Good morning ☀️
This week marks a significant season of change – a time where new chapters and final endings meet. I recently had my last day at the Center of Resilience and my first day at Stars Counseling, navigating a unique blend of endings and beginnings colliding. I’m feeling a mix of every emotion in between, from sadness and anxiety to gratitude and joy.
I am so grateful for my time at the Center of Resilience and for the incredible individuals I had the opportunity to meet, learn from, and support. While it was a difficult decision to move on, I realized through that experience how much I value the personal connection of in-person therapy. I want to be able to offer a hybrid of services, as I see deep value in both in-person and virtual care.
I am thrilled to join Stars Counseling in Lutz, where I will be supporting tweens, teens, and adults through both in-person and telehealth sessions. I am so incredibly thankful for the warm welcome and support I’ve already received from the Stars team!
During a conversation with someone I love, I was reminded how important it is to make space for our emotions while also compassionately examining our thoughts for truth. Sometimes we experience thoughts that create a massive physiological response. What we feel is very real – our hearts race, our stomachs tighten, tears come easily – but that doesn’t always mean the thoughts themselves are accurate representations of reality.
There’s wisdom in learning to honor our emotions without letting them define our facts. If you find yourself in the middle of a storm right now, be gentle with yourself. Rest when you need to. Reach for support. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel without judgment. Healing and clarity often arrive slowly and quietly.
Friday Favorites: Some resources from this week that were fun to explore
The Soundtrack of the Week
Multiple people have introduced me to Noah Kahan recently, and I’m honestly wondering where he has been all my life. These songs have been playing in the background all week – either from my phone or just looping in my mind – and I can’t get enough of it.
Navigating the Unknown
Sometimes there is so much anxiety in medical uncertainty and the unknowns of life. This video Surgery and Fear Anxiety: 3 Tips to Be At Peace Before Anthesia by Medical Secrets hares three grounding reminders that apply to almost any “storm”:
- Focus on what we can control: Our breathing, our thoughts, self-compassion… and maybe even a favorite pair of socks.
- Seek clarity where possible: Are there questions we can ask or preparations we can make that might bring more peace?
- Remember confidence in your decisions: Do you remember your “why”? Are anxious thoughts making it harder to trust yourself or others?
Understanding Neurodivergence & Hormones
These two TEDx talks offer such vital perspectives on how our brains and bodies interact. One explores why rejection can feel physically painful for some, while the other looks at the intersection of ADHD and hormonal shifts – a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
- Watch: Why ADHD Makes Rejection More Painful | Alex Partridge
- Watch: ADHD in Menopausal Women | Bev Thorogood
For the Bookshelf
I can’t recommend these books enough. If you or someone you love is navigating these waters, these workbooks offer practical tools for building skills in areas that often feel overwhelming:
- Skills for Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria: A Workbook for Tweens and Teens
- Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults
The One Practice to Keep
And if you only have time for one thing this week, I cannot encourage this practice enough. It’s one of those reminders I come back to again and again when I feel myself spinning:
Wishing you softness, courage, and moments of peace in the middle of whatever this week holds for you. 🤍
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