Although self-help books are often referred to as “pop psychology” and are discounted by many in the mental health field, there is often something to them. Richard Carlson was the author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” and the series that followed. Although he passed away 5 years ago, his work still carries value for those who find themselves in a constant state of worry and stress. Sure, many of the concepts are generic and pretty easy to figure out, but sometimes we need reminders that it can be easy to let go of things when we put them in … Continue reading →

So, my stress levels have been high lately, and, thanks to the help of some people at work, I have found a new way to release much of the tension and stress… Through Crossfit. If you’re not familiar with Crossfit, it is an approach to fitness that is intense and exhausting. It is cardio and weightlifting all rolled into one. And it’s helping me get through the tough time I’ve been having. I’ve blogged in the past about how exercise (and sleep) can aid in stress management, but I’ve never quite experienced anything like this before. Crossfit combines basic movements … Continue reading →

So, the day has come. Today, I dropped my husband off at the bus station. He is going 800 miles away. I am left with three children, a dog, a cat, a house, and a yard, all alone with my high stress levels and postpartum madness. But I think I’m going to try a couple new things to help me cope with the situation. First, as I mentioned before, will be organization. I’m going to physically write a schedule and post it on the kitchen wall. This schedule will include things like dinner and story time. Play time and clean … Continue reading →

There are some big changes coming up in my life. And I fear these changes are going to have a huge impact on my stress. In a bad way. My husband has just graduated from his CDL School (Yea!), but that means major changes in our home life. He took a job with a company based out of Iowa (we live in Pennsylvania) and he will have to go out there for two weeks. Once he’s done with that, he’ll be in a truck training for another five weeks, during which he may or may not have the opportunity to … Continue reading →

I know my mental health has had its ups and downs, as I’m sure yours has too. So what do we do when we’re not at our best emotionally? When my mental self is not at its healthiest, most often I’m lacking in some basic areas, such as sleep and exercise. For me, these two things have a direct impact on my mental health. First, if I go for extended periods without enough sleep, I will soon be grouchy, agitated, and angry at the world. I tend to snap on people for no reason and have limited impulse control. But … Continue reading →

Stress is part of life, but it’s how we deal with stress that makes the difference to whether we feel challenged or overwhelmed. When it’s “overwhelmed” time, that’s our signal to change the way we are currently running our lives. Here’s some ideas to help you cope with life’s inevitable dilemmas. 1. Prioritize pleasant events Most of us get so caught up in the weekly routine of school lunches, ballet classes, meal preparation, household chores, job responsibilities, (and the list goes on), that we forget to have fun. Fun is essential to our mental health, adults need it to survive, … Continue reading →