Expert mental health care with compassion
We live in a culture that promotes striving, grinding, and achieving. We often measure our worth based on how hard we push ourselves to grow and accomplish in a day, season, or year. When faced with a choice of whether to take on a new challenge, we feel pressured to dive in. The consequence of choosing an alternative is guilt, shame, or feelings of being a failure. While we know[…]
A client recently shared that listening to podcasts always results in more anxiety for her because she feels there’s so much to learn and so much to do “right.” The burden to cultivate humans who survive their adolescence, care about themselves, others, their planet, nutrition, exercise, science, the arts, and the dog’s bathroom needs at the same time I’m cooking dinner after soccer practice and before piano lessons is…heavy. Parenting[…]
So many of us feel like we simply have no time and no energy left for ourselves. Our days feel full of endless responsibilities and chores. We grind through the to do list each day, often multitasking to maximize efficiency. Then we crash in the evening from sheer exhaustion only to wake up and begin the process all over again the next day. This endless cycle inevitably leads to burnout. […]
“I love my kids, but I just need a break.” This is the refrain I hear from dedicated, loving parents over and over again this past year. It’s often said with a hint of shame for feeling so frustrated and fed up with the constant demands of parenting. We live in a society that says we should love our kids unconditionally, and if we’re frustrated or annoyed by them, then[…]
You’re not imagining it. Parental burnout is worse than ever these days. It’s that feeling like you just can’t keep it all together, let alone get one step ahead of the chaos. It’s that sense that you’re juggling a set of plates while walking a tightrope as someone keeps lobbing water balloons at you. And it may explain why you utterly exhausted and you find yourself snapping at the slightest[…]
Many people have excitedly awaited the COVID-19 vaccine as a step toward feeling protected and safer to return to a life that looks a bit more “normal.” The idea of getting vaccinated to prevent serious illness and death from this virus holds great promise as a relief from so much stress and worry of the past year. Yet many people are experiencing a new kind of stress after receiving the[…]
If you find yourself drowning is a sea of responsibilities, feeling weighed down by constant exhaustion and overwhelming busyness, you are not alone. Many Americans are reporting a drop in energy as stress levels rise. We are juggling multiple roles and demands for our energy. The fact is that your energy (including physical, emotional, and mental reserve) is a finite resource that must be renewed regularly. We have to honor[…]
November 1st marks the beginning of the holiday season for many. And holiday seasons are stressful. Routines are different, expectations are high, calendars fill up quickly, and sleep is often cut short. We tend to get so consumed with making everyone happy and fulfilling each obligation that we end up feeling frazzled and depleted. It’s easy to lose sight of what’s most joyful and meaningful to you. Perhaps this holiday season[…]
Have you been feeling uneasy, drifting, lost? Maybe your life doesn’t seem to have a clear purpose or direction right now. We often feel unbalanced or off kilter during times of major transition such as adjusting to parenthood, job changes, a new home, health issues, or loss. But sometimes our lives may seem relatively steady on the surface yet we still find ourselves gradually feeling out of sorts. The concept[…]
The pressures on moms these days are greater than ever. Moms are expected to give all of themselves to their families all of the time. There are powerful messages in our culture telling moms just what they should do to be successful. They are expected to breastfeed for a year; choose organic foods and fabrics; plan, prepare, and clean up three healthy meals and three nutritious snacks per day; keep[…]