Mental Health Awareness: Love is an Answer

Every month seems to be This Month or That Month, dedicated to something or another. May happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month in addition to whatever else it is.

When we started going over the medications for mental health in my pharmacology classes, we got the following attention grabber: "Look to your left. Look to your right. One of the three of you will suffer from a mental illness in your lifetime."

The mind and mental health are just as significant (perhaps slightly more than) as the body and physical health. Together the mind, body, and spirit of a person make up their soul. If one of the parts is not right, the whole soul suffers. It is important to take care of all the parts.

Sometimes we disregard mental health or dismiss it with disparaging remarks. "They should just snap out of it. Try thinking happy thoughts. Just overcome your fears." It usually takes a lot more than words to make any other disease state to go away (heart disease, bacterial infection, broken bone). Why would we expect the same for an illness of the mind?
My examples of physical maladies are good for two reasons: not only are they ones to which that we can relate, but they also show how they can come about. Some illnesses come from self-neglect, some from misfortune, and some from a combination. No one chooses specifically to be unhealthy but either bad luck or a series of bad choices can lead to illness. You can't suddenly choose to be healthy either and expect to be so. It takes dedication to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. But also sometimes bad things happen and that's okay. We don't get to choose everything that happens to us, but we can choose how we will act and react.

The brain (and kind of with it, the psyche) is an organ just like the others. Just like the illnesses and disabilities of the other body organs differ and the treatments for those ailments differ, so does the brain have its own sicknesses (each with unique signs, symptoms, and stages that can vary between individuals with the same diagnosis) and treatments to go with each. Some of those treatments can be drugs, some can be behavioral changes.

As I thought about the ways mental illness has affected my life and the lives of my friends and family, I couldn't help but wonder, "What more could be done for people with these life-altering situations?" I'm a pharmacist by trade and training, but my first thought really isn't to "throw more pills at it".

That isn't to say that medication is unnecessary and can't be part of a treatment plan. Medicine is a tool, just like any other. There's still work to do in other aspects of life to get the job done, but medicine can make the job a little smoother if used correctly. It's like dividing a piece of food. Some people do just fine without any tools. Some might need to use a knife. Depends on the food, depends on the person. And the knife can be used improperly, so it does take some help and guidance. Most tools require proper use to get the proper effect without harming oneself. Same with medicine.

But it often takes more than just the tool to get the job done. It takes the work of a hand and arm to use a knife to cut fruit. It can take TLC (therapeutic lifestyle changes, more on the tender loving care in a minute) to make a difference in achieving healthiness. These changes can be small or large and can vary from individual to individual based on personal needs and ability. They can be anything from diet changes and increased physical activity, introducing coping mechanisms, or having regular activities to give structure and pattern to life's path.
As I thought further on the various mental illnesses plaguing my family and friends, I also drew one more conclusion. No matter what ails the person, each of them needs love. As I recently read this article, Ministering to Latter-day Saints with Mental Disorders, I couldn't help but think that 'love' is one of the best medicines for mental health issues. The article focuses on only a few disorders and doesn't cover some of the other major ones that I have seen affect those around me. But I did kind of see how the article (yes, it is directed at Mormons) pointed the reader toward loving the individual beyond whatever their mental disorder is.
I've seen friends and family struggle with anxiety and depression. I've seen my grandmother suffer from memory loss and cognitive decline (and my grandfather try to battle it). I've seen PTSD and loss of loved ones. I've seen parents trying to raise children with mental disabilities. Every single one of these people needed or still need varying levels of medical care including medication, therapy, and lifestyle/behavioral changes. More than that, each of them needed love and the attention of people who care about them (not just for them). And that is something we all can do.
Mental health is such a heavy topic. I know that some of my biggest fears have to do with losing my own mental capacity and health or having to raise a child or care for a parent with decreased cognitive ability. It's not easy at all. But one thing that I know will get me through if those challenges come to me is that I am loved and that I do and will love those individuals for whom I am responsible. Love is an answer.

Creatures of Habit

• I've been thinking a lot about the things that I do as a habit. In my efforts to become a better me, I've set some goals and tried to make or break habits.
  
  

  It is stupidly difficult!!!

  Making good habits takes a heck of a lot longer than 21 days. Even after months of doing something and failing only occasionally, it is still hard to do it, like it's the first time. Or for stopping a bad habit. Those tendencies, desires, and appetites are still there. Whatever it is, I have to imagine it's worth the effort. Most good things are.
  
  
  Now that I've got that off my chest, I want to talk about accountability. My accountability is usually to myself or to an app on my phone (ironic, when a minor goal is to use my phone less). I will say that it is often better to be accountable to someone else; that feeling of approval (or the fear of disapproval) can be a good motivator. And while I like being accountable to Deity for some goals, it's also really hard to get a report card from God. I usually just give myself an A- and hope I'm right.
  
  When it comes down to it, our accountability to God is all that really matters. He has sent us here to see if we will do the things He wants for us to do. He wants us to become continually better and eventually become like He is. The best thing He did to help us do that is to send His Only Begotten Son to show us the way. 
  
  Though the life of Jesus Christ as a whole shows us a lot of what we should do, it can be very easily summed up in a simple verse that describes all of His childhood/adolescence/young adulthood:
  
  

  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. - Luke 2:52

  Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. Socially. These four pillars are key to building a well-balanced life. Here are a few of the things I've been doing to improve myself in these four areas. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

  • I've been doing a low carb diet since February of last year. Turning 29 hit hard and I was feeling a little more adult-y than I had since turning 18. I needed to turn my body into something more than "potato" and start a path of preventing diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and other cardiovascular risks/events. Now that I'm 30, I'm in pretty decent shape just from eating better. But my GOODNESS, are some people hard to be low carb around! Every party and event, every cookout, church meal... carbs, carbs, carbs. I don't need to stay as low as I thought I did, but I am trying to keep it a part of my lifestyle with as few binges as possible. Along with diet goes exercise. This I'm not so good at. You're not going to get me into a gym. I just won't go. I'm not gonna pay money to be shamed or ogled and to do things I'd much rather do in the comfort of my own home, thank you very much. I have made some improvements though. With my Fitbit, I know how much I am (or am not) moving each day. Most of my good days are when I'm a slave to the ER, but I still get a good number of steps in. I also downloaded an app that gives me set exercises and tells me in that oh so super sexy (sarcasm) robotic Google Girl voice, "Congratulations!", when I complete a day. I'm probably not going to get "Six Pack in 30 Days", but it is a step (haha, get it?) in the right direction. I try to play sports more often, too. I'm probably going to go into an arrhythmia or cardiac arrest playing basketball any longer, but I do enjoy tossing a frisbee or hitting a ball over a net (tennis or volleyball).

  

  Here's a screenshot of that "Six Pack in 30 Days" app. I actually completed 30 days in 29 because I didn't know clicking on a rest day would automatically count it. But I did all of that. I'm on to the next 30 days in May.

  
  

  • Now that I'm done (**fingers crossed** haha, yeah, I'm probably gonna end up back in school in the next decade, just you watch me.) with my academic career, I still want to keep my mind active. I do have to keep up a professional license with Continuing Education hours, but I can never restrict myself to only learning about pharmacy for the rest of my life.  I've starting learning Spanish (while trying to keep my Russian up). I use Duolingo, which in some ways is too slow, in others too fast, but it is helping. I am also reading whenever and however (audiobooks) I can. I read mostly fiction but I try to find interesting articles on Facebook or Reddit in science and politics and whatever else catches my eye. Don't get too angry if I end up sharing a lot of things I find interesting.

  

  
  

  

  I completed a streak of 30 days (and it's still going) with Duolingo. Some days it's super easy and I probably don't learn anything. Some days I feel like I'm really improving. But it's the perseverence I feel that really counts.

  
  

  • Socially is probably where I'm always going to struggle. I'm an introvert, through and through. I have my flashes in the pan of extroversion, but it really takes a lot out of me. Does social media count as being social? To get out of my shell I've been striving to go to Church activities even if I don't want to always be part of the crowd. Also other group outings and events because I need to broaden my horizons. Dating has been a challenge since I'm pretty terrible at it and have a not so friendly schedule, but I enjoy good company and I don't think I'm that terrible at being part of a conversation. 

  • I've had my ups and downs in the spiritual side of things. I'm not perfect at saying my prayers or reading my scriptures, but I try. I recently finished reading the Book of Mormon, start to finish, for the who knows how many-eth time. Since I didn't want to do that again, I'm reading the scriptures by topic. I started reading it in Spanish, too, because double dipping is totally allowed. I have my temple goal (one session for every baseball game I attend). To keep the Spirit with me on Sundays I only listen to hymns and other uplifting music in addition to going to extra meetings or choir practice/performances. I need to get better at doing my hom-... ministering.

  
  

  Here are some oddball things that I'm working on. I don't know if they fit specifically into one of the pillars, but I try to keep them up for the sake of improvement.

  • I'm trying to write more. I haven't been keeping a good habit of writing in this blog. Haha, yeah, kind of missed in April. Gotta do better. I also want to follow some of the writing prompts I've saved over time. One day I'll get a whole novel or at least a novella, but you gotta start somewhere.
  • Since getting my piano for Christmas, I want to play it with regularity. Going to practice at least an hour a week. Hymns primarily, but I want to pick back up some of the classical pieces and movie music I have. Additionally, I want to find some baseball rally music (all the things you hear the organist play during the game) so that one day I can embarrass my kids at their ballgames.

  That's probably enough. If any readers have made it this far, congratulations! You don't win anything, just my respect and gratitude. But I do appreciate it. 

  
  

  Keep me accountable for the goals and habits I've mentioned. Ask me about other ones. Tell me how I can help you with yours. We're all in this life together so we might as well be on the same team.
  
  
  I leave you with a familiar quote:

  We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.  - Aristotle

Faith Is All It Takes

This morning in my scripture study I came across an interesting verse. The last part of it really caught my eye.

"But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church." - Moroni 7:39

It seemed to get really harsh there at the end. "... not fit to be numbered among the people of his church"? I thought the Church was supposed to be a welcoming place/group, not one that limits who can join. Guess what? It still is. And the only requirement? A little bit of faith.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf once said, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." He also said, "I know of no sign on the doors of our meeting houses that says 'Your testimony must be this tall to enter.'" 

It doesn't take much to have a little faith. That's why it is the first principle of the Gospel. Alma told us that we really only need to have a desire to believe and then we can start from there to grow our faith. Even by simply attending church we have shown a little faith that we want to learn something that can make us a better person. Looking back at the first part of that verse, that little faith comes from meekness, humility.

All Mormon says we have to do to be part of the Church is have faith. We might have doubts about doctrine or policy,  we might have doubts about our personal worthiness or worth, or we might have doubts about any number of other things.  But if we can have faith in Jesus Christ, we can belong in His Church. That's literally it. We don't have to have perfect understanding or perfect obedience or perfect faith or perfect anything, just a little faith in Christ. From there we can develop faith in other areas. We'll gain understanding as we go along.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Be ye therefore perfect - eventually." We're not expected to be perfect now. Just do the best with what you can, have faith, and the Lord will make up all the difference.

Faith works in so many ways. Not just staying active in church when the world is unkind or intolerant toward your beliefs. It's also about following your dreams, doing what you truly desire. You're not going to be the best at it when you first start, but with faith, you can become better. You can make the world a better place.

Adulting So Hard Right Now

I've been an adult for 12 years now, going by the day I aged enough to vote and get drafted. Each day brings its own challenges and opportunities. Each of those brings growth as a person, or so I hope.

Today I scheduled my first doctor's appointment in a long time. I should probably do a dentist appointment, too, but one step at a time, okay? I figure I've got to make sure I get more of these birthday things that happen each year. I hear the alternative isn't that fun. 

Some days I really I miss being a kid. Gone are the days when nightmares were big monsters with too many appendages/teeth/claws, gigantic stingers, or super strength/speed. Gone are the days when mom and dad could check the closet. (Mom/Dad, aren't you glad I never actually did that one? At least to my knowledge, and thanks if you did have to check closets. I know you did have to put me back in the top bunk at least once when I fell out, so I know you were always there.) 

Adult nightmares are super terrifying because they're uber real. As an adult I have nightmares about worst-case scenarios at work, getting into WW3 or the Great Depression 2.0, dating and marriage vs. being alone for life, crippling debt from student loans and mortgages, and being in a vehicle collision. No adult can tell me those aren't real. The only comfort afforded is "this too shall pass."

Gone are the days where doing all 15 even-numbered math problems (the ones that didn't have the answers in the back of the book), writing a science report, and whatever other homework I had left over was my only work outside of attending school because I did most of it in school. And when mom made all of your doctor appointments, and dad made sure all the bills were paid. Cooking, cleaning, shopping; none of that was really my responsibility except for a few chores here and there.

I get to do all of that now for myself. If I don't have food in my fridge, it's only my fault. (I promise I do have food in my fridge. I just don't want to make what I have.) Clean clothes? Only if I did the laundry. Electricity, running water, running car? Gotta pay those bills, Nate. Bills don't get paid without working for the man, either. 

It's definitely not all fun and games. Yes, I can have cake for breakfast. Yes, I can stay up all hours of the night playing video games, reading a book, or watching a movie/show. Yes, I can drive anywhere I want. But all of those have scary adult consequences and responsibilities attached to them. So do all of the other things kids wish they could do when they're young.

On a happier (and less existential crisis) note, I'm actually really blessed and have many privileges and opportunities for which others can only dream. I am grateful for knowledge about the Plan of Salvation/Happiness. This life is no cake-walk for anyone. However, there is hope for a bright future with Heavenly Father, family, and friends in an eternal paradise. I just need to do what I know is right and endure (not just hang in there or suffer through it) to the end. A Savior was sent, and He prepared the way back. That is the Gospel.

The Menthol Mixup

This past week menthol has been my new favorite alcohol. The amount of cough drops and vapor rub that I've used has made me a new kind of alcoholic. It's a great smell even when you're not sick, so I'm not that ashamed. (I may need to talk to my bishop about my use of alcohol. Or a dictionary. But that's the chemist in me. Anything with an -OH group is going to be an alcohol to me.)

I actually really liked the smell as a kid. Smell is said to be the sense linked strongest to memory. We've always had that menthol rub at home for when we get sick. Another menthol product that I really like is IcyHot. Now's the real story time.

Back when I was about 4 or 5, my dad used to play in a church softball league. He jokes that he didn't play that hard ("I would wait and see if the ball would hit the ground and make it out of the infield before I left the batter's box."), but he still must have had a competitive drive because he always came home super dirty and sore. He would shower and then use two products every night, almost without fail.

My mom would rub IcyHot into his sore muscles (or he would if he could reach), and he would also give his underarms a few swipes of SpeedStick. I love the smell of original Speed Stick, too. To this day it's my preferred brand and scent. To me, those smells still remind me of my dad and his athletic endeavors of his early 30's.

Well to be just like my dad (what young boy doesn't want to be like his father?), I felt I needed to put on deodorant and the muscle rub for whatever activity I had going on that day. The problem is that I didn't know which one went where at that young age. I just knew that they both went on his body and they made him smell good. I learned really quick that IcyHot with its "goes on cool, stays warm" should not go in the armpit area. Cue: burning sensation.

I think I've only ever used IcyHot once since then, possibly during my own baseball years of high school, but I never really threw the ball hard enough to warrant needing the treatment more than once. I do use SpeedStick. Somewhat regularly. I think. There's definitely a time and place for everything.

2017 Highlights

Before it's socially awkward (which is pretty much me to a T anyway, but here goes!) to post about it, I'm going to be optimistic about the new year. 2017 was pretty amazing. A few highlights:

Had a "Copper" birthday (29 yo, element 29, I'm a nerd, you probably already know this.) For those of you that don't have a clue what I'm talking about, I asked people to send me pictures of copper things instead of the plain old "Happy Birthday!" posts everyone likes to post on Facebook. It's so impersonal, so I wanted something different. I'm trying to think of what to have ya'll post for #30. Zinc just doesn't sound very appealing, but completing my 30th trip around Sol has been a good ride.

Learned a new diet. Lost about 30 pounds and I intend to keep it off. I cheat quite frequently because I'm at my goal, but I'd like to keep it off and maybe even get rid of the cookie pouch and other problem areas. I feel good about my body now, something I hadn't felt while I was far less active and eating out of boredom compounded with the stress of school. I've gotten back into the "swing" of things by playing tennis more regularly and I'm just trying to find the motivation/people to do more physical activities.

Speaking of school, I'm a doctor now! I only go by Dr. Lunt on paper (I don't care whether you call me Nathan or Nate or even Brother Lunt, but I don't feel it's necessary to call me Dr. Lunt), but you better believe I definitely earned that degree and title. Pharmacy is a pretty amazing field and I'm glad to be able to help people understand their health and medications. I passed my licensing exams after a bunch more stress and now I'm done with it all, right? Easy Street now? Haha. Yeah, right.

I got a great job right after my license came in. I like working at the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corp. So many great co-workers and usually a pretty chill work situation. Not right now; too much flu and everything else going on making it seem even more stressful than school ever was. But it's still a great gig and I'll probably stay for many years. It's just a bummer that it's in the middle of nowhere and two hours away from either home.

I was pretty busy with school for the first half of the year, then studying for licensing, then working off my probation status at work, so I haven't done much traveling or fun stuff. I did go to a ton of baseball games this past year during the summer and that was a great experience.

As for my family, I've got a new niece, Leah, and almost a new sister. My brother got back from his mission and proposed to his girlfriend, Josie, but they haven't tied the knot yet. Something I'll be sure to add to the 2018 Highlights.

I had a good holiday season. I had a great time posting about things I was grateful for Thanksgiving. Then the Christmas season was great. I stayed focused on the Savior by listening to mostly hymns and other Christ-centered carols and by reading and listening to scriptures and other words of prophets.

And because everyone seems to want to know, especially when I'm back home, yes, I'm still single. I'm still looking, still working on improving myself to be the best potential husband/father I can be, but I'm okay with where I am in life. Sure, it would be nice to have that Eternal Companion, but I'm not in any rush. I want to get it right and so far I haven't found that special someone. I'll be patient to find her when it's supposed to happen. See "Interested" from 2016 to find out what I'm looking for.

And that's about it. I may have missed a few things, but it's almost January 2nd. I hope 2018 can be just as great, or even better.

On Papers and Titles

Over the past couple days and months, I've received some papers that give me new titles and privileges. It took a lot of hard work and several years' time, but people can now refer to me as Dr. Nathan Marc Lunt, PharmD and Nathan Marc Lunt, RPh.

My Degree; Doctor of Pharmacy

My Wall License; Registered Pharmacist in Arizona

These two pieces of paper are proof of a lot of hard work to obtain knowledge in the field of pharmacy. I'm very grateful for the support of family and friends through all the years. I'm also thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with so many great opportunities and for the talents He has given me.

Yet, these two rather large pieces of paper don't really compare to a smaller one that I keep in my wallet. The titles I get from these papers don't compare to a title I was born with.

This morning for the first time in a long time, I went to the temple. I used this tiny piece of paper to show I was allowed to enter:

Once inside, not a soul knew that I was a pharmacist. Not one called me "Doctor Lunt" or anything of that sort. One person recognized my last name and knew my grandpa, but that was it. And yet, not once did I feel unwelcome or less than what I really am: a son of God. They all called me "Brother (Lunt)" and I loved it. As we all wore essentially the same white clothing, I couldn't have told you anyone's profession and that's a very special thing. None of us are any better than anyone else. We're all children of loving Heavenly Parents, siblings to an elder brother, Jesus Christ. Nothing else mattered there in the temple.

I don't need this third piece of paper to prove that I'm a son of God. It only proves my worthiness to enter the temple, not my parentage. Each of us can individually come to know that we are a child of God. Pray to Him; He is there and will listen.

As I sat in various rooms in the temple, hearing precious words, learning and relearning important parts of the plan of salvation, praying to know about my future and my plans, and just meditating, I felt the Spirit kind of reiterate the words of a priesthood blessing I received about a week ago just the night prior to taking one of my licensing exams. I know that Heavenly Father is real and that He has a plan for me. Things will work out for me no matter what happens because He loves me. I really am a son of God. That tiny piece of paper allowed me to enter one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever been in and feel so much peace and serenity, a place where I could once again come to the realization that I am a child of God.

I still have a few more licenses and titles to obtain, some professional, some more family related, but the most important title I have had since birth, and I need no physical proof to know it for myself, is son of God. Nothing else matters nearly so much.