04 Aug

Posted at 15:59h in Stress by
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It’s times like this when I miss morning coffee with friends the most. We all feel so stressed from working during a pandemic, worrying about the health of our families and the people we serve. We fear for our health, our finances, and our lives – worst of all we feel we are alone without the hugs and handshakes of our friends, family, and co-workers. I don’t talk about my experience in the Army that often, but I wanted to share one quick story with that I think about often: “When we...

31 Jul

Posted at 17:45h in Children by
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Back to School. Usually this likely makes you think of picking out an outfit for your first day or packing your backpack with supplies. This year, depending on where you live, it looks more like checking Zoom to make sure you have the latest updates installed and a good desk area prepared. Just like everything else in 2020, back to school season is going to be different and probably a little difficult. CHRIS 180 is looking to help ease the difficulty of virtual learning by providing school supplies to students...

28 Jul

Posted at 19:54h in Resilience by
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Stories tell us something about ourselves, others, and our experiences. Our therapists have the pleasure to sit with all kinds of people at different stages of their life and hear their stories. One approach CHRIS 180 clinicians often take with clients is to listen to the stories you share about yourself, others, and your experiences. Dan McAdams, a professor of psychology and human development, asserts that “people living in modern societies provide their lives with unity and purpose by constructing internalized and evolving narratives of the self.” Simply put, we are...

24 Jul

Posted at 17:21h in Feelings by
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“It’s easier being in each other’s presence, or in each other’s absence, than in the constant presence of each other’s absence.”--Gianpiero Petriglieri Yes, Zoom Exhaustion is real. As we continue to work from home, visit family and friends on the screen, or go to school virtually, we are spending a lot more time on Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Google Meet and the list goes on…and this is exhausting. But why so exhausting?  Is it that hard to spend hours in front of a screen interacting with people while sitting in the comfort of...

21 Jul

Posted at 18:37h in Feelings by
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One of my favorite meditations is a short guided one by Deepak Chopra. In the middle of  this meditation he asks repeatedly in his soothing voice, “What am I grateful for?” I hear his hypnotic tone sometimes in my head when I need a good, positive reminder. We are living in a time where the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the course of our regular daily activities and comfort. Many of us are not happy with the way things are happening, and the way we want to live is out of our...

14 Jul

Posted at 13:23h in Resilience by
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Joy. Such a small word.  A word that seems out of place in a world rocked by death, destruction, violence and oppression.  An experience that seems so far away as we are struggling to survive, or fight racism, or cure and prevent disease, or heal ourselves and others, or all the above.  And we are tired. Our struggle takes energy, and our fuel tanks may feel near empty.  Yet somehow, we endure – and we must endure for the long haul.  Change does not happen quickly enough. Where do we get the strength...

14 Jul

Posted at 04:00h in Routines and Structure, Stress by
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Out of habit and routine, I begin my day with a fresh cup of coffee (or two). I like it rich and strong, with the perfect amount of cream and sugar. While the coffee is brewing and my home is filling up with that comforting aroma, I tidy up the kitchen, and scroll through social media on my phone. If I’m feeling ambitious, I may do some quick exercises or stretches.  Then I can enjoy that cup of warm goodness! After that first sip, I am alert, can think more...

10 Jul

Posted at 21:57h in News by
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CHRIS 180’s Drop-In Center for youth facing homelessness, The SPOT, and StoryMuse announce a new event—Shelter & Place: an interactive drive-in storytelling performance—which will take place Friday, July 17 in the parking lot of CHRIS 180’s Center of Excellence located at 1030 Fayetteville Road SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 at 8:30 p.m. Youth & young adults (ages 16-26) who are either currently unhoused or in the process of building their way out of homelessness will be involved in a unique storytelling program the week before this evening. CHRIS 180, whose mission is to...

07 Jul

Posted at 20:52h in Stress by
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Stress is a part of life. However, with COVID-19 being our new normal, along with the recent ongoing struggles for racial justice in the Black community, we have more to be stressed about than ever. Recognizing that you are feeling stressed or may potentially experience stress is important to finding relief. There are no stages to moving through stress. Stress follows no rules. At times you may not realize that the reasons you feel or act as you do are stress-related. When something stresses us out we react emotionally and physically....

30 Jun

Posted at 20:48h in Stress by
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Teenagers need time alone.  It is essential to their cognitive and emotional development. However, time alone can be hard to come by when families are staying home and there is little private space. I want to share the story of a teenager I know. James is 17 and serious about his grades because of his family dynamic. He believes the only way to get out of the tiny apartment he shares with his mother and three younger siblings is to graduate and join the military. James has worked with a recruiter for...