Derealization
Derealization has been hitting me hard today. It's such a weird feeling that's hard to describe. It's like I'm watching a movie, but I'm also part of it and it's also physically unsettling.
NAMI Walk 2020
On May 30th, I will be participating in NAMI St. Louis 's virtual NAMI Walk. This year, it's time to get creative! You can walk a 5K - through your neighborhood, around your backyard, on your treadmill. Or you can do something else meaningful and fun to celebrate the virtual walk day.
Dermatillomania
I've written before about how I likely have some form of dermatillomania (skin picking), which is related to OCD and anxiety. It gets worse during times of stress, so it's no surprise that I'm having a flare up right now.
Carrie Fisher
For Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!), I'd like to talk a little bit about Carrie Fisher. She was very open about her bipolar diagnosis and she helped paved the way for celebrities to be open about their mental health concerns.
Mental health resources
Over the years, I have put together a massive list of mental health resources, from addiction to self harm, from finding a therapist to hockey players talking about their mental health. If there's anything you need, I've gathered it on my website. If there's any topics you think I've missed or you have been wondering about, please let me know. Feel free to share with anyone who might need some assistance and doesn't know where to go.
You are not alone
It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the US experience mental health concerns. It may feel like no one understands what you are going through, but there are people out there (including me!) who totally get it. By being open about what you are struggling with, it can help you find other people who are experiencing the same thing. Finding someone who knows what you're talking about is incredibly connecting and encouraging.
Mental Health Awareness Month 2020
May is #mentalhealthawarenessmonth so I'll be posting some information every day related to #mentalhealth.
This year's theme is You Are Not Alone.
MMtM 2020 Day 31: FAQs!
Thanks so much for joining me this month in sharing a bit about myself and what I make. I hope you learned some things and would love to know what questions you have for me! Feel free to ask me anything about knitting, crochet, yarn, quilting, sewing, fabric, 3D printing, designing, mental health, or anything at all! New yarn from @owool
MIAW 2019 - That look on his face
About 6 and a half years ago, Brian told me he wasn't feeling well and that I should take someone else to the Blues game. It was a close one, with Patrik Berglund scoring early into overtime. I got home and saw the deep, deep hurt in Brian's face and he told me we needed to go to the hospital.
MIAW 2019 - Mental health at work
Since an estimated 1 in 4 Americans have a mental health concern, it's pretty obvious that we have to deal with the fact that sometimes it can interfere with our work. So what do you do?
MIAW 2019 - Pylons Against Suicide
As part of World Mental Health Day, I would like to share the event my husband is hosting for his birthday later this year. It is a 2 1/2 hour hockey game to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. All the details are below and please consider donating or pledging!
MIAW 2019 - Auditory hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations are a form of hallucination that involves perceiving sounds without actual auditory stimulus and it is the main hallmark of schizophrenia. "Hearing voices" is the most common type of auditory hallucination, typically in one of three categories: an external entity voicing their own thoughts, one or more voices arguing, or a voice narrating the person's own actions.
MIAW 2019 - Challenging negative self-talk
We all have a little inner chat with ourselves on a pretty constant basis, thinking about and interpreting the various situations we find ourselves in. This self-talk includes our conscious thoughts, but also our unconscious assumptions or beliefs.
MIAW 2019 - It’s OK to not be OK
Humans have a wide range of emotions, moods, and feelings. In theory, we would like to be happy all the time, but in reality it's not that simple. There can be a lot of pressure to portray a life that is always happy, to prove to others that life is great all the time. That pressure can come from others, or more often, it comes from ourselves.
Mental Illness Awareness Week 2019 - Depression
To kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week, I would like to talk a little about depression.
Guest Post: Brian Eagan
For the last day of Mental Health Month, my husband Brian is sharing his thoughts!
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
I will fully admit that I don't know a lot about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), but I have seen people talk about it positively and say that it has helped them a lot.
Q&A with Julie Eagan from Yoga for Healing
A few days ago, I share how yoga can be a tool to use for healing, whether for trauma or other mental health concerns. I wanted to talk about it a little more in depth, so today I have a Q&A with Julie Eagan from Yoga for Healing! She teaches at Empowered Spaces in St. Louis, MO on Thursdays at 5pm. You can email her at yogaforhealingstl@gmail.com to sign up for a class or if you have any additional questions.
Joey Vitale
On the hockey podcast Spittin' Chiclets today, Blues color analyst Joey Vitale talked a little bit about his struggle after a concussion. He was on pain meds (and rightfully so per his injury), but he had a really hard time with it and went into a pretty dark place. He eventually quit cold turkey and he talked about how hard it was to get out of that dark place.
Blessing Manifesting
Today I want to give a shout-out to Blessing Manifesting. She posts pictures and articles about self love, self care, body love, as well as tips for dealing with depression and anxiety. She is super positive and encourages you to really know yourself and love the person that you find there.