INSIDE THE ISSUE Cover Story NAMI Programs/ Letter from ED Calendar Cover Story, Cont’d Photo Page Hope for the Holidays/ NAMI EN ESPAÑOL NAMI Thrift Shop

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newsletterNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

december 2014Please visit www.namimc.org for calendar updates!

SATURDAY 13FRIDAY 12THURSDAY 11WEDNESDAY 10TUESDAY 9MONDAY 8SUNDAY 7

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2:30 pm Family Support Group @ Rockville Uniterian Universalist Church

6:30 pm Bases Y Fundamentos @ Impact Silver Spring

7:00 pm Family Support Group @ St. James Episcopal Church

7:00 pm NAMI Connection @ Adult Behavioral Health Program Building

Thrift Shop: Bag sale! $15 for a bag full of clothes

7:00 pm Peer-to-Peer @ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm NAMI Connection @ MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

7:00 pm Peer-to-Peer @ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm Family-to-Family @ Blair High School

7:00 pm Spouse Support Group @ NAMI MC office

7:00 pm Grupo de Apoyo Familiar en Espanol @ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm NAMI Connection @ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm Family-to-Family @ Blair High School

7:00 pm Peer-to-Peer @ NAMI MC Office

9:00 am Familia A Familia @ Family Services, Inc.

3:00 pm NAMIConnection @ Silver Spring Wellness Center

9:00 am Familia A Familia @ Family Services, Inc.

9:00 am Familia A Familia @ Family Services, Inc.

10:30 am Family Support Group @ NAMI MC Office

7:30 pm General Education meeting @ NAMI MC Office

6:30 pm Bases Y Fundamentos @ Impact Silver Spring

7:00 pm NAMI Connection @ Adult Behavioral Health Program Building

7:00 pm NAMI Basics@ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm NAMI Basics@ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm NAMI Connection @ NAMI MC Office

7:00 pm Family-to-Family @ Blair High School

9:00 am Familia A Familia @ Family Services, Inc.9:30 am Family Support Group @ MedStar Mont. Med Center

3:00 pm NAMIConnection @ Silver Spring Wellness Center

Save the Date: Dec 11th SMARTS for Advocacy Introductory Training

Save the Date: Dec 13th SMARTS for Advocacy: Modules 1-3

Save the Date: Jan 8th General Education Meeting – Mental & Physical Health in the New Year

Family-to-Family and Peer-to-Peer require pre-registration to attend.

Senator Brinkley stood up on the floor and said, “It was brought to my attention by NAMI Maryland that this amendment would affect folks in this way, and I’m asking that we reject this amendment,” … and they did.

In years past, all that was required on Christmas Day was for me to sit on the couch and watch my excited elementary school-aged nieces and nephews open presents. One year, my youngest nephew got so tickled at getting a tool belt complete with roaring noise, eliciting laughter from all of us grownups. Other than that, usually, nobody asks me about my life. Not much in my routine would change so I didn’t know what to tell people.

Now, the nieces and nephews have graduated from college. I marvel at how comfortable they are being sociable, developing friendships, work relationships, hobbies, and pursuing relaxation. I’ve had to use therapy and doctor appointments to work on communication and limit-setting skills. I am especially trusting of my nieces because they visited me at my worst in the hospital two years ago. I’ll tell them when, due to an anxiety attack, I need to sit quietly in another room for a while. They are so compassionate, telling me they don’t want me to be uncomfortable! They totally get it!

Along with limit setting, I also reach out and plan interactions with friends. We talk animatedly about our recovery accomplishments. I can also cheer myself up by putting up my small lit Christmas tree and laying on the couch looking at it. At other times, especially evenings, knowing the Montgomery County Hotline is there can help when I am feeling lonely. I am doing better at responding to e-mails within a couple of days. It is a comfort to reach across the miles to my brother’s wife, my aunt, and my sister.

The only thing I haven’t mentioned here is Christmas shopping. With my anxiety disorder, I find it excruciatingly painful to be in a store with hundreds of shoppers. I have no patience waiting in lines at the checkout and start breathing heavily. I feel people can tell I stick out like a sore thumb. I tell myself, for now, I can’t do it and mail order is more practical.

I hope you’ll try one of my ideas during the holidays. Find someone who understands your need to set limits on activities or on money spent. Plan meaningful activities with or e-mail family and friends. Put up decorations which cheer you up. Savor the holidays at your own pace. You are learning skills to like and accept yourself better!

Hope for the HolidaysBy Susan Kornspan