Anxiety & Depression
The 5-minute mental health reset for depression and anxiety
If you’re living with depression, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, advice like “just exercise” can sound impossible and dismissive. But in practice, even just tiny resets can interrupt your body’s stress response. Want to learn about the 5-minute mental health reset? Come on… Some of my favorite resets happen while my daughter and I dance through […]
“Do I have an inner critic? A well-managed one — yes.”
She had an “Aha!” moment two months ago — her inner critic will torment her no more. Since then, she’s been learning all she can about it, including its origin and purpose. Her goal is to one day say, “Do I have an inner critic? A well-managed one — yes.” When we’re mindful, we recognize […]
“Do I have an inner critic? More like send help now!”
She savagely lit into herself a few nights ago over blowing a job interview. Thinking about it afterward, she wondered if she was the critic at all. Could it have been someone — or history — speaking through her? She used to ask, “Do I have an inner critic?” Now she needs help. Essentially, the […]
TMS Mapping vs. Traditional Meds
If you’ve ever felt stuck cycling through medications, like switching doses, managing side effects and hoping the next prescription will finally work, you’re not alone. That trial‑and‑error process has long been the norm in mental health treatment. But now, TMS mapping is offering something different: a way to tailor care to the brain itself. A […]
The Tale of Two Attorneys: A Journey through Loss, Grief, Severe Depression, and Recovery
This powerful post is written by Anne F. Downey, Esq., a former BigLaw lawyer, now recently retired, who reflects on her husband’s sudden death during heart surgery, and the grief, depression, treatment, and recovery that followed. Content Warning: This post contains discussions of suicidal ideation. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know […]
“Do I have an inner critic?”
She went off on herself last night: “The biggest interview of your life and you blew it to smithereens. He didn’t like you, and neither did I. You’d better double down on making yourself marketable — or else.” You may be asking yourself, “Do I have an inner critic too?” The interplay between the experiencing […]
What’s it like to be homeless? | 2
He thought it could never happen to him. But with a shock and awe strike, it sure did. And when the smoke cleared, he was all questions: “Should I be afraid?” “How could you let it happen?” “What’s it like to be homeless?” Then he just sat, shaking his head. Three things cannot long be […]
Simple ways to manage grief in daily life
Grief follows its own schedule. One day, you might answer emails, make dinner and think you’re doing OK. Next, a familiar song in the grocery store or an empty chair at the table can stop you in your tracks. Let’s review some simple ways to manage grief. Grief is a shapeshifter. Some days it may […]
What’s it like to be homeless?
This wasn’t supposed to be written, much less published. I shared what happened and that was the end of it — so I thought. In fairly short order, it hit me: the whole story needed to be told. What’s it like to be homeless? I have it on good authority, so let’s talk. Shared misfortunes […]
“Hey, Bill, is writing poetry good for you?”
Our hand-raising friend asked, “…is writing poetry good for you?” To provide a quality answer, I’d like to know why she stopped by — general interest or to get help for an emotional or mental illness. Let’s assume the latter, and the answer is yes — in many ways. Creating a poem is a combination […]