Patient Education | JCR Mental Health

Encourage Yourself

Acrostic: creating a phrase where each word in the phrase begins with a letter in your name,

first last or both or your initials. Examples:

JCR: Journey to Completeness and Renewal

Ann: Amazing, Nurturing and Noteworthy

Helen - is a helping, encouraging leader who is elegant and nurturing.

I encourage everyone to do this exercise and create your own personal “catch phrase”.

When those automatic negative thoughts want to control your mindset,

Replace them with this phrase.

When self-doubt or even self-loathing creeps in,

when you are preparing for a job interview or to take a test,

when you feel ill-prepared to meet the challenge or in need of a pep talk -

Recall this phrase, which represents your strength, your undiminished beauty and what makes you awesome,

and Encourage Yourself!

Empowering Through Education

Knowledge forms the foundation for meaningful participation in healthcare decisions.

At JCR, we are committed to ensuring that those served have the necessary understanding to of their diagnosis and treatment options

Knowlege empowers individuals to actively participate in treatment plan development and make choices that truly reflect their goals and values.

Physical activity and exposure to light can improve mood and overall sense of well-being.

A low Vitamin D level or underactive thyroid can mimic the symptoms of depression - lab tests are necessary to rule-out medical cause of symptoms.
Mental health conditions, like many physical illnesses, can be influenced by genetics. Knowing your family history can help guide early support and personalized care.
Ongoing environmental stress can limit the effectiveness of the treatment plan
Mental health treatment is not one-size-fits-all. There are many paths to healing — and they all deserve respect.

Did you know?

🧠 Illness Spotlight: Trauma & PTSD

🔥 Trauma

Trauma refers to any deeply disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. It often results in intense fear, helplessness, dissociation, confusion, or other disruptive emotions that can have long-lasting effects on a person’s behavior, worldview, and overall functioning. Traumatic events may stem from human actions (e.g., violence, abuse, war) or natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes), and they often shatter one’s sense of safety and predictability in the world.
Learn more from the APA

⚡ Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response

This is the body’s automatic survival mechanism triggered by perceived or acute threats. It prepares us to fight, flee, or—in some cases—freeze. While adaptive in short bursts, chronic activation of this response can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion.

🧩 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing trauma. In PTSD, the fight-or-flight system becomes hyperactive and fails to shut off, keeping the body and mind in a constant state of alert.
Common symptoms include:

Intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares)
Avoidance of reminders or triggers
Negative shifts in thinking and mood (guilt, shame, detachment
Changes in physical and emotional reactions (hypervigilance, irritability, sleep disturbances)

🛠️ Treatment Options

Healing from trauma is possible. Evidence-based approaches include:

Psychotherapy (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, trauma-focused modalities)
Medication management to support symptom relief and emotional regulation
Holistic care that integrates safety, empowerment, and individualized support
Holistic care that integrates safety, empowerment, and individualized support

Trauma – Don’t let it Define, Control or Rob You

As I share the account of the JCR’s name development, I acknowledge the invaluable support of my family and childhood experiences and memories. At the same time it brings to mind that not everyone is as fortunate. To those individuals I say, while the past is unchangeable, one can choose to limit the influence of previous negative experiences and reframe their perspective. Whether one excels with ease or overcomes significant challenges, both outcomes are worthy of recognition - however this is often not the case. For instance, take the examples of 2 siblings, one is basically a genius and gets all “A”s. The other has a learning disability and his barely passing grades come with a lot of blood sweat and tears. Although on opposite ends of the grading scale, both outcomes are worthy of praise. This comparison is not intended to diminish the impact of trauma. As we acknowledge adverse experiences, it is equally crucial to recognize the accomplishment of having overcome them. Society wants to praise the shiny and new and discard the old, beaten and beat-down. How backwards is this? You know your history, and sometimes just getting out of bed in the morning is an achievement - and every achievement, regardless of its magnitude, deserves recognition—especially when it results from considerable effort and perseverance.

Yes, your trauma represents your source of pain, but it also represents your resilience and strength. Yes, it has taken so much from you, but don't let it have it all. Do not let it diminish your sense of self-worth or deprive you of celebrating personal success. You, your life, still has beauty & value.