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Surviving School During the Pandemic
We survived! That’s the sentiment I felt at the end of this week as we closed out the first 15 school days for us. It has been hard. I thought about what was making it so hard and I was reminded that this is a big transition. Every year the children go through an adjustment…
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Suicide Awareness and Prevention
This month is Suicide Prevention Month and today September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide prevention is very personal for me. I have struggled in the past with suicidal ideations and depression. My husbands best friend committed suicide 2 years ago, and I will never forget watching his pain as he processed that. My…
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Power of Gratitude During the Pandemic
Last week I opened up and shared about my postpartum journey through depression and anxiety. As I reflect on the things helping me navigate this season I am overwhelmed by the feeling of gratitude. One way I have been working through the negative thoughts and attitude that I was stuck in is by embracing gratitude.…
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Postpartum Depression
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, perinatal depression is a mood disorder that affects women during or after a pregnancy. “Mothers with perinatal depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult for them to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or others.” We all know…
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Mental Health Awareness! Breaking the Stigma: Eating Disorders
I know mental health awareness month is over but this is the final post of the series and I did not want to not include it because it is a category of disorders that resonate personally for me. Eating Disorders are commonly misunderstood, sometimes people think it is as simple as changing your eating habits,…
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Giving Birth During the Pandemic
Before I went into the hospital to give birth I had greatly underestimated the impact that this pandemic would have on my birth experience. In hindsight, I wish I had placed more thought into it all before hand, or tried to prepare myself for my experience. In our weeks leading up to our induction I…
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Mental Health Awareness Breaking the Stigma: Eating Disorders
I know mental health awareness month is over but this is the final post of the series and I did not want to not include it because it is a category of disorders that resonate personally for me. Eating Disorders are commonly misunderstood, sometimes people think it is as simple as changing your eating habits,…
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Mental Health Awareness Month Series! Breaking the Stigma: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
As I continue the series this month during mental health awareness month, I wanted to discuss the next most common mental health illness in the United States behind depression and anxiety disorders and that is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, an estimated 3.6 of the population in the…
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Mental Health Awareness Month Series! Breaking the Stigma: Depression
This video by the National Alliance on Mental Illness is only one minute long but it captures a brief overview of what depression manifests as in someone’s life. Depression, formerly known as Depressive Disorder in the DSM-5 is more than a simple sad feeling or having a sad day. I think it is used as…
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Mental Health Awareness Month Series! Breaking the Stigma: Anxiety
Since it is Mental Heath Awareness Month all month long I wanted to write a mini series about some common mental illnesses to help continue to share and discuss ways we can break the stigma of mental illness. I really like the resources on a few websites which I find helpful to share with others…
Colleen Smith, LMHC, NCC
Licensed Mental Health Clinician
Colleen Smith, LMHC, NCC 