WellnessWithHolli

The past few months of the COVID-19 pandemic have been hard on everyone . In the past several blogs of Staying Mentally Well During COVID-19, we have discussed the psychological, physical, and economic toll it has taken on us. And, we have covered a few healing strategies for managing the myriad of stresses and their accompanying symptoms (*see below). Today, it is important to talk about Relapse - a sensitive topic which is impacting almost everyone in some form and to some degree.   Before you say to yourself, "Well, I'm not an addict or alcoholic,"  please read on. We relapse anytime we fall back or regress into, or return to any kind of unhealthy relationship or pattern of thinking, behaving, or feeling after a period of  stability or wellness. Over the past several months, I have listened to clients as they beat themselves up in the followings ways: For giving up on their healthy eating choices For blowing up at their kids after managing thei...

Over the past several weeks, we have been talking about a very debilitating injury - betrayal. To gain a better understanding of betrayal and the recovering information we've covered, I encourage you to read the previous blogs before moving ahead:  Blindsided by the Betrayal Bandit? (1) Hold on...help is on the way!!  ; (2) What is behind the mask? ;  (3) Feeling "Confused, Worthless and Powerless"?  ; and (4) Free yourself from four painful traps!   Today, we will tackle our last blog in this series, but it is perhaps the most important one - understanding why injury from betrayal hurts so badly.  When we can make sense of why we are feeling incredible pain,  or when we come to learn that there are sound explanations for the debilitating  states  we find ourselves in, an inner level of comfort takes hold and our healing begins. Let's examine two features of betrayal which explain why we hurt so badly.  #1 Underlying...

We have been exploring an all-to-common and painful topic- injury from betrayal. If you have not had a chance, please read our first three blogs in this series:  Help Is On The Way ,  What Is Behind The Mask?  , and  Feeling Confused, Worthless, and Powerless?  I want you to know that you are not alone in what you are experiencing. And just as importantly, by understanding what you are feeling and why, you begin the journey of recovering. Today, we are going to tackle a challenging topic - Blindsided by the Betrayal Bandit? Free Yourself From Four Painful Traps!  When we are betrayed,  it is our instinct to search outside ourselves for answers, for truth,  and for some measure of control over our lives. Sadly, doing so lengthens our stay in the pain-field.                                                       ...

We have been discussing betrayal. If you have not already done so, please read the previous two blogs to help you get acquainted with the Betrayal Bandit -  Blindsided by the Betrayal Bandit? Hold on...Help is on the way. and  Blindsided by the Betrayal Bandit? What is behind the mask?  Today, we are going to tackle some really important information - Blindsided by the Betrayal Bandit? And feeling "Confused, Worthless, and Powerless"?  If you answered yes to any of these three feelings, read on.  You are not alone!  In fact, if you have been betrayed, you can expect to navigate through three debilitating and painful states: The State of Confusion... The State of Worthlessness... The State of Powerlessness Let's find out what is going on and why we are feeling this way! Let's get started. #1 - State of Confusion  When we are first betrayed, we enter into a State of Confusion.  Yes, we are in shock. And we are often in denial. ...

We have been discussing wellness.  In Day 1:   Wellness awaits each of us. Why is it that only some people choose it? , we examined three insights - Pain, Perspective, and Purpose.   In Day 2:  Wellness awaits each of us. Why is that some people don't choose it? , we explored three underlying explanations - Needs, Norms and a New Normal, and Network of Enabling. In Day 3, we will conclude this series with another important wellness question. As do many other individuals, I believe that wellness is a journey. For those of us who have chosen to travel its path, we find ourselves working our programs or processes on a daily basis. There is no question - it is hard work! And, it is worth it. At times, however, many individuals working their wellness routines find themselves in relationships with loved ones, friends, family members, co-workers, etc. who are traveling a different path - one of unhealthiness. Today, we are going to explore... While other...

I am basing this short series on a belief about wellness that I have long held... Wellness awaits each of us. We choose the time.   In the previous blog, I shared three insights into  Wellness awaits each of us. Why is it that only some people choose it?  We learned about  Pain, Perspective, and Purpose. In addressing this belief, I am referring to individuals who are capable of choosing psychological, emotional, and relational wellness. In other words, their level of  functioning or severity of diagnosis does not hinder their accessibility to resources or to recovery. So, why is it that countless numbers of capable individuals remain stuck in their unhealthy ways of being? Why do they live from crisis to crisis or from one costly consequence to another? Why are some people existing in a constant flux of drama and dysfunction? What is going on when... Wellness awaits each of us. Why is that some people don't choose it? Walking Away From We...