Jami Mill, WOC Site Manager at the Silverton House

1. How long have you worked for State Op? Three years. I started out at Russell, went to Manzanita, then onto Hampden and now I am at Silverton.
2. What is your favorite movie? Event Horizon
3. What's the last book that you read? A dragon book, Eragon.
4. Do you have any pets? A dog named Scooby and a cat named Bozlee.

5. What's your favorite ice cream? Mint chocolate chip.
6. Do you have a hobby? Doing crossword puzzles.
7. What's your favorite part of your job? I like being able to improve the lives of the people in our program.
8. What are you listening to in your car on your way to work? An alternate/rock CD – Evanescence.
9. Where did you go on your last vacation? To Vancouver, WA. I was there taking care of a friend who had just had surgery.
10. If you had to be someone on Gilligan's Island, who would it be? The Professor – because he is pretty smart and he remembers a lot of things. He comes up with all of these ideas that help make a better life for the people on the island.

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Safety update

Fire, explosion evacuation tips

The Department of Homeland Security and American Red Cross offer evacuation tips after an explosion.

If there is an explosion

• Take shelter against your desk or sturdy table.
• Exit the building immediately.
• Do not use elevators.
• Check for fire and other hazards.
• Take your emergency supply kit if time allows.

If there is a fire

• Exit the building immediately.
• If there is smoke, crawl under the smoke to the nearest exit, using a cloth over mouth and nose, if possible.
• Use the back of your hand to feel the upper, lower, and middle parts of closed doors.
• If the door is not hot, brace yourself against it and open slowly.
• If the door is hot, do not open it. Look for another way out.
• Do not use elevators.
• If your clothes catch on fire, stop-drop-and-roll to put out the fire. Do not run.
• If you are at home, go to your previously designated outside meeting place.
• Account for your staff, co-workers and clients.
• GET OUT and STAY OUT. Never go back into a burning building.
• Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

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Is this as good as it gets?

By Brad Heath, Clinical Service Manager

By definition, an obsession is a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an idea or feeling and a compulsion is an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act. Combined, the two make up the clinical disorder known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

It’s important to distinguish between what is commonly known as being “anal” (which is short for anal-retentive), vs. this truly incapacitating disorder. We all know people who are perfectionists or who can’t move on until all the “i”s are dotted and the “t”s are crossed. Someone with a clinical case of OCD is afflicted with the chronic inability to make everyday decisions because they are frozen with anxiety about making the right decision.

Individuals with OCD have trouble starting tasks or projects because of lack of confidence and an irrational fear of doing wrong. They are so preoccupied with details, rules, schedules, order and organization that the major point of the activity or task is lost. Their perfectionism is so severe that they often do not finish tasks or projects.

Individuals with OCD are often hyper-vigilant and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics or values, which can lead them to being ostracized from social groups. They can be reluctant or unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects; they redefine the term “packrat”. A worst-case scenario can include someone being evicted from their apartment because their collection of stuff (including refuse) has become a fire hazard and health and safety concern. They also tend to adopt a very miserly spending style toward self and others because money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes.

Individuals with OCD perform many rituals such as turning a light switch on and off several times before leaving a room because they irrationally believe that if they don’t, something bad may happen. This is very different from the person who has all their shoes lined neatly in order in their closet. This is someone who may not be able to leave the house until “all the dust is gone.” Jack Nickolson does a good job of portraying someone with OCD in the movie “As Good As It Gets”. He engages in some irrational rituals such as not stepping on any cracks and closing doors several times. Jack ends up getting slightly better in this movie with therapy and medications, but we know of famous people such as Howard Hughes who did not. Hughes was plagued with this disorder to the point of becoming a recluse.

The main point to remember if you are providing care to someone with OCD is to be patient and do not expect him or her to just “get over it.” The odd rituals and irrational beliefs may seem silly to you, but to the individual, that is their reality. Some individuals (not all) with OCD can tell you that they know they are being irrational but they can’t stop feeling that way.

So remember that just because someone is aware of their odd behavior, that doesn’t mean they have the necessary tools to get better. Medications can help lessen the severity of the obsessions and anxiety, but there is no magic pill that makes it all go away.

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Voc updates

Ethelyn is working on the haunted house for our Halloween party October 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SteppingStones Center.

Sip-n-Safari has a new menu item. Come by and check them out.

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