(This article is an excerpt from” Pearls Before Breakfast” by Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer printed on Sunday, April 8, 2007 and was recently edited for publication in the NAMI-Metro Newsletter Winter 2009 Edition.)

In the Washington, DC Metro Train Station on a cold January morning, a man with a violin plays six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people passed through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised:
In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it?
Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... what else are we missing?

Jacqueline Castine is the community education specialist at the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority . Her fall class schedule is posted at www.jacquelinecastine.com. She is the author of I Wish I Could Fix It, But. . . She can be reached at castinej@occmha.org and 248-975-9684.

Things are starting to heat up for the team after the long holiday season. Right at the beginning of the month the team was off to Ann Arbor to present at University of Michigan to a graduate class in psychology. The class was truly amazing, and discussion was excellent. Everyone was uplifted as they heard about mental health issues from our unique perspective.

The word is getting out about our slam-poetry presentation “Recovery, It’s a Journey and Not a Destination”. The team was asked to come to a poetry class that is held weekly at Common Ground’s Crisis Residential Program. Class participants were impressed with the poem itself, as well as the discussion on recovery that was held later. Many people expressed their appreciation for the session which gave them a lot of “food for thought” about recovery as it applies to each of us on a personal level. This may not be the last time the team is asked to be a part of the poetry class.

The team was not expecting anything different at regular monthly presentation held at St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland Day Program. We were expecting 7 people which quickly ballooned into 21 people. The student interns from the day program and the inpatient care program at the hospital had heard such good things about the program that they all came to be a part. The students were very impressed with the quality of the program and the speakers as well. We are looking for many other opportunities to share with staff and participants of St. Joseph-Mercy Oakland Psychiatric Programs.

Last but most certainly not least the team presented in Detroit at the Schiffer Towers Resident Council Meeting. Most of the council members were unaware of the program and didn’t quite know what to expect. The discussion held there was very inspiring. The people there were quite knowledgeable and had very little difficulty expressing their views. The feedback we got from those in attendance was very encouraging. The possibility of a return visit was discussed. The council would like for more of the residents to be able to hear and see the “Stomp Out Stigma” presentation.

I was listening to the radio one morning when the announcer made a quick comment that perhaps many people may not have caught, but I did. My “stigma in action” ears are always open to that kind of thing. They made the comment that someone looked creepy and violent and must be a “mental case”. You know, when I hear things like that, I get really discouraged.

I feel that people are so quick to judge people by outer appearances alone. What makes a person “look creepy and violent?” In this case, the announcer mentioned that this person had many tattoos and piercings, that he thought was over the top, and that he must be weird, creepy, violent, and a “mental case” because of it.

I also feel that people are quick to label and quick to name-call. It’s easy to let it fly, but it’s not easy to take back. Our words are powerful and should be used to empower, not destroy others.

I’m not one to judge because I have experienced the myriads of labels and burden of shame that oftentimes accompanies having a mental health diagnosis. I know that many people tend to judge a book by its cover, so to speak, but to assume things about people that aren’t true is entirely not right.

The comment that bothered me most was that they coupled the word violent with the term “mental case”, which is already a degrading term. If they were intending to say that the man had a mental illness and was violent and made that assumption based on his looks, this is sad. Some people might think that those who have a mental illness are violent, but research shows that the likelihood of violence is low, according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health. In fact, people who are faced with a mental health challenge are more likely to be the victims of a violent crime.

It’s hard to hear things like this circulating through the airwaves and being discussed on radio shows, the news, and other forms of media. It’s good to know the truth about it all, though. The truth is that knowledge is powerful and believing in yourself to know that you are good enough…enough to push away the judgment.

Have you been feeling blue lately? Do you always get the winter blahs? You might have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Strictly speaking, SAD is any recurring mood disorder that varies with the seasons. The one you hear about the most is seasonal depression, with symptoms getting worse in the fall and winter and better in the spring and summer.

Symptoms of depression may vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms in people with “winter depression” are: Depressed mood, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, fatigue or lack of energy, social withdrawal, anxiety, appetite changes and carbohydrate craving, oversleeping, and difficulty concentrating.

Most people feel “down in the dumps” from time to time, so how do you know if you need to see a doctor about your symptoms? First, get help if you notice that your mood is starting to affect your work or school, your social life, or your usual home routine. For example, if you have to push yourself to eat, keep your house clean, or can’t keep up with your work anymore. Also, be on the lookout for these danger signals: feeling hopeless, having thoughts of hurting or killing yourself or someone else, or turning to alcohol or drugs for comfort. These are warning signs that your depression is severe.

You might be wondering what causes SAD. We don’t know for sure, but we do know that your genetics, age, and your body’s chemical makeup play a role. For example, depression and SAD tend to run in families. Some studies show that SAD is more common in women, but that men have more severe symptoms.

Sunlight plays a part in SAD. Your body has a circadian rhythm, which is a fancy name for your biologic clock. Like an alarm clock, your biologic clock tells you when to sleep and when to wake. Natural light helps to set our biologic clock, so you can see how the changes in light cycles that come with the seasons will change your body clock. SAD is not common in people who live near the equator, probably because they don’t have such drastic daylight changes from summer to winter.

In the fall and winter there is less daylight, which puts us in “hibernation mode”-we want to sleep more, we have less energy… The levels of melatonin and serotonin, some of our natural body chemicals, change with the seasons, and may lead to changes in mood and sleep. Interestingly, foods high in carbohydrates boost serotonin, and we all know we crave comfort foods when we get depressed!

Now that you have some information about SAD, what are your next steps if you think you or someone you care about might have it? Talk to your doctor! It is important to exclude other causes for your symptoms, such a low thyroid, anemia or diabetes. Because time is short when you are with your doctor, it is helpful if you prepare for your visit. Have some information ready, including questions for the doctor. A great tool is to have things written down so you don’t forget anything.

First, make a note of your symptoms. Jot down patterns you or your friends and family have noticed. Write down any other physical or mental health problems you have had, and take note of any recent changes in your health. Be prepared to talk about what is going on in your life and what things are stressful to you right now. Also, make a list of all the medications you are currently taking, including over the counter treatments, vitamins, and herbal or natural remedies.

You should also prepare a list of questions to ask the doctor. These include questions about the diagnosis, treatment options, restrictions, and what makes your condition better or worse. Let the doctor know if any family members have a history of mood disorders, and what treatments worked or didn’t work for them. Don’t forget to ask the doctor if insurance covers the treatments prescribed, or if there are generic alternatives. If you are interested, ask about natural or alternative treatments.

Speaking of treatments, what do we recommend for seasonal depression? One of the most commonly used treatments is light therapy. This form of treatment uses full spectrum light to help put your brain and body back into spring/summer mode. Treatment involves sitting in front of a 10,000 lux (measure of brightness) light source for 30-45 minutes a day, usually first thing in the morning. Many people do this in their own home with a light box designed for this therapy, but talk to your doctor first before you buy the light and start this treatment. This treatment is not right for everyone. However, it is a great option for people who have not responded to medications, want to avoid medications, or are pregnant,.

Many people respond well to medications, and antidepressants are the most commonly used for SAD. Some alternative medications that have been shown effective in treating mild to moderate depression include St. John’s Wort, SAMe, omega-3 fatty acids, and melatonin. Just remember, just like prescription drugs, these remedies have benefits, side effects, and interactions in your body, so consult with a physician before starting any of these treatments.

Psychotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments to help people identify and change thoughts and behaviors that contribute to depression. Many people find depression support groups very helpful.

Finally, let’s end with a few words about lifestyle changes and prevention. First, change your home environment-make it sunnier! Open blinds and curtains, or sit closer to the windows. If possible, take a trip to a warmer, sunnier place each winter. Make sure you get out of the house everyday, even on cloudy days, because daylight is beneficial. Exercise at least three days a week for thirty minutes, and eat a well-balanced diet. If you and your doctor decide a light box is right for you, start using it in the fall before your symptoms start.

Good luck, and see you outside!

For more information, go to:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/seasonal-affective-disorder