Guilt is about feeling bad, even disliking ourselves, over something we did or didn’t do in the past. Guilt can be normal: the fact that we feel it proves that we have compassion for others. At the same time, guilt can become so toxic and destructive that it overwhelms, and that’s when it’s time to […]
What you need to know about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is about obsessions and compulsions, but what exactly do these words mean? Here’s a little information about this illness. Obsessions. Obsessions are unwanted, repetitive thoughts or mental images that make a person miserable, usually resulting in a decision to avoid the thought altogether. But have you ever tried to not think about […]
Nine tips for living with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder isn’t for the faint-of-heart. The depressions are catastrophic. They’re black, painful clouds of existence that hardly count as living. The manias bury you with baggage and regret. And the in-betweens, when you’re trying to remember how to be “normal” and make sense out the fact that none of this is normal… No, not […]
Mood journal conquers depression
Depression. A miserable experience. When mild, it steals your dreams. When severe, it runs you over with stagnancy, painful thoughts, guilt, and shutdown. It’s also not just a single emotion. Depression comes in dozens of flavors and intensities, if not hundreds, and can vary from day to day, if not throughout the day. One minute […]
Replacing Drugs With the Good stuff
Giving up drugs creates an enormous hole in your life. Beforehand addiction took up most of your time, and now that you’re clean, there’s something missing. You often don’t know what to do with yourself. Sound familiar? This free 2-page worksheet is about filling that hole with something worthwhile.
For introverts and people on the spectrum: how to make friends out of strangers
So you’ve met someone you don’t know and it’s time to have a conversation, hopefully create a friendship, and your first tendency is to… run. Sound familiar? If talking to strangers feels like a bucketful of icy, cold water thrown in your direction, you’ve found the right spot. This post is written for all shy, […]
11 ways to overcome all adversity
“It is what it is. Isn’t that how these things always go? They are what they are. We just get to cope.” — Mira Grant, Feed Okay, give me a minute. Today I want to get up on my soap box and say “Yay!” to overcoming all adversity, finding the perfect life, and always knowing […]
Problem-busting: just talk to the problem
Problem-solving worksheet This is a 2-page cartoon-ridden worksheet that helps the reader explore a new way to approach a problem, by talking to the darned thing! Grab a pen, start where it says “START HERE,” and follow the arrows. (Word document format) This isn’t madness. For anyone who’s curious, the formal background supporting this […]