therapy

  • 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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  • 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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  • Breaking The Pattern

    Breaking The Pattern

    After a busy work week, I took my exhausted, yet excited ass on the road. I was on my way to spending the weekend with my awesome girlfriend. She lives about an hour to an hour and a half away from me, so the drive can be a nice way to decompress sometimes. I turn…

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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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  • Sometimes You Just Need to Slow Down

    I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. I actively took steps to alleviate stress, engage in self-care, and utilize my support system. However, it might have been too little too late. To no one’s surprise (including my own), I am burnt the fuck out. Between a promotion, a second part-time job, and a new…

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  • Promotion of Growth

    Promotion of Growth

    People do not like change whether it is good or bad. We like to have control. We like knowing potential outcomes and feeling like we have some influence over it. However, reality demonstrates time and time again that we possess little control over anything. Recently, my agency promoted me. I went from being a middleman…

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  • Thought-Feeling Balance Exercise

    This week’s therapy session took a deep turn. A few days prior, I fell into a funk of sorts. Feeling overwhelmed by illness, work, and family stuff compounded on top of one another. By the time therapy rolled around, I pretty much pulled myself out of it. This funk though sparked a different conversation though.…

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  • I. Am. Enough.

    I. Am. Enough.

    This week kicked my ass metaphorically and literally. The shit show started off with a stomach bug that knocked me on my ass. For 48 hours, I was bedridden and blowing chunks. I could not sit up for more than a minute without feeling lightheaded and breaking out in a sweat. I missed two days…

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  • Build. It. In.

    Build. It. In.

    Our lives present quite the conundrum. Throughout our entire lives, we learn that change is the only constant. However, as a counselor and through personal experience, I came to find out that the most human beings do not cope well with change. We possess an innate desire to feel in control and like to know…

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