Today is my 35th birthday. And for the first time in a long time, I can truly say, I’m so glad I was born. I’m so glad to be alive. I’m glad that my attempts to leave didn’t work, and in honor of being 35—still alive—here are 35 lessons I’ve learned in life.
Read MoreDigestion or gut issues, sleep disruption, insomnia, jaw clenching, anxiety or panic attacks, depression, low mood, irritability, anger, low sex drive, or brain fog may be signs your nervous system needs a reset. Join me for a free 31 day reset and let’s reset our nervous systems together in 2024.
Read MoreEach month, I will be sharing a guest piece written by someone from my online community. November’s submissions includes a piece about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Saleema Lookman. The work of destigmatizing mental health is a community one, and I’m honored to share this space.
Read MoreI’ve been in therapy for a LONG time. More than half my life.
I’m 33.
I’m divorced.
I’ve been to intensive outpatient therapy for an ED.
I’ve been hospitalized for attempts to end my life.
I’ve tried CBT, DBT, EMDR, Existential/humanistic therapy, ACT….
Read MoreGrowing up, I wanted to be a good girl. To do so, I knew I would have to follow all the rules--if I did, then no one could punish me, and I would never have to face disappointment. I looked for rules everywhere--in my parent’s verbal and non-verbal cues, in their reactions to my behavior, and in their interactions with eachother. Through careful deciphering and child-like deliberation, I created an imaginary rubric of what I imagined the “rules” to be.
Read MoreIn 2005, when I was 15 years old, I was diagnosed with Anorexia. At that time there was so little discussion about eating disorders within our culture (outside of the occasional tabloid headline or celebrity weight loss scandal). For the most part, eating disorders were not spoken of, and support and recovery for those who needed it was kept quiet. As a result, my eating disorder and therapy was a secret for my entire high school career.
Read MoreIn October of 2017, I was sitting in my professors office mid-panic attack, when she leaned over and said to me, “Rachel, nobody cares.”
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but when I’m depressed, cooking breakfast is a chore, and showering is a marathon. P.L.E.A.S.E. is handy acronym and gentle checklist that is only asking you to do those bare minimum things daily, with the hopes of keeping you at a baseline that is manageable.
Read MoreCoping Ahead is a brilliant tool that anyone can use--even if you don’t suffer from severe anxiety. We could all use a little help in preparing for stressful situations. Over the years, I have developed a routine of how I cope ahead. You can use the Cope Ahead skills when you are headed into any situation that you know might cause you any kind of negative emotion. Here is how it’s done.
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