Chapter quarterly newsletter from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Chicago Loop Chapter contains informative information for those living with depression and bipolar disorder and family and friends supporting loved ones.

1. Spring 2013
Volume 2 Issue 2
www.dbsachicagoloop.com peerwellness@gmail.com family.dbsa@gmail.com
WEEKLY SUPPORT Spring a New Attitude
GROUPS Give support and get support.
6:00 -7:30 P.M. The Chicago wind is blowing. Tulips are bright with color from rain. There
Tuesday are more sunny days than gray days. The boats are leaving the harbors and
Family & Friends heading out to Lake Michigan. Ah…spring in Chicago. It’s time to get out
and come to the Chapter’s support group meetings. Why come out after a
Thursday long day? This is the place to make new friends ― friends with whom you
Living with can make plans to throw a Frisbee in Grant Park. Or try going to a free
Depression & Bipolar concert at Millennium Park. How about meeting for coffee? The best part of
Disorder attending a support group is finding out that you are not alone. DBSA
support groups are all about peers helping peers. Whether you share or
All groups meet at listen, you will be encouraged and will hear about ways to take positive steps
77 W. Washington St. in wellness for every day. And you may even find a bigger reward – as you
4th Floor, Rm. 420 reach out to someone else, you take care of yourself.
Chicago, IL
Peer Focus Explore the National DBSA
Conquering isolation one meeting Literature Rack
at a time Get practical and valued tips for
~Rev. Cheryl Magrini, PhD, facilitator Family & Friends
Living With Depression & Bipolar Disorder ~Phyllis Foxworth, facilitator Family &
Facilitators
Friends
Rev. Cheryl Magrini The saying goes that you can count
Education is central to supporting
Phyllis Foxworth on one thing in Chicago – wait ten
the emotional health of both loved
minutes and the weather will
one’s and family and friends. The
change. Bring your umbrella and it
DBSA brochure Helping a Friend
Board of Directors will be sunny. What doesn’t change
or Family Member with
is that a DBSA support group can
Rev. Cheryl Magrini, PhD Depression or Bipolar Disorder
give you an anchor when challenges
President provides a wealth of information
come.
on the disorder and the affect it
Mr. Peter Magrini may have on a loved one.
Vice President, Treasurer Last month, I introduced the
National DBSA’s strategic I have found much needed relief
Mrs. Kathy Blake initiatives and promised that I
Director for my own fears and concerns
would provide insight into these while reflecting on this material.
initiatives in upcoming newsletters. Some new attitudes have taken
Rev. Dr. Anne Hampson I can’t think of a better place to root as a result.
D. Min., LCPC begin than a discussion on peer
Professional Advisor focus. • My loved one’s illness is neither
mine nor my loved one’s fault
This initiative addresses the “why, • Mood disorders are a physical,
Newsletter Editor where, when and how” to access treatable illness that affects a
Phyllis Foxworth DBSA peer-to-peer support groups. person’s brain
I encourage you to explore the Peer • I can’t make my loved one well,
but I can offer support
Please see President’s Address, page 2 Please see Explore DBSA page 4

2. Page 2 DBSA: Chicago Loop Chapter
President’s Address cont’d. from page 1 Book Reviews
Support and Education sections of the national Through the generous support of the
website at www.DBSAlliance.org. Peer Support Methodist Foundation Grants Program,
includes a locator map that lists all the support our lending library thrives. If you have a
groups in the United States. It lists the local book you want to review, please contact the
editor at family.dbsa@gmail.com
Chapter website, its location and contact
information for the coordinator. Living with Someone Who’s Living with Bipolar
Disorder: A Practical Guide for Family, Friends,
Education includes over 30 articles and
and Coworkers by Chelsea Lowe and Bruce M.
brochures with the most up-to-date information
Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. 2010, Jossey-Bass
on depression and bipolar disorder.
This book fills a valuable niche because it is
When it seems like it is too much effort to go out,
especially for Family and Friends. It is easy to
that’s just when you need to come to a support
read, concise, and wide ranging.
group. You are not alone. Listen, share, inspire
someone, be educated or educate the group. Living with Someone … is divided into two
Peers walk the wellness trail together. sections. The first helps laypeople understand
bipolar disorder in historical context and from
From one peer to another, be well, stay
the current medical perspective. Topics include
well…Cheryl #
how a bipolar brain works, how medications
In Our Own Words Sharing our journey is a central
treat symptoms of bipolar disorder, and how to
find a therapist. Part Two deals with the social
tenant of our collective mission. From time to
time we will share personal stories of and interpersonal issues Family and Friends
inspiration, sorrow, compassion, and humor. need to consider in order to have a healthy
If you would like to share your story please relationship with someone who has bipolar
contact the editor at peerwellness@gmail.com disorder. A reader might want to start with the
Taking That First Step: ~Kathan Murhpy~ practical advice offered in any chapter most
Chicago is such a wonderful place. I was relevant to her/his current concerns, and then
able to find treatment here but socially I read the rest of the book as they are able. Each
was deprived. Eventually the loneliness chapter of the book is short and self-contained,
caught up with me. After a medication and the authors offer a list of further reading
change I had a manic episode and was (both websites and books) if you wanted to delve
hospitalized. I was rediagnosed from major deeper into one of the topics. #
depressive disorder to schizo affective
disorder. I knew I had to make a change so I
started to ask questions.
A social worker told me about DBSA. When
I was discharged from the hospital I forced
myself to contact the group leader for the
Chicago Loop Chapter. After talking to her I Life stands before me
had a warm feeling and convinced myself to
go. It was the best decision I have ever
like an eternal spring
made. I have attended DBSA for about two with new and brilliant
years and during that period I have had
zero hospitalizations. On top of that, I have colors.
made really good friends who are people
that I can depend on. They are also very Carl Friedrich Gauss
trustworthy and understanding. I don't
know where I would be if I didn't have this
group. I am truly blessed. #

3. DBSA: Chicago Loop Chapter
Page 2 DBSA: Chicago Loop Chapter 3
Page
Board Member Kathy Blake’s Journey of Try these sleep aid tips from the
Discovery DBSA brochure Getting Better Sleep,
Kathy works with children every day, helps What You Need to Know
parents guide learning, collaborates with • Go to bed and wake up at the
teachers, and even dresses up for Halloween. She same time each day
is dedicated to the mission of the Chapter. Meet
Kathy Blake. • Relax for bed
• Use natural or artificial light to help you avoid
As an Elementary Educator for fifteen years, I bright lights
thought I possessed significant experience and
knowledge in dealing with young people. It took a • Get active earlier, at least three to six hours
tragedy in my family to find out how little I did before bed
know in the area of mental illness. I encourage • Do a quiet activity instead of lying awake in
you and your family members not to wait, and to bed
educate yourselves as much as you can. • Keep your bedroom temperature comfortable
and dark enough
Overcoming the stigma of mental illness can be
very difficult. This is a common experience for • Take inventory by tracking your sleep
people who have a mental health condition. My
• Try not to nap during the day or nap no more
family, friends and colleagues living with mental
than thirty minutes
illness experience this every day. The stigma
shows itself when someone makes a comment or • Use your bed only for sleep or intimacy
“thinks” there is something wrong with you.
Helping to overcome the stigma of mental illness How Did You Sleep Last Night?
in our society can occur when one is properly Did you know sleep habits can affect your well-being?
educated.
How much sleep do we need? Did you know that
People living with a mental illness can help infants sleep up to 16 hours a day? Teenagers
change stigma in our society by speaking out need nine hours. Adults need between five and
about their personal experiences. When doing so, ten hours ― seven or eight hours is ideal. Older
myths about mental illness are exposed as just adults need the same but are less inclined to
that – myths. You make a difference when you sleep continuously or deeply.
share your story. I applaud you for educating an
Often one of the first triggers for a mood change
educator.
is either too much sleep, too little, restless sleep
Kathy Blake, Secretary, Board Member DBSA Chicago
Loop Chapter, Teacher-Emmons Dist. #33, Il # or intermittent sleep. Tracking sleep patterns is
helpful for becoming aware of what could be
contributing to fatigue, deep sleep “naps,” or
Chapter Happenings angry outbursts. The education brochure Getting
How do salad and popcorn go together? We Better Sleep, What You Need to Know, addresses
managed to eat it all at our April movie night amount of sleep we need and the causes of sleep
while watching the classic movie Back to the loss.
Future. Part I with a young Michael J. Fox.
Check out Parts II and III. What about mood changes? The brochure
answers, “Sleeplessness, frequent nighttime
Meet these new peer facilitators: Kathan Murphy, waking, or sleeping too much can be symptoms of
Courtney Thompson, Jessica Schanberg and depression.” Further, “Sleeplessness can also be a
Marsy Cohen. Thank you for being committed to symptom of bipolar disorder.”
peers supporting peers.
Please see Chapter Happenings page 4 Please see Sleep page 4

4. Page 4 DBSA: Chicago Loop Chapter
Explore DBSA cont’d. from page 1 Chapter Happenings cont’d. from page 3
But just how do we offer support? The brochure Thank you to David Jakubik for leading a
provides some very concrete suggestions. discussion on the documentary No Kidding Me2!
by the actor Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos,
• Educate yourself about your loved one’s
Memento, The Matrix) telling the story of his life
illness, its symptoms and its treatment
with major depression and the moving stories of
• Encourage your loved one to seek treatment six others living with mental illness.
• Explain to them that treatment is not
personality-altering and can greatly help to Thank you to Hank Trenkle! Hank brought
relieve symptoms home the message that getting out of the house
• Offer to go along to healthcare appointments to volunteer not only fills a need but makes you
• With permission, talk to your loved one’s feel better. Volunteer and you develop skills
health care provider(s) that could even lead to a job.
DBSA states “as much as possible The Tuesday night family and friends group has
give unconditional love.” been exploring topics on brain chemistry as well
as the concept of pleasure response reactions in
This can be an overwhelming call to action for the healthy brain vs the brain experiencing
anyone, regardless of the mental health depressive disorders. These discussions assist
challenges in the family. So how can we begin family and friends in understanding societal and
to attempt to live up to this suggestion? personal stigmas associated with mood disorders.
Why not try a Family & Friends support group? Check out the National DBSA on YouTube in
Our Tuesday night group is comprised of their Bipolar Disorder Educational Library
members supporting spouses, children, parents collection. You can view Cheryl Magrini’s
and siblings who experience depression and interview on the effect stigma and disclosure
manic symptoms of the disorder. Using have in her life. Phyllis Foxworth shares her
educational materials, including those from insights on family support in a separate
DBSA, we have found that providing mutual interview. Go to Bipolar Disorder Education Video to view
support to each other is a big boost to meeting the entire series.
the challenge of unconditional love for both
ourselves and our loved one. The brochure can If you are beginning to feel as though summer
be located at www.DBSAlliance.org # will never come, why not join us in sunny Miami
for the National DBSA Conference June14
Sleep cont’d. from page 3 through 16. Our chapter will receive the Rookie
It can be frustrating to have a sleep problem, Chapter of the Year Award for 2011 and our
yet feel helpless to do anything about it. very own Phyllis Foxworth will present a
Stress impacts sleep, especially causing session on how to form family and friends
insomnia. A schedule that changes frequently support groups at the local chapter level. #
can lead to sleep problems that impact mood. May is National Mental Health
The best words of advice are, “If you have
Awareness Month
trouble sleeping, you are not alone. Don’t give
up. You don’t have to just live with your sleep “I'm convinced that we can shape
problem. More importantly, see your doctor to a different future for this country
discuss your sleep problem. You can feel as it relates to mental health and
better and get the sleep you need.” This suicide.” David Satcher, Surgeon General and
brochure and additional educational material Assistant Secretary for Health
can be found at www.DBSAlliance.org #
©Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Chicago Loop Chapter. All rights reserved, 2013