In the fifth and final episode of our MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS series, therapist Coleman Thompson talks about burnout. He explains that stress is typically situational, while burnout develops when demands continue without recovery or relief. It can involve apathy, anxiety, exhaustion, reduced focus, and loss of motivation. While usually associated with work, burnout can also exist within family situations especially in caregiving situations. Coleman talks about ways to overcome burnout that include adequate sleep schedules, exercise, social connections, restorative hobbies, and maintaining a work-life balance.

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https://www.anewleafcounseling.net/
(books referenced in the podcast)
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz

Author Connie Pearson's motto is Thou Shalt Not Bore and she has backed that up with her two new books: 100 Things To Do In North Alabama And Huntsville Before You Die and Take the Drive on I-65 Where Every Exit Has A Story. A former missionary and music teacher, Connie's quest for learning and adventure has led her down many roads and she explores some well known and lesser known places in her books. In the podcast she talks about her path to travel writing and the fun of finding regional eateries, entertainment, culture, nature, history sites and more. She also includes some travel tips!

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https://theregoesconnie.com/

In the fourth episode of our MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS series, therapist Coleman Thompson talks about conflict. He discusses different types including personal, interpersonal, family and workplace conflicts. He highlights specific attachment styles formed in early childhood - specifically anxious and avoidant - and how they may impact conflict situations. For resolution, he stresses clear communication, setting boundaries, kindness, and taking time outs if necessary. Coleman states conflict is normal. If done right, it can be productive in building both trust and closeness in relationships.

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https://mi-psych.com.au/how-attachment-affects-your-emotion-regulation-relationships/ (information referenced in the podcast)
https://www.alcpl.org/
https://www.anewleafcounseling.net/

Nicole Balthazar, Regional Director of the Alabama Kidney Foundation, talks with Eric Phillips, program supervisor at Legacy of Hope (a non-profit organ procurement organization that partners with the DMV). Together they discuss issues facing patients with kidney disease including kidney health, dialysis, living and deceased organ donation, as well as the expense and strain on families. They bust some of the myths surrounding organ donation and stress the need for education. There are over 95,000 people nationwide in need of a kidney, including 1200 in Alabama as of this writing. Nicole and Eric promote an upcoming Kidney Walk on April 18th with proceeds going towards patient services and kidney research.

https://alkidney.org/
https://legacyofhope.org/

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In a continuation of our MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS series, clinical licensed therapist, Coleman Thompson, weighs in on the topic of ADHD. He talks about some red flags (difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, restlessness) but stresses it is important to rule out any other underlying causes. He discusses treatment strategies for both children and adults: setting realistic goals, structure, the use of technology, reward systems, and flexibility. He also highlights the strengths of people with ADHD including their creativity and depth of knowledge on topics of interest. Family support plays an important role for people managing ADHD. Resources discussed in the podcast:

The Anxious Generation by Dick Schwartz
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder by Gabor Mate
ADDitude (digital online magazine) https://www.attitude.mag.com/
Huberman Lab (podcast on health issues) www.hubermanlab.com
Peer reviewed medical articles www.healthline.com

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https://www.anewleafcounseling.net/

Limestone County Archivist, Allynn Griffin, recounts the true story of Dora Jones - how a woman from Athens, AL brought modern day slavery to a national stage in the twentieth century. Shocking and sad, but also a story of hope, courage, and ultimate triumph over injustice. Listen to this compelling podcast.

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Limestone County Archivist, Allynn Griffin, has been in his new job for just over a year and has spent that time pouring over records housed in the historic train depot the archives calls home. With a background in the legal field and a strong interest in local history, he helps people find court records, probate records, newspapers, family papers and much more. The archives has been steadily digitizing records and visitors can browse the memorial website for genealogy research. As part of his work, Allynn has researched and written articles about lesser known but significant case histories from Athens, AL and we will feature the story of Dora Jones in a separate podcast....The Limestone County Archives encourages donations of family papers and other documents related to Limestone County for historical preservation.

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Dr. Angela Seay, health educator at D3 Health Fitness, talks about the connection between nutrition, exercise, and mental health. Her message: motion is medicine! Her advice is to start small, set realistic goals, and have an accountability partner. She emphasizes the importance of the mind, body, and spirit connection all working together in order to achieve wellness and stresses making one change at a time for 21 days until it becomes a habit. She believes "wonderful incremental changes plus consistency equals grand results!"

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