Gilstrap & Associates Counseling

03/12/2024

March is not only the gateway to a new season, with the nineteenth acting as the official first day of spring, but it also marks the end of Black History Month and the beginning of Women’s History Month. Therefore, in honor of both, it is important to recognize the unique experiences of Black women, who despite a history of oppression and racism, have exhibited resilience and courage, struggled for equality with vigor, and trailblazed uncharted territories so future generations of women could have opportunities and rights once unheard of.
One such notable woman is the late poet and author Dr. Maya Angelou who was born Marguerite Ann Johnson in Missouri of 1928. Maya was mute from the ages of seven to twelve while living with her grandmother in Arkansas, all the while developing a passion for poetry and particularly becoming enthralled with Shakespeare and Poe. She kept a journal as a girl, and she often composed essays and short stories, using written word as an outlet.
In 1969, Angelou published "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," her memoir and the catalyst of her ascent into recognition as a writer. In this novel, Angelou confronts the disturbing events of her childhood with elegiac prose, including instances of bigotry and violence she witnessed and endured, as well as her sexual abuse and ensuing selective mutism; in addition, she also details her troublesome adolescence, teen pregnancy, and her wrestle with Black womanhood. This autobiography was essential in kickstarting her career, but it was also instrumental in finally liberating the tongue of her younger self once bound by silence.
Angelou writes with the fervor and passion of one possessed by words, and she went on to publish six other autobiographies, write various plays and movie scripts, as well as three books of essays and various poetry collections that warranted her an onslaught of prestigious awards including a Grammy Award, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, The National Medal of Arts, among many others.
Her lifetime of courage and strength made for a legacy of the same valor and contribution, with her’s being a household name often spoken alongside those of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, whom she worked alongside during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, many of her works are considered American classics and are staples in literature classes across the nation, where she is remembered as a once caged bird who finally sang and changed the world with her melody in the process.


Works Cited
Spring, Kelly A. “Maya Angelou.” National Women’s History Museum, https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/maya-angelou. March 11, 2024-March 12, 2024.

12/12/2023

Amidst the extravagant meal preparation, Christmas lights so bright they could be stars, tissue paper carnage, candlelight services, and garland, it can be difficult to adequately rest and breathe during the holiday season. Though a time of love and laughter, December doubles as a time of great expectation and preparation with circa 2 in 5 U.S. adults (41%) claiming that their stress levels increase during this season. In fact, some report that this stress interrupts their ability to truly enjoy and cherish the holidays, with financial worries, familial conflict, and even food or alcohol-correlated issues heading their concern.
In order to ensure that you can properly appreciate this season and the people who make it special, be patient with yourself and maybe even consider seeking mental health help. The bustle of December can bring out the best in people, but it can also exacerbate underlying health issues or unresolved trauma, so practice personal mindfulness and call us at 407-522-9919 for any counseling inquiries. We'd love to hear from you!

12/06/2023

December is underway, and Seasonal Affective Disorder is too as it falls darker earlier and the weather becomes gradually colder. The decline in sunlight that typifies this month can lead to depressed mood, as people's biological clockworks are disrupted and decreased sun exposure can negatively impact serotonin levels. Melatonin is also a chemical factor in SAD, as fluctuations or reduction of its production are staples of the winter season.
With this in mind, it's crucial to check up on loved ones this December and remind yourself that spring is on the other side of winter.

12/01/2023

Today is December 1st, which means that the busiest and most celebrated time of the year has arrived yet again. Amidst the bustle of Christmas and nearing the gateway to 2024, it's pertinent to acknowledge your limits and take it easy with yourself. The holidays are meant to be lighthearted and enjoyable, but too often are they a season of immense stress, workplace upheaval, financial worry, and for some people, grief and shame.
Take a look at this list of helpful holiday habits to ensure you can make the most of time spent with those you love while also managing personal wellbeing.

10/10/2023

Although the exponential advancements of technology prove valuable to the fields of medicine and science, have revolutionized communication, and reinforced globalization, they can also be a tool of destruction. There is a certain courage that being behind a screen allows one to acquire and exercise. It's far easier to insult someone when you don't have to see their face, and spreading misinformation and rumors via social media and other heavily-populated online platforms is effortless. That being said, technology has two faces, the first being its function as a means of improving society and day-to-day life, the other being its ability to be used for wrong.
Accompanying the rise of technology, cyberbullying has become a major issue. The accessibility and data continuity of the online world is what makes cyberbullying so powerful; in addition, internet harassment is indirect, so it often undermines the physical consequences of bullying. In fact, between 2020 and 2021 alone there was a 40% increase in cyberbullying, with a wide demographic of young people being affected (Hinduja). Such a drastic fluctuation in cyberbullying is alarming, but even more so troubling are the links between cyberbullying and poor school attendance, youth su***des, identity fraud, and online predation.
As October-also known as National Bullying Awareness Month-continues, we must be hypervigilant in efforts to educate about, de-normalize, and provide resources for all forms of bullying, even and especially the kind that takes places virtually.



Words Cited

Hinduja, Sameer. “Cyberbullying Statistics 2021 | Age, Gender,
Sexual Orientation, and Race.” Cyberbullying Research Center, July 2022, cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-statistics-age-gender-sexual-orientation-race.

10/05/2023

October is commonly known as National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying involves verbal and physical abuse to intimidate or hurt another individual, and many victims are mistreated on the basis of their race, gender, disability, religion, or other factor.
Bullying is most typically associated with younger generations, and it's often believed that "everyone is bullied as a kid." However, not only does this assertation desensitize such a serious issue, but it also discourages victims from reaching out for help, isolating them in the distress they are facing. Mistreatment from peers is not a staple of childhood development, and it is inappropriate to justify harassment on the basis of personal or widespread experience. Furthermore, the dismissing of bullying as "normal for kids" or "something everyone goes through" tolerates the intolerable. By insinuating that the rationale of bullying depends on how it is universally shared, our society loses a sense of empathy and humanity. For instance, if a child told you his aunt had just passed away, your initial response wouldn't be, "Well, get over it because everyone dies" or "You'll be ok, my aunt is dead too." It is essential to address individual scenarios and to intervene so as to prevent lifetime insecurities and self esteem issues.
Thus, it is integral to promote anti-bullying in order to compose a culture of kindness and compassion in school environments, so that every child can recognize the signs of bullying and have the resources to ask for help. For more details about National Bullying Prevention Month, or for valuable tools and ideas about integrating anti-bullying into the classroom, visit this article:

The how, where, when, and why of bullying prevention.

10/03/2023

The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week, a dedicated time frame during which mental health advocates and sufferers are united in discussion, reflection, and the promotion of more accessible and diverse resources of support. Of course, it is essential for there to be safe spaces for conversations about mental illness year-round, but this week aims to pinpoint and uplift the significance of mental health through widespread recognition over the course of 7 days. Founded in 1990, MIAW involves community education, sponsored activities and events, and a general focus on engaging the public with helplines, support groups, and the reality of mental illness in the United States.

09/27/2023

APA CEO Dr. Arthur C. Evans explains why ***dePrevention work is so imperative in the U.S.

For more quotes from National Action Alliance for Su***de Prevention leadership, please visit http://theactionalliance.org/bethere/excom.

09/22/2023

Although every individual is different, there are some generally common indications that someone is contemplating su***de or could be at risk of harming themselves. For example, the more obvious features of a suicidal person would include: discussions about death or wanting to die, composing a will or making arrangements for when they are "gone," or often mentioning the pointlessness of their life. Meanwhile, other characteristics involve: social withdrawal or isolation, mood swings, substance abuse, drastic appetite or sleeping changes, prominent agitation or anger, talking about feeling like a burden, extreme guilt or shame, telling loved ones goodbye, e.t.c.
When someone displays these tendencies, there is a possibility that they may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, or simply faring stormy skies in their life. Although it can be uncomfortable to confront someone regarding your concerns for them, it could potentially alter the course of that person's life. A conversation could redirect a mind and open a heart, so take a chance because the awkwardness of asking a hard and sensitive question pales in comparison to the beauty of redemption and healing in a life once tormented by darkness.
Call 988 or your local emergency services if you sense a loved one may harm or kill themselves, and seek help if you are experiencing your own battle with suicidal thoughts.

09/18/2023

As we set sail into autumn, it's significant to note that September is National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. The month's essential goals include destigmatizing vulnerable conversations about mental health, offering resources and help to those who are suffering, and educating people about the warning signs to be aware of in loved ones.
Su***de is a tragic reaction to troubling life events or changes, and it is often viewed by those who turn to it as the ultimate way to cope with and escape ordeals that are overwhelming or painful. In 2022 alone, 49,449 individuals were reported deceased as a result of su***de in the U.S. That number exceeds the full capacity of many major football stadiums and marks a 2.6% increase since 2021 ("Provisional Su***de Deaths in the United States, 2022"). The harrowing reality of self-inflicted death is that it is on the rise and has no face; su***de impacts a diverse demographic of the population, with even young people, pregnant and postpartum women, and Hollywood stars committing.
For example, one of the most well-known deaths by su***de took place in 2014 when the beloved actor Robin Williams hung himself. He was once quoted saying: “I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.” It is haunting to read his words now, knowing that he eventually succumbed to the sadness and pain he wanted to prevent others from experiencing. The legacy of his words, however, ring true, and by addressing the act of using his own mental health struggles as fuel to encourage and help others, he is describing one of the most valuable facets of human connection-empathy.
Empathy and sympathy are often misunderstood as synonymous, and though they do have similar traits, empathy goes far beyond pitying and consoling someone. Empathy involves directly opening one’s heart up to the tenderness of others, taking a hike in shoes that belong to a brother, and meeting people where they are. Empathy is more than condolence, it is understanding between two people, in which one feels the pain’s origin, and the other sits with them and opens their arms to make room for heartache that doesn't belong to them.
In that regard, empathy is one of the most powerful tools in relation to mental health, as it serves to bridge people and harbor a sense of community. For instance, conversations surrounding and about su***de are innately vulnerable and difficult, so oftentimes they don’t take place, which only serves to further stigmatize the issue and isolate its sufferers. However, as Williams touches on in the aforementioned quote, when people who have experienced mental distress step up and try to relate to others and act as anchors in times of heartache, essential and possibly life-altering conversations can be had and lives can be impacted for the better. It’s as simple as asking someone how they are and really meaning it-really intending to listen to them, even if their answer isn’t the typical and easy “I’m fine.”
Take charge this month and reach out to your loved ones, ask hard questions, and call 988 for a conversation with a trained crisis counselor if you or someone else is struggling with intense emotional weight or suicidal thoughts.

09/06/2023

Su***de is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. Learn about risk factors, warning signs, and how to help a suicidal adolescent.

06/05/2023

Though Seasonal Affective Disorder typically affects individuals during fall and winter months, it can impact sufferers in the summer. However, the idea of depressive tendencies and a lowered mood are more easily associated with the dying leaves of fall and dullness of wintertime. Thus, enduring the symptoms of SAD is often exacerbated in summertime because onlookers to the condition cannot duely understand being blue in what is considered a "happy" month.
This social weight on summertime makes it difficult for depressed individuals to relate to others who see the season as a symbol of freedom and fun. The typical: "Oh come on, it's summer! Smile more!" approach of friends and family members can perpetuate isolation and irritability as one might feel pushed to perform and unable to talk about their struggle openly.
That being said, it is significant to begin June with empathy and end it just the same. The weather doesn't match everyone's mood, and people fight silent battles regardless of the time of year.