mommaleelee

Animal lovers will surely all agree that having a pet brings so much joy and happiness to your life. Pets provide companionship but also improve mental health. Research indicates that pet owners have improved self esteem and reduced anxiety. They are said to feel less fearful and lonely. Pets also can improve physical health now that’s impressive and makes me wonder why everyone doesn’t have a furry friend or two.

Thirty years ago, two Psychologists Alan Beck and Aaron Katcher conducted a study. They discovered that not only did a person relax when petting a friendly dog but they also experienced many physical reactions including lowered blood pressure and heat rate. This was the first of many new findings that speak to the power of animals.

Playing with or simply petting the family pet for just five minutes at a time has been proven to reduce stress related hormones like cortisol. This easy and simple activity is not only fun but can raise levels of serotonin and dopamine by releasing our bodies natural happy hormones.

We are currently living in the loneliest period throughout time. Humans are becoming increasingly disconnected and it is much easier to live isolated. The lonely factor is a tremendous contributor to increased mental health around the world. Humans are wired to need connection and pets are proven to help in this area. Having a pet allows people to feel needed and wanted. The simple act of caring for an animal gives us a sense of purpose and meaning.

Having a living creature as a pet requires us to take care of them but what if this wasn’t only a burden but also a benefit. There was a study conducted on seniors. One group was given five crickets to care for, over an eight week period. They discovered that the group that was paired with the crickets experienced less depressive symptoms. Seniors need connection more then anyone and are often terribly lonely. Pets are not limited to just cats and dogs. It is good to know that other animals like fish, birds, hamsters and even crickets can make a major difference.

Children are reported to have less anxiety if they have a pet dog in the home. Research also suggests that children who struggle to read experience improved reading skills when able to read out loud to a trained dog and a trainer. They were said to have less anxiety and felt more confident reading to the animal.

Teens experience a variety of mental health conditions and on top of it are also going through a challenging stage in their development. Teens are learning to deal with rejection and it has been proven that having a pet can help. Having a pet can help teens stay present and more in the moment allowing for them to obsess less over their problems. Pets also help them have more fun and be playful. Horses and Equine therapy has been recognized as a incredible healing outlet for young people who have experienced trauma.

Pets provide those with severe mental illness with improved sense of identity, purpose, routine and security. Pets have been reported to provide helpful distractions from symptoms like hearing voices and suicidal ideations. Having a pet also helped reinforce healthy routines just by completing normal daily tasks with their pets.

It’s really no wonder why animal therapy dogs are becoming increasingly popular.

Pets help build relationship and social skills. A study was done with a group of autistic children in a classroom setting. The class had a pet guinea pig. The children reported to smile and laugh more often. Having the pet in the classroom improved socialization in the class. The children were said to have less signs of distress and anxiety. Pets support social connections and are said to reduce social anxiety. Simply having a pet counteracts isolation.

So if you don’t already have a pet perhaps you should rethink this because there are way too many reasons not to have one. If you are not ready for the commitment, fair enough because pets are a forever thing. I promise that the unconditional love you will get back from a pet, will certainly be worth it.

Thanks for reading ❤️

Fear is an intense emotion that commonly disguises itself as anxiety. Fear in my life, is often rooted in self doubt and lack of confidence. It pops up every now and again to heighten my senses and make me stop and pay closer attention.

I am grateful for fear because it has kept me safe countless of times throughout my life but it has also given me an excuse to play it safe. Being safe is boring but it keeps you from being hurt or disappointed.

I once wanted so badly to jump off this amazing cliff. I was in beautiful Jamaica and was on an adventure tour. It looked like so much fun and even little kids were doing it. I mustered up all my courage and walked up the cliff with total confidence. When I got up to the top, I just stood there frozen in fear. The crowd was cheering me on and yet I just couldn’t jump. I walked back down and already regretted my decision but fear got the better of me.

I enjoyed sports as a kid and was somewhat athletic but I never played on any of the school teams. I never even tried out because fear got in my way. I was so scared of rejection that I just didn’t even show up. I convinced myself I didn’t want to be on the team. The truth was I really did. I was just too scared of being rejected.

“Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back.”

-Babe Ruth

I often thought boys were too good for me. I had zero confidence and the fear of not being liked in return terrified me. I liked them from a distance but a far distance. I never even took my chance and in a few cases later learned that they were interested in me as well. I just was blinded by fear to even notice.

I barely applied myself in school because I was content to just be average. I didn’t even consider trying hard because I already determined that I was not smart enough. What if I put in all my effort to learn that my best wasn’t good enough. I was much more content doing the bare minimum so I wouldn’t be let down in the end. The fear of failing stopped me from even trying.

I have let the fear of being alone affect my friendships. I would tolerate crappy treatment just so I had lots of friends and was liked. I have been used and abused by so called friends for most of my life because I couldn’t find the courage to speak up for myself. I tolerated mediocre friendships for fear of being alone.

I have let fear even decide my fate. I once decided to follow a boy. I moved away with him because I was so scared to be alone. I gave up on my schooling with only two months left to graduate from college. I watched someone else chase their own dreams because I was too scared to chase my own.

“I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.” -Louisa May Alcott

Imagine a world without fear.

Think of all the new and exciting things you could do!

The incredible opportunities that would be created.

The countless doors that would be opened.

Thanks for reading ❤️

For subscribers only please check out below how fear almost stopped me from joining Coil.

Today is a special day. My baby Griffin turn 12! He is such an awesome kid. The world is seriously so much brighter just by having him in it. He is the funniest kid with a wicked sense of humour. He has the hugest heart and is an old soul.

I wrote this in his birthday card this morning and wanted to share.

**I wish for you my baby boy a happy life full of love and laughter. I know your strength and believe you will be able to handle anything that life ever throws at you. Never forget how much I love you. Take with you these simple words as you continue to grow...**

**Never forget your worth**

**Be original your perfect just as you are**

**Time heals everything**

**It’s easy to be kind, so always be kind**

**Give generously without expectations**

**Respect your elders**

**When lost surround yourself in nature**

**Do the right thing whenever possible**

**Have fun, you only get to live this life once**

**You get what you put out**

**God and Creator are always with you**

**Never forgot that your loved beyond words**

**Treat others the way you want to be treated**

**Tears are healing**

**Forgiveness is freeing**

**Be humble**

**Use your manners**

**Your imagination is a gift**

**Love you to the moon and back**

**Forever and always xoxo**

**Love Mom**

Thanks for reading ❤️

Trigger warning: mental illness and depression

Anyone who has ever battled with mental illness knows how incredibly hard it can be. I want to examine treatment options and or lack of options available. There are many challenges with antidepressants and often it can be trial and error when finding the right medication that works. There are many people suffering with mental illness that are considered treatment-resistant because no medications work; therefore, hope cannot come soon enough.

Clinical Depression affects 7% of adults in the US, equaling to 17 million people. You would think that there would be lots of treatment options and medications available given the overwhelming need; however, shockingly this is not the case.

There has not been any major advancements or breakthrough drugs developed in the last three decades.

Treatments Throughout Time

Hippocrates believed that too much black bile coming from the spleen created melancholia which was similar to what we now call depression. This was described as deep, dark moods of lasting fear or sadness. Diet, excercise, sleep, sun, bathing and massage were recommended as treatment.

During the ancient times they believed that sex could improve depressive conditions. In the Middle Ages depression symptoms were considered to be the disease of the spirit. It was seen as a demonic possession. If a women was depressed they were labelled to be a witch and burned alive.

In the 17th century depression was believed to be rooted in the brain. Thomas Willis determined that depression was distemper of the brain and heart; however, treatment options were not improving much. Those suffering were still being prescribed simple lifestyle treatments as well as herbal remedies, music therapy and spinning stools.

Electroconvulsive therapy was introduced

in 1938 but the procedure had many negative side effects including memory loss.

In the 50s a medication called iproniazid was used to treat tuberculosis patients. It was discovered that after starting this medication patients were observed to go from miserable to euphoric and seen dancing in the halls. It was later used to treat depression and many noticed significant improvement but the medication was pulled off the market because it was found to give patients liver damage. 400,000 people were on the drug when it was eventually pulled in 1961.

In time it was learned that depression was a result of depleted neurotransmitters called serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. A new medication was developed called Prozac. It was released in 1987. In just three years, 2 million people around the world were on Prozac. This medication is considered to be an (SSRI) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There have been many different variations of the drug developed.

SSRIs have been the go to drug for the last three decades because there really isn’t any better options; however, they are far from perfect. They often make you feel much worse before you start to begin to feel better which takes weeks and is not a guarantee. 3 in 10 patients will not see any benefit from being on them.

Ketamine Therapy

The party drug ketamine or it’s street name “Special K” is a club drug that is known for being a psychedelic drug and can make people hallucinate. Ketamine is also regularly used by anesthesiologists during surgeries. Strangely enough it has also been found to ease depression symptoms.

Studies have shown that 60%-70% of people with treatment resistant depression respond positively to ketamine. This is huge! Ketamime is said to work almost immediately and could be a game changer for treatment-resisted patients.

There are private ketamine clinics that are treating patients with treatment-resistant conditions. Patients come to the clinic to receive ketamine infusions as this is still considered a highly addictive drug. The clinics are ran by an anesthesiologist or psychiatrist. This is not yet approved by the FDA so it is not covered by insurance. It can be costly as each visit is between $400-$800. The effect from one treatment is only temporary as the depressive symptoms eventually begin to return; therefore, patients are recommended to come back to the clinic for new infusions every few weeks.

There are some cons for sure as ketamine can lead to dependency similar to oxycodone, morphine, heroin and Percocet. Ketamine has also been historically linked to bladder toxicity and cognitive problems for those abusing the drug for recreational purposes. It is still not clear as to what the correct dosage amount of ketamine should be when treating for mental health conditions. The clinics use sub-anesthetic dosages which means that it will not cause anesthia but hallucinations can still occur; therefore the treatment can be intense and not for everyone.

Experts are not entirely sure how ketamine works to treat depression but believe that the drug stimulates receptors in the brain, that are then able to kick start synaptic plasticity. Antidepressants work similarly but not as quickly and do not seem to be as powerful. The medical profession appears to be cautiously optimistic regarding ketamine and what it could mean for the future of mental health.

“I think this it’s the most exciting treatment of the last 50 years, but there’s a lot we don’t know about it.”-

I am so excited to see where this goes. I am truly hopeful that one day there will be many more successful treatment options out there because everyone deserves help. These clinics are also treating treatment-resistant anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Thanks for reading ❤️

Mental illness is defined as a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

Mental health is a global problem that is not only complicated but largely misunderstood. It is incredibly hard to navigate your way through all the darkness and chaos of mental illness especially because of the huge stigma that is attached. The stats alone are scary enough to make anyone stop and take notice.

450 million people worldwide suffer from mental health conditions according to (WHO) World Health Organization

1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness in the course of a year with anxiety disorders being the most prevalent

21% children aged 3-18 will suffer from a mental health condition at some point

70% of youth in the juvenile justice system suffer from at least one mental health condition

Worldwide more than $2.5 trillion is spent on mental health per year and it is only going up. It is expected that it will rise to $6 trillion by 2030

Mental heatlh is close to my heart because I battle mental illness myself and I am not ashamed to admit this. I have learned over the years to effectively manage my mental health; however, it never goes away and there is no miraculous cure.

I live with this tremendous burden and it’s all I have ever really known so you just keep going. This always reminds me of the movie Finding Nemo.

“When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming.” — Dory

The stigma comes from the negative association with mental illness. Many look down on the mentally ill or perceive them to be crazy and insane. There is another misconception out there that those with mental health conditions are dangerous and unpredictable. This is simply not true and makes the situation only worse.

I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Yes, these may be my official diagnoses but they in *NO* way define me. I am so much more than my mentall illness.

Labels are so scary because they give us a name to something we don’t really understand. I was completely terrified to admit that I needed help; therefore, I resisted getting help for most of my life. It was not until I was 26 when I finally sought out support because I didn’t want a label.

This was the first step in a long journey. I have since learned to advocate for myself and fight for help because it sadly does not always come easy. This being a big reason as to why people are either misdiagnosed or in many cases not even diagnosed at all. Some are too fearful or ashamed to even reach out and try and get help because of the stigma that comes along with it.

Nobody should have to live with mental health conditions alone and in silence. There is help out there; however, you need to be willing to go out and find it. You have to be determined and willing to not stop, until you do. Friends and family are really helpful in getting you through this process. They are the amazing cheerleaders that always have your back and gently remind you to just keep swimming.

Many suffering with mental health conditions struggle to get the right support due to the lack of resources available.

Suicide rates are rising and supports and resources are scarce. We have still not seen the long term impact from COVID-19 but there is no doubt going to be a significant rise in mental health challenges.

I am excited to continue to explore this topic on Coil because I want to increase awareness and end the stigma of mental illness. I will never give up hope!

Thanks for reading ❤️