Self-Care Basics

  • Avoidance or Self-Love? The Self-Care Dilemma

    Your boy had some serious writer’s block this week. I legitimately could not come up with a topic for this week’s post. There were no major revelations. There were no areas of interest for yours truly. I channeled my inner Regis Philbin and asked the audience. I put out a request for suggestions on my…

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  • Making Any Activity Mindful

    As much as I like cooler weather, I look forward to being able to drive home while the sun is still high in the sky. The extra bit of time opens up so much opportunity for outdoor activities that would otherwise have to wait until the weekend. I love going to local parks to just…

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  • “I Wanna Be The Very Best Like No One Ever Was”

    I typically consider myself more of a nerd than a geek, but one area that I do geek out over. I openly admit that I am a big fan of Pokemon. I was sucked into the phenomenon when I was ten years old. My friends came to school carrying their three-inch wide binders. They would…

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  • Overcoming Mental Health Stigma

    Last week I posted about how mental health stigma can present itself as an obstacle to one’s self-care. To check that post out, click here: https://atomic-temporary-130610338.wpcomstaging.com/2019/01/29/stigma-and-self-care-pt-1/ Picking up where I left off though, we cannot deny the prevalence of stigma in today’s society. However, it is obvious to see the progress our society has made…

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  • Stigma and Self-Care Pt. 1

    Stigma and Self-Care Pt. 1

    One of my favorite activities as a group facilitator involved the topic of stigma, or the “societal labels.” I stood in front of the six-foot whiteboard holding my dry erase marker. I asked my clients one simple question, “What words or names have people called you to describe your mental illness?” The conversation following this…

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  • Anxiety’s Many Personalities

    Sitting here trying to write this post drove me insane. I deleted and rewrote the introduction at least five times over the course of an hour. I sat here staring at an empty screen. I shook my head in dismay. I just could not find the words to describe what was going through my mind.…

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  • Long-Lasting Effects of Trauma

    This time of year has never been fun for yours truly. In October 2009, I lost my childhood home to a fire. In November 2015, I experienced my first- and hopefully last- psychiatric hospitalization after finding out my ex-girlfriend was cheating on me with my best friend. Traditionally, the holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s…

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  • Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

    It seemed like life had its own agenda this past week, putting my patience to the test. My joints throbbed with pain. Waking up every morning felt like a mental tug of war. Business picked up at work, easily doubling my hours. On top of it all, people plucked away at my number one pet…

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  • How Blogging Became Self-Care

    How Blogging Became Self-Care

    Back in May 2017, I fell into a rut with my depression and anxiety. My therapist and I discussed different ways for me to express myself healthily. I mentioned to her that I wrote poetry off and on as a teenager and into early adulthood. Poetry was merely a way for me to express myself.…

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  • Medication and Self-Care

    Medication and Self-Care

    Disclaimer: I must preface this with I am not a medical professional. I am not trying to tell anyone how to take their medications or to stop their medications by any means. This post is merely my opinion and experience with medication. When I look at the top of my closet, I feel like I…

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