Ice cream. Chocolate. Wine. When I’m stressed out, nothing gives me a quick dopamine rush like one of these. After a rough day, not only do I crave one or more (or all) of these things, I deserve them. Right?! And yet, when my therapist and I were working through my most recent bout of…
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The One Where I Had a Panic Attack in a CVS
It’s been a bit longer than usual since my last post here, even though I started writing this post weeks ago. This story is meaningful to me–not because it was an important day, or even a defining moment in my life. It was, in a twisted and even jaded way, one of the most ridiculous…
Some Lighthearted Entertainment Suggestions – A.K.A. The Anti-“This Is Us”
Something that my closest friends know: I go out of my way to not watch movies nominated for Academy Awards. I am wholeheartedly convinced that the people directing these films do everything in their power to make their viewers depressed. When I watch TV, I want to be entertained. I don’t want to hate my…
Community & Mental Health: A Rant, Sort-of
I live in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, with all of its perfect weather, funky culture, and the best Mexican food outside of Mexico, has some downfalls. The first being something two friends of mine who grew up in Texas/Oklahoma noted: no one commits to anything. Us Angelenos are a flaky group! Another pitfall: we don’t…
Give Yourself a Break, or Several
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” “No rest for the wicked!” “I’ll take a break when things slow down…” Sound familiar? If so, it’s likely something you or someone you know said before entering a stage of burnout. Rest is so important! It provides our bodies and minds the much-needed time to recharge. Get Enough Sleep…
How to Find Motivation to Do the Little Things
Do the easiest tasks seem impossible? Are you so starved for energy that you can’t keep up with housework, classwork, or your job-related tasks? Maybe your brain is foggy and your body feels heavy. How do you find motivation when you are physically and emotionally…exhausted? I, like every other human on Planet Earth, experienced a…
4 Ways You Can Sneak Exercise Into Your Day
People struggling with depression are bombarded with all kinds of unsolicited advice, the most common of which is, hands-down, “Get some exercise! (It gives you endorphins!)” All of us who have struggled with depression or burnout know the answer to that is “easier said than done!” Even if you can find the time to get…
How to Organize Your Workspace for Optimal Happiness
Many of us may be a year into working from home, but things still aren’t feeling right. Maybe it’s negative energy, maybe it’s a lack of feng shui, or perhaps it’s time to shake things up and organize your workspace. Think back to when you were a child. Do you remember re-arranging your bedroom furniture,…
Introducing: Motivation May!
I’ve decided that this next month will be focusing on one important aspect of mental health: motivation! If you are anything like me, finding motivation is a huge challenge–especially in the aftermath of the pandemic and a year of seemingly constant civil unrest. I’ve had days lately where it took all of me just to…
5 Ways You Could Be Damaging Your Mental Health
Are you unknowingly damaging your mental health and self-esteem? Here are five habits that may be doing more harm than you think. 1. Unlimited Social Media Obviously, social media is everywhere. It’s a brilliant way to stay connected to friends, family, colleagues, your boss, government officials, your alumni association, brands you’re interested in, prior Tinder…