“I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process,” C.S. Lewis. Grief is a process and a delicate one at that. Every person grieves differently. And I tell my clients there is no “right way” to grieve. You just have […]
Grief is the cost of love. If you love, you will grieve. In fact, the only way to ensure that you will not grieve is to never fully give your heart to another person or cause. We grieve life seasons, geographical locations, relationships, pets and of course, people.
I have had the privilege and honor of serving many people with Bipolar Disorder over the years. Those I have served are some of the most creative, brave, passionate and genuine people I have ever met. People with Bipolar are just like everyone in else in that they experience the ups and downs of life. […]
“I have two moods. One is Roy, rollicking Roy, the wild ride of a mood. And Pam, sediment Pam, who stands on the shore and sobs…Sometimes the tide is in, sometimes it’s out,” (Carrie Fisher, AKA Princess Leia). Carrie Fisher, best known as Princess Leia in Star Wars, lived with Bipolar Disorder as do between […]
A study by the American Journal of Psychiatry followed children of depressed parents over a 20 year period and found children were three times more at risk for mental health and substance abuse disorders than children whose parents were not depressed (integrisok.com). Please do not be overly concerned reading this if you have depression. Having […]
Talk is cheap. What we say to our children about how they should behave, interact with others and manage stress is much less important than how we address these issues while our children are watching. And trust me, they are always watching. Our actions are far more powerful than our words. How we greet a […]
I have a friend whose mother-in-law—let’s call her Maureen–has taken care of her mother around the clock for several years. Maureen takes turns with one of her siblings to care for their mother in the home. This arrangement has been going on for years. And this is not uncommon.
Parents of special needs children, adult children caring for their parents, grandparents raising their grandchildren…when I think of caregivers, so many different types of people and roles come to mind. Caregivers come in so many forms. Those who choose to care for others with special needs are some of the kindest, most giving and most […]
Years ago, I heard the story of a man who survived the Nazi concentration camps. I have also read behind Corrie ten Boom—who survived them as well. What has stayed with me in these two accounts of horrific torture, loss, starvation, abuse and witnessing death, is that these individuals maintained some form of positivity and […]
The green ribbon—donned in May for mental health awareness month—is the international symbol for mental health awareness. If you see someone wearing a green ribbon in the month of May, they are making a statement that they care about and support mental health.
