I was cooking the other day, (yes, given my schedule it doesn’t happen that often) and I noticed something about my two favorite types of cooking pans.

I have a cast iron pan that my grandmother gave to me. It’s a great pan. Sturdy. Well worn. It’s seen its share of fried chicken and country style steak. The only thing is, no matter what I cook in it, things always seem to get stuck. Doesn’t matter how much oil I use, stuff gets attached to the pan and you have to use a lot of elbow grease to get it off there when you’re trying to clean it.

The other favorite pan in my cupboard is my Teflon coated pan. I use this when I’m cooking eggs or giving something a quick sauté. There have been times that I’ve been in a hurry and just tossed the eggs in without giving a quick spray of Pam, and ya know what? It still didn’t stick. Things just came right off the pan. No elbow grease required for cleaning.

Looking at the pans got me to thinking.

Quite often, we’re like these pans. Things will be said to us, or something will happen and we allow it to get stuck to us. We become like the cast iron pan. We hold onto things. And like the cast iron pan, we sometimes hold the heat of the hurts. Cast iron pans are known for holding heat for a long time.

On the other hand, the Teflon pan folks have this ability to let things slide right off of them. When hurtful words or actions come their way, it may be there on them for moment, but it doesn’t cling to them. Doesn’t mean that they haven’t felt it and had to work with it a little while — but they are able to let it go. Like the Teflon pan, things don’t stick to them.

So, which are you? Do you tend to be like a cast iron pan and allow things to get stuck?

Or, are you more like the Teflon pan, with twith the ability to process and let go?

Bedelia Murray, MSW – Clinical Director

Although there are no official national statistics on attempted suicide (e.g., non-fatal actions) it is generally estimated that there are 25 attempts for each death by suicide. The vast majority of individuals who are suicidal often display cues and warning signs. Here is an easy to remember Mnemonic for warning signs of suicide: IS PATH WARM?

IS PATH WARM?

I Ideation
S Substance Abuse

P Purposelessness
A Anxiety
T Trapped
H Hopelessness

W Withdrawal
A Anger
R Recklessness
M Mood Changes

Ideation: Expressed or communicated ideation – threatening to hurt or kill self, or talking of wanting to hurt or
kill self; looking for ways to kill self; talking or writing about death, dying or suicide

Substance Abuse: Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use

Purposelessness: No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life

Anxiety: Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time

Trapped: Feeling trapped (like there’s no way out)

Hopelessness: Hopelessness

Withdrawal: Withdrawal from friends, family and society

Anger: Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge

Recklessness: Acting reckless or engaging in risk activities, seemingly without thinking

Mood Change: Dramatic mood changes

These warning signs were derived as a consensus from a meeting of internationally – renowned clinical researches held under the auspices of the AAS in Wellesley, MA in November 2003.

May is National Mental Health Month

For more than fifty years, our country has celebrated May as Mental Health Month to raise awareness about mental illness and the importance of mental wellness for all. Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center invites you to join in this important observance. Please forward these newsletter and/or bulletin excerpts to the person responsible for printing your weekly communications. The National Mental Health Association has resources available on their Web site as well. www.nmha.org If you have any questions, feel free to call the Center at 448-4820 or visit our website at www.coastalsamaritan.org.