One of my favorite things to do as an adoptive parent is talk about those taboo topics that we aren’t “allowed” to discuss with the general public, because… well, a lot of people just don’t get it. How the systems are taxing and the people are exhausting. Those are the conversation most people understand. But …
Is the holiday season hard for you instead of joyous? For many survivors of trauma, holidays may represent anniversaries and reminders of the past hurt or traumatic experiences. For those individuals even the slight prospect of visiting family or friends can bring up feelings of shame, fear, dread or ambivalence, leaving them trapped and unable …
Continue reading “Mental Health Support for the Holidays: How can I manage stress?”
Is the holiday season hard for you instead of joyous? For many survivors of trauma, holidays may represent anniversaries and reminders of the past hurt or traumatic experiences. For those individuals even the slight prospect of visiting family or friends can bring up feelings of shame, fear, dread or ambivalence, leaving them trapped and unable …
Is the holiday season hard for you instead of joyous? For many survivors of trauma, holidays may represent anniversaries and reminders of the past hurt or traumatic experiences. For those individuals even the slight prospect of visiting family or friends can bring up feelings of shame, fear, dread or ambivalence, leaving them trapped and unable …
Is the holiday season hard for you instead of joyous? For many survivors of trauma, holidays may represent anniversaries and reminders of the past hurt or traumatic experiences. For those individuals even the slight prospect of visiting family or friends can bring up feelings of shame, fear, dread or ambivalence, leaving them trapped and unable …
Continue reading “Mental Health Support for the Holidays: Why do I feel so sad? Angry? Anxious?”
When my (adopted) son was about four years old, he brought me a picture he had drawn of himself, my husband, and me. You know those super, sweet pictures kids draw of people that are really just a circle with limbs sticking out? That’s the kind. This memory stands out because it was pivotal moment …
Continue reading “Adoption: Why Traditional Parenting Doesn’t Work”
Society has this negative view of depression…that it’s bad, it’s something we need to run from, or we shouldn’t confront it because it could make things worse, or we may be scared of it. But in actuality, depression is pretty normal! So many people experience symptoms of depression, that doesn’t mean they are depressed. It …
“Dear Evan Hansen” premiered Friday, the movie version of one of Broadway’s biggest hits in recent memory. This movie has a powerful and fundamental honesty that resonates with teens (and really anyone) suffering from things like anxiety and depression. Personally, I related to this movie on many levels. As a teen, I definitely experienced my …
Mental health. Such a loaded two words. Rightfully so, given the lengthy history of stigma and abuse that happened in the mental health field before many of our lifetimes. Yet, this stigma remains. After spending a year in a primary care clinic, I’ve been amazed at the ease in which people will discuss bodily ailments …
BUFFALO CHARGE THE STORM STORY BY RORY VADEN All of us have storms. The only choice that we have is how we respond to those storms. And more specifically is when we respond to those storms. Let me map out this story for you so you can visualize it. In Colorado, where I grew up, we are world-famous for …
