Blogs
Jennifer Lear
I missed my last scheduled blog post due to illness, but in truth, I was relieved, because aside from the gastric flu wreaking havoc with my digestive system, I didn't have anything to talk about. I was (and am) doing well. When I sat down to write this week's piece, I had a similar bittersweet realization. Does that mean I should give up writing this blog?
Elizabeth Caudy
My mom and I go north to Door County in Wisconsin together every spring for our mother/daughter weekend--just the two of us. We go back up with the rest of the family later in the summer. Last year, things were very restricted because of COVID-19. This year, we were vaccinated. Being vaccinated really helped with my schizoaffective anxiety and it also made a big difference for our trip.
Kim Berkley
A self-harm mantra may not be the magical cure we wish it could be, but it can be a powerful tool to help you focus and stay motivated on the road to recovery. Here are a few ideas to help you choose, or craft, your own healing mantra.
Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC, DAIS
Anxiety can erode self-confidence and make people feel inferior. The harsh, self-critical, judgmental voice of anxiety can also distort the way we see ourselves, causing us to ignore our positive qualities and exaggerate our very human flaws and foibles. If anxiety ever makes you hard on yourself, keep reading. You don't have to take anxiety's word at face value.
TJ DeSalvo
One of the things I’ve done to relax, for literally as far back as I can remember, is rematch movies that I consider to be favorites. There are a handful of movies that I’m guessing I’ve seen hundreds of times because, for whatever reason, they make me feel relaxed when I watch them.
Sarah Sharp
One of the hardest parts of parenting a child with mental illness is watching my kid behave disruptively or throw a larger-than-life tantrum and wondering, "Would this be happening if I were a better mom? Is my child's mental illness a result of my poor parenting?"
Mahevash Shaikh
Self-doubt is a recurring theme in my life. It affects multiple areas of my life, from ethics and relationships to my personal and professional choices. What I experience isn't a healthy level of doubt, it is extreme and therefore unhelpful. And my depression and anxiety are responsible for this. Like many people, I have both of them, and together they make my self-doubt more potent.
Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC, DAIS
Being in a relationship with someone, whether it's a romantic connection or a close friendship, can feel good and boost mental health. But can you have too much of a good thing? Is it wrong for someone to want to spend a lot of time with you, or is it just a sign of love or friendship? There is a line between enjoying time together and being possessive. Knowing that line can help you keep your relationships--and yourself--mentally healthy.
Rizza Bermio-Gonzalez
When you experience chronic anxiety, it is probably difficult to imagine you could distract yourself from that anxiety. With anxiety, you may find that you become overwhelmed with worry and racing thoughts. This can be difficult when it results in many physical symptoms, such as a racing heart rate, headaches, and stomach problems. It can become even more problematic when it interferes with your daily life, and you find that you are having a hard time concentrating, having a hard time sleeping, or constantly on high alert.
Juliana Sabatello
Despite all of the progress we have made in society toward mental health awareness and understanding, mental illness is still a taboo topic in many circles, and many people continue to struggle alone. The stigma surrounding mental illness adds an extra layer of shame to an already difficult problem, and that shame can lead us away from relationships, deep connections with others, and fulfilling social lives with people who might truly understand, accept, and value us if we gave them the chance.