Whether you’re healing from a traumatic event, coping with yet another depressive episode, or trying to become a better parent, you know that progress rarely happens in a straight line. Intentional growth and healing are the results of hard work – often over an extended period of time. Positive changes don’t “just happen” and […]
Have others minimized, shamed, or invalidated your feelings? Having your feelings diminished, ignored, or rejected is a painful experience for all of us – but even more so if you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or survivor of abuse or other trauma. It’s important to have a sense of belonging and to be a […]
In my last post, I shared 15 Signs You Have a Toxic Parent. Awareness is a great place to begin, but if you have toxic parents, what you really want to know is how to cope with their crazy-making. How are your toxic parents impacting your life? Toxic parents can make your life […]
No one has a perfect relationship with their parents or in-laws. If you’re lucky you have a positive and healthy relationship with your parents most of the time. Unfortunately, for some people – those with toxic parents – this isn’t possible. No matter how hard you try, you can’t have a mutually satisfying […]
When is the best time to start taking better care of yourself? Right now! No matter the season or day of the week, it’s time to put yourself on your to-do list and give yourself the same love and respect that you give to others. Below, I share 10 summer self-care ideas, but […]
Do you have difficulty prioritizing your needs, setting boundaries, and consistently practicing self-care? These are struggles for many people who have codependent traits. We tend to put our needs last, often sacrificing our own well-being to make other people happy or avoid conflict. And when we do consider our own needs, set boundaries, and […]
We all experience stress, a feeling of being pressured or overwhelmed, from time to time. Sometimes feeling stressed only lasts a few minutes or hours — and either the stressor is relieved, or we successfully use our coping strategies to reduce our feelings of overwhelm. And there are other times when we’re under a […]
Summer is upon us — and if you’re lucky, your schedule will lighten up a bit and allow you to enjoy a few long weekends away from work or some quiet evenings on the porch relaxing with a good book. Summer is always a great time to catch up on some reading. I’m a […]
Moms, you deserve to reclaim Mother’s Day and make it a day that truly makes you happy. Mother’s Day is often filled with angst and guilt and conflict. Mothers are particularly good at taking care of everyone else, wanting to please people, keep the peace, and simply putting themselves last. And some Moms have […]
What are boundaries? All relationships need boundaries. A boundary is an imaginary line that separates me from you. They separate your physical space, your feelings, needs, and responsibilities from others. Your boundaries also tell other people how they can treat you – what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Without boundaries, people may take advantage of you […]