he says. “I deal with that every day. I don’t invite it into my personal space.” Of course,

different genres affect everyone differently, but if you tend to feel bummed out after watching a sad movie or

anxious after reading an intense book, it’s a thought worth considering.

8. Practice deep breathing when you’re annoyed

“I can’t say enough good things about deep, cleansing breaths,” Dr. Gur says, adding that a deep, purposeful

inhale followed by a prolonged exhale is helpful when something really irritates her. “It helps me take a

moment to at least approach the situation calmly and with more grace."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/mentalhealth/8-mental-health-tips-that-are-so-effective-therapists-themselves-swear-by-

them/ar-BBUOCS1?ocid=spartandhp

Page 10 Fresh Start

10 Things People Constantly Get Wrong About PTSD

Experts and those who live with post-traumatic stress disorder debunk the biggest myths about the condition.

ByNicole Pajer 06/03/2019

Post-traumatic stress disorder is much more common than many of us may think. Data suggests an estimated 70% of American adults have experienced some type of traumatic event throughout their lifetimes, and up to 20% of these people will go on to develop PTSD as a result.

However, just because it’s prevalent doesn’t mean it’s inherently understood. For those who don’t have the condition, it’s hard to picture what it’s like or why it can be so debilitating. That can lead to a lot of misconceptions about the illness.

HuffPost surveyed some experts who treat the mental health condition plus some patients to hear firsthand what people typically get wrong about living with PTSD. Here’s what everyone should keep in mind about the condition:

Myth: PTSD affects only people in the military.

MANUELA VIA GETTY IMAGES

Many people link PTSD to the aftermath of soldiers being in war. In reality, the mental health condition can stem from any distressing event, including natural disasters, serious road accidents, terrorist attacks, sexual assault and mass shootings, explained Vonnie Nealon, the clinical director at Warriors Heart, a PTSD and addiction treatment center in Bandera, Texas, for military veterans and first responders. PTSD can also occur after a serious or life-threatening health issue.

“While vets can have a very life-altering form of PTSD, there are so many types of trauma,” added Lauren Doud, a Cincinnati, Ohio, resident who has lived with PTSD since 2013. Doud had preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, two pregnancy-related health conditions, and nearly died. She also lost her son. She then developed the mental health condition after her experience.

“When I was diagnosed, I remember thinking that only military vets had that. But my doctor said that it could be triggered by any traumatizing experience and that just one of these experiences separately could cause PTSD,” Doud, 34, said. “I had three traumatic events ― a near death, an emergency delivery ... and I lost my baby. When I heard this, I felt validated.”

Myth: You can’t live a normal life with PTSD.

Many people with PTSD still manage work and personal lives while also managing the condition. “I have a job, a family and a great support network,” said Becky Beach, 37, who still lives with PTSD following an abusive relationship in 2001.

Fresh Start Page 11

Beach said that she still deals with the effects of PTSD regularly; having a healthy, fulfilling life and dealing with the condition’s symptoms are not mutually exclusive. “I startle very easily if someone says my name loudly or if I hear a loud noise. It makes me go into a panic attack and can be difficult for me to calm down,” she explained.

But Beach has found coping mechanisms that help her to continue on in her day as a mom and a blogger at Mombeach.com. “I purchased noise-canceling earphones to wear while I work. I sleep with a weighted blanket, which helps to reduce anxiety, and I do meditation every morning to relieve my stress and anxiety,” she said.

Myth: Everyone experiences PTSD in the same way.

GEBER86 VIA GETTY IMAGES

Even if the traumatic experience was similar between two people, what one person goes through with PTSD will be different from another’s. Ben Johnson, a former military paramedic in Carson City, Nevada, noted that people he served with had a vast array of personal triggers, which included being away from family, feeling exhausted and working in very hostile conditions.

“A lot of my training was to ‘run towards the danger’ because that’s where the injured patients would be. Often in crowds, I find myself scanning the crowd for a potential threat or for any dangerous situation to intervene. It’s exhausting to always look for danger,” Johnson, 37, said.

He added that he may misunderstand a kid screaming from joy as fear or pain, or think a car door slam is a blast or gunshot. What’s considered normal to some people can become sensory overload for him.

And it’s not just triggers: Treatment plans are very individualistic as well. “People think that there’s a one-size-fits-all fix for everyone, but that’s not the case,” Johnson said.

Myth: People with PTSD are “ticking time bombs.”

This idea is a major misconception, said Mary Joye, a counselor in Winter Haven, Florida. The majority of people with PTSD don’t want to “go off on you or anyone else ― nor do they wish to cause themselves self-harm,” Joye said.

Myth: Protecting someone with PTSD from a trigger is beneficial.

WESTEND61 VIA GETTY IMAGES

Page 12 Fresh Start

Loved ones of those with PTSD often feel the need to save the day and shelter people from potential triggers. While this is done with the best of intentions, it’s not always helpful for those living with the condition.

“If you avoid your triggers, you may only be exacerbating your problems. It’s much more important that you don’t let the perpetrator take anything else from you,” explained Alison Nichols, a marketing manager based in the United Kingdom who lives with PTSD. “It’s much more important that you find a way to live with what happened and to enjoy everything you always have.”

Myth: If someone appears healthy, they’re probably over their PTSD.

Kendra Liedle, a television assistant location manager and coordinator in Los Angeles, said that many people falsely assume that because she appears happy, she’s moved on from her trauma.

The reality is PTSD is not easy to solve, and there is no timeline for recovery. Liedle, who developed PTSD following the need for multiple brain surgeries, said she’s still dealing with the aftermath ― even if it’s not obvious.

“In my particular case … people think I’m all healed because they can’t see the physical scars from surgery, which are covered by my hair. I’m back to what looks like my former life. However, many of my residual issues are ‘invisible,’ and I include PTSD in that,” Liedle, 42, said.

“From the outside looking in, I look totally healed,” she added. “However, after any major life event, affected individuals struggling with PTSD ― including myself ― are triggered by the emotional and mental issues that the brain associates with the traumatic event and the belief that life can never be the same as it was before the traumatic event.”

Myth: Triggers aren’t a big deal.

MICHAEL GODEK VIA GETTY IMAGES

It’s popular now to use the phrase “triggered” to mean offended or outraged to the point of losing control. But triggers are much more complex than that, explained Gina Ibarra, a 49-year-old writer in Las Vegas.

“It’s a process of the subconscious mind. When the original violent incident happened, a primitive level of my brain did what it needed to do to stay alive. It associated certain people, places and events with the possibility of imminent death,” she said. “Now when one of those things comes up, my brain pulls the sensations it associated with the event out of the memory vault and says, ‘Hey, remember me?’ It’s meant to propel me into fight, fright or flight so I’ll stay alive. I’m not in danger anymore, but my brain still does it anyway. I’m just wired that way now.”

Myth: Triggers are glaringly obvious.

People who have suffered trauma can be triggered by stimuli that remind them of the inciting event, and it doesn’t always have to be something major. For instance, you don’t have to hear gunshots to be taken back to the scene of a crime that you witnessed.

Fresh Start Page 13

“Not just the trauma itself, but anything that was happening at the time that may consciously or unconsciously remind them of the event,” said Michael Genovese, chief medical officer of Acadia Healthcare in Nashville.

He added that a trigger might be witnessing something violent, but it also can be something more subtle, like the color of the sweater someone was wearing, the smell of food that was cooking or the sound of a song that was playing on the radio.

“It can be much more debilitating than many imagine,” he explained.

Myth: PTSD shows up right after a traumatic event.

LUCY LAMBRIEX VIA GETTY IMAGES

The thought that PTSD happens directly after the trauma that caused it is not always true.

“Friends, family and the public in general aren’t aware that it can be way after the situation later that a person will experience the symptoms ― especially if they’ve compartmentalized their feelings or hidden them,” said Mike Robinson, founder of the Global Cannabinoid Research Center in Santa Barbara, California, and someone who lives with PTSD.

“If an individual, like myself, has PTSD from a wreck that also caused physical injuries, then their symptoms will likely be worsened by the ongoing treatment of the injuries or the disability that may have been caused by it, either physical or mental,” Robinson, 53, said.

Myth: Living with PTSD makes a person weak.

PTSD is not a sign of emotional weakness. Anyone, regardless of background and personal characteristics, can develop PTSD given certain circumstances and exposure to trauma.

“I tell my clients that, rather than weakness, PTSD is a very normal reaction to very abnormal events. Trauma survivors are often actually emotionally stronger and more resilient than many people who haven’t experienced any trauma at all,” explained Kristin Anderson, a psychotherapist at NYC Therapy + Wellness Practice in New York.

She added that PTSD isn’t an emotional or moral failing, and seeking treatment isn’t an admission of defeat. “Rather, it shows understanding that PTSD is an illness outside an individual’s control and that it can be treated,” Anderson explained.

“Living With” is a guide to navigating conditions that affect your mind and body. Each month, HuffPost Life will tackle very real issues people live with by offering different stories, advice and ways to connect with others who understand what it’s like. In June, we’re covering trauma and PTSD. Got an experience you’d like to share? Email wellness@huffpost.com.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-myths_l_5cf11d36e4b0a1997b68d87e?fbclid=IwAR3D3qfwgVeM8DrLckK_HVzp-x0mJvR8aVu-n5zjbXt5mZeKZcRgYKrIUdU&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tLw&guce_referrer

_sig=AQAAANLDs_t3SvsuUGFPyLjRy8HgJmrkhQ5-Biln9J81lewvd3M1lrbZXt1pdPkt77pAL6RGQAcGT1s__pQV2k5T-ikoG0CKIGsj36Om9D6c5Y3hH2_7FGYLhibCw4uwbi7TRfON4hkUQYFVEOIzCqf_O6ueO6rn0ohikKJeqAa3xKkt

Page 14 Fresh Start

Thank you so much for your interest in joining NAMI Cobb Affiliate! Please complete the form below, and mail this with your check made out to NAMI Cobb. (If you wish to pay by credit card, go to www nami.org and click on “Join”. You will start receiving our monthly electronic newsletter within the month. You are also invited to attend our monthly education and support meetings, on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm (there is a time to look at resources and brochures at 7pm). You are not alone. Come join us.

NAMI Cobb August 2019

P.O. Box 999

Kennesaw, GA 30156

TO:

Yes, I would like to join NAMI Cobb of Georgia! Date:____________________ Membership is for NAMI Cobb, includes NAMI Georgia and NAMI

Annual Dues: Individual [__] $40.00 Open Door [__] $5.00

Household [__] $60.00 - List specific persons living at the same address.

(Please note there has been a slight increase in membership fees nationally).

___________Donation (I would like to give an additional donation

to support NAMI-Cobb programming and outreach) Name(s):______________________________________

Address:______________________________________

_______________________________________

Phone: _______________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

I am interested in volunteering. My skill is ________________________.

Support Group Meetings

For families of those with a mental illness

1st Presbyterian Church

189 Church St

Marietta, GA

MONDAYS Time: 7-8:30 PM

Family Support Group Room 048

Connections Support Group Room 046

Contact Neill Blake at 770-427-5353 or

nhblake@earthlink.net with questions

about either support group."

Monthly NAMI Cobb

August 15, 2019

Our new location is:

Tommy Nobis Center 1480 Bells Ferry Road

Marietta, GA 30066

**Please mail this form along with your check to:

NAMI Cobb, P.O. Box 999 Kennesaw, GA 30156

Thank you for your membership!