mental health

  • You’re Doing It

    You’re Doing It

    To my loyal readers, I apologize for being MIA the last several weeks. I know so many of you are going through Caring Counselor withdrawal after not hearing from me for six weeks. (Please note my sarcasm.) In all seriousness, my writing took a backseat in recent weeks. I feel split between three jobs and…

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  • Harder Than Usual

    Harder Than Usual

    This holiday season, man. It feels like there has been a full moon every night since Thanksgiving. My life feels out of control at times and harder to manage this in years past. Not only does it seem this way for me but also everyone else I’ve spoken to. The increased stress levels, prominent feelings…

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  • Doing Nothing Does Something

    Some of you likely had a conniption reading that title. How does one do nothing and do something simultaneously? It is like dividing by zero. It is impossible. No, it’s not. It can be done. I might be crazy, but I can explain. Your boy had nothing short of an emotionally and physically exhausting week.…

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  • Grace Over Guilt

    Grace Over Guilt

    By far, I am my own worst critic. I am notorious for self-deprecation. Given my long trauma history, black-and-white thinking, and unrealistic expectations of myself, it’s easy to go down that rabbit hole. Personally, I like to have little mantras to keep myself in check. Just short sayings that I can repeat to myself from…

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  • The Benefits of Having a Pet Companion

    Now that I have lured you in with an absolutely adorable picture of a golden retriever, I would like to introduce you to Butler. Although he is not technically my dog (belongs to my landlord), I have been in his life every day since he was two months old. He just turned six years old,…

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  • Another Hit

    Another Hit

    Feeling disheartened this week. After thinking I had my health under control, it decided to throw two middle fingers in my face. Two weeks ago, my stomach had a familiar nauseous feeling. The bouts of nausea were followed shortly by multiple visits to the bathroom. Since being diagnosed with GERD (or reflux) back in February,…

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  • Guilt Ridden

    Guilt Ridden

    Fibromyalgia. I write about this topic far too much on this blog, or so it feels. However, today’s piece isn’t so much focused on the symptoms or recent flare up, as much as it is the effect of my mental health/self-care. If you are unaware of what fibromyalgia is, here you go, you lazy bum:…

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  • I’m a day late on this one but for good reason. I purposely avoided social media yesterday. Distancing myself from the white noise made the day easier. Especially when the day serves as a bittersweet reminder. As much of a Hallmark holiday as it might be, holidays like Father’s Day carry meaning. It’s a day…

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  • I Can’t Even.

    I Can’t Even.

    Fridays are for fun! My idea of fun this last Friday was driving an hour to meet with my accountant and do my taxes at 8:30 in the morning. Friday? More like Fri-yay! Am I right? Since I decided to avoid the tolls, my GPS took me on the scenic route. It added maybe five…

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  • In The Moment

    In The Moment

    This morning I woke up to a long-forgotten feeling. The sun peered just over the horizon and let its early morning shine into the bedroom. Along with this dim light came in the sound of short, melodic chirps. Barely tapping into these two sense was enough to stir me. With one eye open a slit,…

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