“Just Let Them Die”

This isn't going to be as well thought out as I would like... but I'm about to burst.   I got into one of those random conversations with random people today. They were middle aged men... nice enough, asking me about what I do for a living. I said I'm in the counseling field and [...]

Anxiety During the Holidays

Today was just one of those days that I tried really hard. Lifted. Went on a walk because it was gorgeous out. And my anxiety was still very, very bad most of the day. I made it through seeing my two clients but overall my anxiety just ended up being unbearable. I'm tired of my [...]

Behavioral Addictions

This is truly one of my passions-- treating behavioral addictions. Behavior or process addictions actually activate the same pleasure pathways in the brain as substance addictions do... and they can be just as much if not more difficult to manage! This might include sex, porn, gaming, shopping, gambling, relationships... really, the possibilities are endless. Remember [...]

Trauma and Shrinking

Let's just start by saying relational trauma is a thing. And it can make connecting with people especially hard. I realize that certain tendencies within myself are trauma responses. My tendency to clean when I'm anxious and don't feel well. Why do kids who grow up in unstable environments feel the need to be perfect [...]

This week is going to be a doozy

I want to try to blog every day in December. Not sure how that will go, but what the heck. I'll try. The semester is winding down. I present at a forensics conference Tuesday. Teach Thursday and work Friday ... but I'm anxious about Friday apparently for a dumb reason: I have to wear a [...]

Review of Joker by a Mental Health Professional [Spoiler Alert]

I have so much to say about this film and I'm not sure I can adequately convey how much it moved me. It is without a doubt one of the best films I have ever seen. You could just take out all the bits related to "super heroes" and that whole franchise and it would [...]

I have to reflect on yesterday …

I don't know what was going on with me yesterday, but it was proven to me multiple times over that my first thoughts about things are often very negative and wrong. So I was on my way to work (inpatient drug and alcohol rehab center). I work there sporadically. I get a text from a [...]

Blogust 3

I felt very bad earlier today. Making plans often triggers me in ways I don't readily become aware of. I've dealt with flakey people a lot and I'm a firm believer that you should never chase people to hang out with you. If they want to, they will. Period. However, my past and my anxiety [...]

Therapists Receiving Therapy

I am a firm believef that good therapists receive their own therapy to become more and more self-aware and to never stop growing/pushing their growing edge. My own therapy started many years ago at a very bad time in my life when I thought my anxiety was going to take over and I would have [...]

Telling Others About Your Mental Health

The decision to divulge information about your current mental health status can be a terrifying and yet liberating prospect/endeavor. It can help you toward living authentically without shame, but you always run the risk of people not reacting well. Click here to read my tips about how to go about your decision-making process to tell [...]