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Staying Engaged
We’ve now had a week to sit with the results of the election. Whatever is your political persuasion, there is a lot of unknown regarding the political ramifications of the results. The important thing to do now is to not get comfortable or engage in what is called “slacktivism”, doing things that help us feel better but which have no real impact. Consider what elements of our country that are most important to support and protect, ensuring that we are not just considering our own needs, but those of our American family as well.
Progress Now sent out a list of some wonderful organizations to consider. Here is hoping that we each embrace our important roles as citizens and make sure we protect the valuable rights we have enjoyed but are easy to loose.
Ian Silverii info@progressnowcolorado.org wrote:
We have to stand together for what we believe in no matter what the politicians in Washington do. Colorado can be a model for fixing the problems America faces. Sign up now for rapid-response alerts to help us respond.
Once you’ve signed up for action alerts, connect with local organizations working on issues important to you. In Colorado, we have a wealth of strong public policy and advocacy groups working every day to solve problems our community faces, protect our rights, and build a prosperous future. Donate, join their lists, volunteer; we’ve got to start now…
Abortion rights: NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado is the political action leader of the pro-choice movement in Colorado. Connect with NARAL for information on abortion legislation, and take action at the state and national level to protect reproductive rights. Additionally, to learn about more great work being done to protect women’s rights in Colorado, you can also connect with the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado.
Immigration: the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition is a statewide coalition of organizations to founded improve the lives of immigrants and refugees by making Colorado a more welcoming, immigrant-friendly state.
Health care policy: The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit organization working so all Coloradans can get affordable, high-quality and equitable health care.
Education: Great Education Colorado‘s mission is to drive educational excellence for all Colorado students by harnessing the power of grassroots activism, and stimulating wise investment in Colorado’s public schools, colleges, and universities.
Latino organizing: Generation Latino is organizing the collective energy, imagination and creativity of Colorado’s young Latino community and channeling our ideas into policies that will build a path to better jobs, higher wages, affordable healthcare, accessible education, and immigration reform.
Social Justice: multiple grassroots organizations are working hard to promote social justice and end the scourge of police violence against communities of color. Connect with Black Lives Matter 5280, the NAACP Colorado Montana Wyoming State Conference, Together Colorado, and the Colorado People’s Alliance.
Civil liberties and privacy: The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado‘s mission is to protect, defend and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education and advocacy.
Environmental protection: Conservation Colorado works with communities statewide to ensure that our quality of life, environment, and public health are protected. We work to elect pro-conservation leaders to public office and hold decision-makers accountable.
Economic policy: The Bell Policy Center produces the ideas, analysis and action that make opportunity happen–advancing the debate around family economic security and driving public policy solutions that help Coloradans get ahead and stay ahead. The Colorado Fiscal Institute provides credible, independent and accessible information and analysis of fiscal and economic issues facing Colorado.
LGBT equality: One Colorado is the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families.
Progressive communities of faith: Founded in 1998 by a group of clergy and laity to help Coloradans to put their faith into action as a force for good in public life, the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado brings together people of different faiths to drive equality, human rights, and opportunity.
Housing and homelessness: the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has been helping the homeless for more than 30 years. CCH considers the definition of homelessness to be anyone who lacks a fixed, regular or adequate residence.
Gun safety: Colorado Ceasefire advocates for freedom from gun violence throughout the state.
Depression: More Than Just An Attitude Problem
Every year, I am struck by how far we still have to go to learn what is going on in the depressed brain. 7.6 % of US citizens ages 12(1) and up suffer per year, and medications are unable to help at least 1/3 of those afflicted.
Part of the struggle is the sheer complexity of this phenomenon. For example, Duman et al (2015) cited nutrition, sex sterioids, cardiovascular VEGF, stress, and the immune system all effect and are impacted by depression and anxiety.(2) Others have noted how brain activity shifts so the sufferer struggles to remember, make decisions, and feel motivated. The following article adds another component. It describes how the very structures of the brain are changed, possibly minimizing the ability to recall positive memories while more strongly linked to areas associate with punishment.
http://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-say-they-ve-identified-the-physical-source-of-depression-in-the-brain
Of course, these are not taking into account the environmental factors like trauma, social isolation, stressors (like financial, employment, relationship conflict) that also play apart. In all, I never want to forget that a sufferer cannot easily solve this problem. Hence why therapists like myself work with the person, and sometimes a team of people, to rebuild and repair.
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1 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm
2 Synaptic plasticity and depression: new insights from stress and rapid-acting antidepressants, Ronald S Duman, George K Aghajanian, Gerard Sanacora, & John H Krystal. Nature Medicine, 22, 238–249 (2016) doi:10.1038/nm.4050 Received 11 March 2015, Accepted 21 January 2016, Published online 03 March 2016
The Orlando Shooting
I’m still reeling from the news in Orlando that a devastating decision led to the worst tragedy since 9-11. Someone, fueled by justification and hatred, deemed that the lives of over 100 people no longer mattered. The victims were people out on the town, enjoying music and friendship, when this stranger burst in and brutally murdered 49, wounded 53, and altered the lives of the survivors and loved ones forever.
Sadly, the LGBTQIA community is no stranger to violence. Paul Brussard (killed by 10 men in Houston), Matthew Shepard (tricked, beaten, and left to die in Laramie, W), Harvey Milk (shot in California) are just a few of a long list of hate crimes. And the transgender community has so many murders each year that they have created “The Day of Remembrance” to annually honor their deceased brothers and sisters. As we come up on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to allow same sex marriage in all fifty states, this recent atrocity is just one more reminder that we still have so far to go before the community can ever feel safe, let alone accepted.
I hope that one day, diversity does not mean different or dangerous. Where unfamiliar is no longer frightening but is approached with openness and warmth. For no matter our uniqueness, we are all part of one race- the human race. We are all part of the same family. We should celebrate those who are bravely trying to live authentically, and cease turning the one you love into an issue.
We now must make a choice- do we now use recent events to fuel our hatred for the Muslim community? Do we allow ourselves dangerous permission to dehumanize other people so it is gets easier to be cruel and inhumane? Do we support institutions or doctrines that teach us that one group of people is better than another? We must stop the contagious hate that is like a cancer. We must stop waiting for others to take the lead and instead practice each day to work against bigotry and prejudice. Finally, we must show solidarity with those who have been brutalized. Please, consider making a financial contribution to a place dedicated to being a loving force to our traumatized brethren or to those organizations working to eradicate hate.
Meanwhile, may this tragedy offer us the opportunity to change. May it bring us together, instead of apart. May we take the challenge to make this world a safer and kinder place for all to live in.
Donation Suggestions:
- https://www.donationplanet.org/fundraising/donate-to-orlando-shooting-victims-families/
- Donate blood at your local blood center since there is a significant drop in donations during summer months. http://bonfils.org/?gclid=Cj0KEQjw-YO7BRDwi6Stp7T296ABEiQAD6iWMeHXUpxfSA9XKay9Gmm_Jjz8KZw5xKaPfr9-EVGJq64aAqOA8P8HAQ
- Equality Florida Instituteis raising money for the victims. The charity says that it is “working with a team of attorneys and experts, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both Chattanooga and Aurora, to ensure funds are distributed correctly.”
- There are also highly rated charities listed on their website: charitynavigator.org
Resources:
Mindfulness In a Nutshell
The following article does a great job of introducing us to mindfulness, noting some key benefits and complementary exercises: http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/01/mindfulness/. Some people get intimidated by the term, envisioning success only by donning a monk’s cloak and meditating for years in a cave. It does not have to be that way, there are levels of practice and intensity that can range from general stress management to spiritual awakening.
For those people who want to take a break from the frantic pace and constant noise of our day to day lives, brief meditation is a wonderful tool. It encourages deep breathing and focused attention, reconnecting us with our bodies, the present, and the rhythm of this life-giving action. Counting, visualizations, and calming phrases also distract us from nagging pressures that can keep us escalated. By the end, it’s like the mind’s reset button has been pushed, and we have fresh perspective and a greater sense of center.
There are others who hope to take this a step further, working to become less mired in the constant stream of thoughts that are as persistent as a stalker. Through specific exercises, a skill is created to observe the inner world with more detachment. Instead of being controlled by the thoughts and the corresponding emotions, we can consider the health and value of what we see. It is then possible to determine how the information can help us find positive trajectories and cease reckless reactivity and defensiveness.
Finally, mindfulness has the ability to change the way we see and approach our life and those we encounter. It is a spiritual practice, where one has long gaps where the thoughts are quiet, allowing one to tune in to what if feels like to just “be”. This opens the way for connection to be felt with all living things, creating a blend of humility, gratitude, and contentment. The ego has little importance here- instead, the focus is on how to be a positive influence in the world, using a sense of peace, wisdom, and compassion.
What you decide to aim for is whatever works for you. Hopefully the article above can be a welcome introduction and give you a taste of something that could be a powerful balm for the challenges that come with each day.
Trans-Phobia and the Dangerous Legislation You Should Know About
There was a recent segment on The Daily Show that had a fantastic piece on aspects of being transgender. Some elements were subtle, like Trevor Noah not falling for the common trap of asking Angelica Ross about her genitalia, but instead treating his guest like a three-dimensional human being. But there was also a segment provided by Jessica Williams that highlighted the daily bigotry they have to endure. Please watch April 6th’s episode:
http://www.cc.com/full-episodes/1b9vdp/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-april-6–2016—angelica-ross-season-21-ep-21087
One important element not stated was that this community is constantly at risk for hate crimes without these policies. Blazer noted that every third day a trans person is murdered. Hate crimes released by the FBI in November 2015 gave a startling report stating that hate crimes tripled between 2013 and 2014. In fact, this is such a painful reality for trans people that each year on November 20th, there is a sobering ceremony called the Day of Remembrance to honor those brothers and sisters who died under these circumstances in the last year.
This means that safety is one of the most important aspects a trans person must be constantly vigilant about. “Passing”, or the ability to blend in with cisgender majority (people whose gender identity matches their biology at birth) is crucial. Imagine having to be a trans male forced to walk into a woman’s bathroom with a beard, or a trans woman having to use the men’s bathroom wearing a dress. We are either asking individuals to have bladders of steel so they can “hold it” until they are home, or being instantly outed to a community we already know is hostile.
For those worried that this puts others at risk, there are no statistics supporting this. Gender identity is separate from sexual deviance like pedophilia, voyeurism, or assault. Nor is it linked to sexual orientation. They aptly state in the segment that just because you have a job, like the priesthood, or an identity like being a feminist, republican/democrat, etc. does not mean there are inherent mental health issues. And in case anyone quotes former diagnostic manuals, realize that the American Psychiatric Association has evolved enough to no longer consider gender dysphoria a disorder. It is a therapeutic issue because, like other quests about self-esteem and identity, so therapists can help lessen the discomfort they feel every day.
These individuals want what most people want- to live in a world where they can be themselves, be safe, and to be happy. Please do what you can to help make that possible, whether it is through political activism to educating yourself so you can be a compassionate person to those who need to be welcomed.
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Resources:
Balzer, Carsten (2009). “Every 3rd day the murder of a trans person is reported” (PDF)(3).
Kava: Warnings About This Anti-Anxiety Supplement!
A local doctor recently share that the common herb used for anxiety, Kava, needs significant caution and doctor’s oversight. Based on recent research, it not only has risks like impacting the effectiveness of birth control, some users have had liver damage in there have even been deaths.
We must be aware that just because something is a supplement/herb, does not automatically make it safe. The Diet Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 means that these products are not regulated to insure consistency and purity. In addition, these plants are medicines that create a chemical reaction within the body. One needs an understanding of individual history, potential interactions, genetic factors, and research to ensure that a consumer has all the information to make an informed decision. I highly recommend doing research before introducing something into your system, and consulting your doctor before you decide. Health is precious- let’s do all we can to protect it.
Supporting articles:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/risky-herbal-supplements?page=2
5 Tips to Improve Your Self-Talk
The following is a lighthearted but great approach to those nagging tapes in our heads that gradually wear us down. The tips demonstrate how we do not have to be at the mercy of these messages, just like we would want to stand up to an obnoxious, arrogant person putting us down. However, do not just read these words- try them out. If you dedicate some time to a tip and create a new habit, it may make enormous changes in your energy, confidence, and outlook.