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In the intricate experience that is human connection, mental health plays a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of relationships. Beyond the surface, beyond the smiles and shared moments, lies the nuanced ways in which our mental well-being influences the bonds we cultivate.
Read MoreHow many times have we told someone we love, especially our kids, that we just want them to be happy? I recently heard on a podcast that when we tell our kids we want them to be happy, we create an expectation that demands they be happy in order to please us.
Read MoreNo two experiences of depression are the same. It comes in all kinds of shapes and forms depending on the specific person. For some people, depression can manifest as anger and lashing out, and for others, it can look like unexpected crying jags and difficulty being social.
Read More2020 brought tremendous change in how we live, congregate, and work. It’s no wonder that we are seeing an increase in depression. Depression can often be misunderstood.
Read MoreWhen someone confides in us and explains that they are having a tough go of things, it is natural for us to want to change their circumstance and switch their frame of thought. You’re sad? Let’s work on being happy! You’re upset? Turn that frown upside down! What’s so wrong with that?
Read MoreI can’t tell you how many times a client tells me, “I think I was depressed?” You might think it is obvious when you are depressed, but often you don’t realize it until you come out of depression’s fog. Further, most people think that depression looks like staying in bed all day, not seeing friends, or not laughing or having fun anymore. While those can be indicators, my experience is many people are experiencing high functioning depression. Many people with high functioning depression can hide and mask their symptoms. They go to work, achieve success, have friends, and from the outside look like they have everything together. Rates of depression are rising during the pandemic.
Read More“How are you doing,” I commonly ask clients, and the response is “I’m okay…” The okays are sounding different these days. Heavier. There is a lot of hope as of late. Vaccines have been a game changer for many, as many are able to re-enter society after a “lost” year. However, there is still a heaviness. I’ve been talking to lots of people lately and listening to what feels heavy right now and why feelings of depression might be lingering.
Read More“I feel like we have all been walking around with high functioning depression this year.” I wrote this in a professional Facebook group in response to someone concerned about their employee’s performance and needing some compassion for their experience, and my phone started lighting up. Facebook “like” after “like” because so many people resonated with this statement. In truth, I did, too. 2020 and 2021 tested us. It took away many of the coping tools we have like social connection and vacations, while also providing more stress and struggles.
Read Morehat’s a lot of people in emotional pain. There’s a pretty good chance that you know someone who has depression or has suffered from depression in the past. Would you know it if you saw it? Could you recognize depression in the people around you?
Read MoreDid you know your brain has a negativity bias? That’s right. Your brain is actually wired to see negative context first and you have to work extra hard to think positively. In some ways, this is a strength because it allows us to best protect ourselves against danger. Although, it can also contribute to a lot of the pain, anger, and burnout we experience in our jobs, our relationships, and other parts of our lives. The good news is that we can change the neurochemistry of our brains by consistently practicing new ways of thinking.
Read MoreThere’s a funny quote going around social media that states something like: “We are all doing the best we can'“ is my response to just about everything these day... Whether you told me you chugged a bottle of wine, had cereal for dinner, robbed a bank, or skipped a shower…” I
Read MoreWhen people share their experiences with depression with me, the most common theme I hear is a sense of feeling “heavy,” as though they are carrying a ginormous weight on their shoulders. Another visual often shared is a feeling of walking through knee-deep mud. That ubiquitous experience of heaviness is the proverbial shot in the foot that often interferes with a person’s ability to recover from depression.
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