Mental Health

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...

I know by now much of the world has heard the sad news of Kate Spade taking her own life. This really struck a chord with me for a few reasons, and I felt the need to open up about my own story. Kate was a self-made, successful business woman who created a vibrant brand that is loved by many across the world. By all appearances, she really had it all. A husband of 24 years, a precious 13-year-old daughter and great wealth. We always say “don’t read the comments on the internet” because they can be so divisive, ignorant and downright hurtful. Unfortunately, I did read a few and I feel like it’s understandably hard for people to grasp...

According to Webster’s Dictionary, stress is defined as "a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances." Can I get an AMEN? As women, our stress level varies by the day, hour or minute depending on what our surroundings are. We are constantly worried about our spouse, children and the people around us even if we aren’t conscious of it. There are some things I have found to help de-stress me. Self-care is good for the soul and more than the Instagram posts talking about it. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can then take care of others. One of my favorite self-care quotes that I found comes from Eleanor Brown: “Rest...

One beautiful afternoon in September, I was sitting on the back porch watching my four children play joyfully. My oldest child, age seven, came over and hugged me. “This has been a great day, Mom. Thanks for not yelling at us.” He scooted off to play, and I sat there in shock. “Thanks for not yelling at us” hung in the air. Quickly, I recounted our day and realized he was right - I had not yelled at them all day. I thought back to the week before, where I had called my husband crying, because I was so over homeschooling and being a mom and trying to have a sane home all at once. That day had been...