NAMI COBB

NAMI Cobb

2016 Leadership Team

President -- Mary Dean Evans

harvey669@bellsouth.net

1st Vice-President / Communications

Greg Ausham

gregausham@yahoo.com

2nd Vice-President / Outreach

Linda Akanbi akanbil@comcast.net

Secretary - Nancy Spetnagel

nspetnagel@gmail.com

Treasurer and Parliamentarian–

Paul Wiser wim1paul@comcast.net

Membership Chair—Robert Gray

rjgray49@gmail.com

Advocacy Chair—Sylvia Oliphant

Sao66@yahoo.com

CIT/Newsletter Editor – John Avery

javeryjr56@gmail.com

Website Management Chair: Tim Link

link.tim@comcast.net

Fundraising Chair—Reina Panataleon

Reina.pantaleaon@gmail.com

Past President—Neill Blake

nhblake@earthlink.net

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 Announcement/Info

2 NAMIWalks Info

3 NAMI Cobb Activities

4 Incidents of Mass Violence

5 Why distinguishing a moral injury from PTSD is important

7 A Guide to Helping Yourself (and Others) Through a Panic Attack

10 Meeting and Membership Information

Newsletter Date Volume 1 Issue 1 JULY 2016 FRESH START

Education Meeting / Speaker’s Bureau

NO Monthly Educational Meeting in July

Next meeting will be August 18, 2016

7-9 p.m.

Turner Chapel Room 187 492 N. Marietta Pkwy, Marietta 30060

Page 2 Fresh Start

Every journey begins with that first step! As NAMIWalks celebrates our 13th Anniversary in 2016, we are

proud to be the largest and most successful mental health awareness and fundraising event in America! Through

NAMIWalks public, active display of support for people affected by mental illness, we are changing how

Americans view persons with a mental illness. This is leading to ensuring that help and hope are available for

those in need. Please join us as we improve lives and our community’s one step at a time be sure to join us on

Facebook to connect with others across the country.

Join NAMI COBB STIGMA BUSTERS reach our $10,000.00 annual goal for the upcoming NAMI WALK 2016

http://www.namiwalks.org/team/STIGMABUSTERSGA

Signups are being taken now on the NAMI Cobb website www.naicob.org

Please mail Matching Gifts and Offline Donations to:

NAMI Georgia for NAMI COBB STIGMA BUSTERS

3180 Presidential Drive, Ste. A

Atlanta, Georgia 30340

Register ONLINE: https://securewalks.nami.org/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?TeamID=620471#&panel1-1

'LIKE' NAMI COBB GEORGIA on Facebook for updates.

Fresh Start Page 3

NAMI Cobb Activities

NAMI Connections Weekly Support Group

Our NAMI Connections Support Group for persons with a mental health diagnosis continues to meet every Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 231 at First Presbyterian Church located at 189 Church Street in Marietta. We have a good core group of people who are committed to living in wellness - please come join this drop-in group any Monday or every Monday! Contact Ashley Burton at 404-936-3887 for more information.

Family Care & Share Weekly Support Group

Our Family Care and Share Support Group is a drop-in group for family members and caregivers for someone with a mental health diagnosis. The group meets every Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 232 at First Presbyterian Church, 189 Church St in Marietta. If your family member is in crisis, come any or every Monday to receive support from others. And if your family member is doing well, please come to give your support and share your experiences with others! Contact Greg Ausham at 330-801-0328, Susie Allen at 770-565-4335 or Sylvia Oliphant 678-471-5907 for more information.

In The News: NAMI Georgia

Friday, July 29 – Creative Recovery Art Exhibition

JULY 11, 2016

NAMI Georgia and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities invite you to an exhibition of

artwork created by persons in mental health recovery. Lunch is included. RSVP is required.

Friday, July 29, 2016, 11am – 2pm

Loudermilk Center 40 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303

Contact office-nami@namiga.org

Artists wishing

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Incidents of Mass Violence Learn about who is most at risk for emotional distress from incidents of mass violence and where to find disaster-related

resources.

Incidents of mass violence are human-caused tragedies that can impact whole communities and the country at large. These types

of disasters, which include shootings and acts of terrorism, often occur without warning and can happen anywhere, as shown by

the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy of 2012 and the events of September 11, 2001.

These violent acts typically target defenseless citizens with the intent to harm or kill. They can instill feelings of confusion, fear,

and helplessness in survivors. Incidents of mass violence disturb our collective sense of order and safety, and may even impact

those with no personal connections to the event.

Because of the unpredictable nature of these types of disasters, it’s normal for people to experience emotional distress. Feelings

such as overwhelming anxiety, trouble sleeping, and other depression-like symptoms are common responses to incidents of

mass violence. Other signs of emotional distress related to incidents of mass violence may include:

Feeling numb or like nothing matters

Feeling helpless or hopeless

Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why

Feeling like you have to keep busy

Excessive smoking, drinking, or using drugs (includingprescription medication)

Symptoms of distress may appear before, during, and after such an event and may manifest in the hours, days, weeks, months,

or even years after they occur. These are just a few warning signs of disaster-related distress. Learn more about warning signs

and risk factors for emotional distress related to incidents of mass violence and other disasters.

Where Can I Get Help? If you or someone you know shows any of these symptoms for two weeks or more, whether you know they are in relation to an

incident of mass violence or if it is unclear how they started ...Talk with us. You are not alone! Call the Disaster Distress

Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746for support and counseling. The Disaster Distress Helpline is a

national hotline that provides 24/7, year-round crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to

any natural or human-caused disaster.

This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its

territories. Spanish-speakers should text Hablanos to 66746. English speakers in U.S. territories text TalkWithUs to 1-212-

461-4635. Calls and texts are answered by trained, caring counselors from crisis call centers located throughout the United

States.

Standard text and data message rates will apply when texting from mobile phones. International text and data rates may apply

from within U.S. territories and free association nations.

Who is at Risk for Emotional Distress? People at risk for emotional distress due to the effects of incidents of mass violence include:

Survivors. Injured victims as well as bystanders in close proximity to the event are especially at risk for emotional

distress.

Friends and loved ones. It’s normal for friends and family members located outside the impacted area to feel anxious

about people who are in direct proximity to an incident of mass violence.

First responders and recovery workers. These individuals may experience prolonged separation from loved ones during

the incident and show signs of mental fatigue.

Community members. People who live the area surrounding the event may experience emotional distress.

If a terror alert, lockdown notice, or other warning is issued via television, radio, social media, or text alert systems, the risk for emotional distress becomes greater. It’s normal to feel unprepared, overwhelmed, or confused, particularly if you are not at

home. You may also feel isolated if you are separated from friends or family members.

Fresh Start Page 5

Remember, too, that the anniversary of a disaster or tragic event can renew feelings of fear, anxiety, and sadness in disaster

survivors. Certain sounds such as sirens, or large crowds, can also trigger emotional distress. These and other environmental

sensations can take people right back to the event, or cause them to fear that it’s about to happen again. These “trigger events”

can happen at any time.

Most people who experience disasters are able to recover quickly, but others may need additional support to move forward on

the path of recovery. Finding ways to manage stress is the best way to prevent negative emotions from becoming behavioral

health issues. Get coping tips for dealing with emotional distress related to incidents of mass violence and other types of

disasters.

Additional Resources for Incidents of Mass Violence

Coping After Terrorism for Survivors at the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Coping with Terrorism at the American Psychological Association(link is external)

How to Cope with Sheltering in Place – 2014

Terrorism at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network(link is external)

The SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) also helps states, territories, tribes, and local entities deliver an

effective mental health and substance abuse (behavioral health) response to incidents of mass violence and natural disasters.

Learn more about these issues and find more disaster-related resources at Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

Last Updated: 09/24/2015

http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/disaster-types/mass-violence

OPINION

Why distinguishing a moral injury from PTSD is important By Thomas Gibbons-Neff Special to the Washington Post Published: March 9, 2015

Even on the short overnight ops, sometimes we talked about things we knew we'd carry home. On a cold night in March 2010, Jeff brought up the kid he'd shot a month earlier, when the battle for the Afghan city of Marjah was hot and there was no shortage of 15-year-olds picking up Kalashnikovs off the ground. Jeff had killed one of them with four shots from a heavy-caliber semi-auto that made a soft thud when the bolt released. The kid had a rifle, and even kids with rifles can kill Marines, Jeff had figured.

A few weeks later, we were on the side of the road watching for Taliban fighters digging bombs into the ground, and Jeff was telling me about it. He described the way the kid fell and how he wasn't sure he'd done the right thing.

That was five years ago. Jeff doesn't bring up that story anymore. I know he thinks about it, though, because a couple of years back he put a Remington 700 short action in his mouth and didn't pull the trigger. Rather than remaining in the flooded poppy fields of Afghanistan, the story of the kid Jeff shot stuck with him. It grew and matured just as Jeff had, until one day Jeff sat on his bed with a loaded rifle across his lap, staring at a part of his life he could no longer understand.

"I'm not crazy," he told me, and I knew he wasn't. Ten years ago we would have just called it post-traumatic stress disorder. Sixty years ago, it would have been combat fatigue. And in the shell-raked trenches of the Western Front, it would have been shell shock. But Jeff's dead kid was none of those things. Jeff's weight was something else — a moral injury.

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Moral injury is a nebulous term that few use seriously because it doesn't read well on Veterans Affairs claims. It's a new term but not a new concept. Moral injury is as timeless as war — going back to when Ajax thrust himself upon his sword on the shores of Troy. Unlike post-traumatic stress, which is a result of a fear-conditioned response, moral injury is a feeling of existential disorientation that manifests as intense guilt.

David Wood, a Huffington Post reporter, describes moral injury as "the pain that results from damage to a person's moral foundation." In her forthcoming book "Afterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers," Georgetown University's Nancy Sherman thinks of moral injuries as a painful "transgression" or as an erosion of "a sense of goodness and humanity." Moral injuries, she says, have to do with failing to hold yourself or others to account. For some, it's realizing that what you choose to do or not do in combat doesn't align with the person your parents raised. The person who volunteers at rescue shelters and takes his grandmother out to lunch on her birthday doesn't seem like the same person who once reveled in the shock waves of 500-pound bombs.

Moral injury is discussed in academia but is rarely talked about — and is often misunderstood — among those who suffer from it. It isn't really a part of the "returning veteran" lexicon; instead, veterans use PTSD as a convenient catchall. Yet there is a danger in conflating post-traumatic stress and moral injury. While in many cases they can overlap, differentiating the two allows the returning veteran to understand not only the trauma he or she experienced but also the damage left by the decisions made in war.

Moral injury makes its mark by creating a flawed sense of who you were when you were in harm's way. This is the second self. Deployed veterans, morally injured or not, have this second self formed in war — one who can tell incoming from outgoing artillery and whose first reaction to an arterial bleed is to kneel into their best friend's pressure point.

Back in civilian life, that second self must merge with the present self — the person who wanders the aisles at Safeway and wakes up to the soft bleat of an iPhone alarm. Those months, or even years, of transition are wrought with moments that confuse the two selves. Strange moments in movie theaters when folded American flags make your breath come short and hot; or on the Fourth of July, when the muted pop of bottle rockets induces a nostalgia you can't explain. Even the smell of burning trash reminds you of a place you'd secretly rather be.

Time passes, and most of us find a way to remember the old self. The self that was younger and faster and damn good-looking under that half-cocked helmet. Those memories are put in boxes or hard-drive folders labeled "Spring Break Afghanistan." Your war stories become well-rehearsed scripts, and even your traumas, those hellacious days when you bore witness to the young and the dead, are scrubbed and polished and placed in a mental vault that you know how to open — or keep shut.

But moral injury makes it hard to transition from memory to the present; it confuses the old self and the new. If the injury is severe enough, it can be almost impossible to see yourself in the present. Instead, you see the person who was capable of making the wrong decision when, years later, you know you could have made a different one.

My friend Jeff remembers his old self by wearing around his neck the bullet he almost used to end his life. It is a reminder, he says, of the moment he could no longer bear the pain of what he had done that day in 2010 — and what he had to do to move on. After he didn't pull that trigger, he decided to live — and to share his experience with me and other Marines he had served with. In many ways, Jeff transfused his moral injury into the bullet. He turned the emotional damage into a physical object — a reminder of when he strayed from his values — that he could balance in his palm and run his fingers over.

Fresh Start Page 7

As a nation, we have spent the past 14 years at war. Men and women have returned. Some have returned broken. It is our job, as a country, to understand what broken means. We have reached the point where PTSD is bandied about as a diagnosis, a fallback and a lens through which to consider, and sometimes wrongly label, those troubled by our conflicts. But what happens when the drugs we prescribe or the approaches we take are misguided? What happens when we treat for the wrong injury?

Recognizing moral injury isn't so much about how the country understands its veterans; rather it is about how veterans understand themselves. Moral injury usually stems from a precise moment in a service member's experience and is not an abstract issue, nor another name for PTSD. "Moral injury is so personal in so many ways," says Molly Boehm, a former case manager for recovering Marines and soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. "It's about reconciling that event" that sticks with you, she says. "And it's also about reconnecting with a moral community, feeling connected to your fellow man."

While treatment for moral injury — such as group therapy — sometimes overlaps with treatment for PTSD, it usually differs in the sense that the morally injured need to have an ethical dialogue as well.

To understand moral injury and address its effects, we need to recognize that it exists. If we don't, if we continue to categorize moral injury under the same umbrella we have for centuries, those who have borne our wars will have to carry their own wounded. Those faceless few with draped arms over slouched shoulders will still be trudging across the terrain of battles fought long ago.

Thomas Gibbons-Neff, a senior at Georgetown University, was a 2014 Washington Post summer intern. He served as a rifleman in the 1st Battalion,

6th Marines in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2010.

http://www.stripes.com/opinion/why-distinguishing-a-moral-injury-from-ptsd-is-important-1.333520

A Guide to Helping Yourself (and Others) Through a

Panic Attack By Pooky Knightsmith

Anxiety is a fairly constant factor in my life right now, and the same is true for many people. When this is the

case, we have two choices: we can let it control us or try to take control of it. Because I don’t not want to

spend the next six months in my bedroom, I’m keen on the latter. But, this does mean facing the reality of panic attacks fairly regularly. I’m lucky to have many friends and

colleagues who want to support me, but perhaps don’t know how. This post is to help both me and them

understand the best steps to take to manage panic attacks.

As always, this advice won’t apply to everyone. Although my background is in child and adolescent mental

health, use the following as a starting point. I welcome any additional suggestions, advice or ideas you have to

share – please leave them as a comment below.

Here’s my guide to helping yourself (and others) get through a panic attack:

Page 8 Fresh Start

1. Take preventative action.

Sometimes panic comes from nowhere, but sometimes we can feel it building up. If you can feel an attack

coming on, preventative steps you could try are:

Being open and honest with a trusted friend or colleague and asking for their support preceding an

attack.

Taking active measures to use calming and relaxation strategies to try to control the underlying level of

panic.

Identifying and talking through the underlying feelings and sources of panic.

Acknowledging that an attack may not be preventable, but reminding yourself it doesn’t last forever.

Proactively considering where is the best place to be, and who is the best person to be with, if an attack

takes grip

If you’re a loved one of someone about to have a panic attack, some useful things to say are:

“I’m happy to listen if you’d like to talk about it.”

“Are you able to explain how you’re feeling?”

“Is there anything I can do to help you feel calmer?”

“Is there somewhere we can go that you’d feel more comfortable?”

“Is there anything specific I can do to help you if you do have a panic attack?”

“I’m here for you and will stay with you until these feelings pass.”

“You’re going to be OK. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

“You’re being really brave.”

“Are you happy for me to be here or is there someone else you’d prefer?”

2. Ride it out.

If a panic attack sets in, there’s sometimes little you can do except to ride it out. The length of the attacks might

vary, but they will not last forever. No matter how many times you experience a panic attack each feels

completely unbearable, but remember – you’ve got through it before, you’ll get through it again.

A good strategy is to try to manage your panic one minute at a time. You only need to get through the next

minute. Focus on this and remember that with each passing minute, you are a minute closer to the end of the

attack.

If you’re a loved one of someone having a panic attack, some useful things to say are:

“This will pass.”

“I understand this is horrible, but you’ve got through it before, you’ll get through it again.”

“You’re going to be OK.”

“I’m here. I’m staying with you.”

“I’ll keep you safe.”

“Let’s take this one minute at a time.”

“Let’s focus on getting through the next 60 seconds.”

“Your body can’t sustain this indefinitely, it will pass.”

“We’re another minute closer to you feeling calmer again.”

Fresh Start Page 9

3. Stay grounded.

At their peak, my panic attacks can give way to derealization – a feeling of losing grip of

who and where I am. Many others experience this to some degree, too. To prevent this, it can be useful to stay grounded

and connected with reality.

Things I find useful are:

Having someone talk to me – either in person or on the phone (I find it helpful to be talked to, other people might

prefer to do the talking.)

Being held or touched – a hand on my arm, having my hands held or being hugged really help me stay connected

with another person and helps to ground me.

If your loved one is experiencing derealization, you can encourage your friend to try:

Touching something warm or cold and focusing on the warmth or cold.

Pinching herself so she can feel she is real.

Trying to find a single object and identifying what it is and what he knows about it.

Counting something in the room.

Utilizing senses in any way possible.

4. Use relaxation techniques and skills.

There are a range of skills we can employ to help us feel calmer and more relaxed. These skills often work best if we

practice them at times of calm so that we’re better able to access them at moments of panic.

Different things work for different people, but useful relaxation and calming techniques might include:

Breathing techniques

Listening to relaxing music

Walking with purpose

Guided meditation/mindfulness

Muscle relaxation

How to help a friend use relaxation techniques:

One of the most helpful ways to help a friend is to understand what tools and skills they have for managing moments of

high stress. No matter how well your friend learns their skills, it’s possible that during a panic attack they may forget to

use them or struggle to employ them. So during calmer periods, ask your friend to explain these skills to you and discuss

how you can help your friend utilize them during times of higher anxiety.

With a good knowledge of the basics, you’ll be in a good position to help. You may even find the new skills are useful for

you, too.

Anxiety and panic are very difficult to live with and can be completely debilitating. If you or someone you know is

affected, there’s no need to suffer in silence; instead, seek help from your doctor who can suggest local sources of support.

This might include medication, talking or skills therapies. Don’t be afraid to give these things a try. They can make a

huge difference once given time to establish.

Editor’s note: This story is based on one person’s experiences and shouldn’t be taken as professional advice. To learn

more information about overcoming anxiety and panic attacks, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of

America or consult your doctor.

This post first appeared on Pooky’s Blog

http://themighty.com/2016/01/helping-yourself-and-others-through-a-panic-attack/

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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 “Become a Member”. You will start receiving our monthly

electronic newsletter within the month. You are also invited to attend our monthly education and support meetings at St. James Episcopal Church in

Marietta, 161 Church St. NE, 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 JULY 2016

P.O. Box 999

Kennesaw, GA 30156

TO:

Yes, I would like to join NAMI Cobb of Georgia! Date:____________________

New

Renewal

$3 Financial Hardship Membership (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 ________________________.

NEW LOCATION AND MEETING

DAY

Family Care and Share Support Group

For families of those with a mental illness

1st Presbyterian Church

189 Church St

Marietta, GA

MONDAYS Time: 7-8:30 PM

Susie Allen 770-565-4335

Greg Ausham 330-801-0328

Sylvia Oliphant 678-471-5907

Monthly NAMI Cobb General Meeting

NO JULY Educational Meeting

Next meeting will be

August 18, 2016

7:00 PM Networking/Social

7:30 PM Program

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

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

Thank you for your membership!