The Jewels' Angels Foundation, Inc.
Helping teens see that they are not alone with depression and educating on the awareness & prevention of suicide – if you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts text the National Suicide Lifeline at 988
NICOTINE
I wonder what love is
When I press my lips up to yours
I feel it’s lust, but you say it’s love.
And when I press a cigarette against my lips
I wonder what love is
Love, this isn’t it, only addiction.
It feels more like love, though
Rather than your lips, a cigarette
Making my lungs fill.
It feels safer, though
People say cigarettes are bad and addictive
But I say it’s you.
Written By: JCW
November 2016
When I first heard the term “suicide survivor” I thought it meant someone who attempted suicide, and survived. Nope! A suicide survivor is a family member or friend of someone who died by suicide.
For survivors of suicide the grieving process is slightly different from any other form of death. The difference is the guilt aspect. It is not unusual for people who lost someone to suicide to feel guilty about why that person wanted to die. Maybe if they had just been a better sister, maybe if they had answered that phone call, this person would still be alive. But honestly, you cannot blame yourself. However little or big your impact was in that person’s life, they had their own demons they were struggling with.
Some survivors of suicide say that people who completed suicide are going to do it one way or another; at one point in time or another. Who knows if this is the truth or not? Nobody really knows the answer to this agonizing question, especially since everyone has a different story, a different life. When you lose a loved one to suicide you have to remember that they loved you and that they more than likely had been contemplating it for a while; could have been years and could have not been their first attempt. The only reason they stayed as long as they did was because they wanted as much time with you as possible. Because they WERE thinking of YOU.
It is also really important to realize that suicide is not selfish; it is not cowardly. Most people who attempt/complete suicide feel that they are a burden to their families. They may feel that they are doing their family members a favor by taking themselves out of the equation. They don’t want their families to have to deal with their depression anymore, to worry about them, to ask them why they’re sad all the time. If someone chooses suicide, they chose it because they didn’t see any other option for healing. They saw no other way out.
Give a friend a hug today. Compliment a stranger. Invite someone you haven’t seen in a while to get coffee. Be someone’s shoulder to cry on and always be kind and compassionate!
Marijuana/cannabis has been deemed illegal until only very recently and because of this, extensive studies on cannabis have not been conducted. Such as, what are the effects of mixing cannabis and anti-depressants? Now that marijuana is legal, more experiments will be conducted on how it effects our everyday lives and therefore, we will have a clearer idea on the effects of marijuana when mixed with prescription medication.
It is important to remember that marijuana IS a psychoactive drug–it DOES alter the way your brain receives and processes information. Every person reacts differently to different substances; especially when multiple substances are being consumed. If your friend is prescribed Prozac, for example, and smokes weed, they may not experience any adverse effects from the marijuana. For this person, marijuana does not interact with their anti-depressants negatively. However, you or another friend may react differently to the same mixture of drugs. Mixing marijuana and a prescribed anti-depressant can be the reason for a list of unwanted symptoms.
Some studies have shown that smoking marijuana as a teen can lead to an onset of psychosis or even schizophrenia, especially if one has a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. Cannabis does not cause or create schizophrenia, but it can trigger psychotic symptoms for people already vulnerable to the illness (Scientific American, 2014).
The point is to be weary about using another substance with a prescription medication. This includes any street drug, as well as alcohol, and other pharmaceutical drugs. Just because marijuana is legal now does not mean that it is safe to use in conjunction with other prescription medications.
Continue to watch for new research on this topic!
Imagine you are hanging out with a new friend, one you do not know too well yet. You are getting ready to head out somewhere and your friend says, “Hold on, before we go I need to take my medication.” They take a couple of pills from several different bottles.
What is your first thought after experiencing this? It probably isn’t a positive thought. You might think this person is crazy, has a deadly illness, or just likes popping pills. Why is there such a terrible stigma around prescription pills?
Medications help tons of people live fairly normal lives. If someone is bi-polar or schizophrenic, just to name a couple mental illness, they will rely on prescription pills (definitely anti-psychotics, and possibly a number of other types of pills) in order to complete every day tasks, hold a job, make & maintain relationships, and live in a social community.
The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Simply put, they make money off people taking their pills. This leaves lots of us with a sour taste in our mouths when we think about prescription pills. It also makes people who seriously need to take them weary about others’ reaction to them.
However, we need to think about the possibilities of medication and how they help tons of people become their better selves and live stable, normal lives. If medication is an option/necessity for someone, we don’t want them to feel less about themselves because they have to take pills, or feel like others would judge them, for relying on a substance to feel and be better. Someone shouldn’t have to feel ashamed because they need something to help.
Let’s all try to keep an open mind about methods of healing for different people- remember to be kind & non-judgemental. We are all just trying to live our best lives.
California is implementing a new California State Law into effect this upcoming 2017-2018 school year. The following information is directly quoted from the California Legislature and the link to this article has been provided.
This new law will allow teachers and administrators the education and resources to better recognize suicidal tendancies and warning signs.
Section 1 of the article AB2246 states:
California Legislative Information – Assembly Bill No. 2246 Chapter 642
I know there are a lot of people struggling out there; everyone struggles within their own situations. Sometimes life may feel hopeless, pointless, not worth living. The most important concept to remember is POSITIVITY. Nobody can make you happy except yourself. If you rely on others for your happiness, you are guaranteed to be miserable–and disappointed often. Happiness comes from within ❤
Here are some little tips to help you smile throughout your day
I know it is easier said than done, but all things accomplished in life require effort & thought. So put effort into your daily happiness.
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million people in the United States over the age of 18 years old every year. There are three different types of bipolar disorder, but in general the symptoms consist of unusual shifts in mood, energy levels, activity, and ability to complete everyday tasks. Also, switching off from feeling really up to feeling extremely down is a typical symptom.
Bipolar 1 is the most severe case, and what is common with this disorder is experiencing manic episodes that last for at least seven days, or having such severe mania that the person requires medical care. In most cases, a severe depression will follow the manic periods, and the depression lasts for about two weeks. So one will experience extended periods of intense mood fluctuations of extreme high and extreme low.
Bipolar 2 is similar to bipolar 1, however it is less severe in terms of the length of manic and depressive episodes as well as severity of these.
Cyclothymic disorder is similar to bipolar disorder 2 because of the mood swings of intense highs and lows. However, this disorder is much less severe. The highs never fully reach mania and the lows never fully reach depressive states. Someone who has cyclothymic disorder has mood swings that are classified as abnormal, but they are not severe enough to be considered full-blown bipolar disorder. In order to be diagnosed with this disorder, the mood swings would need to be present for at least 2 years for adults, and at least 1 year for children & adolescents.
An obvious symptom of a manic episode is someone acting more energetic than they normally would. They may feel like their thoughts are racing and they may have a bunch of ideas but are too antsy to actually form and complete them. They also may be irritable or “touchy”. Another common symptom when manic is to have trouble sleeping and eating, usually too little. It is also common to engage in risky behaviors that are not thought out, such as spending a bunch of money.
When someone is having a depressive episode, they are more “down” than they usually are, and may be withdrawn from activities that usually interest them or isolate themselves from family/friends. It is also common for one to feel hopeless, sad, or empty, and even think about death or suicide. They may have little energy, over sleep, and have trouble concentrating on tasks.
People with severe episodes of mania or depression, usually bipolar disorder 1, may experience some psychotic symptoms such as delusions and/or hallucinations. There is also some comorbidity (two disorders that are likely to occur together) with schizophrenia, anxiety, attention-defecit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance abuse.
As with most disorders; there is no one specific reason why someone will get bipolar disorder. There are several risk factors that possibly play into the development of bipolar disorder such as family heritage/genetics, and brain structure/functioning.
The most beneficial treatment for bipolar disorder is medication. Unfortunately, bipolar disorder is a life-long disease that is not curable. However on the bright side, it is completely treatable and can be kept under control with the right medications. The most important concept is to continue to take the medication prescribed, so as not to risk having a manic or depressive episode.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
An important distinction to make when talking about depression, is the difference between Clinical Depression (sometimes called Major Depressive Disorder or Major Depression) and Situational Depression (sometimes referred to as Adjustment Disorder).
Symptoms of both can be identical; the main difference between the two is the time component and the treatment component.
Situational depression is when one becomes depressed after some trauma or tragic event. This can range from experiencing the death of a loved one, losing one’s job or house, experiencing a major natural disaster, divorce, or bankruptcy just to name a few. If a person does not know how to cope with a major change in their life, they can develop situational depression. Situational depression should not last for longer than about six months, or the person’s diagnoses should be re-evaluated.
Treatment for situational depression usually does not require medication or a professional therapist’s counseling, unless severe. Treatment options include eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, talking about your feelings to close others, and joining a formal support group. Situational depression should go away on its own with the help of these suggestions.
Clinical depression is more severe, and the symptoms experienced can be the same as situational depression (anger, feelings of hopelessness, withdrawal from family members, sad mood) but more severe. These people’s lives are more impacted by their depression such as everyday tasks and interactions with family or friends.
Symptoms found in Clinical Depression but not situational: development of abnormal sleeping patterns, increased use of drugs/alcohol, and hallucinations, delusions, and other forms of psychotic disturbances. People with Clinical Depression often have chemical brain imbalances; meaning that an outside factor (such as experienced with Situational Depression) does NOT need to be present in order for one to be clinically depressed.
Another difference of Clinical Depression is that the person is experiencing AT LEAST five symptoms of depression all at one time. This factor does not have to be present for one to be diagnosed with Situational Depression.
Treatment for clinical depression may involve either psychotherapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, medication (anti-depressant) or a mix of both. Another treatment option is to temporary stay in a controlled facility.
Source: Elements Behavioral Health: Creating Extraordinary Lives
For more information on their treatment options, call their facility at (888) 387-0717
California facilities located in West Los Angeles, Malibu, & Malibu Vista.
“Grief is tremendous, but love is bigger. You are grieving because you loved truly. The beauty in that is greater than the bitterness of death. Allowing this into your consciousness will not keep you from suffering, but it will help you survive the next day.”
-Cheryl Strayed’s book of quotes: BRAVE ENOUGH
The Jewels' Angels Foundation, Inc. 
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