Continuing our series in recognition of National Mental Health Awareness month, we're listening to songs that turn our frowns upside down when life gets stressful. Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed, I close my eyes and wish I was someone else - like Willow, with her floppy optimism or Rocky - who's really just unflappable!  Ever feel like that?  Well, here's a song for you :)  -- WebSpider
 
 
Howdy all!
It has been a BUSY month at the Treehouse, and in honor of National Mental Health Awareness month, we decided to focus our blog this month on stress relief and ways to go from glum to havin' fun!

Everyone struggles to balance all the demands of life, & we all find ways to "keep on truckin' through"...
                       what are some of YOUR favorite ways to stay happy and focused?

For me, I loveloveLOVE to listen to music!  It usually picks me up when I'm crawlin' on the floor and gets me up and spinnin' my web in NO time.  So let's have fun -- we will have some guests playing "DJ" this month to add their OWN favorite songs & music videos to the WebSpider Jukebox series (put YOURS in the comments/email and we'll post it!), but for now, this one *always* gets my legs jumpin'!  So here ya go, "Don't Stop Me Now," by Queen :D                 --- Love, WebSpider
 
 
This week is World Mental Illness Awareness Week.

While it may seem fun to joke around the workshop that our very own Rocky's exuberance is ADHD or that I myself, in my endless dedication to spinning webs and taking over neglected blogs, could be diagnosed with OCD, there are many people in the world genuinely suffering from these and other challenging conditions, often incorrectly diagnosed, and difficult to treat. The brain is the organ we still know the least about, and the chemicals in medical treatments for mental illness affect each patient differently. Some mental illnesses are easy to recognize for everyone; some are much harder and can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

Whether you know someone suffering from a mental illness or you yourself are suffering from one, communication and information are key to dealing with it. Educate yourself and your loved ones.

Resources for screenings:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Learn about Mental Illness
Support Groups

Today's blogger: Web Spider