Month: April 2021

By: Amanda Landry, LMHC, CAP, NCC

Part of being in a sisterhood is being there for your sisters.  Helping a sister with her depression and/or anxiety can seem challenging.  Part of helping anyone out with depression and anxiety is understanding what it is and how it can impact them.  Here are some guidelines you can use to learn about how to best support your sister in need.

1. Know the symptoms of depression and anxiety
   According to the National Institute of Mental Health, here are the symptoms of depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are the symptoms of anxiety:  

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

2. Encourage them to seek out professional help
   Getting a professional opinion and treatment recommendations is an important step towards management and recovery.  For collegiate members, most campuses have free counseling services that students can access.  Most insurances cover mental health services and there are organizations out there that help make mental health more accessible.  A great resource is called Open Path Collective.  They link people up with therapists that offer a sliding scale.  You can find out information about them here: https://openpathcollective.org/.

3. If you are worried about suicide or self-harming behaviors, connect with them the suicide hotline.  
   In the United States, you can reach the toll-free, 24-hour hot line of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to talk to a trained counselor.  In Canada, you can reach the toll-free, 24 hotline at 1-833-456-4566.

4. Recognize your limits
   It is important to be a support system for your sisters; however you also need to remember your limits.  When you have a family member, friend, sister or partner with any mental health issues, it can come with a toll on your own mental health.  Be sure you are taking care of your mental health and engaging in regular self-care.

5. Support them by being there
   One of the best things you can do is just be there for someone.  When depression hits, people often feel lonely.  By having a friend they can go to may help them feel less lonely and isolated.  Being isolated may be what they want to do but it’s the opposite of what they need to do.  Encourage them to participate in pleasurable and fun activities, even if they don’t feel like it.   For those who struggle with anxiety, let them know you will sit with them when they feel anxious.  Learn some breathing exercises you can do with them.  A great tool for anxiety is distraction.  Help your sister out by distracting them with an interesting story.

Be patient if your sister does not seek help right away or continues to struggle.  Depression and anxiety is not something that simply goes away without appropriate treatment and support.  For more information about how to help, check out the resources below.          

Resources:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961
https://openpathcollective.org/
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Name: Amanda Landry
Chapter: Beta Tau

I’m Amanda and I’m excited you have found me. I love working with young adults to find their passion in life, remove blocks that are keeping them from being their most awesome self and learn to live a life they have always dreamed.

I practice therapy in a beautiful and comfortable office in Davie & Wellington Florida at my own private practice called Caring Therapists of Broward & Palm Beach. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addictions Professional and National Certified Counselor. I’ve been a therapist for more than 8 years and absolutely love what I do. I’ve worked with teenagers overcome addictions, young adults go off to college and become successful, and young adults overcome depression and anxiety. I have helped couple’s save their marriages and relationships.  Find out more at www.caringtherapistsofbroward.com

Sarah Robinson knew she wanted to jump into volunteering with DPhiE immediately after graduation. As a leader in her chapter, she wanted to maintain her connection to the organization and serve the organization that gave her a meaningful undergraduate experience. While she knew she wanted to get involved, the path to finding a volunteer role she thrived in was unique. 

Following graduation Sarah started a short term volunteer role that did not fit her lifestyle. As she entered into her career after graduation, the time commitment for this volunteer role was too much. “I wish I had taken more time to look at the different opportunities for involvement, not every role is the right fit for everyone.” From her experience, Sarah learned that it’s ok to test out what works for you and learn more about the different ways to get involved. Whether you want to serve on a committee, advise a local chapter or join an alumnae association there are options available that will fit into your lifestyle. She saw this as an opportunity for growth. While one opportunity was not a good fit for her lifestyle that did not mean there was not a space for her in DPhiE.

In the Winter of 2020, she began serving as the lead advisor for the Beta Beta chapter at The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Unlike her last volunteer position, this role was more flexible and provided her the opportunity to maintain and build on the professional development skills she gained during her undergraduate experience. “All of the skills I gained from being MAL, President and advising translate to my career in Human Resources and enhance what I learned in my classes. The collaboration, project management and communication skills all show up in your professional life no matter your field.”

Serving as a chapter advisor also gave her the opportunity for mentorship. Approaching the volunteer role with a mentorship mindset, she coached the chapter members to lead rather than leading them. This was something she craved during her undergraduate experience. “You’re there to serve the chapter members and help them have the best DPhiE experience possible. On every call I tell them I am there for them as much or as little as they need me. I want them to feel supported by me in a way that works best for them.”

Sarah loves serving as a chapter advisor because it fills her cup. “It’s ok to be a little self serving in the way you approach giving back. If you’re invested you will bring the best version of yourself to the table. It’s also ok to try different roles to find a space that you thrive in.” 

For sisters unsure if advising is for them, Sarah encourages you to just try it! “There’s truly a space for everyone. It’s ok to take a risk and advise for another chapter or try something new. Advising a chapter other than my own has given me a unique perspective – they’re the same but different in a good way. Getting involved has made me feel connected to the values of DPhiE all over again.”