mental health
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Lately, I’ve been tapping into a saying my dad drilled through my thick skull. “Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.” I feel like a broken record this holiday season. This statement flew out of my mouth at least a couple dozen times in the aforementioned time frame. My dad and whoever coined the…
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This time of year brings up A LOT of feelings for people. Situations we avoided for the first eleven months of the year thrust themselves to the forefront. Every relative you don’t want to see you now feel obligated to visit. Those losses you experienced (usually a passing or separation) rear their ugly heads with…
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I definitely lucked out when it came to the two stepchildren I inherited. They are both fantastic kids my seventeen-year-old stepdaughter and seven-year-old stepson. However, them occasionally challenging me comes with the territory of being their fatherly figure. The little guy definitely likes to push my buttons from time to time. One he unintentionally presses…
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Working in any helping profession often comes across a thankless and underappreciated. After working in the mental health field, I’ve learned that it isn’t to be expected. You don’t usually get to see the end result of your work and need to celebrate the small wins. However, once in a while, you get a reminder…
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It’s been just a few weeks since I started seeing a specialized therapist again for my process addiction. A bunch of issues lingered, and I hit a brick wall with my progress. My growth felt stunted. Just under the surface, all of the guilt, shame, and blame festered. To jump start the battery, I got…
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….And for good reason! The entire week leading up to my Wednesday afternoon appointment felt like one big blur. An underlying feeling of insecurity plagued my soul, and it sparked serious internal anxiety. I found myself second guessing every decision. I didn’t feel confident in any context. Some context for you. During my therapy session…
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No, not the cartoon. Although the cartoon is pretty good too. I’m talking about taking a trip down the beaten path. Going out on a limb to do something different. Taking that risk. The week prior beat me to a bloody pulp. I looked like Rocky Balboa near the end of the first movie. Picture…
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It hurts. My body hurts. My head pounds. My neck, shoulders, calves, and hips feel heavy. Yet somehow, I press on. Through the pain, agony, and misery, I find the motivation to do what I must. As much as I probably need a break, I can’t always let my illness beat me down. Over the…
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I know I probably wrote something similar to this past last year, but it felt necessary to share my thoughts again. Today carried such a bittersweet feeling. The day served as a reminder of a significant loss in my life – one that occurred just over three years ago. Not a day goes by that…
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I’m going to do something on here that I haven’t in a long time. I am just going to free write. If you aren’t familiar with the idea of free writing, it is literally just to put down what comes to your mind. I have been slacking a bit on my blog posts (I’m one…
The Caring Counselor 