Simpler times will return. We have to keep believing. That said… if you’re struggling with your mental health right now, know that help is available. My partner, Mental Health America, has plenty of resources on its website: everything from free and anonymous mental health screenings to DIY tools to information on affordable treatment if … Read more Believe simpler times will return
If the pandemic (and all the challenges that came with it) has been affecting your mental health, you’re most definitely not alone. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows just how much the stress of Covid is hurting us mentally. The results are based on a survey that was … Read more Covid’s toll on our mental health
In a year where we’ve faced so many challenges and have been forced to adjust our goals and plans over and over, it’s easy to feel like we’re getting nowhere fast. But that’s simply not true. It may be hard to see the small wins in your life in the midst of all the chaos … Read more How to celebrate your small wins during Covid
I’ve spent the past several months learning to love this sweet girl – little Sahar – realizing it’s the only path to the self love I’ve struggled to reach for so long. I’ve been talking to her, listening to her, squeezing her tight. It’s part of the inner child work I’ve been doing in therapy, … Read more My inner child work journey
I’ve been on a healing journey the last two years that I never even knew I needed. Several triggers in my life forced the emotional trauma I’d buried decades ago to bubble up. Then overflow. I felt like I was drowning in pain. It’s funny how you think you’ve already healed a part of … Read more The healing journey I never knew I needed
What are you doing to help you get through the hard days of 2020? I’ve definitely been leaning on my daily #ichoosebeauty practice of looking for life’s little things every day. It’s a nice reminder that beauty still exists despite the hardships we’re all facing because of the pandemic and everything else going on in … Read more What are you doing to help you get through the hard days of 2020?
How are you feeling today? This emotionally overwhelming 2020 marathon just keeps going. And in turn, we have to figure out how to keep going, as well. It has helped me to focus on being present and just taking it day by day. But I’ll admit, the past two weeks have been extra challenging for … Read more If you’re struggling with your mental health, know that it’s okay to get help
Me, the past several days since I threw out my back last week. I’m still having painful muscle spasms, despite my meds, ice cream, and kitty cuddles. I haven’t been able to do much, and of course, I keep thinking about all the things I need to do. But I’m pretty sure this was one … Read more Give yourself permission to rest
Have you noticed? That all the little things in life seem sweeter this year? Have you noticed? Flowers are more fragrant, tea is more comforting, music lifts you up and soothes your soul like never before? Have you noticed? Texts make your day, conversations are more meaningful, hugs are longer and tighter? Have you noticed? … Read more Have you noticed how everything seems sweeter this year?
Remember when we were all enthralled by what would be 2020?! A new year, a new decade, a seemingly magical number… 20-20… Oh, the hopes and dreams we had! And then… it felt like a train wreck real fast. Things were unbearable when Covid hit. And escalated with everything going on with the racism in … Read more The unexpected magic of 2020
My heart is so heavy for all my Black family members, friends, and community. The racism in this country is disgusting, but you know what shook me even more over the past few days? Seeing so many vile comments filled with hatred in places I never dreamed they’d be. I was flabbergasted, and my … Read more Fighting racism as an empath
It’s not enough to feel outraged about what happened to George Floyd. We must all DO SOMETHING. Whether it’s speaking up on social media, having the tough conversations with friends and family, or making a donation to organizations that are fighting racism. Do something. Change won’t happen without action. A few suggestions: Sign the #JusticeForFloyd … Read more Do something
My usual routines for exercising, eating healthy, and being consistent with my sleep have definitely fallen by the wayside lately… understandably. I’ve been giving myself grace, but I’m also trying to get back to some semblance of a routine – even if it looks different than it used to pre-pandemic – because I know how … Read more Mental Health Month: Creating Healthy Routines
The pandemic has brought up so many different emotions for all of us: fear, sadness, loneliness, etc. No matter what you’ve experienced over the past few weeks, owning those feelings will help you work through them… and feel better. To help you process those feelings, I want to share a worksheet with you from my … Read more Mental Health Month: Owning your feelings
We’ve all lost things during the Covid pandemic: whether it’s being with loved ones, our usual routines, income, school, big events, etc. So how do we find the positive after loss? All month long, I’ll share free worksheets from my partner, Mental Health America as part of Mental Health Month’s #Tools2Thrive theme – tools to … Read more Mental Health Month: Finding the positive after loss
As we kick off Mental Health Month today, all I can think is how the entire world needs this right now. With all of us facing some kind of distress from the coronavirus pandemic, a month to focus on our mental health couldn’t come at a better time. Throughout May, I’ll be sharing lots of … Read more Mental Health Month: Free screenings
Through the ups and downs of the quarantine/isolation…. interestingly, connection can be both an “up” and a “down.” It’s obviously hard not being together in-person like we’re used to, but let’s look at how we CAN connect right now. I feel so blessed that we live in a time where technology makes it so easy … Read more Connecting during the Covid quarantine
Every week into this pandemic feels like another beginning of a new phase to me. Not necessarily a cut and dry phase… more like what you feel after experiencing trauma and grief – you have various feelings that will continue to come and go in waves over time. I was able to manage my anxiety … Read more Mental health phases of the pandemic
How are you doing this week? Are you starting to adjust to the new strange “normal”? I feel like I’m finally surrendering to the situation, and had a little less anxiety last week. Two changes I made: I let myself rest more. My body needed it, and I slept a lot. I gave myself … Read more 2 things that helped reduce my pandemic anxiety
As COVID-19 changes life as we know it, it can easily create a lot of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. Whether the pandemic has you concerned about your health, your loved ones’ health, your finances, schools closing, cancelled trips and plans, and everything else that keeps changing several times a day… please remember that your feelings … Read more COVID-19 Mental Health Resources
You know I always keep things real on social media, so I just wanted to remind you that what you see in my feed is one good thing I notice and photograph each day. It does not mean that every day is rainbows and butterflies and perfection. So please don’t think that, and don’t think … Read more Noticing beauty does not mean life is perfect
Anyone else struggle with self-love? It’s something I’ve been working on a lot in therapy over the past several months. It’s easy to be hard on ourselves when we mess up, when something doesn’t go the way we think it should, or when we’re sick. I wasn’t able to do much physically for most of … Read more The self-love struggle
I’ll start by saying that therapy has saved my life… more than once. It takes an extraordinary amount of deep work, but it’s so worth it. It’s painful peeling back all those layers to get to the core and get in touch with your inner self. That’s when you can really start to heal. … Read more Let’s talk about therapy
What we say to ourselves determines, in large part, our mood and feelings. So why do we continue to say crappy things to ourselves? Is it because we want to feel crappy on purpose? Of course not. Negative self-talk can be so automatic that you don’t even notice it. What you notice instead is your … Read more Your thoughts determine how you feel