It's not uncommon for me to hear people struggle with balancing their own needs and those of others. Some err on the side of being highly self-focused while others veer more toward being a caretaker. But an extreme caretaking role can be a problem because you can lose sight of the importance of tending to your own needs. If you've ever flown in an airplane and listened to the safety instructions prior to take-off, you've been instructed on something like this: "In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down. Please secure your own oxygen mask before assisting those around you." Essentially this is stressing to us that we are less able, perhaps fully unable, to help others when we are gasping for air (overwhelmed, overcommitted, stressed, physically or mentally compromised). So, it's important to take care of yourself - not only for your own good, but so that you can be available to help others as well.

This announcement, from colleagues at the NRI in Fargo, could be very valuable to males and females suffering from bulimia nervosa who have limited access to or resources for treatment.

The Neuropsychiatric Research Institute of Fargo is conducting a free treatment trial for individuals with symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa. They are recruiting research volunteers in the Minneapolis area who meet the following criteria:
• have symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
• age 18 or older
• willing to participate in 16 weeks of treatment
• willing to participate in follow-up for 1 year after treatment

Each participant will be paid for the follow-up appointments to a total of $100. Note that there is no "placebo" or inactive tratment - all participants will receive active treatment.

If you are interested in more information, please call toll-free 1-877-299-3511 ext 4949 or ext 4923. Or you may call direct to 701-365-4923 or 701-365-4949. All calls are confidential.

Did you know that in the middle of the 19th century mental health used to be called mental hygiene? Hygiene is defined as conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease. I think it communicates that active participation on our parts can help us have better psychological health.

If you didn't brush your teeth or floss for a year (ick!), would you expect that your teeth would be fine? Of course not. Nor should we expect that if we are regularly stressed, overcommitted, sleep-deprived, and overwhelmed that we'll be fine.

What would your mental hygiene comprise? What would you need to have or practice on a daily or weekly basis in order to be at your best psychologically? Go ahead and try it out - see if it makes a difference if you develop regular practices for optimal mental health....

All of us have a history - some more challenging or strained than others. While history has an impact on how we develop and what we've experienced, it does not have to control who we become. You may not be responsible for your past, but you are responsible for what you do in the present, how you interact with the world, and who you aspire to be.

I learned how to swim this year. Not because I really wanted to, but because I was dragooned by a friend to do a triathlon with her before I realized that I didn't know how to swim (panic!).

To confront significant emotions (fear, sadness, insecurity, etc) and learn how to tolerate them is an important task. Our ability to hang in with a feeling teaches us that the feeling itself is manageable (thus giving us more power and control than the emotion), and can give us the time to devise a plan of action that is safe and productive.

Here are some of the basic elements of learning something new:

1. Get a coach, someone to guide you.
2. Have fans - people to cheer you on and encourage you.
3. Develop a plan (e.g., what will you try, when, who will support you).
4. Take it slow, be patient.
5. Practice, practice, practice.
6. Celebrate each accomplishment, no matter how large or small.