Commentary: Stick with achieving new year's resolutions

  • Published
  • By Mary Arnold
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Director of Psychological Health
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The start of a new year typically stirs people to set new goals and get a fresh start. This is excellent, if you can stick with it.

Many people desire to spend less money, spend more time with friends and family, work on their education, stop smoking, and lose weight. There are about as many different goals as there are people.

New Year's resolutions can be powerful in making real and significant change. Did you know that some estimate less than 10 percent of Americans achieve their resolutions by the end of the year? Most people stop working on their goals two weeks into the new year.

Homestead Air Reserve Base has resources that can help you achieve these goals, the newest one being me, the 482nd Fighter Wing director of psychological health.

I have been a social worker for 16 years and a licensed clinical social worker for nine.  I have worked in a variety of settings with many different issues including sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, foster care, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and anger management, marital problems and parenting concerns.

I have worked specifically with military for six years and have been around the military community for 18.  I'm very familiar with the military lifestyle and the impact of deployments on families.  I've worked with couples and individuals of all ages.

I can help.

My office is located in the 482nd Medical Squadron. I am available for one-on-one consultations or group presentations for a variety of topics.

Some of the common issues addressed are work or family related stress, anger management, relationship concerns, grief, trauma, deployment, and financial or transitional issues.  I'm also available for crisis intervention and consultation for leadership.

Everyone on the installation is eligible for services from the director of psychological health; this includes active duty military, dependents, retirees, reservists, and civilians. Services are available Monday through Friday and UTA weekends.

Call me to help you achieve your goals and reach your optimal level to make 2015 the best year yet!

Phone: 786-415-7615, email: mary.arnold@us.af.mil.