The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Pasco health drops in rankings

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The 2018 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps tools released by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation highlights the many community factors that influence health and uses established data, which is available on FLHealthCHARTS.com.

Pasco County ranks 38th in Florida for overall Health Outcomes in the 2018 County Health Rankings.

Mike Napier, health officer, said in a release, “It is disappointing to see Pasco drop three spots in the rankings. However, we are not discouraged, as it takes more than one year to register impacts related to improve access to care, Healthy Start, and the many other areas being worked on in our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).”

The health improvement plan is designed to address specific opportunities for improved health that have been identified by the community itself.

Through CHIP, Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources is working toward implementing healthier concession stands at Pasco County parks, using “Fun Bites” guidelines.

Pasco’s department of health also has launched a “Move More” countywide initiative that aims to increase awareness of and access to physical activities throughout the county.

The county’s Tobacco Prevention Program works with Tobacco Free Florida and other community partners to promote tobacco-free living by using multiple strategies, including education, implementing smoke-free and tobacco-free policies at work places and colleges, and promoting the “Quit Your Way” campaign.

In addition to the aforementioned programs, Pasco also offers the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which gives free or low-cost breast and cervical screenings for eligible women, ages 50 to 64, who reside in Pasco County.

And, the Healthy Start program offers free services to all pregnant women, and children ages 0 to 3 years, to educate new moms in everything from preconception and childbirth to parenting skills.

For information on all programs and services, visit Pasco.floridahealth.gov.

Creating harmony in the hospital

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Florida Orchestra members played several classical selections, including Beethoven, to a crowd of about 200 people at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

The Mallah Garden Atrium at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in Lutz, was transformed into a concert hall when The Florida Orchestra gave a free performance on March 16.

Approximately 200 people — patients, staff and visitors — filled the atrium to listen to the classical music presentation. The performance was broadcast to patient rooms for those who could not attend.

Guest conductor Joseph Young led the orchestra through musical pieces from some of history’s greatest composers, giving an overview of each selection’s history.

Conductor Joseph Young acknowledges the audience after leading The Florida Orchestra performance at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. (Mary Rathman)

Compositions included Ludwig Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture” and “Symphony No. 1,” Claude Debussy’s “Petite Suite,” and Franz Haydn’s “Symphony No. 82 ‘La Poule’.”

There also was a variety of Bela Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances.

This was the orchestra’s third appearance at the hospital as part of its health and wellness concert series, aimed at bringing comfort and healing through the power of music.

St. Joseph’s also provided free valet parking, and refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

Published March 28, 2018

Health News 03/28/2018

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(Courtesy of Polly Honor)

‘Breast Friends’ raise money for Moffitt
Caliente Resort and Spa hosted a fundraiser for the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation. ‘Breast Friends Forever’ organized the event and donated $41,800 specifically earmarked for breast cancer research and treatment. Participating in the presentation were Kim Norman, Judi Miller, Courtney Ryals of the Moffitt foundation, Polly Honor, Hilda Holt and Sharon Levand.

 

Hospital appointments
Three hospitals have recently announced appointments, promotions and new staff members.

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has appointed Carlie Thomas as its new program director for the hospital’s Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine. Thomas comes from Seven Rivers Wound Care Center in Crystal River, and brings with her expertise in sales, marketing and hospital administration.

Oak Hill Hospital welcomed Dr. Richard Chlouber to its medical staff. Chlouber is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and practices at Suncoast OB/GYN and All Women’s Midwifery in Spring Hill. He received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Oak Hill has also promoted Robert Linares as vice president of Cardiovascular & Critical Care. Linares previously was administrative director of clinical operations, and has worked in the HCA system for nearly 13 years.

The Medical Center of Trinity appointed Sally Seymour as chief operating officer. Seymour replaces Ken West, who was promoted to chief operating officer at Regional Medical Center in San Jose, California. Seymour has served as the director of physician relations for several years. For the past two years, she has been COO at Fawcett Hospital.

Crisis Center launches pilot program
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has been awarded a $285,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to launch an innovative new community paramedicine program in Hillsborough County.

The program will focus on frequent users of local EMS and hospital emergency room services by connecting patients to medical and mental health resources. Many of these individuals have both medical and behavioral health needs that require a specialized form of nonemergency care. The pilot program is designed to holistically care for the medical, behavioral and social needs of these patients.

Through its TransCare Medical Transportation division, the Crisis Center will have two community care coordinators, who are paramedics, dedicated to patients after they are discharged from the emergency room due to both a physical and behavioral health need. The coordinators will work with emergency room staff or insurers to identify which patients may benefit most from additional one-on-one assistance.

The Crisis Center, a nonprofit agency, offers a range of programs designed to meet community needs, including:

  • Gateway Contact Center (2-1-1: suicide prevention, crisis counseling, and information and referral services)
  • Corbett Trauma Center (trauma counseling and sexual assault survivor services)
  • TransCare (9-1-1 emergency and mental health ambulance services, medical van transportation)

For information, visit CrisisCenter.com.

Town hall sheds light on opioid overdose prevention

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Cesar Rodriguez spent 17 years of his life as a heroin addict.

He overdosed on five separate occasions, only to be saved by first responders who administered him naloxone, or Narcan, an emergency treatment that counteracts the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose.

“If I didn’t have Narcan,” he said, “I wouldn’t be able to sit here and share my experience. I would’ve never had a shot to recover.”

Pasco County Sheriff’s Cpl. Sherry Johnson Tandy demonstrates how to use the Narcan nasal spray to counteract the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose. She said her agency has deployed the medication 60 times, each of which has been successful in preventing an overdose-related death. (Kevin Weiss)

Parent Lisa Conca also has observed the Narcan’s life-saving effects when her son overdosed on heroin.

“I had never even heard of Narcan until that day he overdosed and was taken to the hospital,” Conca said. “Narcan saves lives and gives our kids another chance to help them on the road to recovery.”

These comments came up during a community discussion on opioid overdose prevention on March 8 at North Tampa Behavioral Health, which is located in Wesley Chapel. The event was organized by the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.

The panel discussion was part of a community-wide effort to provide education about opioid overdose and what individuals can do to save the lives of those suffering with the chronic illness of addiction.

Much of the panel addressed how to access and administer Narcan.

Narcan is the first and only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. The medication helps blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing.

Opioids include heroin and prescription pain pills like morphine, codeine, oxycodone, methadone and Vicodin.

“Often the reason (over-dosers) end up passing is because the brain does not have oxygen. This medication helps alleviate that,” said Szilvia Boos Salmon, a pharmacist with Tampa Poison Control.

Along with the nasal spray, naloxone is available in an injectable form.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is one of a number of growing law enforcement agencies to carry naloxone for possible overdose calls.

Pasco Sheriff Cpl. Sherry Johnson-Tandy said the agency has had over 60 deployments of Narcan. Each deployment was successful in preventing an overdose-related death, she said.

In addition to reversing overdoses, the medication is also for deputies and first responders who may become exposed or have incidental contact to illicit fentanyl or heroin at a particular crime scene.

Johnson-Tandy demonstrated how to safely and effectively administer both the nasal spray and injectable forms of naloxone. Free samples of Narcan were later distributed to the audience.

Johnson-Tandy said it’s onset time is anywhere between 1 minute to 3 minutes.

“It works almost just like an EpiPen,” she said.

Narcan is the first and only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. The medication helps blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing. Opioids include heroin and prescription pain pills like morphine, codeine, oxycodone, methadone and Vicodin. (Courtesy of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals)

“The best thing about this is, if you give it to someone and they don’t need it, it can’t hurt them,” she said, adding if someone overdosed on cocaine or stopped breathing for another reason, it won’t have adverse effects.

The Narcan medication might be needed more than ever.

Opioid overdoses increased by roughly 30 percent across the U.S., in just 14 months between 2016 and 2017, according to a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC called the data a “wake up call to the fast-moving opioid overdose epidemic.” It recorded 142,000 overdoses in hospital emergency departments across the nation, between July 2016 and September 2017.

Although not all overdoses in the study were fatal, they are part of the unsettling toll of opioids. Nationwide in 2016, illicit and prescription drug overdoses killed 64,000 people.

The problem is growing locally, too, experts say.

Pasco County had the highest rate of hospitalization in the Suncoast Region for opioid overdoses, according to 2016 data from the Agency for Healthcare Administration.

Additionally, Pasco has tied for fifth highest out of the state’s 67 counties for drug overdose mortality rates over the last few years, according to county health rankings.

There were 165 overdoses in Pasco in 2017— matching numbers from the 2010 and 2011 prescription pill crisis, said Capt. Mike Jenkins, who oversees the narcotics unit for the special investigations division at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

There’s also been a gradual rise in fentanyl and heroin use in the county over the past year, he said.

Other topics covered during the session included how to prevent opioid addiction and avenues for long-term treatment of people who are dependent on opioids.

Speakers agreed it starts with education and advocacy.

“We can’t arrest our way out of this issue,” Jenkins said. “It takes comprehensive, strategic partnerships to really move forward.”

“Start in the schools early, and educate kids as to how dangerous mom and dad’s pill bottles are,” said New Port Richey-based attorney James Magazine.

Communities must find ways to effectively integrate recovering addicts back into society after they receive treatment, Magazine said.

Rochelle Zwicharowski, a support specialist with the St. Petersburg-based Recovery Epicenter Foundation, said those who have been rehabilitated need to share their experiences.

“There’s 23 million people in recovery, and how many people do you know? We’re too quiet about it. If you’re in recovery, don’t be afraid to speak out about it because we do have to smash that stigma,” she said.

Revised April 3, 2018

Pasco Sheriff’s Office unveils app to help stress

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Pasco Sgt. Matt Rosenbloom has handled countless distressing calls throughout his 12 years in law enforcement.

“I’ve seen things that people shouldn’t see out there,” he said.

Sometimes it takes several days for him to get past a particular incident. Witnessing the death of a child, for instance, takes a heavy toll.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said post-traumatic stress is a ‘hidden secret’ in the law enforcement community. Along with the app, the Sheriff’s Office is working on several different projects to address the issue from both the member and the family side, which includes available training regarding emotional survival and coping techniques.
(Kevin Weiss)

It’s something many deputies aren’t mentally prepared for emotionally, the sergeant said.

“We’re trained to deal with the physical dangers and to anticipate knowing that there’s those physical dangers,” Rosenbloom said. “What we are not often aware of are the long-term emotional health dangers that come along with the job.”

To help its members cope with those psychological scars, the law enforcement agency has developed a new smartphone app called Pasco Sheriff’s Office PTS (Post-Traumatic Stress).

The app offers resources, including mental health tools and videos for those who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress.

The app features a stress assessment questionnaire and also provides contact information to those who can provide help, including community partners such as BayCare and the University of South Florida. Other crisis resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Law Enforcement Officers Hotline.

The tool was developed in-house with help from some outside contractors, as part of a $150,000 pilot program related to post traumatic stress in law enforcement and ways to address the issue.

The funding was included in last year’s state budget that was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, after Rep. Danny Burgess and Sen. Wilton Simpson submitted a budget request on behalf of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with the app, funding has been spent on several different projects to address the issue from both the member and the family side, including offering training for its members and their families regarding emotional survival and coping techniques.

At a March 15 media conference, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said post-traumatic stress is a “hidden secret” and “never really been spoken about” among law enforcement circles.

He said the disorder has led to broken families, alcoholism and other problems among deputies, because the issue wasn’t addressed head-on.

The current, sometimes volatile climate for law enforcement doesn’t help matters, Nocco said. This year, so far, more than 30 officers nationwide have been killed in the line of duty.

The sheriff elaborated: “For a law enforcement deputy…you’re going from one person’s worst moment of their life, continuous all day long and then you go home. “We’re called upon during people’s worst times, and then what’s going on more and more in society is — no matter what we do, it is never good enough.

“I can tell you that is overwhelmingly stressing our members now that they know no matter what decisions they make, it’s going to be second-guessed the following day,” he said.

Pasco Sheriff PTS is now available through the Google Play store and soon will be in the Apple store.

Rosenbloom said he has already utilized the tool on a few occasions and has found it helpful.

An app that’s easily accessible
“The quick access is great because I would say for some deputies that immediately after the incident that adrenaline dumps, and now all of a sudden they’re experiencing these feelings.

“They could go on the app right then and there, or it may come days later, where they may start reliving that experience and saying, ‘Is this normal?’ and go back on the app,” Rosenbloom said.

Meanwhile, it provides “a good foundation” for deputies unfamiliar with post-traumatic stress and its effects, Rosenbloom added.

“There may be newer officers…who are not sure whether they’re feeling the right thing or whether they should still be feeling what they’re feeling after a critical incident.

“This app breaks it down, asks questions and, in the end, it gives you an assessment of whether what you’re feeling is correct or not,” Rosenbloom explained.

The app is also meant for deputies’ families. Rosenbloom’s wife, Lena, has utilized the app to access support for herself and her children.

“You need just a couple of taps to get you help,” Lena said, noting its user-friendly capabilities.

“When you’re in a crisis, the last thing you want to do is try and find a phone number, pull out a card and (find) the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) number,” she said.

While mainly geared toward law enforcement and their families, the sheriff encourages anyone to use the tool, if he or she needs guidance or help.

The sheriff specifically mentioned the tool’s usefulness for other first responders, such as firefighters, as well as teenagers, parents and teachers.

“We want everybody to go on here and use this,” Nocco said. “We want to make sure they see it’s available, because the intent when we asked this of the Legislature was to say, ‘Look, we’re going to build it, we’ll develop it, but at the same time, it’s not solely for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It’s going to be used for everybody.’”

The Sheriff’s Office will not use the app to collect data or information on users, Nocco said.

The app also will be updated continuously as new strategies come along in dealing with post-traumatic stress.

The goal is to provide assistance in time of need, Nocco said.

“Everybody feels like they’re swimming out at sea, and there’s nobody to help them; here’s another life preserver that we’re throwing out there, to help them get help, to make them feel better and to realize that they’re not alone,” Nocco said.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.

Symptoms of PTSD:

  • Reliving the event, or having flashbacks in bad memories or nightmares
  • Avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event
  • Having contant negative beliefs and feelings, such as guilt and shame, or feeling the world is dangerous and can’t trust anyone
  • Feeling overly jittery and alert, and always on the lookout for danger

People with PTSD may also experience other problems. These include:

  • Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Drinking or drug problems
  • Physical symptoms or chronic pain
  • Employment problems
  • Relationship problems, including divorce

–Information from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ National Center for PTSD

Published March 21, 2018

Health News 03/21/2018

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Hospital appointments
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has appointed Susan Cooper as director of the SICU and Trauma Stepdown Unit.

Susan Cooper

Cooper returns to Regional Medical from her position as vice president of Cardiac Services at Oak Hill Hospital. She has been with HCA for 18 years and served as a nurse for 25 years.

Cooper has a Master of Science in nursing leadership from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of South Florida. She is board-certified in cardiovascular nursing.

Sharon D. Hayes

Sharon D. Hayes has been appointed CEO for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, replacing Shayne George, who has transitioned to another HCA hospital executive role outside of Florida.

Hayes has more than 35 years of experience in numerous health care management settings, including Edward White Hospital in Pinellas County; Chippenham Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia; CJW Medical Center, also in Richmond; and King Fahad Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Hayes’ degrees include a Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Tennessee.

Nutrition Month
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County celebrates March as National Nutrition Month, sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year’s theme is “Go Further with Food.”

The academy suggests these tips to choose more nutritious food options:

  • Include a variety of healthful foods from all food groups on a regular basis.
  • Consider the foods you have on-hand before buying more.
  • Buy only the amount that can be eaten or frozen within a few days, and plan to use leftovers later in the week.
  • Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that is right for you. Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov.
  • Practice food safety.
  • Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
  • Consider consulting with a registered dietitian nutritionist.

To learn more about nutrition and National Nutrition month, visit EatRight.org.

 

Spring cleaning: Don’t forget the medicine cabinet

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Gearing up for Spring usually involves a good sprucing up of our homes.

And, it’s a good time to clear out the bathroom medicine cabinet, too.

Many people accrue a collection of leftover drugs —as a result of quick-healing injuries or medications that are no longer needed as new ones have been prescribed in their place.

Most people don’t give their unwanted drugs a second thought, but there are sound reasons to rid the cabinet of medication clutter.

Here are a few of them:

  • Safeguarding children: A curious child could look through the cabinet and wonder why there is colorful “candy” in the bathroom, and may even want to sample a few pieces. This can lead to poisoning and even death.
  • Stopping drug abuse: Someone seeking a ‘high’ may check the cabinet for pain medications or other substances, assuming the owner will not miss pills from a forgotten container.
  • Sharing isn’t caring: Giving unneeded or unused pills to a friend or relative can be harmful, especially when the dosage is higher than intended or the medication has expired.

When disposing of your unwanted drugs, don’t flush them down the toilet because that can contaminate the water supply. Instead, drop them off at a drug-take-back program site. Many counties and municipalities have them, and the process is usually simple.

Each program is different, so consumers should find out whether the plan accepts both prescription and over-the-counter medications, and liquids or syringes.

Also, before disposing of any drugs, be sure to black out or remove all personal information.

In Pasco County, visit the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention at PascoASAP.com. In Hillsborough County, visit the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance at HCSO.tampa.fl.us, and search for “drug take-back.”

Published March 14, 2018

Health News 03/14/2018

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(Courtesy of Kirsty Churchill)

Hospice benefit raises more than $10,000
At least 125 bikers cruised across Pasco County to raise more than $10,000 for Gulfside Hospice at the sixth annual Hittin’ the Road for Hospice. The Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club received the Wings & Wheels Fundraising Award for the club that raised the most money, and for having the most club participation. Grant Hile, Golden Eagles’ club president, left, accepts the award from Carla Armstrong, Gulfside’s director of philanthropy.

 

 

 

New surgical services manager
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has promoted Evangeline “Vangie” Pagulayan as manager of surgical services, where she will oversee pre-admission testing, same-day surgery, the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, EBCD education (evidence-based clinical documentation), and the entire OR patient experience.

Pagulayan started at the hospital in 1983 serving on the medical/surgical unit, and later worked in the surgical intensive care unit before joining the post-anesthesia care unit.

Shedding light on depression, mental illness

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Tracy Daniels knows what it’s like to battle mental health issues.

A retired combat war veteran, Daniels spent seven years in therapy following his second tour in Iraq.

Following a 37-year military career, Daniels now seeks to help others who are dealing with mental health issues.

Tracy Daniels, a master-level practitioner at Baycare Behavioral Health, was the featured speaker as part of a depression awareness seminar at Pasco-Hernando State College. He discussed issues regarding depression and other mental disorders, including how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, risk factors and ways to cope with the disease. (Kevin Weiss)

Daniels is a master-level practitioner at Baycare Behavioral Health. He was the featured speaker at a depression awareness seminar at Pasco-Hernando State College. The Feb. 21 event was part of the state college’s ongoing Community Awareness Series, open to the public, students, faculty and staff.

The talk touched on how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, risk factors, and ways to cope with the disease.

The speaker touched on the stigma associated with mental disorders, such as depression — and the belief from some that sufferers are “crazy,” “psycho” or just plain “attention-seeking.”

Those attitudes are often because people are ill-informed about mental health problems, and they base their thinking from what’s portrayed in media.

“If there’s something going on with me, it does not mean I’m a crazy individual. It means that I need some help,” Daniels said.

“We think people that have mental issues are going to do things and act in a certain way, and that’s the furthest thing from the truth,” he added.

Daniels steered much of the conversation toward depression.

As it turns out, that illness is widespread.

The National Institute on Mental Health estimates that in the United States, 16.2 million adults over age 18 had at least one major depressive episode in 2016.

This number represents nearly 7 percent of all U.S. adults.

Additionally, one in five adults in the U.S., display some sort of mental health disorder each year. Anxiety is reported as most common, followed by major depression and substance use disorder.

Depression can drastically affect a person’s ability to work, carry out daily activities, and engage in satisfying relationships, Daniels said.

Physical symptoms can range from fatigue and lack of energy, to unexplained aches and pains, as well as irregular sleeping and eating patterns, he said.

Behavioral symptoms can include crying spells, withdrawal from others, neglect of responsibilities, loss of interest in personal appearance, loss of motivation, slow movement, or use of drugs and alcohol.

They may also exhibit feelings of guilt, confusion and low self-esteem.

In addition to serious mood, cognitive and physical symptoms, depression is associated with higher rates of chronic disease, increased health care utilization, and impaired functioning.

Daniels said the impact of moderate and severe depression is comparable to someone with multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic hepatitis B, and even someone who’s quadriplegic.

“We don’t think in those terms of how depression shuts us down, but it does,” he said.

The speaker cautioned against bombarding depression sufferers with intrusive questions. He also noted that constantly watching them could create anxiety, and cause them to feel more “helpless” and “hopeless.”

“Do not keep asking them, ‘What’s wrong?’ People that suffer with depression — half the time they can’t even tell you what’s wrong with them because they don’t even know,” Daniels explained.

The speaker also said family and close friends need to determine if a depression sufferer is getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep, he said, can exacerbate depression symptoms and cause psychotic-like behavior because “they can’t shut themselves down.”

He offered several best practices in helping someone deal with depression:

  • Don’t touch the person, unless they give you permission
  • Avoid direct eye contact, and refrain from staring
  • Avoid sudden or rapid movements
  • Don’t make promises you cannot keep
  • Be genuine with them
  • Talk calmly to them, and ask what you can do to help

Depression-related suicide was also broached during the seminar.

Daniels said a “red flag” to watch out for is sudden mood changes — such as overt happiness — as it may indicate “they’ve made up their minds to complete the suicide.”

Said Daniels, “All along they’ve been depressed, they talk about it, all of a sudden one day they say, ‘I’m OK now. Everything is fine.’

“We miss it by thinking, ‘They’re OK now. They’re doing so much better.’

“That’s when you need to ask questions.”

Daniels also urged students dealing with mental disorders to not be afraid to seek help. His life improved after he sought treatment, he said.

“I had to understand what I was dealing with and how to deal with those situations in my life. There’s nothing wrong with being transparent and letting people know certain things,” he said.

“All of us go through problems in life.,” Daniels said. “There’s no shame in that.”

Possible signs and symptoms of depression

Physical:

  • Fatigue
  • Lack of energy
  • Irregular sleep patterns
  • Irregular eating patterns
  • Constipation
  • Changes in weight
  • Headaches
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Loss of sexual desire
  • Unexplained aches and pains

Behavioral:

  • Crying spells
  • Withdrawal from others
  • Neglect of responsibilities
  • Loss of interest in personal appearance
  • Loss of motivation
  • Slow movement
  • Use of drugs and alcohol

Psychological

  • Sadness
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt
  • Anger
  • Mood swings
  • Lack of emotional responsiveness
  • Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
  • Irritability
  • Frequent self-criticism, self-blame, pessimism
  • Impaired memory and concentration
  • Indecisiveness and confusion
  • Tendency to believe that others see you in a negative light
  • Thoughts of death and suicide

Source: Baycare Behavioral Health

Published March 7, 2018

A surprise visit

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(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Connerton)

The staff at Florida Hospital Connerton Long Term Acute Care Facility in Land O’ Lakes arranged a surprise for patient Christine Carbonneau. Carbonneau’s longtime partner thought a visit from her horse, Ireland, would help to lift her spirits. Staff members were able to get Christine outside so she could visit eye-to-eye with Ireland.