Tag Archives: mental health

In Honor of National Women’s Day, A Woman Winning

March 9, 2016Relationships, Uncategorizedexercise, fitbit, fitness, health, healthy relationships, lifestyle, marathon, mental health, relationships, runningEmily

Eric got us both FitBits and immediately challenged me to a “who takes more steps in a week” contest. Which, to be honest, is just insane, as 1) I run marathons and 2) I’m on my feet with children all day.

But he INSISTED he’d still out-step me, which made no logical sense, unless the theory “Boys are good at all the things!!!” makes sense to you. (No, he didn’t say that. But it was there on his smug face). So I have spent the entire week ensuring that I will beat him– running unnecessary runs, finishing every errand that’s been on my my to-do list for months, mindlessly walking in circles in my kitchen, pacing for 25 minutes in my therapist’s waiting room (which didn’t at all make the other patients anxious, I’m sure of it. They would have been clutching that Xanax regardless.)

But it’s all been worth it because I have been kicking his ass, and have so thoroughly enjoyed rubbing it in his face all week.

Ok, well. This isn’t fun anymore.

I quit.

Goal Setting

March 6, 2016Mental Healthexercise, exhaustion, fitbit, fitness, health, mental health, sleep, tiredEmily

This new FitBit really IS helping me accomplish all my fitness goals!

I’m pretty sure if you’re sleeping almost 10 hours every night, it shouldn’t congratulate you. It should ask if you’re ok and recommend a doctor.

Moody

January 28, 2016Kids/Teaching, Teachingkids, mental health, mental illness, mondays, moods, moody, pms, seasonal affective disorder, seasons, summer, sunday night blues, teaching, winter, winter bluesEmily

I’ve been accused of being moody, but I really don’t think it’s too much to ask that everyone stay out of my damn way when I’m PMSing, when it’s Sunday night, when it’s all day Monday, or when it’s winter. The second half of autumn and any high-allergy spring is a risky time as well. Best to stay out of my damn way then, too.

I am absolutely delightful on June 29th.

Treating Anxiety is an Exact Science

January 27, 2016Mental Healthanxiety, anxiety attack, anxiety disorder, anxious, medical, mental health, mental illness, prozac, psychiatry, social anxiety, therapist, therapyEmily

Me: “I’ve been thinking about lowering my meds again soon. I’m way less anxious these days.”

Therapist: “Good.”

Me: “Good that I want to lower them? Or good that I feel less anxious?”

Therapist: “Good that you feel less anxious.”

Me: “So you don’t agree I should lower them?”

Therapist: “I didn’t say that.”

Me: “But you didn’t agree.”

Therapist: “I didn’t know you were seeking my agreement.”

Me: “Well…I don’t like it when you have NO reaction to an idea I’ve presented.”

Therapist: “Why is that?”

Me: “BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL ANXIOUS!”

(long pause)

Me: “Yeah let’s keep the meds where they are.”

A Sincere Thank You

January 27, 2016Friends, Random Thoughts/Happeningsbroncos, diabetes, family, fitness, football, friends, fundraising, generosity, half marathon, health, JDRF, juvenile diabetes, kindess, marathon, medical, medicine, mental health, relationships, running, super bowlEmily

For those of you who don’t know (and if you’re my Facebook friend, that is damn near impossible– unless you’ve blocked me from your newsfeed, which would be entirely understandable and something I would probably do), I am running the NYC Half Marathon on March 20th to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in honor of Eric, my wonderful boyfriend and a Type 1 diabetic. I’ve done FB thank you’s and sent emails/texts (maybe even put in a few VOICE calls! No just kidding I didn’t), but I wanted to also use the blog as a platform to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who has donated to the fundraiser so far. I am astounded by how quickly I was able to reach and exceed my goal, thanks to all of you– your kindness and generosity never ceases to amaze me, dear friends and family (time and time and time again. And again. I know I fundraise a LOT….)

And just a quick special shout-out to Eric’s friends (aka, my new friends— because what’s his is mine and what’s mine is ours…). I definitely felt like a weirdo sending you guys solicitation requests, but I know how much you care about Eric and figured *maybe* you’d be interested in throwing some change to the cause in his honor. But you have COMPLETELY exceeded that expectation– and then some. So thank you from the very bottom of my heart, and, of course, from the very bottom of Eric’s heart…

Eric’s heart isn’t that deep. I don’t know, maybe it’s the diabetes.

GO BRONCOS!!!!!

(I told him no, by the way. He understood. Kind of.)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, FRIENDS!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

My Favorite Excuses

January 22, 2016Mental Healthdiet, food, health, mental health, napping, seasonal affective disorder, sleep, snow, snow storm, social anxiety, weekends, winter, winter bluesEmily

“There’s an impending snowstorm” is one of my favorite excuses to hibernate all weekend and do nothing but sleep and eat.

Right up there with “I’m a teacher,” “I’m in my 30’s” and “This is just who I am.”

The Plan

January 21, 2016Kids, Kids/Teaching, Mental Healthanxiety, career, career change, depression, kids, mental health, pregnancy, teacher problems, teachers, teaching, therapist, therapyEmily

Therapist: “You’ve been saying for a while now that you might want a career change. It seems you haven’t felt very fulfilled at your current job.”

Me: “Right.”

Therapist: “And you said you were going to take some time, explore some options, talk to a few people, do some research, and come up with a plan.”

Me: “Right.”

Therapist: “So, you did that?”

Me: “Yes I did!”

Therapist: “And you have a plan?”

Me: “Yes, in fact I do!

Therapist: “I mean besides ‘get pregnant and quit.'”

Me: “Oh. Then no.”

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Blame Game

January 21, 2016Random Thoughts/Happeningsanxiety, anxiety disorder, depression, mental health, republican party, sarah palin, trumpEmily

If Sarah Palin is going to blame her son’s PTSD on Obama, then I’m going to blame my anxiety disorder on Sarah Palin.

Does your world salad come with a side of Ranch? Give me SOMETHING, lady. I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE THINGS YOU ARE SAYING.

NOTHING. MAKES. SENSE.

You owe me a lifetime supply of Xanax.

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You Are What You Read

January 17, 2016Mental Health, Relationshipsanxiety, books, cancer, death, depression, fiction, health, hobbies, hypochondria, illness, mental health, non fiction, reading, sickness, social anxiety, therapyEmily

Eric says I read too many heavy, serious books about mental illness, and that maybe this contributes to my anxiety and hypochondria. So this time I chose one where, yes, the main character DOES have bipolar disorder– BUT he lives a super full, productive life, has a job he loves, is married to the love of his life, has a baby on the way, and takes really good care of himself. While it’s tough for him and his family to grapple with his bipolar disorder, and he often gets knocked down, he always finds his way back, and it’s actually a really inspiring take on living with mental illness.

His wife dies, though.

Of cancer.

BECAUSE WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE OF CANCER.

Serious Headache

January 15, 2016Mental Health, Uncategorizedexhaustion, headaches, kids, mental health, school, seasonal affective disorder, sleep, teacher problems, teaching, tiredEmily

I always thought I was really prone to serious headaches, as I seem to have them all the time, but it has just occurred to me that I might be confusing “serious headache” with “being awake.”

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