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Awareness

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When the world feels loud: Discovering Triggers

I discovered something within myself that I didn’t realize. I have more triggers than I knew. Every day I interact with people from work and home. Each day I face highs and lows that change within seconds. Simple words, minor actions, missing pieces seem to have me reacting in strange ways. Triggers that alter my outlook. But now I know what to look for. From the beginning From my childhood through much of my adult life, I had people telling me what to do. As children, you expect that from your parents and teachers. But I faced other children dictating …

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Emotions are not weak but strength

I have been listening to some videos about ADHD and someone mentioned how everyone needs time to decompress their emotions and stress. We all have them. Emotions that build up and we have no outlet or a way to release. Whether it is to scream or just sit quietly, it is needed. Any Age My son has ADHD. He has big feelings and even bigger expressions. I want to find a way to help him regulate everything he feels. But knowing it is hard to regulate my own emotions, it is 100 times harder for him. For those that may …

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The choice is always yours

When I was studying for my masters, I came across a theorist that came up with the Choice Theory. The theory states that we have full control and choice on how we react to events in our lives. That we are responsible for our own behavior and emotions. And I have to be completely honest, it wasn’t until I really thought about it, but I believe this. The choice really is ours. Hardest Choice It will never be easy to do, but I firmly believe that you can choose how you feel and how you react to things that happen …

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Okay or not okay, that is the question

I was having a chat with a colleague recently and the topic of mental health came up. We talked about what each of us went through in life and our family and relationships we had. In the middle of the conversation, she tells me, “Mental health and depression and anxiety are not something that comes one day and gone the next. It is part of life. I would be amazed if I found one person that has gone through their entire life not feeling some kind of mental health disorder.” Everyone has feelings. We all get sad, angry, happy, and …

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It really is all about You!

Who here doesn’t like compliments? Having someone else tell you that you are special. Those times that give you a glimpse of happiness. Everyone appreciates hearing that they are pretty, smart, and good enough. But when was the last time you gave yourself a compliment? Because it is true. It is all about you! Therapy Session I was talking with my friend the other day and we were on the topic of soul searching. Trying to discover who we are and what we want in our lives. So yesterday when I was in the car alone, I decided to have …

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There is such a thing as too much of something

This morning, I was talking to my son about addictions. He really enjoys having a Dr. Pepper soda once a day. He tried to explain to me that he was not addicted to it, but it was more of a habit. In his mind, addictions were not as bad as habits. So here I am, at 7:00am explaining to my 10 yr old son, the difference between a habit and an addiction. Habits to Break Habits are the constant activity that almost becomes second nature. For example, I have a habit of parking in the same parking spot at work. …

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What you didn’t know about Mental Health

I have been writing for a few years now. About feelings I face and how I go about getting through the day. I have talked about depression and anxiety. There is so much to mental health that not many people fully understand. And since this is May, the United States National Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to help you see mental health in a different light. To learn more about mental health and how we can each other live happier lives. No Age Gap Mental health affects all ages. Children as young as 8 and 9 years of age …

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Taking Some Steps to Change my Mind

Every day we do the same routine of waking up and going to school or work. We may be taking care of our family or just taking care of ourselves. But Each day is the same thing. Day in and day out. Our actions are the same. But our mind also can get stuck in this rut. This never-ending cycle of thought leads to no action. I found myself recently in a position that I have been stuck for years. And trying to change is extremely difficult. The Need for Change First, I needed to identify that there was a …

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Star light, star bright, do not burn out tonight

There are days that I can laugh and joke with my friends. And then there are days that I want to hide away from the world. What gets me through my dark days are pieces of memories that I hold tight. Comments from friends. Reactions from family. Simple actions from loved ones. Every day I fight, and I choose to see life in a lighter form. Each day I push to not let life and stress tear me down. I have seen what my life looked like at the bottom. And I refuse to let my star shine burnout. Memories …

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Tiredly Racing to Burn Out

Sometimes life just doesn’t go your way. Earlier this month I was feeling good. Things were going the right way I was feeling happier. I was feeling proud of myself and powerful. But things suddenly changed. Now lately, I feel overwhelmed. Days start to blend together. Just walking around on autopilot. How could my good feelings just disappear? Why can’t I just be happy? Just feel so tired and burned out. Identifying A friend reached out to me, checking to see how I was doing. I had also reached out to my therapist about this feeling. I was worried that …