I have always had trouble sleeping. ALWAYS. Always, always, always. When I was a baby. When I was in high school. Now. Still.
I don't know what the deal is exactly...I know some of it is anxiety related, and I think another part of it is just how my body functions. I have tried SO MANY things to help me sleep through the years, including the usual "Don't look at a screen an hour before bed", "Don't exercise within 4 hours of bed", "Don't eat right before bed", "Develop a routine for bedtime". (HA!) So for anyone out there who happens to read this, and you feel like you're in the same or similar boat, here are some non-traditional strategies that you could try, coming from a fellow chronic insomniac.
Now, my trouble is actually getting to sleep. Once I'm asleep I'm usually out (unless I have a nightmare), so these resources are mostly centered around that issue.
1. Worry List
I lay in bed and worry and worry about...everything. It used to be really bad, where I would be up for at least 4 hours just worrying. Going to sleep within 2 hours of getting in bed was a freaking miracle. When I learned this trick, it did actually shorten my awake time by a fair amount. Here's what you do.
Keep a notepad and pen by your bed. When you catch yourself worrying about something, write down what you are worrying about. Tell yourself that the worrisome thing is recorded, now you won't forget it. It's there on your bedside waiting for you in the morning, it's not going anywhere. Promise your brain you will take care of the worry later, and now it can calm down a little for the evening. Some night I had pages full of worries - hey, you do what it takes. Things become frantically important at 2am. And most of the time, when I woke up, I was able to cross a few things off the list since I didn't actually care about them anymore!
2. Imagine that it's morning
Sometimes at night when I'm tired but I don't feel like going to bed, or I'm anxious about going to sleep, I use my imagination. I imagine that it's 5:30am, the alarm clock has just gone off, and it will be time for me to get up soon. I think about having to drag my butt out of bed, get dressed in the cold, brush my teeth. Makes me instantly happier about being in bed.
3. Get up. (A.K.A. Who are you kidding, you're not sleeping now)
You may have heard this one before. When I get really anxious at bedtime, sometimes I will just get up out of bed and fuss around the house. No use in laying down just to work myself into a panic. I'll pick up my room, fold some laundry, sweep, organize a space, something quiet that will burn off a little anxious energy. Usually after about an hour I'm feeling more relaxed and ready to try and sleep again.
4. Get ready for tomorrow
My anxiety levels go down at night if I have an idea of what I'm getting into in the morning. Going to bed and not knowing what I'm going to wear, where my keys are, if I have any clean underwear - I know that is all WAY too much for my half-conscious morning self to deal with, and I get anxious about running around and being late the next morning. So I will go through and lay out my clothes, pack up my purse, make sure I have my badge for work, plug in my phone, find my keys, put my shoes somewhere I can find them, wash my armpits, whatever it takes. Calms my brain down significantly.
5. Positive affirmations
I have a piece of paper taped to my nightstand, visible to me from where I lay in my bed. They are things I feel I can believe and things that are comforting to me, such as:
I am capable of handling all my problems in the morning.
Today is complete. I am grateful for the good of it and let the rest go.
I grow stronger every day.
I give myself credit for all that I accomplished today, no matter how small.
I will read these and think through them, kinda like "Yeah, yeah that IS true", and connect them to pieces of my day. Many of the affirmations I used or adapted from Weighing the Facts blog.
6. Conversation in my head
This is a more recent thing I've been doing. When I lay in bed, I split my mind into two of me. Me 1 is my anxious, worried self. Me 2 is like a compassionate, wise, sweet but fun friend. Me 2 listens to and validates Me 1, talks her down from her stress and worries, and helps her feel like things are ok. Somehow - and this is going to sound weird - but Me 2 always knows the right thing to say. I know this could be a little out there for some people, but, hey, it works for me!
These can/should be used like I described in the coping skills post - use multiple if needed, they probably won't knock you out immediately, etc. I have more tips and tricks up my sleeve, but I think I will save them for another post. I hope even one of these will be helpful to somebody out there! I hate to think that someone goes through all the pain of sleep issues if they don't have to.
Going to bed now -- wish me luck!
:)
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
The Moment I Finally Learned to Love My Body
I want to write about this because I know so many people struggle with it, particularly girls and women.
I have been lucky. I've never hated my body to the point of developing an eating disorder, or felt the need to damage it or change it dramatically. That being said, there are things about my body that I've hated. I have PCOS, which means I have hair growing in unsightly places. I don't have great skin - it's flaky and I break out and have weird red spots all over with huge pores. I gain weight easily and am constantly tired.
You get the picture. The criticism could go on for days.
I have had a long journey with my body, as all people do. A few years ago the idea of "positive body image" became more mainstream and I opened up to it. I became more accepting of my body - I learned to see it in new ways, learned to listen to it's needs, I even was able to recognize some of the unique things about it and be kinder to it. But love? Nah. Couldn't say I loved it. I still disliked it stronger than I appreciated it.
A couple of weeks ago in a yoga class, we had finished up our work and were resting in savasana. Our instructor read us a poem by Rumi. I wish I could find it, but the general idea was about looking back at your life after it's over.
I imagined myself as if I had died, looking at my body laying on the ground and knowing I couldn't have it again. At that moment, I felt a huge wave of grief and sorrow. I realized I would miss my body SO MUCH and would mourn the loss of it. I'm already terribly sentimental by nature, but the thought of losing something that had done so much good for me, had spent my whole life with me, that had carried me through joy and hardships, allowed me to experience the world...it was too much. My body works HARD and gives me so much opportunity. It is healthy and allows me to do so many things that other bodies can't do.
My body is mine. It does the very best it can for me. And I love it.
I love my body.
To love something doesn't mean you like it all the time. To love something doesn't mean you think it's perfect and you are never mad at it. How do you love a dear family member or friend? You get annoyed by them, you get mad at them. You don't want to be around them sometimes. You know all their flaws and just can't stand them sometimes. But you are devoted to them, you give them the benefit of the doubt, and can't imagine life without them. Do you have to think your body is wonderful and perfect every second in order to love it? Of course not.
I get mad at my body, and I dislike it sometimes. My body image is a journey and I'm still learning. But now I recognize a deep appreciation and respect for it that I didn't see before.
And I finally, genuinely can say that I love my body.
I have been lucky. I've never hated my body to the point of developing an eating disorder, or felt the need to damage it or change it dramatically. That being said, there are things about my body that I've hated. I have PCOS, which means I have hair growing in unsightly places. I don't have great skin - it's flaky and I break out and have weird red spots all over with huge pores. I gain weight easily and am constantly tired.
You get the picture. The criticism could go on for days.
I have had a long journey with my body, as all people do. A few years ago the idea of "positive body image" became more mainstream and I opened up to it. I became more accepting of my body - I learned to see it in new ways, learned to listen to it's needs, I even was able to recognize some of the unique things about it and be kinder to it. But love? Nah. Couldn't say I loved it. I still disliked it stronger than I appreciated it.
A couple of weeks ago in a yoga class, we had finished up our work and were resting in savasana. Our instructor read us a poem by Rumi. I wish I could find it, but the general idea was about looking back at your life after it's over.
I imagined myself as if I had died, looking at my body laying on the ground and knowing I couldn't have it again. At that moment, I felt a huge wave of grief and sorrow. I realized I would miss my body SO MUCH and would mourn the loss of it. I'm already terribly sentimental by nature, but the thought of losing something that had done so much good for me, had spent my whole life with me, that had carried me through joy and hardships, allowed me to experience the world...it was too much. My body works HARD and gives me so much opportunity. It is healthy and allows me to do so many things that other bodies can't do.
My body is mine. It does the very best it can for me. And I love it.
I love my body.
To love something doesn't mean you like it all the time. To love something doesn't mean you think it's perfect and you are never mad at it. How do you love a dear family member or friend? You get annoyed by them, you get mad at them. You don't want to be around them sometimes. You know all their flaws and just can't stand them sometimes. But you are devoted to them, you give them the benefit of the doubt, and can't imagine life without them. Do you have to think your body is wonderful and perfect every second in order to love it? Of course not.
I get mad at my body, and I dislike it sometimes. My body image is a journey and I'm still learning. But now I recognize a deep appreciation and respect for it that I didn't see before.
And I finally, genuinely can say that I love my body.
Happy is not the point
Don't worry, be happy!
Happiness is a choice!
I just want to be happy!
Do what makes you happy.
Choose happiness!
Why aren't you happy?
Are you happy yet?
How about now?
*sigh* Does anyone else get the same overwhelm with all the "happy" messages we get?
For most of my life, I was under the impression that most people were happy all the time. They went about their days in a good mood, smiling, feeling great, occasionally getting sad or frustrated, but at the end of the day they went back to happy. I thought this is just how it was supposed to be. Displaying or admitting to other types of emotions in public is generally discouraged in our everyday American society, so I got the message that I should be happy most, if not all, of the time.
I wasn't. I tend to be more on the opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of staying generally within the realm of 'happy' throughout the day, I probably feel the FULL range of emotions at least once every day. I can rotate between depressed, anxious, happy, annoyed, insecure, frustrated, downright angry, confused and angsty all in one day. (Yeah, I'm a real treat some days haha!) You can understand my frustration, then, when I had this expectation of myself to feel 'happy' MOST of the time. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I just feel happy like I was supposed to? Isn't the point of life to be happy? What am I doing wrong??
Now don't get me wrong. I think that some lucky people are genuinely in a happy mood most of the time. Whether it's part of their personalities, or they expect less or have more serotonin in their brains or have been taught this way or whatever it is, I believe that some people can genuinely feel happy almost all the time. Having talked to quite a few people about their emotions in my line of work, however, I tend to think that more people are more like me - having a rotation of emotions with 'happiness' popping in there every so often.
So I want you to think about these questions:
- What does 'happy' even mean?
- Is there a difference between 'happy' and 'happiness'?
- What have you learned from your family and society about happiness?
Seriously, take a minute and think about each of the questions. What does happy mean to you? Is the concept of 'happy' different than 'happiness'? Why or why not? And what expectations or judgments were there for you around 'happiness' in your family or social group?
Here is my opinion. Without going into the deep, spiritual philosophical theories of happiness, I like to look at it this way:
Happy is a mood. Not a state of being.
And moods change. They just do.
So if we aren't 'happy' all the time, or even half the time, or even 1/8 of the time, what's the point?
Here is my opinion again: You get to decide what the point is.
For me, I'm finding that the pursuit of 'acceptance' is doing a pretty good job at taking the place of the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of helping others understand their emotions through my career is, too. These things aren't fleeting, like 'happy' is for me. They are standing the test of time, where I can feel positive emotions from them on a long-term basis. I'm sure they will change, too. I think the "point" of our lives changes every once in a while.
About a year ago, I painted a sign that says "Happy is not the point" and had it hanging on my bedroom wall for several months. This was a source of relief for me. It was a reminder that it's ok to not feel happy all the time and I don't need to have that expectation of myself. Moodiness is normal for me, and it's not necessary for me to fight myself all day to make myself feel 'happy'. To me, expecting to be in a 'happy' mood state is unrealistic and actually damaging to my sense of self. I feel what I consider 'happy' maybe a couple times a day for a few minutes, and I'm starting to come to terms with that.
Again, some people genuinely feel happy most of the time, with a little sadness, anger, fear thrown in there. That's normal. Other people feel upset, tired, frustrated, confused, etc. more of the time with a little happy thrown in there. That can be normal too. Your emotions are your own.
As I've practiced accepting these things, I don't feel 'happy' more often. What I do feel is more peace, more love, and more acceptance of myself and others. This is how I'm defining my 'happiness', my state of being. And I prefer it over happy anyway.
_______________________________
Book recommendation:
Emotions by Osho
(This book changed the way I think about my emotions very much for the better. Can be purchased on Amazon or downloaded at Amazon kindle)
Happiness is a choice!
I just want to be happy!
Do what makes you happy.
Choose happiness!
Why aren't you happy?
Are you happy yet?
How about now?
*sigh* Does anyone else get the same overwhelm with all the "happy" messages we get?
For most of my life, I was under the impression that most people were happy all the time. They went about their days in a good mood, smiling, feeling great, occasionally getting sad or frustrated, but at the end of the day they went back to happy. I thought this is just how it was supposed to be. Displaying or admitting to other types of emotions in public is generally discouraged in our everyday American society, so I got the message that I should be happy most, if not all, of the time.
I wasn't. I tend to be more on the opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of staying generally within the realm of 'happy' throughout the day, I probably feel the FULL range of emotions at least once every day. I can rotate between depressed, anxious, happy, annoyed, insecure, frustrated, downright angry, confused and angsty all in one day. (Yeah, I'm a real treat some days haha!) You can understand my frustration, then, when I had this expectation of myself to feel 'happy' MOST of the time. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I just feel happy like I was supposed to? Isn't the point of life to be happy? What am I doing wrong??
Now don't get me wrong. I think that some lucky people are genuinely in a happy mood most of the time. Whether it's part of their personalities, or they expect less or have more serotonin in their brains or have been taught this way or whatever it is, I believe that some people can genuinely feel happy almost all the time. Having talked to quite a few people about their emotions in my line of work, however, I tend to think that more people are more like me - having a rotation of emotions with 'happiness' popping in there every so often.
So I want you to think about these questions:
- What does 'happy' even mean?
- Is there a difference between 'happy' and 'happiness'?
- What have you learned from your family and society about happiness?
Seriously, take a minute and think about each of the questions. What does happy mean to you? Is the concept of 'happy' different than 'happiness'? Why or why not? And what expectations or judgments were there for you around 'happiness' in your family or social group?
Here is my opinion. Without going into the deep, spiritual philosophical theories of happiness, I like to look at it this way:
Happy is a mood. Not a state of being.
And moods change. They just do.
So if we aren't 'happy' all the time, or even half the time, or even 1/8 of the time, what's the point?
Here is my opinion again: You get to decide what the point is.
For me, I'm finding that the pursuit of 'acceptance' is doing a pretty good job at taking the place of the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of helping others understand their emotions through my career is, too. These things aren't fleeting, like 'happy' is for me. They are standing the test of time, where I can feel positive emotions from them on a long-term basis. I'm sure they will change, too. I think the "point" of our lives changes every once in a while.
About a year ago, I painted a sign that says "Happy is not the point" and had it hanging on my bedroom wall for several months. This was a source of relief for me. It was a reminder that it's ok to not feel happy all the time and I don't need to have that expectation of myself. Moodiness is normal for me, and it's not necessary for me to fight myself all day to make myself feel 'happy'. To me, expecting to be in a 'happy' mood state is unrealistic and actually damaging to my sense of self. I feel what I consider 'happy' maybe a couple times a day for a few minutes, and I'm starting to come to terms with that.
 |
Again, some people genuinely feel happy most of the time, with a little sadness, anger, fear thrown in there. That's normal. Other people feel upset, tired, frustrated, confused, etc. more of the time with a little happy thrown in there. That can be normal too. Your emotions are your own.
As I've practiced accepting these things, I don't feel 'happy' more often. What I do feel is more peace, more love, and more acceptance of myself and others. This is how I'm defining my 'happiness', my state of being. And I prefer it over happy anyway.
_______________________________
Book recommendation:
Emotions by Osho
(This book changed the way I think about my emotions very much for the better. Can be purchased on Amazon or downloaded at Amazon kindle)
Sunday, December 27, 2015
The Truth About Coping Skills
I used to work with teenagers at an inpatient treatment facility.
One of the things we talked about most were coping skills, and often I would hear the complaint "But coping skills don't work for me!" After a while, I started thinking maybe we weren't being clear on
what these things were for, or how they should
be used. Once I started explaining these things to the kids they
generally adjusted their expectations and became [a little] more receptive. So, I thought I would share them
here!
What are coping skills?
Coping skills are things you do to get you through a tough emotion. They can distract you from the feeling, help you express the feeling, help you calm down, etc.
Coping Skills: A Disclaimer
Coping skills do not make the bad feelings go away completely!
If you're feeling furiously angry, taking a deep breath and squeezing a stress ball is not going to turn you instantly into a Tibetan monk. Coping skills are meant to take the danger out of a feeling, so you can feel them in a safe way and prevent impulsive decisions. Please don't expect coping skills to take away emotions. If you're feeling furiously angry, taking a deep breath and squeezing a stress ball may help keep you from saying something you'll regret, and give you enough presence of mind to leave the situation. This is more what you should expect.
Sometimes it takes multiple coping skills to get through an emotion!
I always thought taking deep breaths was stupid because it didn't make me feel any better. I would breathe and breathe and it would end up making me more upset because I didn't think it was working. Now I know that taking a deep breath is only the first in a string of coping skills that could work for me. Say I get frustrated because somebody was a jerk to me, first I'll take a few deep breaths so keep myself under control. If that's not enough, then maybe I'll play a game on my phone to distract me. If that's not enough, maybe I'll try going for a short walk. Maybe that will be enough. But if it's not, maybe I'll write how I'm feeling on a piece of paper and then call my sister. Then that's enough. Use a few coping skills, keep them coming! We always had the kids write a bunch of coping skills during their stay, so they could have a big buffer of coping skills in their back pockets.
Coping skills are a SHORT TERM solution and should not be expected to solve your problems!
Finding and using coping skills is SO important in learning to deal with your emotions! But, it's not the only thing you're going to have to do. We all have problems - big, small, from childhood, from yesterday - that we have to deal with. Coping skills treat the symptoms of a problem. For example, say a person has unaddressed vision problems and keeps getting headaches. They are in pain, so they may try taking some Tylenol, putting an ice pack on their head, massaging their neck, laying down in a dark room. Those things will help the headaches, but the headaches are just gonna keep on coming until they address the vision problems, right? Same thing with emotional issues. If a person has trauma they have not dealt with, self esteem issues, problems in a relationship, etc., no amount of coping skills is going to heal the painful emotions that come with that. Sometimes coping skills can help - journaling is an example of a coping skill that can help shift a person's perspective and facilitate healing, but in general, coping skills don't solve problems. And the problems don't go away on their own, either. I have worked with people in their 60s-70s who are still suffering from problems in their childhood. This is where therapy comes in.
Not all coping skills work for all people at all times
Some people love to meditate, others hate it. Some people love going out into nature, other people would rather poke their eye out than go for a hike. Some days reading a book helps you feel better, other days it doesn't. Everyone responds to things differently, and that's totally normal and ok. Just make sure you have a small stockpile of coping skills ready to go. Chances are you already have a few under your belt that you're not aware of yet. If not, or if you don't feel like you have enough (can we ever have enough??), force yourself to try something new, even if it seems lame, and give it a chance. You'll probably be surprised.
A few of my personal favorite coping skills:
- Taking a walk
- Listening to podcasts/YouTube videos
- Watching Bob's Burgers
- Being with my dog Clara
- Thinking about something I'm excited for (right now it's buying a house!)
- Journaling
- Lay down and listen to a guided meditation
More coping skills. I have used these resources myself both personally and in groups!
117 Healthy Coping Skill by Teen Beauty Tips
http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/support-files/117-healthy-coping-skills.pdf
100 Things to Do When You're Upset (The Sad Trombone List) by Gala Darling
http://galadarling.com/article/100-things-to-do-when-youre-upset-the-sad-trombone-list/
Coping Skills Toolbox (can also be found on Pinterest)
http://www.buzznet.com/2013/03/lets-make-coping-skills-toolbox/
Coping Skills
https://myjourneywithdepression.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/coping-skills-2/
(A really, really helpful worksheet that explains different types of coping skills, how they function, and the pros and cons of each kind.)
What are coping skills?
Coping skills are things you do to get you through a tough emotion. They can distract you from the feeling, help you express the feeling, help you calm down, etc.
Coping Skills: A Disclaimer
Coping skills do not make the bad feelings go away completely!
If you're feeling furiously angry, taking a deep breath and squeezing a stress ball is not going to turn you instantly into a Tibetan monk. Coping skills are meant to take the danger out of a feeling, so you can feel them in a safe way and prevent impulsive decisions. Please don't expect coping skills to take away emotions. If you're feeling furiously angry, taking a deep breath and squeezing a stress ball may help keep you from saying something you'll regret, and give you enough presence of mind to leave the situation. This is more what you should expect.
Sometimes it takes multiple coping skills to get through an emotion!
I always thought taking deep breaths was stupid because it didn't make me feel any better. I would breathe and breathe and it would end up making me more upset because I didn't think it was working. Now I know that taking a deep breath is only the first in a string of coping skills that could work for me. Say I get frustrated because somebody was a jerk to me, first I'll take a few deep breaths so keep myself under control. If that's not enough, then maybe I'll play a game on my phone to distract me. If that's not enough, maybe I'll try going for a short walk. Maybe that will be enough. But if it's not, maybe I'll write how I'm feeling on a piece of paper and then call my sister. Then that's enough. Use a few coping skills, keep them coming! We always had the kids write a bunch of coping skills during their stay, so they could have a big buffer of coping skills in their back pockets.
Coping skills are a SHORT TERM solution and should not be expected to solve your problems!
Finding and using coping skills is SO important in learning to deal with your emotions! But, it's not the only thing you're going to have to do. We all have problems - big, small, from childhood, from yesterday - that we have to deal with. Coping skills treat the symptoms of a problem. For example, say a person has unaddressed vision problems and keeps getting headaches. They are in pain, so they may try taking some Tylenol, putting an ice pack on their head, massaging their neck, laying down in a dark room. Those things will help the headaches, but the headaches are just gonna keep on coming until they address the vision problems, right? Same thing with emotional issues. If a person has trauma they have not dealt with, self esteem issues, problems in a relationship, etc., no amount of coping skills is going to heal the painful emotions that come with that. Sometimes coping skills can help - journaling is an example of a coping skill that can help shift a person's perspective and facilitate healing, but in general, coping skills don't solve problems. And the problems don't go away on their own, either. I have worked with people in their 60s-70s who are still suffering from problems in their childhood. This is where therapy comes in.
Not all coping skills work for all people at all times
Some people love to meditate, others hate it. Some people love going out into nature, other people would rather poke their eye out than go for a hike. Some days reading a book helps you feel better, other days it doesn't. Everyone responds to things differently, and that's totally normal and ok. Just make sure you have a small stockpile of coping skills ready to go. Chances are you already have a few under your belt that you're not aware of yet. If not, or if you don't feel like you have enough (can we ever have enough??), force yourself to try something new, even if it seems lame, and give it a chance. You'll probably be surprised.
A few of my personal favorite coping skills:
- Taking a walk
- Listening to podcasts/YouTube videos
- Watching Bob's Burgers
- Being with my dog Clara
- Thinking about something I'm excited for (right now it's buying a house!)
- Journaling
- Lay down and listen to a guided meditation
More coping skills. I have used these resources myself both personally and in groups!
117 Healthy Coping Skill by Teen Beauty Tips
http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/support-files/117-healthy-coping-skills.pdf
100 Things to Do When You're Upset (The Sad Trombone List) by Gala Darling
http://galadarling.com/article/100-things-to-do-when-youre-upset-the-sad-trombone-list/
Coping Skills Toolbox (can also be found on Pinterest)
http://www.buzznet.com/2013/03/lets-make-coping-skills-toolbox/
Coping Skills
https://myjourneywithdepression.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/coping-skills-2/
(A really, really helpful worksheet that explains different types of coping skills, how they function, and the pros and cons of each kind.)
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Day One...again
Wow, I started this blog almost two years ago! It's so interesting to look and remember where I was and who I was at that time. A lot of things have happened - I moved home, finished my master's, experienced the end of a roller coaster relationship (finally), got my license as a real life social worker (yay!), and got a new job as a real life social worker (yay!! finally!). A lot of things have changed, and in a lot of ways I feel like a different person. I've accomplished more. I'm more sure of myself. I manage my stress better. I have identified and stand by my priorities better.
In a lot of ways, though, I'm the same person. I still struggle with anxiety and depression, still have trouble sleeping, still find solace in walking the dog, still hate brushing my teeth, still worry what others think of me.
You think as you get older you're going to change all the things you hate about yourself. In some ways, I think I have. But I wonder if more things stay the same inside about you than change - you just change your relationship to those things.
I would like to revive this blog and breathe some new life into it! But in a little different way. I've worked in mental health for almost five years now, which is not necessarily a lot, but this time around I want to both write about my own journey and also include things that I have learned and taught working in the mental health field - things that I REALLY wish more people knew! And that I would hope to be helpful for SOMEBODY out there.
Soooo many things I want to write about! I hope something I put out will be able to bring someone a little more peace in their life.
In a lot of ways, though, I'm the same person. I still struggle with anxiety and depression, still have trouble sleeping, still find solace in walking the dog, still hate brushing my teeth, still worry what others think of me.
You think as you get older you're going to change all the things you hate about yourself. In some ways, I think I have. But I wonder if more things stay the same inside about you than change - you just change your relationship to those things.
I would like to revive this blog and breathe some new life into it! But in a little different way. I've worked in mental health for almost five years now, which is not necessarily a lot, but this time around I want to both write about my own journey and also include things that I have learned and taught working in the mental health field - things that I REALLY wish more people knew! And that I would hope to be helpful for SOMEBODY out there.
Soooo many things I want to write about! I hope something I put out will be able to bring someone a little more peace in their life.
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