Southern Indiana Living Magazine - July/August 2024

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Personal Counseling Service Unmasking Mental Health Personal Counseling Services’ annual The Norman Melhiser Samaritan Awards Gala will occur on August 15, 2024 at Huber’s Winery Plantation Hall. If you would like to see amazing people and organizations receive prestigious awards recognizing their selfless accomplishments, join us to celebrate them. Our community judges had a difficult task choosing only one winner in four categories. The judges commented, “all of the nominees were worthy of an award”. All of the nominees were stellar but only one could be selected in each category. AWARD WINNERS Personal Counseling Services Award of Excellence (First Responder/Healthcare) - Officer Chris Bartley Nancy & John Keck Award of Excellence (Non-Profit) - The Mustard Seed Les & Virginia Albro Award of Excellence (For-Profit) - Family Time, Inc. Alice and Richard Schleicher Award of Excellence (Individual) – Jessica Sawyer Mental health touches everyone in one way or another; at home, work or play. When we have a physical concern we have no problem sharing that with others. Why do we have concerns about expressing how we are feeling mentally or emotionally? Our theme this year is Unmasking Mental Health. According to the Newport Institute we all mask our true feelings at times to hide our vulnerability. Even though we may be worried about money, angry at a friend, blue from a breakup, or exhausted with work, or grieving over the loss of a loved one we still answer “Fine”, “I’m Okay” or “Good” when people ask how we are. We are afraid of how we will be perceived; will I be accepted or shunned? We ask ourselves, do people really want to know how we are doing? People with mental health issues may routinely hide their true emotions 28 • July/Aug 2024 • Southern Indiana Living beneath a “mask.” Over time, the consequences of concealing their real feelings can be detrimental to their well-being. This is known as mental health masking. Hiding our true feelings can result in physical conditions such as; elevated blood pressure; over eating or eating disorders; anger and many other health conditions. Our mind, body and spirit are all interconnected and when one is out of alignment so are the others. Key Takeaways • Mental health masking means camouflaging or suppressing your mental health symptoms so you fit in with others. • People mask their mental health symptoms because they want to maintain their relationships, keep their jobs, and be socially accepted. • It can be hard to identify mental health masking because people who mask behave as if they don’t have a mental health issue. • Long-term masking can increase stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behavior, especially among those with autism. People who are unconsciously denying their distress and don’t seek treatment may eventually experience a mental health crisis. If you genuinely care about someone and ask them how they are doing, be prepared to listen to what they desire to share because it could change their life and yours. Everyone needs someone to listen and know that they are cared for without judgment. Come join us to celebrate our award winners, to Unmask Mental Health and raise money for those who are marginalized, at-risk or traumatized and have no insurance to get help desperately they need. Your support may truly save a life. There will be a Live Auction with some amazing Florida condos, beautiful Jewelry donated by Kinkade Jewelers and a Silent Auction. Hear the Jamey Aebersold Quartet and enjoy an evening with our amazing emcee, Dawne Gee, WAVE-TV Anchor. Individual seats are $150, a Table Sponsorship with 10 seats is $1,500 and other sponsorship levels are available. For more information contact Doug Drake via e-mail: ddrake@pcs-counseling.org or call 812.206.4273.
M y cat, Fluff, is not exactly a skilled hunter. In the 12 years we’ve had him, I think I’ve only seen him catch one mole and one bird. That’s it. Not exactly an apex predator. When a groundhog or a raccoon turns up, he completely ignores them. If a chipmunk runs through our yard, he may stalk it for a minute, but he’s not ambitious enough to actually chase it down. That would require effort, and most of his effort goes into finding a sunny spot to take a nap. That’s why I was so surprised last week when I saw him on the prowl. I was working out in our living room early one morning, and I’d just let him out. A few minutes later, I glanced out the patio door and saw him crouched down, laser-focused on something across the yard. I didn’t think much of it at first. I figured it was a squirrel or something. Then I noticed he was slinking toward whatever had caught his attention. Since he was actually moving, I thought I’d better check it out before things turned ugly. I had no idea how right I was. Several years ago, I built a wooden clubhouse in the back corner of our yard for my kids. The playhouse is on the top level, but the first floor is open with three hammock chairs suspended from the ceiling. That’s exactly where Fluff was headed. When I looked out at the clubhouse, I expected to see a rodent or a bird, but instead I saw a coyote. It was just sniffing around the hammocks, looking for its next meal, which was about to be my cat. By the time I got outside, Fluff was about halfway across the yard, going in for the kill. I knew I only had seconds before the fur started flying. I ran out onto the patio and yelled, “Fluff, get back here,” which, of course, was dumb because that cat has never once come when I called him. Why did I think he would start now? Thankfully, though, it was enough to startle the coyote, and he bolted over the neighbors’ fence. Fluff, a cat who doesn’t even have his front claws, would never know just how close he came to meeting his maker. In fact, from his point of view, he probably thinks he scared the coyote away. In his little cat brain, that mangy mutt had invaded his yard, and, like a A Coyote Close Call marshal in the old West, he went out and took care of business. The reality, though, is that the coyote couldn’t have cared less about the foolhardy feline stalking him in the grass. It was the guy behind the cat who made the difference. But try telling Fluff that. Despite “Fluff the cat the fact that he was clearly outmatched, I will never get credit for saving the day. Cats aren’t exactly known for their gratitude, so it’s to be expected. Unfortunately, sometimes I see the same attitude operating in myself. How many times have I found myself in a jam, been bailed out by God, and failed to give Him credit? I’m sure there are far too many times when I’ve chalked up something going well to my own skill, wisdom, effort or just dumb luck rather than acknowledging the good God who is operating behind the scenes and helping me do things I could never do on my own. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (NIV). I say I believe that, but do I really live like it? Sometimes, I don’t even stop to say, “Thank You, God!” Other times, even when I do, I don’t really take the time to reflect on what a big deal it was that the God who created the universe loved me enough to intervene on my behalf. That truth shouldn’t just change my circumstances, it should change my heart. Yes, in this sin-broken world, bad things happen that don’t make a whole lot of sense, but what about the good Everyday Adventures things that happen that don’t make a whole lot of sense either? Like my cat, we don’t always appreciate how much God has helped us, because we have no idea how close we may have come to disaster. His very intervention sometimes prevents us from seeing how He saved the day. If a chipmunk runs through our yard, he may stalk it for a minute, but he’s not ambitious enough to actually chase it down. That would require effort, and most of his effort goes into finding a sunny spot to take a nap. I don’t think we’ll ever know this side of heaven how many times God has protected us, provided for us and answered the prayers of those who have been praying for us from a distance. Why does this matter? Because not only does God deserve praise and gratitude, but this awareness of God’s activity in our lives helps us trust Him for the future. When I recognize the presence of the One who has helped me through so many struggles in the past, I really do begin to believe that there is nothing I will ever face alone. • Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and dad who loves the quirky surprises God sends his way every day. You can read more from Jason in his books Tales from the Leaf Pile and Holiday Road. You can catch up with Jason on his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com. Southern Indiana Living • July/Aug 2024 • 29
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Southern Indiana Living Magazine - July/August 2024

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