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Help is Here, Now.

Help is Here, Now.

by | Nov 4, 2020 | Being Well

We’ve been sharing ways to cope well during stressful and uncertain times. For the next few weeks, our Wellness Wednesday tributes go out to partner organizations who provide vital services to those struggling to cope. It’s important to reach out and get help even if a person doesn’t think they are “that bad off,” as we so often hear. Just like with other prevention measures, it is better to seek and get help early. This week’s shout out goes to Tillamook Family Counseling Center.

What are some of the more common issues for which people are seeking help right now?

Anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma history, and becoming overwhelmed by family demands.

What are some common warning signs for this condition? 

Warning signs vary. Common warning signs include: struggles with decision making, limited problem solving skills, trouble managing relationships with others, substance use, challenges managing stress, and difficulty managing employment.

Are there statistics that show how common these challenges are?

There are many statistics that illustrate how common these challenges are. According the National Institute of Health 7.1% of adults have at least 1 depressive disorder in the United States. And, according to the National Institute of Health there is an estimated 19.1 percent of the United States population that have had an anxiety disorder in the past year.

What are some of the specific services Tillamook Family Counseling Center provides that help individuals with these concerns?             

  • Individual, family, and group counseling                                                                            
  • Medication management      
  • Peer support services                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  • Substance use disorder treatment                                                                                                   
  • Crisis services and support
  • Developmental disabilities services and supports
  • Parenting services and supports

For more details visit our website: https://tfcc.org/

What are some common outcomes for people who receive these services?   

People gain the ability to manage anxiety in ways that are not harmful, improvement of depressed mood, improved quality of relationships, improved communication skills, and the improved ability to manage stress.

Are these services covered by insurance and/or do you offer a sliding scale for payment?     

Yes, our organization is recognized by most insurance providers and we are part of the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization (CPCCO). Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization is the entity that manages health benefits for the Oregon Health Plan. Our organization also has a sliding scale fee system available for individuals without health insurance.

How has COVID-19 impacted services?

The Tillamook Family Counseling Center is continuing to offer services during the pandemic. Most of the visits are being done remotely through telehealth or by phone. In-office services are very limited at this time and primarily targeting individuals with very challenging behavioral health issues. Crisis services are available 24/7 and can be accessed by phone and mobile response.

We’ve been sharing ways to cope well during stressful and uncertain times. For the next few weeks, our Wellness Wednesday tributes go out to partner organizations who provide vital services to those struggling to cope. It’s important to reach out and get help even if a person doesn’t think they are “that bad off,” as we so often hear. Just like with other prevention measures, it is better to seek and get help early. This week’s shout out goes to Tillamook Family Counseling Center. Click on the link below to learn more. (Italics will only appear in the social post teaser)

What are some of the more common issues for which people are seeking help right now?

Anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma history, and becoming overwhelmed by family demands.

What are some common warning signs for this condition? 

Warning signs vary. Common warning signs include: struggles with decision making, limited problem solving skills, trouble managing relationships with others, substance use, challenges managing stress, and difficulty managing employment.

Are there statistics that show how common these challenges are?

There are many statistics that illustrate how common these challenges are. According the National Institute of Health 7.1% of adults have at least 1 depressive disorder in the United States. And, according to the National Institute of Health there is an estimated 19.1 percent of the United States population that have had an anxiety disorder in the past year.

What are some of the specific services Tillamook Family Counseling Center provides that help individuals with these concerns?             

  • Individual, family, and group counseling                                                                            
  • Medication management      
  • Peer support services                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  • Substance use disorder treatment                                                                                                   
  • Crisis services and support
  • Developmental disabilities services and supports
  • Parenting services and supports

For more details visit our website: https://tfcc.org/

What are some common outcomes for people who receive these services?   

People gain the ability to manage anxiety in ways that are not harmful, improvement of depressed mood, improved quality of relationships, improved communication skills, and the improved ability to manage stress.

Are these services covered by insurance and/or do you offer a sliding scale for payment?     

Yes, our organization is recognized by most insurance providers and we are part of the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization (CPCCO). Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization is the entity that manages health benefits for the Oregon Health Plan. Our organization also has a sliding scale fee system available for individuals without health insurance.

How has COVID-19 impacted services?

The Tillamook Family Counseling Center is continuing to offer services during the pandemic. Most of the visits are being done remotely through telehealth or by phone. In-office services are very limited at this time and primarily targeting individuals with very challenging behavioral health issues. Crisis services are available 24/7 and can be accessed by phone and mobile response.

If you are interested in services provided by Tillamook Family Counseling Center call (503)842-8201 or (800)962-2851.

Connections Are What Count

Connections Are What Count

by | Oct 29, 2020 | Being Well

Between COVID-19 and the wildfires, Tillamook County has seen its fair share of challenges this year. Yet Jody Bell, who was born and raised in Tillamook, is proud of how the community has stepped up to support those in need. She points out that within the first 24 hours of the stay-at-home order this spring, three separate Facebook groups had formed: one for making masks, one for those who needed extra support, and one for organizing the volunteers who could help. This immediate response to community needs was also seen more recently with the wildfires when the local fire command center and evacuation shelter received more donations than they could even use. As Jody reflected, “That is Tillamook in a nutshell. We take care of each other.”

As we all try to adapt to the continuation of COVID-19, it is important to remember that for many of us, the impacts of COVID-19 still weigh heavily. For Jody, who uses a powerchair to move around downtown, the closure of local businesses and handicap restrooms, along with the risk of COVID-19, has limited her ability to leave her home. Some of us may have noticed that many places have closed their bathrooms to the public due to the pandemic, but this has also severely impacted the already few handicap restrooms that are available. The addition of the wildfires also added another difficulty for those who have limited mobility – how do you quickly gather necessary items and organize transportation for an evacuation while using a powerchair?

Jody has faced these challenges head on and continues to look for opportunities to engage with others even when following physical distancing guidelines. Although her favorite coffee shop has closed their indoor seating, she has more recently been able to spend time at Tangled Yarns, a local craft store where community members can share crocheting projects and tips on Friday afternoons. Jody has found crocheting to be a stress-relieving hobby that also provides the opportunity to give back to the community – she has so far donated 17 hats to victims of the fires in southern Oregon.

Despite this coping strategy, the most difficult aspect of COVID-19 for Jody has been the isolation and the loneliness that comes with living on her own during a pandemic. Although her cat Tilly responds to emotions, she is unable to provide the human interaction and conversation that we all need in order to thrive. Jody emphasized the importance of utilizing video chat functions or even just making a quick phone call instead of sending a text message. With months of physical distancing, checking in on each other through a vocal conversation can make a world of a difference in providing genuine care or support. She also highlighted the reality of many of us feeling lonely or depressed and the difficulty of reaching out for help, which is why someone else making the first move can be critical. Therefore, Jody urges people to reach out to their neighbors: “Any disability can be very isolating which is where I encourage community members – if you have a neighbor with a disability and you haven’t seen them in a while, check on them and commit to stopping by every once in awhile just to say hi. These connections are what count.” The community members of Tillamook County have shown their ability to step up for each other during a crisis, and as COVID-19 continues, let us all reflect on the power we each have in building these essential connections. 

AUTHOR: Ariel Slifka, Tillamook County Wellness AmeriCorps VISTA

For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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How to Build Resiliency During a Crisis

How to Build Resiliency During a Crisis

by | Oct 22, 2020 | Being Well

How’s your heart? No, I don’t mean that organ working so hard to pump life throughout your body. I mean that space inside your chest, that vast space that holds your tenderness, grief and sorrow. These are overwhelming times. Dr. Cornel West recently said, “we would be numb if we weren’t wrestling with despair.”

As this year has unfolded, I have found my own heart wrestling with much despair. The pandemic exposed so many issues around racism and health equity. Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other People of Color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. According to the COVID Racial Data Tracker (a partnership between The COVID Tracking Project and the Center for Antiracist Research), Black people are dying due to COVID-19 at 2.3 times the rate of white people. In Oregon, Black people are 2% of the population, but 4% of the cases; Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people are less than 1% of the population, but 2% of cases; American Indian or Alaskan Native people are 1% of the population, but 3% of cases; and Hispanic or Latinx people are 13% of the population, but 43% of cases. To give a comparison for context, white people make up 84% of Oregon’s population, but 49% of cases. These numbers reveal the racial inequities within healthcare, as well as the many other interwoven systems of our society, both historical and current, including—housing, employment, education and the legal system.

My anguish multiplied as this year continued the legacy of state-sanctioned violence towards Black people in so many cities across our nation. The brutal murder of George Floyd brought feelings of hopelessness and despair, and I know I am not alone.

I knew I needed to find a way to stay resilient during these times. My first step was recognizing that my feelings of despair and overwhelm are there because I care. My heart breaks because I have let myself be open to the suffering of others. I know that numbness is not my way out of this; continuing to feel more, not less, is the path to staying resilient.

I also have to allow myself to self-protect. I sometimes need to take a break from the news. I know I cannot respond wisely from a place of agitation. I have to respond from a place of calm and care.

I do my best to stay engaged and remember hope–the hope that is rooted in the mystery and uncertainty of it all. I know that both optimism and despair can give us the illusion that we already know the outcome (It’s all going to be fine! or It will continue to get worse!) and that can lead to apathy. Instead, I work to stay in that place of “wise hope” or “active hope” that is rooted in I don’t know and urges me to continue working to end racial inequities and racism. Because it feels the pain of others, my own heart is uplifted, and that helps me stay engaged.

The poem “Clearing” by Martha Postlethwaite brings me a sense of clarity as I find my way on this journey. Perhaps it will also help guide you if you are wondering or feeling stuck on your own path towards making the world a better place.  

Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there
patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself
to this world
so worth of rescue.

AUTHOR: Sara Todd, Licensed Social Worker at Rinehart Clinic

For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Against All Uncertainty: Forging Solutions and Fostering Normalcy for Family

Against All Uncertainty: Forging Solutions and Fostering Normalcy for Family

by | Oct 15, 2020 | Being Well

The last 6 months have not been easy, and for local resident Julie Hurliman, the biggest concern has always been the impact on her 9-year-old son, Matteo. At the beginning of COVID-19, Julie found herself allowing Matteo more screen time than normal because it was the only way to interact with friends and other family. She worries about him feeling lonely or isolated as an only child during a time of social distancing. Luckily, Julie was eventually able to create what she calls a “germ circle” with another family who also offered childcare. The families have kept their interactions with the outside world to a minimum, allowing their children to then safely interact with each other normally. As school has started up this fall, this connection has developed into more of a “learning pod, ” which has been increasingly helpful in navigating the challenges of online school.

Like many people, Julie is trying to do what is best for herself and her family in the world of COVID-19, although that in itself has been difficult to determine. With constant streams of conflicting information about COVID-19 in the media, Julie has felt torn: “Maybe I am overreacting to this? And then you see the other stories and effects of COVID and then think maybe you can’t overreact; this is a big deal. It’s really hard to feel sane in all of this.” It has been difficult to feel confident about any decisions, especially with COVID-19 making planning for the future nearly impossible. 

Within all of the uncertainty, Julie tries to focus on being kind – both to others and to herself. She points out that we never know what someone else is experiencing and it’s safer to assume that we are all doing the best that we can. She has found that although it is difficult to carve out time for self-care, she tries to take advantage of the opportunities that do come along. This summer has involved hiking, camping, kayaking, and grilling on the back deck – and thanks to COVID-19, a new evening hobby of watching the birds. Her focus is still on her son: “The world feels like such a heavy place with so much going on right now, you can almost feel guilty if you’re not consumed with worry. I don’t ever want that to feel normal for him.” Carving out time to do something fun together has become a priority, whether that involves board games or watching America’s Funniest Videos as a family on Sunday nights. These moments have become highlights of normalcy and joy in the midst of the challenges and chaos that 2020 has brought us all.

AUTHOR: Ariel Slifka, Tillamook County Wellness VISTA

For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Taking Action When You Can’t be on the Frontline

Taking Action When You Can’t be on the Frontline

by | Oct 8, 2020 | Being Well

What a year 2020 has been!  Each new emergency or disaster has highlighted the frontline heroes:  doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, and more.  As we watch these courageous people respond to unthinkable challenges, and as some even lose their life doing so, we could begin to feel powerless about what we as ordinary people can do to help.  Don’t lose hope!  There is much we can do to help.

Start where you are. Look around you in these four areas and find ways that you can help.

In your circle of family and friends:  Does someone you know need help?  They might not be able to ask for help, for example if they are overwhelmed by responding to the immediate needs of their crisis. Can you bring meals, even simple things like soup or takeout? Can you help clean up after the meals that others have brought? Can you text or call regularly for friendly visiting? Keep in mind that personal and regional phone lines can become overwhelmed during a crisis and time your calls carefully.

In your faith community or civic groups:  Does someone need help?  Is there a community project that needs volunteers, whether doers or planners or supporters? Doers to get visible things done.  Projects also need planners and behind-the-scenes support people.  For example, in the early days of COVID pandemic response, a group of Tillamook County community volunteers came together to make and distribute cloth face coverings.  Some did the sewing, some offered to buy supplies, and some drove the finished products to drop-off points around the County. 

In your personal bounty:  Do you have money or things (in new/like-new condition, but that’s another article) that you can give? Ask or do some research before deciding what to give. Sometimes money is most helpful.  Sometimes things like clothing would be helpful but may cost more money in logistics getting them delivered than it would cost to just give money to a nonprofit or civic group onsite.

Many nonprofits and faith communities have ways to give online.  Many of us also do our banking online and can easily set up a nonprofit or faith community to get a check.  When you give, be thoughtful.  Know which organizations you trust and decide whether you would like to focus your giving more locally or regionally. To learn more, go to the organization’s website or to a third party like Candid.org where you can look up mission and financial information about local, national and global nonprofits.

In your thoughts and prayers:  Think positive thoughts. Pray. Even if you aren’t part of a faith community, expressing gratitude for the blessings you do have and believing that a higher power may be listening to your spoken and unspoken prayers can be helpful.  Expressing gratitude has been shown to increase your happiness and decrease stress and pain.  Believing in God and praying for grace and courage for yourself and others can inspire healing and hope. 

So, take a deep breath.  And pick at least one thing you will do this week to take action as an ordinary citizen.

AUTHOR:  Melody Ayers, Philanthropy Director of Adventist Health Tillamook

For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Coping During Crisis

Coping During Crisis

by | Oct 1, 2020 | Being Well

Let’s face it, 2020 has been pretty awful. As a “clinically” positive and high-energy person, even I have struggled to slog my way through these past few months. Being a helper and a problem-solver during these circumstances has left me emotionally exhausted. In fact, a month ago, I went for a run and found myself just bawling – yes, crying – as I ran down the road. It felt like the energy powering my body was taking pent up emotions with it. It caught me completely off guard. It was also an important reminder of something I know as a fitness professional – we can avoid dealing with difficult emotions, but the body stores them whether we like it or not. To be healthy, we have to process and release negative thoughts, traumas and toxic stressors. And, as we are all too painfully aware, there are plenty of stressors right now.

That good cry helped me release much of the stress I had been storing up, so I could find the strength to continue the work of helping this community find ways to be well. As recently announced, I am Adventist Health’s new Director of Community Well-Being. The exciting news is that, through a partnership agreement between Adventist Health and Tillamook County Public Health, I will continue my role as Tillamook County Wellness Coordinator. I am honored and humbled to get to do this work. The enormity of it is not lost on me. This is about people’s lives – their physical, social, emotional and mental health and overall well-being. It’s important work and it takes all of us doing our part to make a difference.

Community. Well. Being. That sums up what we have in store for the next few months. We will be sharing stories from many different perspectives; how people are coping with the chaos of COVID, virtual realities, social division and natural disasters. In times like this, it is okay to not be okay. It’s okay to just be. It’s okay to talk about how you are coping – or not. And, in some cases, we manage to find a bright spot or a strategy that helps makes things a little bit better. We will share those nuggets too.

For me, it’s my Love Train playlist. Long before COVID, I created a workout playlist that really lifts my spirits. I’ve been playing it a lot in recent months. When I hear the lyrics, I project them out into the universe thinking of all the people who may need those messages. It makes me feel like I am doing something good to help others. It’s silly but, hey, it can’t hurt and it makes me feel better and that’s all that matters. If music is your go-to, maybe this can help:

  1. Love Train – The O’ Jays
  2. Hope the High Road – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
  3. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
  4. The Sound of Sunshine – Michael Franti & Spearhead
  5. Nothing More – The Alternate Routes
  6. Stand by Me – Tracy Chapman
  7. Where is the Love – Black Eyed Peas
  8. Pretty Shining People – George Ezra
  9. Everyday People – Sly and The Family Stone
  10. O-o-h Child – The Five Stairsteps

AUTHOR: Michelle Jenck, Director, Community Well-Being, Adventist Health & Tillamook County Wellness Coordinator

For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.