Tag: Advocacy

Steady as we go, Week 4 post op

Steady as we go, Week 4 post op

A favorite song of mine from written by Dave Matthew’s. He sings, “if the road gets rocky girl, Just steady as we go. I know troubles they may come and go, but good times they’re gold…And if your load gets heavy, girl I will lift you up…I will walk halfway around the world, just to … Continue reading Steady as we go, Week 4 post op

Bariatric Surgery 8/27/24 Pre-op check-in

Tuesday 8/27/24 is my surgery date. My bariatric surgeon, Dr. Eli will perform a R-NY gastric bypass. The past three weeks I have been on a liquid diet in preparation for the surgery, and have lost close to 20 pounds from that. I am not nervous. I am extremely hopeful and relieved to have this … Continue reading Bariatric Surgery 8/27/24 Pre-op check-in

Back to reality

I spend the early morning hours trying to coax myself back to sleep. The last few days I have had some disrupted sleep, spending the 3-4am hour lying awake and trying desperately to fall back asleep. I despise when my routine is thrown off and my mood starts to shift. Lately I have struggled with … Continue reading Back to reality

A day in the life.

My bestest friend on the planet suggested that I blog about what it is like, living and functioning with my bipolar 1 disorder. What I experience, how my behavior might fluctuate, how I respond to others, what I am thinking. How difficult it is for me to function or expected to be rather, high functioning. … Continue reading A day in the life.

Everything is going to be okay

Everything is going to be okay

Sometime the simplest concept is the most difficult to practice. Today my best friend, shared an album with me that I immediately dismissed. Its message is one of positivity, and just that being okay. At first I had this preconceived notion, judged the material, the album. When I settled into the beat a little more … Continue reading Everything is going to be okay

The results are in…

The results are in…

I received a grade for one of my classes, the Group Psychotherapy class. We recently had a midterm exam, one that took me almost the complete amount of time, 4 hours allotted total to take it. I took 231 minutes out of 240 minutes. I wrote 2,737 words during those 231 minutes. This class in … Continue reading The results are in…

National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day

Admittedly certain days working in child welfare are extremely difficult. There are days that you’ll get yelled at, tasked with investigating and put in uncomfortable situations. There are long nights, many court reports to write, calls to make and children to visit. Then there are days like today. It is National Adoption Day. For the … Continue reading National Adoption Day

Words

Words have the power to elevate or destroy. As Joseph Conrad once said, “There is a power in the spoken word…and a word comes far—deals destruction through time as the bullets flying through space.” There have been times in my life where words injured me, at times I conceived beyond repair. Now, I do not … Continue reading Words

NAMIWalks 2023

NAMIWalks 2023

Join me on September 23, 2023 at the Winston YMCA (221 Riverside Ave) for NAMIWalks!! from 8am-12pm #Together4MH #NAMIJax I joined NAMI ( National Alliance on Mental Illness ) 15 years ago, when I found a NAMI support group as a young adult struggling with my mental health. I have remained active with the non-profit … Continue reading NAMIWalks 2023

To my dad on Father’s Day

To my dad on Father’s Day

Spring, 2009: The infamous man, aka Papa Joe to our girls. This picture is a wonderful memory with my Dad, on the deck of our old family home in Maryland. The backdrop of the Potomac River, just as I remember it. Now our family living in Florida, I do not get to visit him and … Continue reading To my dad on Father’s Day

To be a mom….Mother’s Day 2023

To be a mom….Mother’s Day 2023

What it means to me to be a mom. It is the most rewarding, gut-wrenching, anxiety-ridden, and soul changing experience that i have come to love. My girls. Ella and Hazel. Made me in part who I am today. Their love, their sweet words, can pierce my deepest sorrow on a dark day. Their eyes, … Continue reading To be a mom….Mother’s Day 2023

Off to work I go

Off to work I go

Today I am returning to work, after two weeks of sick leave. Mixed feelings of nerves and excitement. The weekend was very relaxing and just what I needed. I am in a better place overall, the sleep still lighter average 6 hours, in addition to some day time napping. The anxiety is nearly non existent … Continue reading Off to work I go

SGs Real Talk and Self Care Saturday PII

SGs Real Talk and Self Care Saturday PII

Self- Talk is a large part of anyone’s life. Talking kindly to yourself is at the root of being brave. “We” constantly and subconsciously have thoughts running through our minds at any given time. I am learning to chuck the negative thoughts out the window. I stop myself in my tracks. The ones that cut … Continue reading SGs Real Talk and Self Care Saturday PII

Steady as she goes.

Steady as she goes.

One of my favorite lyrics from a Dave Matthews song. I have struggled lately with my mental health. I have been proactive and somehow managing through a second week of consistent hypomania. It has not pervaded my work functioning or other responsibilities. Admittedly I have struggled to stay above water. I am constantly checking in, … Continue reading Steady as she goes.

Sarbear check-in

Sarbear check-in

Often times when I reflect on myself, it is struggle to identify the cause of continuous negative sense of self worth. With any analysis, the first instinct or reaction is to naturally say what or how did this happen? What changed, what caused this event or series of chain reactions? Our investigatory nature feeds on … Continue reading Sarbear check-in