GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Could is Mental Overall health Awareness month. According to the National Institute of Mental Overall health, extra than 1 in 5 adults reside with a mental illness. The way they cope matters. A Lansing lady who has turned her trauma into a profession of assisting other folks, shares how to handle your mental well being in a good way.
Angela Hook didn’t know it at the time, but at just nine years old her childhood trauma triggered her to endure from anxiousness and depression. At 1st, she turned to cigarettes, then her process of coping escalated.
“From cigarettes, I began drinking alcohol, from alcohol, I began experimenting with marijuana, from that I began smoking crack,” mentioned Hook.
She located herself stealing, finding in and out of negative relationships and going against her faith to preserve up with her addiction.
It impacted her life, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. She had kids at the time, and wasn’t in a position to be the very best mom that she knew she could be. Till 1 day, a close contact changed her life.
“I can recall going on a binge finding higher, and I ended up rolling more than on my son, and when I woke up my son was blue and he was barely breathing,” mentioned Hook.
Hook believes her 4-month-old son at the time was her guardian angel, and pushed her to get the assist she necessary. She joined a Narcotics Anonymous system and began counseling to get to the root of her anxiousness and depression, so that she could heal.
Right now, she is 30 years sober with two Masters degrees, operating as a Licensed Experienced Counselor to assist other folks with their mental well being.
“I’m generally speaking to men and women about how God brought me by way of scenarios, and I share my story to let men and women know that you do not have to remain in the rut that you are in, there is hope,” mentioned Hook.
She also shows them how to do what she didn’t do – cope in a wholesome way. Rather of turning to destructive habits like drugs and alcohol, she encourages men and women to attempt items that will uplift them. Like finding a counselor, focusing on self-care by consuming correct and working out, practicing pressure management approaches like journaling, and practicing mindfulness.
“We need to have to advocate in regards to mental well being, we need to have to know that there is absolutely nothing incorrect with saying that I need to have assist,” mentioned Hook.
If you or a person you know is struggling with mental well being, right here are a couple of sources from the National Institute of Mental Overall health:
Substance Abuse and Mental Overall health Solutions Administration (SAMHSA): For basic info on mental well being and to find therapy solutions in your region, contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-Assist (4357). SAMHSA also has a Behavioral Overall health Remedy Solutions Locator on its site that can be searched by place.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Get in touch with or text 988
The Lifeline gives 24-hour, confidential help to any person in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Get in touch with or text 988 to connect with a educated crisis counselor.
Veterans Crisis Line
Use Veterans Crisis Chat on the web
The Veterans Crisis Line is a absolutely free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a educated responder. The service is readily available to all veterans and these who help them, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare.
If you are worried about a friend’s social media updates, you can speak to security teams at the social media enterprise. They will attain out to connect the individual with the assist they need to have.
View the five action measures for assisting a person in emotional discomfort infographic to see how you can assist these in distress.
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