You are not Alone
This week marks Mental Illness Awareness Week, a week dedicated to increasing awareness and knowledge of mental health issues to help decrease stigma. This campaign, organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), encourages people to learn more, see people for who they are (not their illness) and advocate for equal care.
National Recovery Month
Last week, I had the opportunity to accompany someone to her first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. Sarah* had considered attending for a long time, but several things kept her from going. She feared that if she went, she’d have to admit that she had a problem and she wasn’t sure she was ready to do that.
Keeping Your Cool
A few weeks ago, I discovered that my landline was not working. I called the phone company and they scheduled for a technician to come out. While I waited a few days for the service call, the problem resolved, so when the technician came out, he couldn’t find anything wrong.
Accepting Yourself
A few months ago, I went to a conference where we participated in an exercise in which we wrote down “that thing” that we don’t like about ourselves on a name tag. We then had to wear that name tag for the rest of the day.
Holiday Self-Care
The holidays are upon us. It’s cold out there and people are running around trying to get everything done. How are you feeling? Does this time of year bring you joy and excitement? Or do you feel stressed, overwhelmed with busy schedules, family drama, and overeating?
Gratitude
Thanksgiving is almost here. Not only is it a time for getting together with loved ones, watching football, and eating a delicious meal, it is also a time for giving thanks.
ACT Bootcamp
Last week, I attended a 4-day conference on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I was really excited to learn more about this therapy style and improve my skills. Part of me didn’t want to go.
Happy Recovery Month!
Happy Recovery Month! This year marks the 25th anniversary of National Recovery Month. In addition to increasing awareness about mental health and substance abuse issues and available treatment options, Recovery Month focuses on those who are living in long-term recovery
Big Decisions
This month, I had the opportunity to go on several college tours with my 17-year-old niece who was visiting from out-of-town. We looked at big schools, small schools, some in the city, and some in the suburbs.