December2015Newsletter-Volume32Issue6

FreeServicesOfferedbyNAMICentralIowa

DAILYSupportandactivitiesforpersonswithmentalillnessattheMentalHealthWellnessCenter,MondaytoFriday,1-4PM

WEEKLYNAMIConnectionsupportgroupforpersonswithmentalillness:

Thursday2-3:30PMWellnessCenter

MONTHLYEducationalmeetingsfeaturinglocalspecialistsspeakingontopicsrelatingtomentalhealth3rdTuesdayofthemonthat7:00PM(locationvaries,seeeventspage)

Supportgroupforfamilymembers4thThursdayofthemonthat7:00PM

YEARLYseriesofeducationalclassesofferedforpersonswithmentalillnessandforfamilymembers

FamilytoFamilyforfamilymembersofadultswithmentalillnessPeertoPeerforadultswithmentalillnessBasicsforparentsandcaregiversofchildrenandadolescentswithseriousmentaloremotionaldisorders

**Allactivitiesandtheofficearelocatedat

416DouglasAvenue,Suites203/205Ames,Iowa

Havequestionsorneedhelp?Calloremailtheofficeat

(515)292-9400namiofci@gmail.com;http://namici.org/

Theholidayseasoncanbeachallengingtimeforourstresslevels,especiallythosewithmentalhealthissues.Hereare5waystohelplessenstressandanxietyduringtheholidayseason:1)Leavingallyourpreparationstothelastminutecancauseunnecessarystress,butplanningaheadcansaveyoutimeandmoney.Oneofthethingsyoucandotoplanaheadistomakeanorganizedto-dolistandshoppinglist.Tohelpyouorganizeyourto-dolistyoucansimplyuseacalendarandlistyourto-doitemsonvariousdates;havingaplanastowhenyouwilldoeachitemonyourlistwillputlessstrainonyourbudgetbyspreadingitoutandlessenyourstresslevelbyallowingyoutohavemoretimetogeteverythingdone.2)InordertoescapethelargeshoppingcrowdsatthemallyoucouldshopforyourChristmasgiftsonline.Manywebsiteshavesalesandshop-and-saveoptionsthathelpyousavemoneyandtheysendyouritemrighttoyourdoor.3)Whenyoucan’tgetaroundastressfulsituationsuchasbeinginlargecrowdsorbeingaroundastressfulfamilymember,trytousegroundingorrelaxationtechniquessuchasdeepbreathing,carryasmoothrockinyourpocketandfocusonrubbingitinsteadoffocusingonthestressfulsituation,ortakeabreakfromthesituationandgoforawalk.4)Decidewhichholidayactivitiesareimportantorsignificantforyouandonlyparticipateinthoseactivities.Don’tbeafraidtosay‘no’toinvitesifyoufeelthattheextraactivitymaycauseyouextrastressoranxiety.Bydoingsoyouwillnotoverwhelmyourselfwithholiday‘obligations’andyouwillactuallybeingdoingthethingsyouenjoy.5)Takecareofyourself.Makesureyoueatright,getenoughsleep,andexercise.Trytonotindulgeinexcessivealcoholandfatty/sugaryfoods.Thiswillhelptocombatthestressandanxietythattheholidayseasoncanbring.

~LeahDeMarest,M.S.ExecutiveDirector

BoardMemberProfile:My name is Stacy Renfro and I am one of the newest NAMI CI board members who started in July. I am pleased to be serving this community and I look forward to contributing to the outstanding mission of NAMI CI.

I currently work at Iowa State University promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to youth. I love my job because

I feel connected to the mission of providing a high-quality educational experience for the next generation of students.

My personal connection to mental health comes from supporting some

of my closest friends as they face mental illness struggles and, therefore, I feel passionate about spreading awareness about mental illness and advocating for others. Having a background in marketing can help advance the mission of NAMI CI and I look forward to helping spread the word about theprogramming and resources available. I am excited to learn more about the organization and continue to meet the people that are a part of this community. Outside of work I enjoy gardening, reading, running and spending time with my husband and dogs. Soon my husband and I will be welcoming our first child into the world. Looking forward to what the future holds!

The Mental Health Channel is a new online network that’s changing the conversation through inspiring true stories. Check it out at http://mentalhealthchannel.tv .

ISU NAMI on Campus is a new, up-and-coming organization at Iowa State University. NAMI on Campus is dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for students at ISU who are affected by mental illness. If you are interested in becoming a member of this organization, please contact Hannah Nehring at hnehring@iastate.edu, or Maranda Rupalo at mmrupalo@iastate.edu.

BooneLightedParadeGetintheholidayspiritwithalightedparadeindowntownBoone!

Location:DowntownBooneDate:Thursday,December3,2015Time:7p.m.RudolphTheRedNosedReindeerPresentationStartthisholidayseasonwithRudolphtheRed-NosedReindeer!RudolphsoarsintoStephensAuditoriumforthisfaithfuladaptationofthiswonderfultraditionthatspeakstothemisfitinallofus.Location:StephensAuditorium,Ames,IowaDate:Thursday,December3,2015Time:6:30p.m.Topurchasetickets:http://www.center.iastate.edu/events/variety/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/.

WinterfestWinterfestwillbeafunfilledeventwithtonsofactivities:theJingleJog,Campaniletoursandmore!Greatforthewholefamily,withaprincessmeetandgreet,bingo,spinartfrisbees,andsomuchmore!Getintotheholidayspiritwiththisexcitingeventthatisfreeandopentothepublic.Location:ISUMemorialUnion,2229LincolnWayDate:Friday,December4,2015Formoreinformation,visit:http://www.sac.iastate.edu/en/sac_annual_events/winterfest/.

NAMI-CI does not offer an educational program in December. The January program will be held on January 19 at 7 pm at the Ames Public Library. Watch Facebook and the NAMI website for the topic and speaker announcement.

SnowMagicStepbackintimeinDowntownAmeswithanOld-FashionedChristmascelebrationhostedbytheAmesHistoricalSociety.CreateyourownChristmasTraditionsbyvisitingyourfavoriteDowntownbusinesses.Location:MainStreetCulturalDistrict,AmesDate:Saturday,December5,2015Formoreinformation,visit:http://www.amesdowntown.org/events/-/snow-magic/.BreakfastwithSantaCometoReimanGardenstoenjoyholidaymusic,aheartybreakfastbuffet,meetSanta,andcreateyourownholidaythemedcraft!(Preregistrationandprepaymentrequired.)Location:ReimanGardens,1407UniversityBlvd,AmesDate:Saturday,December12,2015Formoreinformation,visit:http://www.reimangardens.com/event/breakfast-santa/.

NAMI Central Iowa 416 Douglas Ave Suite 203 Ames, Iowa 50010

December2015Newsletter

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NAMI-CI 416 Douglas Ave Suite 203 Ames, IA 50010

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The NAMI-CI newsletter is published six times a year by NAMI Central Iowa (NAMI-CI). NAMI-CI is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Our mission is to provide them with support, education, and advocacy.

NAMI-CI is a United Way partner agency and is an affiliate of NAMI Iowa and of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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