Freedom From Fear- Fall 2019 Newsletter
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Dear friends of FFF,
WELCOME TO FALL!!! It is hard to believe that this year was the 35th anniversary of Freedom From Fear. During this time we have worked with tens of thousand suffering individuals not only in Staten Island, across the United States, as well as other parts of the world. This work has been very rewarding for me and I am sure that it has brought help and relief from suffering to many. I hope you enjoy our new electronic newsletter and I welcome feedback.
Remember myself and the staff at FFF is always available to you.
Your friend,
Mary Guardino
Founder/Executive Director
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Winter Is Coming: Do You Have SAD?
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
is a form of depression that is altered depending on the seasons. SAD typically starts in the late fall and early winter but usually disappears during the spring and summer seasons. The causes of SAD are unknown. Depressive episodes linked to the summer can occur, but are not as common as winter episodes of SAD
. In order to be diagnosed with SAD
, individuals have to meet the full criteria for major depression that coincide with specific seasons (winter or summer months) for the duration of 2 years. The frequency of seasonal depressions must be more than non-seasonal depressions. SAD is diagnosed 4 times more often in women than men. Individuals with a family history of other kinds of depression are more likely to develop SAD. Younger adults are at risk of developing SAD than older adults. People with SAD produce less vitamin D.
The symptoms of SAD are common to the signs of depression which may include: sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in usual activities, inability to concentrate, increased need for sleep, withdrawal from social activities, extreme fatigue or lack of energy, frequent thoughts of death or suicide, and craving for carbohydrates.
There are many treatments to help SAD such as medication, light therapy, psychotherapy, and vitamin D.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat SAD.
L
ight therapy is to compensate for the diminished sunshine of the fall and winter months. Light therapy consists of using daily exposure to bright, artificial light. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is type of psychotherapy that is effective for SAD. CBT will have techniques such as identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive thoughts along with a technique called behavioral activation. Behavioral activation seeks to help the person identify activities that are engaging and pleasurable, whether indoors or outdoors, to improve coping with winter. The reason behind vitamin D use is that low blood levels of vitamin D were found in people with SAD. The low levels are usually due to insufficient dietary intake or insufficient exposure to sunshine.
Ariana Galante (MSW Intern)
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Pop Culture Says CBD Cures Everything—Here's What Scientists Say
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Introducing One of Our Volunteer Writers
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Hi, this is Mark from the other side of the paper, here to explain who I am. I’m a new writer for the newsletter. I would like to share little bit about myself.
I’m a student at the College of Staten Island (CSI). I am majoring in literature. I am involved with a newspaper club on campus called “The Banner”. What makes me different from most writers is that I have an illness called Asperger Syndrome.
Asperger is a condition that affects social behavior, nonverbal communication, repetitive behaviors as well as having few interests.
Some of the world's most famous geniuses are said to have had Asperger. Some famous people diagnosed with Asperger are Scottish singer Susan Boyle and Courtney Love. There are many professionals who feel that, the inventor of Microsoft Bill Gate also has Asperger.
Asperger had quite an impact on my skill-set in a variety of ways, particularly my writing skills. Given everything that’s been stated and explained, this is the end of the bio. Just because this is the last paragraph doesn’t mean it’s the last word. So bye for now until the next article is published in the newsletter.
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California high school becomes largest public school in the country to ban phones.
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A New children's book written by a friend of FFF
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Author Diane Garcia was a New York City elementary school teacher and is a synchronized swimmer. She is also a friend of Freedom From Fear
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Do you have a daughter who loves swimming? Is she the child you can't get out of the pool to have lunch or put more lotion on? Does she also like to dance, listen to music, or play dress up? If any of these things apply, you might have a
"Water Ballerina"
or
"Synchronized Swimmer"
on your hands!
This book tells the story of how author,
Diane Garcia
(Wendy Willow), first learned synchronized swimming when she was 11 years old, at a swim club in
Staten Island, NY
. It is beautifully illustrated in watercolor by one of her former coaches, Ida Noelle Calumpang, a former member of the Philippine National Synchronized Swimming Team. It includes pictures of figures and patterns performed in synchronized swimming, and follows Diane's (Wendy's) journey from a
NERVOUS
first-time synchronized swimmer to a truly
SELF-CONFIDENT ONE!
The book is appropriate for children ages 4-8. The forward of the book is a letter to parents explaining the benefits of this sport and includes a website to find synchronized swimming classes anywhere in the U.S.
Click Here
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead-
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308 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305 . Phone: 718.351.1717 . Fax: 718.980.5022
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