If I were to describe my physical and mental health over the last few years, I would describe it as a game of Whack-A-Mole. In case you don't know what game I'm referring to, it's a game where stuffed moles pop out of a hole, you whack the hole with a mallet, and then another mole pops up. The goal is to hit as many as ... Read More
Featured in Alumni
Managing Mental Health and Chronic Illness
How CBT Can Help You Navigate Depression
A previous therapist of mine had a quote on her wall. It said, “Change your thoughts, and you change your world.” I will be the first to admit that I had no idea what that meant as a teenager. Now I know that it is a nod to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. But what exactly does it mean, and how can it be used to help ... Read More
How Chronic Illness Can Erode Mental Health
I met Santa last year. He asked what I wanted for Christmas, and I told him a sparkling unicorn. He told me to be realistic. So, I asked for a cure for just one of my chronic illnesses. Santa laughed and asked what color I wanted my unicorn. I find myself truly grateful for sarcasm when it comes to navigating ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: 6 Tips to Bounce Back From a Tough Day
When I went to FHE, I set a goal. My goal was to be able to navigate PTSD and mental illness. I knew then and I especially know now that tough days happen. Sometimes the tough stuff is just everyday life and stress; ask anybody’s budget lately. Other times it is whole new traumas that you never thought would happen in ... Read More
The Pitfalls of Replacing Addiction With Another Addiction
Good ole cross-addiction, the act of laying down one addiction and picking up another. Drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, toxic relationships, shopping, and even eating all stimulate the brain's "pleasure center." For most of us in recovery, we can all recall a time when we convinced ourselves we needed to take a break ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: Do Men “Cry for Help?” How to Spot The Signs
Growing up, I always heard about ‘what a man should be.’ My dad would talk about it, TV and movies would preach it, and other kids in school would talk about it. Generally, a man should be the strong, silent type who never complains and takes care of their own personal problems. This was an ideal that was widespread ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: 4 Ways for Men to Overcome Social Anxiety
The complicated thing about anxiety is that it’s not something we wear on our sleeves. I can only speak for myself, but when anxiety kicks into my life, there are not too many visible signs. Of course, it can be if I am dealing with something horrible. Mostly, I just get quiet and sit pretty still when the anxiety ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: Using Anxiety to your Advantage (5 Tips)
Living with anxiety is an exhausting ordeal. The constant fixation on what can happen next in life is something that can isolate you from enjoying anything you have in the present. The human mind is the most powerful thing in the world; if anxiety is a real issue for you, you know how delusional your anxiety can be if ... Read More
