May Newsletter - 2024

When times are tough, when someone we love dies, a loved one is suffering, there is conflict raging between family members… when sleep is difficult, you struggle with chronic pain, you are in a job that is not the right fit, or you don’t have work-- these things can cause a downward spiral which make it feel like the days drag on.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I wanted to bring to your attention some elements of life that can create havoc in your mental wellness. Mental health doesn’t just have to apply to “those other people that need help” it applies to all of us, each day. Struggling with your children as they have learning and school issues, moving, not agreeing with your family members, feeling stuck in a job or a life that doesn’t fill you-- are all issues that can cause your mood to drop, your anger to rage, and your relationships to suffer.

As a therapist, I work with all kinds of people that have all kinds of struggles. All of my clients are working hard to make change and find personal growth to better their lives and their loves. A counselor’s office isn’t reserved for only those who are clinically anxious, depressed, grieving, or suicidal. A counselor’s office is for those who need and want an outsider’s perspective, who need support, who want to make a change, who want to have stronger, longer lasting friendships, or to “fine tune” their marriages. The list could go on, and just to be clear—counseling can help each one of us, no matter the challenge!

Mental Health is about all of us, each day, tuning into ourselves, asking ourselves what is working, what’s not working, and knowing the things to do to take care of our bodies and minds. Let’s make this Mental Health Awareness Month be one where we each take our own step to destigmatize mental health by normalizing the needs and practices of taking time to focus on our own wellness and wellness practices….and let’s talk about that with others!