IT’S FINALLY HERE! I am super proud to tell all of my friends about my latest charity foundation that I have started with my friend Lila Nikole Rivera! Drumroll please…….PROJECT SAVE IMAGINATION!!!!

Project Save Imagination is a charity based initiative that aims to support students who have an avid interest in the arts but may not have the money or opportunities to pursue their dreams. Every child deserves to follow their passion and we aim to turn that dream into a reality. Whether it’s for an exciting theater workshop, art class sponsorship or even money donated for classroom supplies, our foundation wants to bring back the magic of the arts into lives of students across the country. We have partnered together with the hope to inspire others to help make a child’s dream come true in the area of art education. We started this nonprofit foundation to raise money for student’s who may dream of participating in an art, film, fashion or music education/workshops.

Lila has an amazing background in business and is a networking guru! She has run her own successsful swimwear line for years and is the epitome of the word creative and resourceful.

I am an artist and have a passion for helping the community. Working with children my entire life has inspired me to try to play a greater role in their success and helping them achieve their wildest dreams.

Our launch event is planned for December during Art Basel. I am very excited to reveal more details as they become available!

Please check out our site http://saveimagination.org and follow us on twitter @SaveAndImagine

Namaste!

Aisha Thalia

I try to cover a wide range of topics on my blog, but depression is one thing that has been very familiar to me so I figured I would share. Not only does it run in my family, but as a cancer sign AND as someone diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder, depression is practically a part of my everyday life struggle (when I’m not really, really, excited and hyper.) I posted this in case anyone else has “down days” more often than not and wanted to seek help. Depression isn’t anything to be ashamed of! It isn’t your fault that you may have a chemical imbalance that blocks the “happy chemicals” from reaching your brain! But understand that the people you surround yourself with will have to know how to deal with you and their understanding and support is of the utmost importance. It is important that they dont “blame you” for the way that you are or make you feel worse about it. Easier said than done, right? Meditation helps and loved ones can make all the difference!

DEPRESSION (via HELPGUIDE.org)

Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life. But when emptiness and despair take hold and won’t go away, it may be depression. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming. No matter how hopeless you feel, the first step to recovery is to understand the problem.

We all go through ups and downs in our mood. Sadness is a normal reaction to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness.

Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed people don’t feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel angry, aggressive, and restless.

Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.

Signs and symptoms of depression

Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows. But the more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted—the more likely it is that you’re dealing with depression. When these symptoms are overwhelming and disabling, that’s when it’s time to seek help.

Common signs and symptoms of depression

• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
• Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
• Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
• Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
• Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
• Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
• Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
• Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
• Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
• Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

Ask for help and support

If even the thought of tackling your depression seems overwhelming, don’t panic. Feeling helpless and hopeless is a symptom of depression—not the reality of your situation. It does not mean that you’re weak or you can’t change! The key to depression recovery is to start small and ask for help. Having a strong support system in place will speed your recovery. Isolation fuels depression, so reach out to others, even when you feel like being alone. Let your family and friends know what you’re going through and how they can support you.

Make healthy lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes are not always easy to make, but they can have a big impact on depression. Lifestyle changes that can be very effective include:
• Cultivating supportive relationships
• Getting regular exercise and sleep
• Eating healthfully to naturally boost mood
• Managing stress
• Practicing relaxation techniques
• Challenging negative thought patterns

If you are feeling suicidal, SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP!

Namaste,
Aisha Thalia

Trapped

When a person is diagnosed with any mental illness they may experience feeling a lot of shame. The public seems to have a lot of negative thoughts associated with people that have any form of mental illness. What people don’t understand is that it is not something anyone chooses to have or enjoys dealing with anymore than a person diagnosed with cancer. Also, just because they have the illness does NOT mean that everything they say and do that offends you can be attributed to their “disease.” Although having a mental illness is not a death sentence, it is something that doesn’t go away. They have to deal with it and the ramifications of it every single day. The best thing you can do is be supportive and remember that it is not always “them” you are dealing with daily.

So let’s talk specifically about Bipolar Disorder. What exactly is it?

Bipolar disorder means that a person will have extreme mood swings in which they go from very high and energized (manic) to very low, unmotivated and depressed. The high periods can last from a few days to a month or more and the low periods usually last much longer. The low periods can last from several weeks to even several months. About 1 in every 50 people in the United States has bipolar disorder.

What are the symptoms?

During a manic phase the person may be feeling overly happy or excited OR they may be overly irrirable or angry. They can so things that are very impulsive during this time like drive recklessly or spend a great deal of money unwisely. They may also experience symptoms of depression other times which can include feeling very sad, down, irritable or anxious, losing interest in people or things, sleeping to much, having little or no appetite, trouble concentrating or making decisions, feeling fatigued or low in energy, moving or talking slowly, feeling very bad or guilty about themselves or contemplating suicide (or actually carrying out suicide attempts.

It is very important that if you have a loved one that suffers from bipolar disorder that you learn to recognize their “triggers.” Once you understand that you can avoid those places, things, or activities that can bring on a episode. Try to remember that it is not your fault when/if they snap or yell at you or even say thing you know they don’t mean. Reading many blogs and comments from those with bipolar have a similar theme with failed relationships. Either they avoid them altogether in hopes to not hurt anyone, or they experience many failed relationships because it is hard to find a partner that can deal with their mood swings. People with bipolar long for “normal” relationships that won’t be disrupted by their mood disorder.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorders means that a person has dysregulations in the emotional regulation “circuitry” of the brain, especially the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. It’s possible that the imbalances are inherited from blood relatives. Amny people that abuse drugs and alcohol sometimes are people that are trying to self medicate their bipolar disorder. A significant portion of the homeless population also suffers from some form of mental illness.

Treatment?

Treatment will most likely involve mood stabilizing medications such as lithium, Depakote, Lamictal, etc and be in conjunction with taking an antidepressant as well as possible anti anxiety medications. Therapy is also very useful. Many people have trouble taking medications because it makes them feel very zoned out or even kind of blah. I know that when I took medication (I am diagonsed with a less severe form, Bipolar 2) I felt like a zombie and all my creativity was washed away. I guess for some people they choose between crazy or boring. LOL.

Bottomline?

Be supportive of your neighbor, friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, husband/wife, or parent/child with bipolar disorder. They need as much support and patience as you can afford to give. Remember, we are all One, just different branches from the same tree. Don’t give up on your loved ones.

FAMOUS/CREATIVE PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

Russell Brand, actor/comedian
Kurt Cobain, musician
Patricia Cornwell, American crime writer
DMX, rapper
Mel Gibson, actor and director
Macy Gray, musician and actor
Linda Hamilton, actress
Ernest Hemingway, writer
Demi Lovato, American actress, singer
Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher
Sinéad O’Connor, musician
Ozzy Osbourne, singer
Edgar Allan Poe, poet and writer
Jackson Pollock, American artist
Axl Rose, lead singer and frontman best known for Guns N’ Roses
Nina Simone, American singer
Britney Spears, singer
Jean-Claude Van Damme, actor
Vincent Van Gogh, artist
Pete Wentz, musician
Delonte West, American basketball player
Amy Winehouse, musician
Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress