Self-Care Basics
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Working on a classroom assignment, my friend looked over at me. He asked, “Did you ask me something?” I peered back confused, “No, why?” “I heard you saying something.” “Oh, I was talking to myself.” “You know people who talk to themselves are either geniuses or insane.” I muttered without hesitation, “I still haven’t figured…
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There was a time when saying that you had someone in your “thoughts and prayers” was meaningful and appreciated. When someone says that it nowadays, it often feels like apathetic. The phrase gets bashed all the time, and the definition behind it appears to have been lost in translation. As someone who often focuses a…
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You wake up one morning. You are not feeling quite like yourself. Something is off. Your neurons fire in multiple directions, or you are hearing colors. You throw open your front door in what feels like an ecstasy-filled rage. Your clothing strewn across the front patio. Without any particular reason, you sprint down the sidewalk…
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The counseling profession emphasizes the importance of understanding the individual. I always was open to other points of view though to open up my horizons. I wanted subject matter that would complement this “individual” perspective but that did not stray too far from the study of people. After speaking to my undergraduate adviser, I took up…
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Living out in the woods as a child, I encountered critters. This included multiple infestations inside my own home. I had battles with eight foot snakes. An entire colony of bats lived in my chimney for three summers straight. I regularly spotted lizards basking in the sun on the carpet. I spent a weekend in…
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You really think you have seen it all when you work in the mental health field. Once in a while, your clients like to remind you that you have not. The client of interest this time around was a 13-year-old adolescent male struggling with an extensive history of family conflict, abuse, and self-injurious behavior. He…
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It often takes a lot to push an individual to the ledge. Their toes curl around the edge gripping to one last bit of humanity. Looking downward at what seems to be the sole resolution to their present situation. What has always amazed me is the moment right before the leap. This is the moment…
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The topic of suicide prevention has once again become a focal point of discussion following two more celebrity suicides. RIP Katie Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Whenever I hear the news of another suicide whether it was a friend, family member, colleague, or a celebrity, I always stop and think about what could have been done…
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We live in a unique time period and one that the world has never seen before. If you feel like watching a movie tonight, you can pull up your Netflix or Hulu account without leaving your couch. If someone asks you for the latest score on the game, you pull out your phone and speak…
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All the time I emphasize the importance of insight. If self-care is a journey, insight is the compass. Sometimes the hardest part of embarking on such a trek is simply knowing where to start. This is why I spent several months identifying my own well-being deficits before pursuing specific self-care goals. I engaged in thorough…
The Caring Counselor 