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Shoreham & District Mental Health Association
Registered Charity Number 1114956 - Limited Company Number 5818997
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AAW Issue 1 - Summer 2005
AAW Issue 1 can be viewed as a Adobe PDF file if you have Adobe Reader installed.
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The contents of this issue can also be read below.
index
AAW
Newsletter - Issue 1
24 hour drinking - Will it stop alcohol related problems?
SMOKING - The great debate
Whatever gets you through the night?
Are we alone?
FIREWORKS … all year affects your health
2005 YEAR OF THE VOLUNTEER
24 hour drinking - Will it stop alcohol related problems?
In an effort to stop town centres being overrun with violent and anti-social drunks when the pubs close, the government has come up with a novel solution: leave the pubs open. This will stop the rush to the bar at last orders and the swift downing of several pints before chucking
out time. But will it stop the punters from getting drunk before they
even enter the pub by knocking back drinks at friends houses as they
gather for their night out? But will it stop the mentality behind the
desire to get blind drunk at the end of the week? Or maybe there is
a need for this kind of exuberance which is not met in other areas of
life, maybe the stress of modern life and the monotony of the working
week is such that people feel the need to 'let off steam' and the price
we pay as a society for a strong economy driven by largely mindless
drudgery,is mindless hedonism at the weekend?
Anthropologists might make a comparison with more ancient cultures with their consumption of mindaltering substances in sacred rituals, making contact with ancestral spirits. It could no doubt be argued that there is a need to enter a different dimension, removed from the dull, everyday world, and that in the absence of religion in modern society, there is only such outlets as loud music, football matches and alcohol to fulfil this need.
But perhaps such deep philosophising is missing the point. Perhaps
some people just enjoy getting utterly legless, making complete fools
of themselves and pouring their hard earned cash into the coffers of
Wetherspoons and Yates. At least with twenty four hours opening there
may no longer be the problem of waking up not knowing where you are,
just doze off in a corner of the pub, and you'll be back to where you
started, ready for the next session. And, if you take a small bag with
a
change of clothes and a toothbrush, you need never go home at all.
SMOKING - The great debate
The nation is divided over whether you should be able to smoke in a public place, and the Government has come up with a compromise. In recent years smoking has been banned in pubs in the Republic of Ireland, New York and California. Scotland is planning to ban smoking in public places. The British Medical Association has even declared that smoking should be banned altogether.
Is this the Nanny State gone mad, or a sensible health measure? Some argue that giving up smoking would be easier if the pubs were smoke-free, while some declare that a fag and a pint go together to make the perfect aid to relaxation. Which is more important, the freedom to smoke or the freedom to breathe? Pub chains argue that business would suffer if smoking was banned, but how many people stay out of pubs to avoid the smoke? Judging by the amount of drink for sale in off-licenses and supermarkets a fair amount gets consumed at home, in fact lager sales in supermarkets recently outstripped pubs. Of course that could simply mean the pub itself is on the way out.
The government proposes a ban on smoking in places that sell food prepared
on the premises. Does this mean non-smokers will be flocking to gastro-pubs
in search of a smoke free pint, or will pubs that serve food have to
make a decision on whether to lose their smoking customers or their
dining clientele? Will 'pie and a pint' nights become a thing of the
past to be replaced by 'smoky karaoke?'. Will roast dinners on Sundays
be replaced by endless varieties of crisps and peanuts? Some would argue
that even a total ban on smoking in public places does not go far enough.
Some smokers have commented that, "if they ban smoking in pubs,
the next thing is they'll ban drinking alcohol".
NOW THAT WOULD BE A CHEAP NIGHT OUT!
Note : The above article was written in the Summer of 2005.
On Tuesday 14th February 2006, the Government voted for a COMPLETE ban (not the partial one they were considering!) in all pubs, workplaces, restaurants etc.
It is due to commence in the Summer of 2007. Further reading on this link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4714992.stm
Whatever gets you through the night?
Tackling sleeping problems with 'sleep hygiene'
Sleep hygiene can be effective in improving a disturbed sleep pattern. It requires 'stimulus control' such as reducing stimulants prior to bed like caffeine, nicotine or alcohol; only using the bed and bedroom to sleep; ensuring a period of quiet before going to bed; regulating the time of retiring to bed and getting up in the morning; not going to bed until tired and getting up if unable to sleep; if you really are wide awake go to another room and return to bed only when sleepy; set an alarm and get up at the same time every morning, regardless of the amount of sleep achieved; avoid daytime naps; follow a regular pattern, walking, eating, having a regular bedtime routine and going to bed at the same time every night.
Are we alone?
Whenever I look into the night sky I wonder if we are alone.
With all those stars no one can know for sure.
If we are alone that would make us the most intelligent life form.
Now that's scarier than seeing little green men!
FIREWORKS … all year affects your health
SHELL SHOCK: the World War I name for what is known today as posttraumatic stress; this is a psychological disorder that develops in some individuals who have had major traumatic experiences (and, for example, have been in a serious accident or through a war). The person is typically numb at first but later has symptoms including depression, excessive irritability, guilt (for having survived while others died), recurrent nightmares, flashbacks to the traumatic scene, and overreaction to sudden noises. Post-traumatic stress became known as such in the 1970s due to the adjustment problems of some Vietnam veterans.
Christopher May runs 'Tourettes in Crisis', a support group for those who are affected by Tourettes where experiences and coping strategies are shared in an informal setting.
Meetings take place bi-monthly at The Old School House in Shoreham. You can contact Christopher through the School House or by e-mail: christopher.r.may@btinternet.com.
I used to love fireworks when I was young, but now it's all bombs not fireworks. Many people find today's fireworks are louder than ever and more and more seem to go off each year. Most of us get through the fireworks season with varying degrees of excitement or stress depending on our age and situation. But for some, fireworks can be agony.
Fireworks these days are so much louder and seem to be set off in greater quantities than ever before. As a child I remember getting very excited at the prospect of setting off the contents of the small box we would get from the newsagents. There would be a lot of fizz and crackle and the odd bang. It would all be over in half an hour. Nowadays I dread the 'firework season', no longer just the 5th November, or the nearest weekend. In my neighbourhood there are a lot of young families and it seems to be a competition to see how much money they can afford to 'blow' on fireworks. Each year the racket gets worse. Last year it felt like a bombardment going on around me. It seems almost an insult to those who are suffering in war zones that we should see this as any kind of entertainment. As a person who lives with a nervous condition, going to the supermarket on a Friday afternoon is stressful enough; to be put through the torment of fireworks each year is hell – and so unnecessary as the simple solution is to ban them except for licensed displays well away from populations of pets, elderly people and those unfortunate enough to suffer with stress, anxiety and mental illness”.
Christopher May suffers from Giles de la Tourette Syndrome, or Tourettes.
Not widely known about this genetic condition makes life very uncomfortable
for sufferers who have involuntary tics, facial grimacing,
blinking, repetitive body movements, as well as screaming, screeching,
barking and coughing, and obsessive behaviour. Other symptoms may include
involuntary utterances of obscene or socially inappropriate words (copropraxia),
the imitation of other people's speech (echolalia), other people's actions
(echopraxia), repeating over and over a word or phrase (palilalia),
repetitive movements like doing up a button over and over again (palipraxia).
Sufferers may be affected to a varying degree; in Chris's case his compulsion
to poke his eye out led to temporary blindness and hospital admissions.
Eventually things got so bad that he had a pioneering brain operation,
which improved the condition greatly. Chris finds that fireworks set
off the tics, bringing on anxiety and anger as well. It's like being
in a war zone ”he says, some of it sounds like automatic gunfire.
Fireworks night is hell for him. I turn my music up really loud, close
all the windows, even close all the air vents”. Even then the
noise still gets through. I just scream and want to go out there and
tell them to stop. The length of time that the fireworks go on being
set off is a problem too. It used to be just on the night, or the night
before, but they go on for three weeks before. The whole period becomes
a time of anxiety for Christopher. But he does not think that fireworks
should be banned. He blames youths for setting many of them off for
a laugh, and is sceptical about new restrictions on firework sales,
"when I was a kid you weren't supposed to throw bangers, but you
did".”.
2005 YEAR OF THE VOLUNTEER
2005 is officially the Year of the Volunteer. Across the country, volunteer organisations are putting on special events to celebrate the work of voLunteers, encourage new people to take part in voluntary work, and to thank all those who give their time forgood causes.
So we thought we would find out what it's all about by talking to someone who is on the team at Sussex Wildlife Trust, a conservation charity based at Woods Mill near Henfield. The Trust depends on volunteers to do much of its work. I spoke to Gordon Tickler, who gives up two days a week to work for the Wildlife Trust, and it turns out, does other voluntary work elsewhere. I began by asking how long Gordon had been involved.
" It all began about five years ago when I retired. I went on a walk organised by the Trust and got talking to one of the Reserve Managers, then after that I spoke to the Volunteer Coordinator,and I got started".
Gordon went on to describe what kind of work he does:
"We all turn up around nine o'clock, the Reserve Manager will brief us on the day's tasks, then usually we take a look around the reserve, check for any major urgent jobs, like sorting out fallen trees and wind damage along the paths and the roadside".
"We have a coffee break then work through the day's list, which
could include coppicing during the winter, mowing during the summer,
maintaining fences and making and putting up birdboxes. We have a lot
special events for the public, and for these we often put up marquees
or lay out trails for children. The staff in the head office buildings
sometimes
need help moving things, such as when the old mill building was recently
cleared for re-roofing".
In addition to working at Woods Mill, Gordon also goes out with the 'Hit Squad', a group of volunteers who travel around different reserves. Also in the spring and summer there is the West Dean Roadshow and other events we help set up stands for.
As if this were not enough, Gordon told me that he also volunteers for the RSPB, again doing conservation work, and the Shoreham Society, raising money for the restoration of the Tollbridge and helping in the Marlipins Museum.
“I don't do anything on Sundays", he says “not for religious reasons, i just decided to have one day a week free".
I asked what motivates him to do so much voluntary work. “I like outdoor
work, and I like birds and wildlife- you get to see a Lot of wildlife out on the reserves and it’s a bit of a cliche but I want to put something back”.
It turns out that Gordon has always had a connection with the
countryside: “I worked for the National Farmers Union, and I have several relatives who farm”.
He says the important qualities to be a volunteer are “flexibility, being willing and able to work in a friendly way, and work as part of a team. Your individual capabilities will be assessed… we all have our good
points and our failings”. He adds that “It’s important to have an interest in the work of the volunteer organisation”.
What advice would he give to someone who is thinking of volunteering and ready to take the plunge?
“Talk to somebody else who is doing it, then speak to the person who organises the volunteer programme; arrange to go along and do a day and see if you like it”.
And Gordon points out that, “you don’t have to do several days a week, you could Just do a couple of hours, not necessarily every week”.
And you don't have to work on a Sunday, unless you want to of course!
We welcome your views and comments on the articles in this newsletter and look forward to dialogue with readers over future issues.
: Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle is an independent, user-led publication,
produced quarterly, and aims to reflect interesting views of society
health and well-being, and to raise the profile of mental health issues
and the profile of The Corner House Resource Centre which produces this publication. Whilst we aim only to publish
articles that do not upset, discriminate or violate in any way other
people, we hold the right to change submitted articles slightly to achieve
this, and views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views or policies
of Shoreham and District Mental Health Association (SDMHA), the Trustee
Board of The Corner House Day Centre nor the Editorial Team.
We do not undertake any responsibility for contributions and any products
or advertisements mentioned do not imply endorsement by SDMHA.
If you need the newsletter in an alternative format, contact:
SDMHA (AAW Newsletter)
The Corner House
45 Southwick Street
Southwick
West Sussex
BN42 4TH
Phone: 01273 871575
THE EDITORIAL TEAM:
Service Users: Lydia Thompson, Simon Boulton, Tom Smith, Sally McNally
Vocational Worker: Julie Bose / Chair of SDMHA: Denise Carroll
Thanks to Jonathan Smith and Nigel Pelham for start up contributions.
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