December 30, 1999
By Dr. Jimenez-Safir, Psicologa
As we look forward to January 2000, we also need to look back upon this past year.
As Latinos living in América, specifically in San Diego County, we need to assess our accomplishments and successes. For most of us, the Latino community, our careers/professions, or jobs and possessions are important. However, nothing will ever be more significant than our families and the love and warmth that we get and receive from them.
Latinos have a deep love and connection with our roots, our culture, our traditions, our heritage and our families.
We love to be surrounded by our "abuelitas" and hear our culture, our traditions, our heritage and our families.
We love to be surrounded by our "abuelitas" and hear our history orally. We laugh when we hear how our parents acted when they were younger and entangled in many escapades.
As I ponder the above, I also think of those families where there is pain and sorrow. I am asking that if in your family there are members who are in pain/discomfort due to emotional/health reasons that you reach out to him/her. As a psychologist practicing in San Diego for the past decade, I have seen the rise of drug and alcohol problems, along with untreated depression and anxiety and extremely chaotic families that would have definitely benefitted from professional assistance early on. I share this so that if you have such a scenario that you not wait until the problem becomes so complicated or chronic that only extended and long-term treatment be the only viable option. When you do decide to speak to a family member, please do so with utmost sincerity, love and understanding. No one needs or benefits from destructive criticism or harsh judgment/comments. We can reach out to our family with love and understanding.
Let us look to the millennium with new goals and aspirations, let us look to it as a time of rejuvenation, not only on a spiritual plane but also focusing on our emotional health. Let's introduce or reiterate the need to seek professional assistance for problems that have solutions. In this manner, our family will not be suffering from an easily treatable "enfermedad" in solitude, shame and isolation.
With the promise of the millennium, I am making a call, a plea, a challenge to all Latinos in this county to embrace good mental health by coming forth and seeking help. We are a strong, powerful people who have endured and survived. We are proud of our heritage and so let's be proud of our future, as an Ethnic race that embraces change and challenge. Let's reduce family strife, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, drug abuse and dysfunctional families. Let's look forward to a bright and glorious future where we can heal, grow and flourish.
If you or any family member needs to contact me for a consultation, please call me at (858) 279-4079.
¡¡Felicidades!! Deseándole lo mejor para el año 2000.
Regrese
a la Portada