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Resilience: Acceptance & Commitment Therapy with Russ Harris Glenda Blackwell / Feb 10 2014
When we face really difficult and challenging situations we all have a tendency to veer towards feeling helpless / hopeless and to act in selfdefeating ways. However there are really 4 approaches to a problematic situation. This is a bit like the famous serenity prayer. 1. Leave If this is an option might be useful to consider: would you5r life be richer, fuller and more meaningful if you left than if you stayed. If you can’t or won’t leave then you have 3 options left. 2. Stay and change what can be changed: If you have to stay or you choose to stay, then take control of your actions to do whatever you can to improve the situation or prevent it from getting worse. Actions are more in our control than thoughts and feelings so: What can you do physically? What words can you say to improve things? What strengths and skill can you use? What help can you get from the people and the world around you. NOTE: You can’t control other people but you can influence how they behave so the first step is to take control of YOUR OWN physical and verbal actions. 3. Stay and accept what can’t be changed and live by your values: If you’ve done everything you can to improve the situation or prevent it from getting worse and you still can’t or won’t leave, then accept what can’t be changed. Acknowledge- this is how it is at least for now, that you don’t like it , want it or approve of it, and that it is painful. Be kind to yourself, choose the values you want to live by, and find little ways to act on those values in your everyday life. 4. Stay and give up and do stuff that makes it worse: Unfortunately many of us choose this option when life gets tough. Maybe you have to stay or choose to stay in the situation but give up.- give up on action to improve the situation or stop it from worsening, give up on living by your values, get stuck in helplessness – all too hard. And then you do the self-defeating stuff like drugs, alcohol, eat unhealthy food, withdraw from people and activities, procrastinate, avoid challenges, or escape from reality in computers, TV and other distractions, holidays, reading books, listening to music, exercising. So even in the most terrible situation we have options and choices. We just need to work on them For more information on ACT Mindfully or Russ Harris, please visit www.actmindfully.com.au.
Mental Health First Aid Training The Mental Health First Aid Program is run by Mental Health First AidTM (MHFA) Australia, a national non-profit health promotion charity focused on training and research. More information about MHFA Australia here: www.mhfa.com.au Standard Mental Health First Aid covers the most common disorders such as depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders and alcohol and drug problems. 2014 Dates: 4th & 5th March 2014 7th & 8th May 2014 5th & 6th August 2014 4th & 5th November 2014 Youth Mental Health First Aid is for adults who live or work with young people. This course also addresses self-harm and eating disorders. 2014 dates: 1st & 2nd April 2014 1st & 2nd July 2014 9th & 10th December 2014 Both courses cover the development of a 5-step action plan for mental health first aid, managing suicide, panic attacks, psychotic behaviour and general communication skills. Training Location: Arcadian Surf Lifesaving Club The Strand Rockpool North Ward Qld 4810 Duration: 2 days Cost: $100 per person Registration Forms available online at: http://www.mifa.org.au/mentalhealth-first-aid
To find out more contact our Qld Manager Education and Training, Philippa Harris on 4725 3664, or email training@mifnq.org.au.