Mental Health

If you know me personally or have followed my posts here for any length of time, you know that I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety. For me, that means constant management of stressors to remain healthy. And it goes without saying that the holiday season is a source of stress for many reasons for many people. Unfortunately, I am not excluded from this group in the least. Over the past five years, I have found some interesting ways to avoid triggers and to maintain over all wellness during the holiday season. The Three Gift Rule: We have three kids, and shopping can become expensive and stressful if we let it. We limit ourselves to one big gift and two medium gifts per...

We don’t need another headline to tell us. We don’t have to wait for another hashtag or tragedy for this to be a priority. All we have to do is look around. Watch the face of your pastor and his wife and see the fatigue as they carry the burdens of many. Pay attention to the Facebook posts of your co-workers and friends and notice how much frustration and loneliness you see in a day. Listen to the weary tone in the voice of a mom in the grocery store, as she tries to wrangle her kids, and gather items to feed her family. It’s all around us, and we either miss it or ignore it daily - the cries...

As my youngest approached his second birthday, I hit a parenting wall. I had thoughts like "Can postpartum depression be delayed two years? Are my hormones out of whack? Maybe I'm not cut out for the toddler years." Then I started reading "Happiest Toddler on the Block" by Dr. Karp, and a light bulb went off! In part one, he writes "Toddlers are tricky even for experienced parents," and "Your tot's words or deeds may open up feelings of hurt and humiliation from deep in your past." My life as a mom was subconsciously reminding me of issues in my own childhood. It might sound a little kooky, but bare with me. Now that I had two boys who can (and still...

A client once told me there are two starts to every year, New Years and Labor Day. The ability to have a do-over in the middle of the year is something I appreciate. I start the year with resolutions, a fresh mind-set, and unwavering energy, but come August, I’m back to just surviving. Labor Day has become my day to reassess my goals, needs, and health, and start fresh. It’s a checkpoint that allows me cast aside guilt for not following through with my New Year resolutions. Recently I sat down and brainstormed ways to refresh different aspects of my life. The list below is a little insight into how I plan on approaching the second half of the year. I hope...

Depression is a liar. It makes you feel guilty that you aren't grateful enough for your blessed life. It repeats to you that one day people will realize you're a fraud. It gaslights you until you can't tell the difference between reality and the stories it tells you about yourself. It paralyzes you from pursuing your dreams because you might fail or be imperfect. It makes going out with friends overwhelming. It exhausts you mentally and physically. It tricks you into believing that medication will guy you of who you are instead of allowing you to BE who you are.  It reminds you that society things people who go to therapy are weak and unable to "just be positive." It numbs joy and optimism but amplifies fear and...