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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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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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***Warning: Some NSFW language*** I had dinner plans with a girlfriend (a friend who is a girl) that I set up a few days prior. My actual girlfriend was sick with bronchitis for nearly a week. Immediately as she exited the doctor’s office, I texted her asking when I could see her next. I was…
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Last week I experienced every mental health professional’s worst nightmare. A young man I worked with took his own life. If you want to get caught up to speed about what happened, feel free to check out last week’s post: https://atomic-temporary-130610338.wpcomstaging.com/2019/01/08/suicide-is-a-btch/ Although writing about it helped initially the next day, it did not prepare for…
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I was not feeling all that great and opted to take a Sunday afternoon nap. On my lazy Sunday, a chirping sound woke me. It was my work cell. My ringtone was a cricket noise to set it apart from other everyday ringtones. I distinctly sprung up to see the name of another counselor that…
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I don’t know about you, but 2018 felt like the longest year on record. What I can definitely say is that New Year’s always provides a time for reflection. We can look back at the changes that have occurred in our lives over the last 365 days. I went into 2018 with a fine tuned…
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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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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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The last two weeks pushed my well-being, self-care, and sanity to the limits. I started a new full-time management position, while holding onto my old job part-time. This put me into quite the conundrum. My old job was conducting in-home counseling services for trouble youth. Typically, I worked with these youth short-term (8-12 weeks) to…
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Like many medical professionals, mental health professionals often have a specialization. When it came to finding my niche in the field, I wanted something that was unique, brought on different challenges each day, and could sustain my interest long-term. I did not want to be a “typical” counselor that worked with depression and anxiety. I…
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