March Meet the Maker 2020 Day 1: My Story
I learned to knit when I was 12, about 23 years ago, using an old illustrated book from my grandma's house, and have basically never stopped since then. I also crochet, sew, quilt, do 3D printing, and a little bit of a lot of other things. This picture showcases several of my crafts, including 3D printing the base for a UFO abduction lamp.
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.
Everyone can benefit from therapy
We often think of seeing a therapist or counselor as something only for people who have super serious mental health concerns. However, therapy is extremely beneficial for everyone! If you are going through something more acute like a breakup or family issues or relationship problems, therapy can help you process your feelings and equip you to have a positive response to negative situations.
Girl Scouts Mental Health Awareness Patch
The International Bipolar Foundation offers a mental health awareness patch to all scouting organizations including the Girl Scouts, Girl Guides, and others.
Yoga for Healing: Trauma-informed yoga
Everyone does yoga for different reasons - exercise, flexibility, meditation, posture, community, etc. But yoga can also be useful for your mental health, especially if you've experienced trauma or have other mental health concerns.
Out of the Darkness Community Walk
Please join me in attending the Out of the Darkness community walk sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Their goal is to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025. Money donated to the AFSP goes toward research, advocacy, and support for those affected by suicide.
Mental Health First Aid
I posted about Mental Health First Aid in general during #shawleveryday2019, but today Brian and I were able to attend the course for ourselves. While I did know a lot of things already, I felt that it was very valuable and is a great addition to my toolbox.
Gratitude
When you're having a rough day, it can be easy to stay focused on the negative. It can be easy to get stuck in the cycle of thinking that everything is bad and everything will always be bad. One suggestion that my therapist made, which I know sounds super cheesy, is to keep a gratitude journal.