50 The QUEE NS Courier • health • december 5, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶health HUNDREDS GET HEALTHY AT THE COURIER SENIOR HEALTH & FINANCIAL FITNESS EXPO BY MAGIE HAYES [email protected] Hundreds of people got valuable information at the most recent Queens Courier Health Expo hosted at the North Shore Towers. “Everyone is health conscious. Everyone needs more information,” said Harris Pinky, Towers resident. “Information is key.” Dozens of exhibitors packed into the co-op’s Towers on the Green on November 22 with information on healthcare, insurance, physical therapy and more. Glen Doyle from New York Community Bank spoke to the crowd about fraud and identity theft and the importance of keeping your finances safe. “Invest in a shredder,” he said. “If you don’t tear up a statement, people go to the dumpsters and look through mail.” Doyle, a security manager for the bank, also advised to not give out any personal information over the phone or bank online in a public place. “There are people who sit in restaurants and will pick up all of your information,” he said. “You have to be very careful doing banking over the Internet.” Additional speakers addressed hospice services, planning in advance for life events, home care, AAA travel offers, nursing home myths and the evolution of nursing homes. Keynote speaker attorney Ronald Fatoullah spoke about protecting your assets and the benefits of purchasing long-term care insurance. “Don’t you become a victim. Make sure you have a plan,” he said. He said that firms such as his can put a plan in place so everyone can afford long-term care. Fatoullah also noted IRS distributions and advised that now that the IRS has computerized everything, they can track a taxpayer as far back as necessary and penalize them respectively. So, he said to be safe and take required minimum distributions. The speakers concluded with a raffle in which attendees won items from gift cards to luggage. Sponsors and exhibitors at the event were Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Advanced Hearing Centers, Agewell New York/Parker Jewish Institute, At Home Therapy, BAYADA Home Health Care, Brandywine Senior Living at the Savoy, Chase Dental Sleep Care, Dignity Memorial, Flushing House, Genworth Insurance, Helms Bros. Mercedes, HealthCare Partners Inc., Marathon Physical Therapy, New York Communtiy Bancorp, NL Financial Alliance, NY Life Insurance, NY Rx Card, NY State Comptroller’s office, Reddy-Care Physical Therapy, Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, Royal Home Health Care Services, Samuel Field Y, Senior Miracle Care Agency, Sinai Chapels, Triple AAA, Verizon, R&R Financial and Hospice of NY. The psychology of seasons: Caring for your mental health When seasons change, moods can change with them. The long, dark and cold months can give people a serious case of cabin fever. Some people may even suffer from seasonal depression. Those who face this type of depression, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), feel a physiological response by the body to decreases in light exposure associated with the fall and winter months, according to Dr. Gary Bruss, program dean of the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Southern California. “This is one of the more biologically based forms of depression,” says Bruss. “SAD can be characterized by moodiness, heightened irritability, lack of interest in those things you usually take pleasure in, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, and difficulty concentrating that take place during those fall and winter months every year.” Simply put, you may not feel as peppy as you normally do or have the same energy level or you may not want to be around people or follow your regular routine. If you are a student, you could see your grades declining and if you work, you may see your performance slipping. Being proactive about your mental health and taking care of yourself can help address depression and mood swings. Bruss recommends engaging in exercise, going for a walk or meeting friends or family for coffee or some fun activity. He also adds it is important to eat a balanced diet, get enough rest at night, do nice things for yourself or find a hobby to help occupy your time. “In the fall and winter, we tend to see an increase in seasonal affective disorder and in overall stress,” says Dr. Devin Byrd, dean of the College of Health Professions at South University. “Becoming more acutely aware of your habits, stress levels and social activities can help assess and counter-balance the onset of seasonal sadness or depression.” If you sense that the season may be negatively affecting your wellbeing, Byrd recommends you initiate a new hobby, increase exercise, watch what you eat and take measures to take an active role in social activities. Light exposure therapy can combat the signs and symptoms of SAD. During this type of therapy, you sit near a device called a light therapy box. This box gives off a specific kind of light that mimics the natural light from the outdoors and can ease SAD symptoms. If signs of depression appear in a family member, friend or co-worker, Bruss recommends talking with them and encouraging them to seek help if depression persists or worsens. He also points out that the holiday season can have a major impact on depression if a person has experienced the death of a family member, close friend or a pet. If the severity of the depression interferes with a person’s ability to function socially and/or professionally, then it’s time to seek help from a mental health professional, says Bruss. “Seeking professional help is an increasingly common practice and people should not feel anxious about seeing a psychologist for psychotherapy or taking medication for depression if it’s needed - especially for a disorder that is based so heavily on our biology. The most important thing is to connect with a professional who can help you restore emotional balance, peace and happiness to your life,” Bruss says. Courtesy BPT
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