TMC PULSE

August 2018

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T M C » P U L S E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 8 25 "When I first came to Menninger, I was without hope— I was at the end of my rope," Mary Jane said. "I told Dr. Stevens I just didn't know what was going to happen to me. It was like a dark tunnel, and I don't know what would have happened if I didn't go to Menninger. I might have tried to commit suicide again. I was very lucky because I was admitted to their financial charity program, and I can't speak enough about how much it helped me." Many people mistake behavioral shifts—including a lack of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, as well as changes in energy, concen- tration, appetite or sleep—as a part of normal aging, but these condi- tions can be early warning signs of major depression, Stevens said. Mental health experts agree that eliminating the stigma around mental illness will help people of all ages seek the help they need. "Even the term 'mental illness' has a stigma," Shah said. "Why can't we call it brain health? Depression is a brain neurochem- ical imbalance and it is about the health of your brain." Today, Mary Jane takes medi- cation that works well for her and attends weekly therapy sessions at Menninger. She is very involved in the community, charity work and enjoys creating art. "I have been artistic for many years and, after my third suicide attempt, I signed up for art classes and I still paint to this day," she said. "It helped me so much because it is a creative outlet and it builds up a lot of self-esteem, too. I donated a painting to a charity for an auction and one of my paintings was auc- tioned off for $300 and that made me feel really good." Mary Jane Pita journals at home, surrounded by her own artwork. CENTERED LIVING LUXURY APARTMENT HOMES IN HOUSTON'S MED CENTER 713-527-1000 LatitudeMedCenter.com Enter Our VIP LOTTERY Call Today to Book Your Tour Debuting This Summer

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