Category Archives: Mental Health

Spring Cleaning Surprise

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Spring Cleaning Surprise

Howdy! I got home from work way earlier than normal on Monday and had three or so hours to kill before Johnny’s shift was over. I’m not really sure why, but out of nowhere, I got a strong desire to clean. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, it can be very difficult for me to find the motivation to clean outside of necessary chores. Feeling mentally and physically exhausted just seems to be the norm for me as of late and it sucks. It’s not like I don’t want to clean but the energy to do so is nowhere to be found. So, when this overwhelming urge hit me to clean, I went for it!

I decided to tackle one room before clocking in again to work from home and that was mine and Johnny’s bedroom. I cleared up any trash, did several loads of laundry, and organized the closet. I also was able to put Johnny’s clothes in some semblance of order because he needs a freaking dresser lol. As I was doing that, I found an incredible surprise: One of my FAVORITE tank tops that I thought I left in the Poconos when we went on vacation a few years prior. I looked everywhere in my apartment for it and came up empty so leaving it behind seemed like the most reasonable explanation. I guess I didn’t look everywhere, though.

After finally having found my black Rachel Zoe tank top, I was elated. The motivation to clean was there and I was rewarded for it. In fact, after this find, I found myself looking forward to tackling my office next! I genuinely thought that the cherry on top was being reunited with my beloved tank top. However, the cherry on top came after the bedroom was clean as a whistle. I had open access to an outlet again and I was eager to put a new Bath & Body Works wallflower into my Halloween plugin. The room looked so fresh and good that I decided to accentuate it with a Fiji White Sands wallflower. The spotless room combined with the crisp, beachy scent made me so happy!

I guess the moral of the story is, that if you are lacking motivation for a deep cleaning session – it really is okay. However, my first hand experience is that you will start feeling fantastic as you go through the process. Even if it is one room or one task at a time, you are accomplishing something that needs to be done and that is rewarding. There is no need to beat yourself up if you don’t have the energy to clean. Do what you can, revel in your success, and you are on your way to forming a good habit.

I really am proud of myself for getting an early start on my spring cleaning and giving the apartment the love it deserves doesn’t feel nearly as overwhelming. In fact, it is a welcome change of pace!

What is on your spring cleaning agenda? Have you found anything recently that you thought you lost? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Working With Mental Illness

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Working With Mental Illness

Hello!! It is no secret that your girl suffers from her fair share of mental illness. I have PTSD and depression and it can be exhausting to deal with. And, unfortunately, the adulting world doesn’t stand still despite difficult days that feature a “flare up”. I work hard to continue improving upon my situation, but I also use a few pro tips that I have cultivated over the years to make thing easier on myself. With these tools, my days feel more tolerable and I am able to achieve success in my jobs. Let’s discuss:

In terms of my mental illness, my schedule means everything to me. My schedule brings me a lot of comfort because even if the day goes a little haywire, I still have a general idea of what is going to happen next. I try to go to bed, wake up, eat, and take breaks at the same time every day and not only do I keep things running like a fine tuned machine, but I feel less anxiety throughout the work day. Of course, on the weekend, I revel in not having anything to do. But, Monday through Friday – my schedule is god.

Between the medication I’m on and the light buzz of butterflies that is constantly fluttering around in my stomach, my appetite is sometimes not there. I used to follow the rule of not eating if I’m not hungry, but that rule sucks because a few hours later I feel miserable and starving. If you aren’t feeling hungry at your normal mealtimes, try to have just a little something anyways. A light snack can help stimulate your appetite so you can work your way up to a proper meal. Your body and mind need the fuel from food, so eat!

The anxious mind might be telling you to work, work, work, and god help you if you stop: Even if you are feeling off. If you are having a bad day, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself permission to take breaks, self soothe, and return to the task at hand with a clearer head. There’s no gold star for pushing yourself through mental turmoil until you reach a breaking point. Listen to what your mind and body are telling you and respond accordingly. It can also be helpful to talk to yourself like you’re talking to a best friend. You would never tell your BFF that their need for a mental health break isn’t valid.

From one people pleaser to another, there comes a point when you have got to put yourself first. I have personally found that I tend to feel very resentful when I am catering to everyone other than me and that is a terrible way to feel. Part of looking out for you comes with saying “no” to what you don’t want to do – whatever reason that might be. You also have to be firm with your no because that establishes boundaries. This is not to say that you should just not help anyone ever. But, if you feel like you are spiraling and taking on way too much, you need to provide some leniency to your schedule.

Like anyone who is dealing with mental illness on top of all that adulting entails, I have my good and bad days. However, my days definitely feel more stable with the above advice!

Do you give yourself mental health breaks? How do you prioritize your mental health? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Mental Health Reminder

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Holiday Mental Health Reminder

Hello!! We are SO close to Thanksgiving that I can almost taste the green bean casserole (Don’t hate on it!). And, of course, then we enter the whirlwind of the winter holiday season. While this is an incredibly joyous time, it can also be highly stressful and it’s important to put your mental health first. Let’s talk about a few ways that you can ease some of those get together jitters so you can still have the merry and brightest time ever:

Given the current political situation we are in, it’s very likely that politics will be a topic of discussion at your gathering. This can be a blessing if everyone has the same political views but a curse if not! If the attendees are all across the board on their viewpoints, it might be a good idea to set a Ground Rule of not talking about it period. Unless each guest can engage in polite conversation, then it can turn heated very quickly and that is the last thing you want during the holidays!

If your holiday gathering has you feeling overwhelmed, take a break! There’s no rules saying that you can’t and you can excuse yourself without being obvious. No one will think anything of it if you pop into another room to “make a phone call” or you could volunteer to take the family dog out for a quick jaunt. Once you have a few minutes to yourself, you can enter back into the situation feeling refreshed and better able to handle it.

Sometimes the best way to shake off anxiety is to make yourself busy. There is always going to be the need for an extra helping hand during the holidays so be that person. Take drink orders, set the table, assist in the kitchen – you know the old saying about idle hands! Giving yourself a task to focus on could be just what you need if your mind starts to race or you’re feeling triggered.

There is a high probability that there is going to be someone you can’t freaking stand at the gathering. This can create a lot of tension within yourself so try not to let it fester and focus on the positives, instead. Chances are that when you start looking for the positives, there will be a lot of it! There are people you *probably* like there, the food will be banging, or maybe you will play some really fun games. The festivities are not going to last forever so you could be miserable or try to make the most of it for a few hours!

There is this preconceived notion that you are supposed to be happy AF during the holidays and that couldn’t be further from the case. Holidays can be an incredibly difficult time for people and it makes sense if you think about it. If you are feeling that holiday depression kick in, it could be really helpful to talk about it with a loved one or counselor. Then, you can create some strategies to get you through and try to take a bit of joy in the festivities too.

Whatever you are feeling during the holidays, good or bad, is okay! You’re allowed to feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed but with these tips I hope you can enjoy the season more fully!

What is your favorite thing about the holidays? What stresses you out during them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Take It Easier

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Take It Easier

Hello!! The recent election and upcoming holiday season has definitely been causing stress to many, myself included. This time of year often feels like a whirlwind – between wrapping up the calendar year strong at work, shopping for holiday gifts, adjusting to the time change, and attempting to squeeze time in for yourself too. It’s a lot. In fact, I was literally just thinking about how overwhelmed I feel which inspired this post. I came to the conclusion that I need to at least try to Take It Easier and am utilizing the following methods:

One thing that I really struggle with is making time for every single other person and exclude myself. I spend so much time in my own head mentally trying to rearrange my calendar to accommodate to everyone and so be it if I fall by the wayside. The biggest change I have been trying to make is reminding myself constantly that there are only 24 hours in the day. I can’t create more time no matter how much mental Tetris I play with my schedule. With this reminder, I think I have been a lot better about saying no to extra shifts or demands that I am too exhausted to meet. This has been difficult because I am a complete and total people pleaser but I can only do so much and that is okay.

I saw a quote on Facebook that I really liked. It went something or other like this: “If you only had 50% to give today, you still gave it your all”. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the point. Some days, it is just impossible to be firing at 100%. It’s human, so normal, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it. As long as you are doing the absolute best you can regardless of being at 100% or not, you still did your best that day – even if you weren’t feeling it.

I don’t know about all of you, but I am very guilty of eating breakfast or lunch while working. Sometimes it’s a necessary evil and you can’t do anything about it. However, if you can, you should utilize your breaks every day because that is what they’re intended for – giving yourself a break. As often as I can throughout the week, I give myself twenty minutes for breakfast and for lunch. During that time, I will watch an episode of Degrassi and get back at it afterwards. I always return to work feeling refreshed from having a little breather. Remember that some days, you might need to give yourself more breaks if you are feeling burnt out and that’s okay too. For example, if I have a particularly long day at the computer, I will break a few times to do some Tai Chi and work out the kinks from sitting in an uncomfortable chair lol.

When you stop spreading yourself so thin, you might face negativity from the people who benefited from it. In the past handful of weeks alone, I have certainly had several guilt trips and it has sucked. I legit felt SO bad about it to the point of almost adding things back into my schedule and running myself ragged. Don’t do this!! If you succumb to guilt trips, you are going to be right back where you started. It might be hard, but be firm when you say no. It will leave no possibility for interpretation and will introduce people to whatever new normal you are trying to create for yourself. If you are getting any guff from anyone, then they might not have your best interests at heart. And, remember, you never, ever have to justify or explain when you’re doing what’s best for you.

I have been trying to decrease my stress and increase time for me these past few weeks and it has been really… stressful lol. The hardest part has definitely been the guilt trips. As I adjust to my new normal, I will continue to use my new mantras and mindset and keep moving forward. It’s the best thing for me and that’s the best!

Would you consider yourself to be a people pleaser? What changes have you made in your life to decrease stress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

So Simple Self Care

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So Simple Self Care

Hello!! Saying that we live in a high stress world is an understatement and it can be hard to shake off problems that are anxiety provoking. I especially find this to be true for myself. I have an extremely demanding schedule, a lot of family responsibilities, and what often feels like minimal to no time for myself. When I do manage to squeeze in “me time”, I take it very seriously because it’s something that doesn’t happen frequently. That is my time to fully dive into self care mode and even though the way I choose to spend that time is simple, I always end up feeling refreshed afterwards:

My first order of business when it comes to self care is to put my phone somewhere I won’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind. As the social media manager for one of Ohio’s most prominent local celebrities, I am on my phone constantly and it always feels good to take a much needed break from it. Then, I can focus my attention completely on something else instead – even if it’s only watching a quick episode of a comfort show or polishing off a chapter in a book.

This is a method that I employ not just during speedy self care sessions but also when I am officially off the clock for the day. I think it is so easy to fall into the trap of being accessible whenever your phone pings simply because it’s right there. This can be incredibly draining and my rule of thumb is to save responses for times that aren’t dedicated to relaxing. Of course, emergencies are a different situation but you get the point.

I recently started doing Tai Chi with my mom and I absolutely LOVE it. It’s a gentle workout, yes, but the gentle movements are so effective. I can literally feel my body unlocking as we flow through the routine together and it’s almost like a mini massage. I spend countless hours at my computer every day and I can definitely tell that I feel less stiff since incorporating Tai Chi into my schedule. In fact, now when I have an all day computer day, I pencil in a few Tai Chi blocks for when I start feeling crampy. It has made a world of difference!

One change that I have added in the past few months is making breakfast every day. I used to be one of those people who NEVER would eat breakfast and now that it is a regular part of my routine, I genuinely don’t know why I didn’t start this earlier. After a few hours of work, I’ll prepare my breakfast once I get hungry and eat while watching an episode of Degrassi. I have found that I feel way less sluggish throughout the day, I don’t feel ravenous when it’s time for lunch or dinner, and have more motivation to take on the day as best as I can. I guess breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. 🙂

I am the proudest bunny mom to my sweet Melvin and Penelope and they truly are my instant serotonin boosters. Seriously, all I have to do is look at them and it automatically makes me smile from ear to ear. The power of the love between pets and the owners knows no bounds and I often spend my mini self care breaks with the buns. I’ll sit on the floor and give them ALL of the pets and cuddles that they will allow. After a few minutes, they have typically had their fill of affection and that’s fine. I always return back to my computer chair with the warm fuzzies and actual fuzzies – the bunnies shed like crazy!

While I value my more extravagant forms of self care like a trip to the hair or nail salon, they don’t happen all of the time. These mini self care breaks throughout the work day are small and simple enough that I can still accomplish everything I need and feel more refreshed while doing so!

What do you do for self care? How do you like to unwind after work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Make Your 19 Year Old Self Proud

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Make Your 19 Year Old Self Proud

Hello!! Earlier this week I had the really cool opportunity to facilitate and create a presentation for my boss, Tim, at Kent State University. It was an amazing project to sink my teeth into and I loved joining Tim on campus for his talk. We had the best time! After the presentation, we had a Q&A session followed by a meet and greet. As the students waited in line for me to take their pictures, a gaggle of freshman and sophomore girls were patiently waiting on deck. They were the absolute cutest.

Once they got closer to me, they approached and sung the praises of my outfit (Peep that later!) and asked questions about how I got started with my job. They told me they were eighteen and nineteen and were simply shook when I told them I was thirty! I have got to admit, talking to these teenagers made me feel insanely old lol but I was delighted by the encounter. I am very rarely around people that age and the fact that they thought I was some semblance of cool made me feel… Well, cool.

As I drove home, I thought about my nineteen year old self. I was insanely depressed, engaged in self harm and an eating disorder, and everything sucked. I was working a crappy job in the mall, had no goals, and no sense of self worth whatsoever. Then, I flash forwarded to my life as a thirty year old. I have the best jobs, best friends, best family, and am so happily married. If you would have told me that as a nineteen year old, I wouldn’t have even been able to fathom it.

It took me a long time of struggling with my mental health to get myself to a good place and it was far from easy. The girls I met were none the wiser to any of this and were able to see me as a confident and stylish woman. After our brief meeting, I came to the conclusion that my nineteen year old self would have looked up to who I am now too. This was a very fulfilling feeling because I associate that period in my life with a lot of shame. I was now able to give my young self credit as a kid who was trying her best and I know for a fact she would be proud of who I am today!

Sometimes the smallest encounters are the most meaningful and this one gave me the opportunity to see how far I have come. I am so grateful for it!

What were you like as a teenager? Who do you look up to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

*Trying* To Take It Easy

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*Trying* To Take It Easy

Hello!! The irony has not been lost on me that the past two times that I had any time off from work were spent being sick. I spent my week long holiday break this winter with RSV and had another week off due to a nasty virus at the beginning of the month. It was a huge bummer to be sick over the holidays, but I’d be a liar if I said it wasn’t awesome having some time off this second time around! As someone who has been self employed for almost a decade, it is incredibly difficult for me to justify time off – even if it is for fun things like vacations. However, after enjoying being sick more than I probably should have, I realized that I really do need to make an effort to *try* to take it easier. So, I have been doing the following:

Sleeping In:

I have always been adamant about waking up as soon as my alarm goes off because I need my jam packed days to run like clockwork. This proved to be very hard after a whole week of getting up sans alarm, though. After my sick spell, I have given myself permission to hit the snooze or even sleep for another extra hour. And guess what? My days still are going without a hitch and I feel much more well rested too. This isn’t an every day thing, but I have been taking advantage of getting some extra shut eye on the days where I have a bit more wiggle room. I have noticed a huge difference in my energy levels and will absolutely continue with this!

Face Masks:

One of my sick day rituals was using face masks so I could feel some semblance of pampered while I was a gross, sweaty mess lol. This is another thing that I have been sticking with and I have enjoyed a weekly face mask since the beginning of March. I tend to do this as soon as I get home one day during the week and even though it’s only a twenty minute process, I see its merits. Rather than diving into the next thing I have to do (computer work, cooking dinner, cleaning), I am able to take those twenty minutes to recharge and continue going about my day. This is a win/win because I love doing skin care and I feel like it gives me a second wind until bedtime. It’s amazing what taking twenty minutes for you out of your day can do!

Making Plans:

I can’t tell you the amount of weekends I have spent doing literally nothing because I am too tired. Then, I would go about the work week feeling disappointed that Johnny and I didn’t do anything fun at all. While we still have our lazy weekends, we have both been making an effort to do more and have a good time during our time off. Within this past month alone, we have reincorporated date nights and I have tried my best to make plans (and keep them) with my friends. For a long while, I was going through the motions of the work week without much to look forward to once the weekend rolls around. Now, Johnny and I have been adding at least one fun outing to our weekend and it has been fantastic. On Mondays, I feel happy with the hang outs we’ve had and am eager to see what we’ll do the following weekend.

I have been on the grindset mindset for so long and, although these seem like small changes, they are huge to me. I plan on continuing with all of these improvements and adding new ways to make things easier for myself when I feel like I need it. I already notice a difference!

How do you take time for yourself? What are some improvements that you have made recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hobbies That Are Guaranteed To Beat Stress

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Hobbies That Are Guaranteed To Beat Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be doing things to help to let it go. We need to have healthy methods for coping with anxiety and stress. One of the best ways to do this is to have a hobby. Whether you are crafting with friends or you are choosing to go to the movies, you need a hobby that’s going to make you feel happy. Let’s take a look at the hobbies that are guaranteed to beat your stress for a healthier lifestyle:

Start a collection:

One of the hobbies, as old as time itself, is collecting. When most people think of a collection, they envision someone collecting expensive antiques. But it doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, you could start a very simple collection, especially if you love to travel. You could pick up a key ring at every city you visit and eventually build up a whole world’s worth of key rings on a pegboard. It doesn’t matter what you choose to collect but pick something that you’re passionate and excited about.

Do more with music:

Whether you’re playing an instrument or just listening to more music, it is one of the best hobbies that is going to guarantee that your stress will be beaten. You can pop on some noise canceling headphones and let your favorite songs play through them or you could decide to start some lessons so that you can learn how to play an instrument. There is plenty of music in the world that’s just waiting for you to pay attention to it!

Work on puzzles:

An amazing way to unwind is to start puzzling. Even if you haven’t put together a puzzle in years, you’ll find that working through the challenge of one can be incredibly relaxing. Playing by yourself is a good way to enjoy some solo downtime, but you can grab a friend to do the puzzle with you and still have just as much fun. The best part is, there are so many beautiful puzzles out there and when you’re done, you can either frame them for your house or box them back up again to enjoy another time.

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^^^ Pexels Image

Start baking:

Whether you like to bake cakes or biscuits, it doesn’t really matter. Baking is an amazing way for you to beat your stress. You’ll be able to have easy access to delicious treats, but you’ll be able to watch the pile of ingredients become something beautiful. You can decide to sell them and make a business out of it, or you can just continue to bake at home for your own fun.

Work with your hands:

Sometimes, putting your hands to work can make a massive difference. Whether you are rebuilding a car or you are crafting, you’ll find that your mental health improves when you can put your mind and concentration into something amazing. Building something from the ground up is a huge achievement and it helps to promote patience at the same time!

Learn a new language:

It doesn’t matter whether you only know one language right now, you can still Learn a new language. Everybody has the capacity to learn something new. So start with the basic vocabulary and take your time to understand the history and the culture behind each language you choose to learn.

Not only is having a hobby great fun, but it is a wonderful stress reliever. Try any of the above and shake that stress away!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Why You Should Embrace Your Inner Child

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Why You Should Embrace Your Inner Child

Adulthood was once considered the time to ‘put away childish things’ as a famous poet once wrote. But why? There are so many benefits to embracing your inner child that we should all be making more time to get back into the kid headspace more often. Let’s discuss:

Laughter is the Best Medicine (and It’s Free!):

Remember when you used to laugh so hard that milk would shoot out of your nose? Okay, maybe don’t aim for the nose-milk part, but laughter really is good for you, and science says so, so there (see I’m getting childish already). It relieves stress, boosts your mood, and even burns calories. So go ahead, watch that cartoon, giggle at silly jokes, and let your laugh be as loud and unapologetic as a child’s.

Playtime Isn’t Just for Kids:

Play isn’t just for the under-10s; it’s a crucial part of being a happy, well-rounded adult too. Yes, really! Okay, so what does this play look like? This could mean anything from board games and sports to arts and crafts, or maybe even building up an army of your favorite collectible toys and letting them battle it out whenever you need to de-stress. Speaking of stress, ever tried adult coloring books? They’re like therapy, but with more crayons and less awkward silences.

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat; It Made Life More Interesting:

Kids are curious about everything, and somehow, as adults, we lose that. Well, now it’s time to reignite your curiosity. Ask questions, explore, and try new things. It keeps life interesting and your brain engaged. Remember, it’s never too late to learn how to play the guitar or speak another language. Unless it’s Klingon. Maybe draw the line at Klingon. This will keep you feeling young, but more importantly, it will keep your brain healthy as you get older, too.

Emotions: Feel Them All:

Kids feel their emotions deeply and aren’t afraid to show them. As adults, we often bottle things up, and this is not, for the most part, a good thing. It’s okay to be vulnerable, to feel sad, happy, or even throw a good old-fashioned tantrum (preferably not in the middle of a supermarket, though).

Imagination: More Valuable Than You Think:

Our imagination seems to shrink as we age, but it’s one of our most powerful tools. Use it! Dream big, think creatively in your job, or just daydream about being a pirate. Imagination adds color to the mundane grayness of adult life.

Say Yes to Adventure:

Remember when a simple trip to the park felt like an adventure? Bring that feeling back. Be spontaneous, say yes to new experiences, and see where life takes you. It’s about making memories, not just to-do lists.

Your hair might be grey and your knees might ache like never before, but that doesn’t mean you can’t embrace the child within every day!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sleeping Good, Feeling Great

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Sleeping Good, Feeling Great

Hello!! I have had a few appointments with my new therapist and it has been most helpful! She is seriously the best and is so much fun to talk to – it’s almost like I’m venting to a friend and I really like that. I have noticed a significant difference in my mood already just by being able to vocalize some of the things that have been weighing on my mind. Another big change that I made other than therapy is finding someone new to handle my medication management and that has been a HUGE success!

It’s incredibly important to get professional help for your well-being when you’re struggling mentally. There are some great services out there, like this website, that you can look into when it comes to improving your mental health and well-being in general.

Prior to the new person I have been going to for med management, I was just seeing a general practitioner. He was fine, but our appointments literally only lasted like two minutes and it was expensive as all get out. So, I decided to make an appointment with a nurse practitioner who works in the same office as my therapist. My only regret? That I didn’t do it sooner because she is awesome and prescribed me a new medication that has seriously changed my life.

This past summer, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I have always suffered from night terrors, but it was getting to be SO extreme. There was a point when I was only having a handful of night terrors per week and it turned into an every single night affair. For months, I was waking up every night screaming and it was horrible for both me and Johnny. It was so hard to fall back asleep after I jarred us awake from screaming bloody murder and we were going through life exhausted.

I had no idea that there was a medication that could help with my night terrors, so I never brought it up. You could have knocked me over with a feather when my nurse practitioner told me that there was something that she could prescribe! Since taking this new medication, I have not had one single night terror. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. I don’t think I realized how sleep deprived I was until I was actually getting a good night’s sleep for the first time in months.

Now that I am sleeping better, I feel energized, my mood has improved, and my work days don’t feel anywhere near as daunting. Normally, I would be too fatigued by the time the weekend rolled around to do anything. Now, Johnny and I have had outings with friends, family, and ourselves every weekend. It’s fun! I feel more like myself than I have in months and I am so thankful that I am finally sleeping through the night. The power of being well rested is a real thing!

If you feel like you are struggling, I can’t encourage you enough to seek help. It might feel scary, but you are going to feel so much better and I am proof of that. I know you can do it! ❤

What is something that helps you sleep well? Do you dream a lot when you sleep? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah