Newsletter

December2017

MessagefromSARDAA,CEO

DearFriends,

Wewisheveryonegoodhealthandthebestforthisholidayseason.ThereissomuchstimulusaroundusthroughoutDecember.Evengoodtimesbringstressandoverexertion,overindulgenceandoverexpectations.Sothisisatimetohelpourselvestosomeself-careandlowerourexpectationsofourselfand

others.Ourfrustrationswithunrealizedexpectationscanleadtoexacerbationofdepressionandothertriggeredsymptoms.So,ifyousetrealisticexpectationsofyourselfandothers,thefrustrationcanbereduced,eveneliminated.SomeadvicethatI’vefoundtobehelpfulinclude:

1.ManageExpectations✓Endeavortoberealisticinexpectationsofyourselfandothers.Thisisatimetoenjoyyourfamilyandfriendsinamannerthatiscomfortablenotstressful.✓Thisisatimetoprotectyourselfandavoid/managewhatyouhavelearnedisstressfulforyou.

2.SetaBudget✓Berealisticinhowmuchyouareabletospendandsticktoyourpersonalabilities.Remember,thebestgiftscanbeofone’sself:artwork,music,handmadeitems–includingcards,andyourcompanyorphonecall.

3.KeepYourHealthyHabits✓Thisistougharoundthistimewhenfoodseemstobeatheme.Buttrytolimityourindulgences.Apieceortwoinsteadofhalfoftheboxcansatisfyyourtastebuds.

4.StopandBreathe✓Literallytaketimeforrefreshingdeepbreaths.✓Attendthepartyorpartiesthataretrulyenjoyableforyouandyouhavetheenergytoattend.✓Askyourselfthis:“doesattendingthiseventcausemorestressthanhappiness?”

5.Self-Care!✓Journalingandtrackingyourmoodcanreallyhelpdecreaseyourstresslevelovertheholidays.✓Usethe"dailymood"trackerinourSchizophreniaHealthStorylinesappandstarttrackingyourmoodwithonlyafewclicksaday.✓YoucanjournalbysimplyusingourjournaltoolintheSchizophreniaHealthStorylinesapp,thenwatchyourprogressovertime.

Finally,knowthatyouareindeedsomeonewecareaboutandwewishyoupeace,safety,happinessandgoodwill.

Warmestregards,LindaStalters,MSNCEOSchizophreniaAndRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmerica

MessagefromFFS,FamilyandFriends,

CoordinatorReflectingongratitude,ofwhichmanyareespeciallymindfulofinNovember,I'dliketosaythatI'mnotsureofmuchinlife,butofthisIamsure...I'mgratefulforhavingmetyouonthischallengingpathwhichlifehaschosenforus.I'venotmetastronger,moreloving,committedgroupofpeoplethanwepeers,wefamily.Iwishyou,andthespecialoneinyourlife,loveand

serenityinthecomingholidayseason.

WithHeart,MaryRoss

MessagefromSAStaffSupporter

RequirementstostartanSAgroupBySandyDimiterchik

Friday,December1wasmyfirsttimetoleadaSchizophreniaAlliancegroup.ThemeetingwasheldatTheExtraMilehereinLafayette,LA.The

turnoutwasgood–8people--andallparticipatedwhilewestartedoffwithanaffirmation,readthroughvariouspartsoftheBlueBookaboutSAgroups,andwentovertheSixSteps.EverythingislaidoutintheBlueBook.Allyouneedisempathyandagoodlistener’sear.Well,andacoupleofotherthings.

Firstofall,youneedtohaveschizophreniaorarelateddisorder(mainlywithanoccurrenceofpsychosis).Thedisordersincludebipolardisorder,schizo-affectivedisorder,anddepressionwithpsychosis.Next,youneedtohaveaplacetoholdthemeeting.Thiscanincludeothernon-profitorganizations(likeIhave),churches,libraries,anywherethatitisfreetoholdameeting.Lastofall,youneedtocontactSARDAAsothatwecansendyouanSAGroupLeaderManual,acoupleofBlueBooks,andsomebrochuresonSAandSARDAA.Onceyouhavecontactedheadquarters,youprobablywillhearfromme,actingasaliaisonandresourceforSAGroupLeaders.

Otherthingsyoumightwanttoconsiderincludeparticipatinginoneofourfiveweeklyteleconferencecalls.Bycallingin,yougetaliveversionofhowyourmeetingswillflow.EverybodyusestheBlueBooktooutlinemeetings.So,allmeetingshavethesimilarformat.Ofcourse,wealsostressthateachgroupisindependentandyoucanholdsocialeventstooifyouwantto.Itisalluptothemembersofthegroup!Also,weareholdingaSAworkshopinApril2018atourannualSARDAAconferenceinHouston,TX.SAGroupLeaders,including

myself,willtrainyoutoleadSAgroupsusingtheSAGroupLeaderManual.Thisisanexcitingopportunity.Formoreinformationaboutattending,contactinfo@sardaa.org.

Anotherthingyoumightconsideristakingthingstoanotherdegree,bytrainingtobeacertifiedpeersupportspecialist.Youwillgainskillsthatwillhelpyourunthemeetingsmoresmoothly.Everystatehasitsowncertificationprocess.Contactmeifyouwanttolearnmoreaboutthatoption!Ofcourse,definitelycontactmeifyouwanttostartaSAgroup–sandy.dimiterchik@sardaa.org.

PeerSubmissions

AGatheringBySandyDimiterchik

Agatheringofpeoplecanbecalledbydifferentnames.Itisameetingofpeople,sometimestoplaygames,orgettingtogethertofellowshipornetwork.Someeventsarefun,otherstostopajerk.Whattheyhaveincommonisasimilarcause,andforeveryoneinvolvedeachtakesapausefromlifeandone’ssurrounding.Sometimesspiritual,othertimesjustbeingahumanbeing.Itdoesn’tmakeadifferencehowoldthepeopleare,justthattheyagreedtogather,nothingmore.

Wewelcomeyourmessage/artfromSAMembersforinclusioninthenewsletter.Pleasesubmityourmessageto:info@sardaa.orgormailtoSARDAAPOBox941222,Houston,TX77094-8222forconsiderationfornextmonth'snewsletter.

YourstorymightbeincludedinaSARDAAnewsletterandmightbepublishedinafutureeditionoftheSABlueBook.

Excitingholidaynews!

SARDAAisparticipatingintheNewman'sOwnFoundation$500KHolidayChallenge.It'safriendlyfundraisingcampaignwhere

nonprofitorganizationscompetetoraisethemostmoneywithtopteamswinninggrandprizecashdonations.

SARDAAisraisingfundstoreclassifyschizophreniatoaneurologicalbraindisorder.Reclassificationwillmeanmorescientificresearch,

accesstohospitalbedsandimprovetreatmentoutcomes.Fundswillhelpsupporttrainings,traveltomeetwithlegislators,educationand

promotionmaterials.

TheCampaignlaunchedonTuesday,November21standatotalof$500KwillbegivenawaytoorganizationsintheChallenge.

SchizophreniaisaneurologicalbraindisorderthatrequirestreatmentNOTincarcerationorresultinhomelessness!

Togetherwecanaccomplishthis!

HOWYOUCANHELP

Joinourteamasafundraiserbysettingupacampaignforourcauseandreachingouttoyournetworkoffriends,familymembers,co-workers,everyoneyouknow.Ittakeslessthan5minutestosetup

yourfundraiser.

Gotohttps://www.crowdrise.com/sardaaandclickJointheTeamandCreateYourFundraisernowanddonate.Thenshareyourpage

withyourcontacts.

Thankyouinadvanceforyoursupport.Everydollarhelps,bigorsmall.

Let'sworktogethertoReclassifySchizophreniaNow!

SARDAAextendsitsappreciationandgratitudetoBoardMember,Dr.RaymondCho,forenthusiasticallyCo-Chairingthesymposium.

WatchformoredetailsinthenewsletterandontheSARDAAwebsite.Opportunitiestosponsortheconferenceandvendorexhibitsareavailable.ContactFloraDavis,DirectorofExternalAffairsformoreinformationatflora.davis@sardaa.orgorcall817.925.4421.

FromtheDeskofJohnP.“HappinessSeries”

Howdowesumupallthisbusinessonhappiness?Firstofall,thoseofuswithmentalillnessneedtobecarefulaboutself-blameifweareunhappy.Scientistsbelievethat50percentoftheequationonhappinessisaresultofinheritedbrainchemistry.AsonescientistinterviewedonABC-Newssaid:"Therearecertainbrainsthataremorepredisposedtoexperiencehappinesscomparedtootherbrains."Itwouldbeadoubleinjustice,ifwepsychologicallybeatuponyourselfoverhabitualunhappiness,ortakeseriouslyotherswhotrytodoso,wheninfactthesourceoftheproblemissomethingbiologicaloverwhichwehavelittlecontrol.

Wecantakeheartthathumanbeingsusuallyadjusttotheircircumstancesandreturntotheiroriginalstateofhappinessafterdifficultperiods.OnestudyattheUniversityofIllinoisshowedthatphysicallydisabledstudentshadthesamereportedlevelsofhappinessasable-bodiedstudents,towithinonepercentagepoint.

Itmightbeworthrememberingthattherecanbemeaningtoperiodsofunhappiness--thatwemightgrowinunexpectedwaysifwearecalledto"climbagreatmountain"ofdifficulty.

READMORE

PhoneSupportGroups

SAConferenceCallGroupsOnlyforindividualsdiagnosedSundays-7pmEasternTimeMondays-4pmEasternTimeThursdays-7pmEasternTimeFridays-7pmEasternTime

Saturdays-4pmEasternTime

SpiritofSAConferenceCallForSALeadersandPotentialLeaders

FirstWednesdayofEachMonth-7pmEasternTime

FamilyandFriendsSupportGroupNotforindividualsdiagnosedEveryTuesday-7pmEasternTime

Toll-freeCallsCall-ininformation(855)640-8271

EntryCode88286491#InternationalNumber(720)362-6499

FacebookSupportGroupOnlyforindividualsdiagnosedJOINTheFacebookGroupHere

ThisisaClosedgroup,asktobeadded.

***HOWTOSTARTANDGROWANSAGROUP***

ByMargeryWakefieldWelcometoSA(SchizophrenicsAlliance)!IunderstandthatyouwanttostartanSAgroup,andthatisgreat!READMORE

HelpforpeoplewithSchizophreniaandRelated

Disorders.

Nowitiseasytorecorddetailsandspecificsaboutsymptoms,medication,moods,andmore.Choosewhatyouwanttotrack,andseealltheinformationyouneedtohelpyouoryourlovedonewhoislivingwithschizophreniaandrelateddisorders.

GettheSchizophreniaHealthStorylines™MobileAppToday!ThemobileappisFREEforallusersoniOSandAndroiddevices.Thereisalsoawebversionavailable,accessiblethroughthebrowserofanydesktopcomputerormobiledevice.

SARDAAandSelfCareCatalystshadtheopportunitytoworkwithKristySpeaks,anindividual,likeyou,livingwithschizophrenia.Kristyisamotherof3,whoaftergraduatingfromnursingschoolwasdiagnosedwithschizophrenia.

Shesaidthatoutofalltheappsinthemarket,SchizophreniaHealthStorylinesself-careappwasthemostsupportiveasitallowshertotrackhersymptoms,moods,andjournalherthoughts.

ToshowyoursupportforKristy,wearereachingouttoyoutodownloadtheapptoday!Wehopethatyoubenefitthesamewayshedoes!

DownloadSchizophreniaHealthStorylinestoday!

AcalltoactionfromaCEOonthefrontlinesoftheopioidcrisisByRICHARDF.POPSDecember7,2017Mycompany,Alkermes,hasbeenatworksincethelate1990sdevelopingandbringingtopatientsamedicinethathelpsthemfightaddictiontoopioids.Aswesetoutonthatpath,CEOsoflargercompaniesurgedmetoreconsiderthatdecision.Theypointedoutthataddictionisadifficultdiseasewithchallengingpatients,afragmentedtreatmentsystem,andplentyofstigma.Wewentaheadanyway,convincedinthepowerofourscienceandthecompellingmedicalneed.READMORE

AripiprazoleMayReduceCocaineCravingsinPeopleWithSchizophreniaNovember2,2017cravingsbetterthanthedopamineblockerperphenazineafteranacclimationperiod,accordingtoasmall,double-blindarandomizedtrial.READMORE

ChangingattitudesaboutschizophreniaturnsTheBlocintoawardwinnerNovember4,2017ThehitskeepcomingforNewYorkCity-basedadagencyTheBloc,whichwasawardedtheBestinShowinthisyear'sHealthcareMarketingIMPACTAwards.TheprizecomesayearafterbeingnamedAgencyoftheYear.READMORE

HumanitarianAwardsNomineeNovember2017Drivenbyitsmissionto"BeGreattoDoGood,"TheBlociscommittedtopromotingpositivechangeinoursociety.READMORE

MedicationAdherenceandHospitalizationCostsinSchizophreniaMedicationadherenceisessentialtomanageacutesymptomsandreduceriskofrelapseinadultswithschizophrenia.READMORE

ThePM360TrailblazerAwardWinners

AcuteandchronicpainarearealityformillionsofAmericans.READMORE

SchizophreniaOriginatesEarlyinPregnancyNovember20,2017Summary:Usingmini-brainsgrowninthelab,researchershavediscoveredschizophrenialikelybeginstowardtheendofthefirsttrimesteroffetaldevelopment.Researchersbelieve,basedontheirfindings,schizophreniacouldpotentiallybetreatedinutero.READMORE

ResearchfindingswillhelpidentifygeneticcausesofbraindisordersNovember27,2017Newfindingswillhelptoidentifythegeneticcausesofbraindisorders:researchersattheUniversitiesofBasel,BonnandColognehavepresentedasystematiccatalogofspecificvariablelocationsinthegenomethatinfluencegeneactivityinthehumanhippocampus,astheyreportinthejournalNatureCommunications.READMORE

Genome-WideStudiesAidInvestigationofDualDiagnosisofSchizophreniaandSubstanceUseDisorderNovember28,2017Severalnewgenome-wideinvestigationsofschizophreniaandsubstance-usedisordersarehelpingresearchersunderstandhowthesetwoconditionsmayberelated,accordingtoapaperpublishedinGenomeMedicine.READMORE

DonatetoSARDAA

BrainCampaign:TakethePledge

IwillchangemylanguagefromBehavioralorMentaldisordertoBraindisorder.Iwilleducateotherstochangetheirlanguagefrommentalillnessestobrainillness.Iwillnotusestigmatizing,discriminatoryorderogatorylanguagerelatedtobraindisorders.Iwillencouragemypeers,familymembers,andcolleaguestoadvocatewhentheyseediscriminatorylanguageorpracticesinthemediaorinpublic.Iwilladvocatethatpeoplewithbraindisordershaveequalandcomprehensivehealthcare.Iwilltreatallpeoplewithbraindisorderswithrespectandcompassion.

HelpSupportSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceof

America

AmazondonatestoSchizophrenia&RelatedDisordersAlliance.Shopforgreatdealsatsmile.amazon.com/ch/33-1213657

EasystepstosupportSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericathroughAmazonSmile:

SignintoyourAmazonaccountatsmile.amazon.com.

SelectSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericaSearchforandselectSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericaasyourcharity.Onceselected,youwillreceiveaconfirmationemail.

ShopandcheckoutasyouwouldonAmazon.Noextracostispassedontoyou,butAmazonwillautomaticallydonate0.5%ofyourpurchasestoSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmerica.

PleasesharewithyourfriendsandfamilytojoinyoutosupportSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmerica!

BychoosingSchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmericaasyourcharityonsmile.amazon.com,Amazonwilldonate0.5%ofyoureligiblepurchasestoSchizophreniaandRelated

DisordersAllianceofAmerica.

PleasetakeamomenttofindouthowyoucanhelpsupportSARDAA,notonlytodaybuteveryday-atnoextracosttoyou!!

IT'SSOSIMPLE:justbookmarkthislinkhttp://smile.amazon.com/ch/33-1213657,startshoppingandsupportuseverytimeyoushop.

ShopwithPayPalandchooseSARDAAtoDonatewithPayPalGivingFundtohelpsupportSARDAA.

TexasandLouisianaFriends:

Re-EnrollYourKrogerPlusCards

YoucansupportSARDAAwithoutspendingapenny!Register

SchizophreniaandRelatedDisordersonyourKrogerPlusCardandtheywilldonateapercentagetoSARDAAeachtimeyouuseyour

card.

Pleaseregisteronlineatwww.krogercommunityrewards.com

Linkto:SchizophreniaandRelatedDisorders–KrogerPlusCard90425

HelpChangeLives--DonateNow

ThankyoutothosewhoalreadymadeadonationEverycontributionmakesadifference.

Sincerely,AngelWhite,EditorJordanHelwig,CreativeDesigner

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