NAMI of La Porte County offers a free support group for those dealing with mental health issues. The meetings are held twice a month at Bethany Lutheran Church, First and G streets, LaPorte, in the church’s Fireside Room. Meeting time is 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

   The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 7. Then at the Tuesday, April 20, meeting, Professor Radtke, MSW, of Purdue North Central, will give a presentation on social work.

   Consumers, family and friends are welcome to attend.

   Marilyn (a fictional character) is exhausted at the end of every work day. So exhausted that she’s beginning to worry about it.

   As a hairstylist, Marilyn loves cutting hair, exploring new hairstyles and perfecting her ability to find the perfect color for her clients. As a child she was always interested in art and could spend hours by herself working on various creative projects. As a teen, her eye for style and design made her popular with her friends. When the time came to select a career, hair styling was an easy choice. Now, as a stylist in high demand in a busy salon, she is beginning to be concerned about why she is so tired all the time. She stays in shape, eats a healthy diet and enjoys a peaceful family life. What can the problem be?

   Of all the possibilities that have occurred to her, Marilyn has never considered that the answer might be found in her personality.

   Marilyn is a “Perfect Melancholy” personality. PMs are introverted people who require quite a bit of solitude to stay focused and energetic. They are often artistic and creative, with a natural attention for detail. Their spaces are usually neat and clean, with everything in its designated spot. They are not chatty, but instead are often polite, quiet people who think before they speak.

   Compare Marilyn’s personality with her work as a hair stylist. Do you see any areas of conflict? Marilyn likes a quiet environment, but a busy salon is hardly quiet. She’s in high demand because of her skill, which results in an exhausting schedule with very little time to relax. Additionally, what must hairstylists do all day long besides style hair? They chat with their clients. So while Marilyn spends her day doing what she loves, she also spends her day chatting with people, which doesn’t provide the solitude she needs.

   Add it all up and you’ll find that Marilyn spends many hours every day doing what does not come naturally to her. This concept is called “living outside your personality,” and it can result in fatigue and stress.

   If you’re feeling like this example of Marilyn, consider whether your personality fits your job. While most jobs have tasks that a person would rather not do or are less skilled at, your work life will be less draining and stressful if it aligns with your personality. Think about what comes naturally to you, such as whether you like to interact with people, your organizational skills, and your motivation to accomplish goals. Even if you cannot change your job, it is often a relief to understand why it might not be a good fit. And if you are considering a new direction, understanding your personality will help you select a better path.

   When Marilyn understood the dynamics of her situation, she made some changes. She moved to a small salon that provided a much quieter atmosphere. She limited how many days she worked every week, taking a day off in the middle of the week. This allowed Marilyn a quiet day at home by herself to “recharge her battery” for the last half of the week. Although she is still tired at the end of the day, Marilyn now understands the reason and realizes she has some measure of control over it.

LISA J. NIELSEN is a Certified Trainer with “The Personalities,” developed by Florence Littauer. She lives in LaPorte with her husband, Rod.