People have a lot of ideas about what mindfulness is supposed to look like, and most of them are wrong. But I’m never wrong, so allow me to correct them.

Let’s break down the biggest myths, because mindfulness deserves better than that.

Myth #1: Mindfulness means being totally calm.

This is a big one. People think mindfulness equals some permanently zen state where nothing rattles you. Like you’ve transcended human emotion, reached self-actualization, and now float through life completely unbothered. That’s not mindfulness. That would require some serious Woodstock-worthy hallucinogens...

Mindfulness isn’t completely clearing your mind or reaching total serenity. It’s being aware of your thoughts and surroundings.

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Myth #2: You have to be a meditation expert.

You don’t need years of practice, a meditation app with a soothing British narrator, or an eat, pray, love journey. I am certainly not a meditation expert (or anywhere close to it), and I still practice mindfulness constantly.

All it requires is a willingness to pay attention to what’s happening inside you and around you, avoiding judgment. That’s all.

Myth #3: You need a specific space in which to practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness can be done any time, anywhere. You don’t need complete quiet, a relaxing Himalayan salt room, or a beach complete with the sound of ocean waves... You just need to turn your brain on.

Myth #4: Mindfulness means you stop feeling things.

Wrong again. If anything, mindfulness means feeling things more clearly, not less. In the middle of an emotional storm, mindfulness is what helps you slow down enough to recognize what you’re feeling without becoming completely consumed by it. It’s not about numbing out. It’s about naming what you’re feeling and remembering that feelings are temporary, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Myth #5: Mindfulness is some an advanced skill you work on eventually.

People treat mindfulness like a bonus round, something you graduate into after you've already got your other skills locked down.

In reality, it's the foundation everything else sits on, not a reward for finishing the work. Skip it, and every other coping skill gets ten times harder. When you're stuck replaying the past or spiraling about a future that hasn't happened, it's way too easy to get overwhelmed, act impulsively, or just check out completely. Mindfulness is what gives you the chance to pause and choose how you respond instead of reacting on autopilot.

Myth #6: Mindfulness is easy.

For me and many other people, mindfulness is one of the most difficult skills to refine. That doesn’t mean I’m failing at it. It means I’m fucking human. Mindfulness doesn’t necessarily come easily or naturally. It’s supposed to keep you grounded, not perfect.

So how do you actually practice mindfulness?

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I’ve seen the statement, “Happiness is a choice,” way too many times on reclaimed barn wood signs at TJ Maxx and various Instagram accounts, and it pisses me off every time. I could not disagree with this statement more.

I wish happiness were a choice. I wish I could be like, “Instead of being depressed today, I’m gonna be happy,” and have it stick. But that’s not how mental illness works. As much as I wish I could, I can’t help that I’m depressed or anxious. It’s not a switch I can just turn off.

That being said, I DO believe that you can do things to increase happiness in your life. Here are two ways to do that:

1. Add more positive experiences to your life

2. Do things that make you feel capable and proud of yourself

Together, they make life feel less like survival mode and more like something you actually want to be living.

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Add Positive Moments

You don’t need a vacation, a new relationship, or a million dollars (of course, they wouldn’t hurt…) You need moments that feel good, comforting, or peaceful right now. Here are some examples of easy things I do to create positivity:

• Watch a comfort show. For me, it’s FRIENDS. I’ve literally seen it over 30 times all the way through.

• Go to the pool. In the summer, I’m at the pool. If it’s on the weekend, I’m reading my book. If it’s during work, I’m on my laptop.

• Do a puzzle. I find that doing puzzles really distracts me from my spiraling thoughts. If I’m having bad anxiety, I will often pull out a puzzle and start going to town.

• Crochet. The motion and watching the hook go through the thread is super calming. It’s almost like hypnotizing.

• Listen to music, sing along, and dance. My dog and I like to do Backstreet Boys duets. I do the parts of Nick, Brian, and AJ, and he does Kevin and Howie.

• Take a walk with my pup. Sometimes just getting fresh air makes me feel better.

• Work out. I do spin classes and lift at the gym. I also do Zumba, but I’ve yet to find a local class I like, so I do it alone at home with the routines I have memorized from college lol.

These are small things, but small doesn’t mean meaningless. Your brain still registers the feelings of relief, pleasure, and calm, which makes you feel better.

Now, when you’re overwhelmed, you might hear a voice saying you don’t “deserve” nice things until everything is under control. But that voice is lying. Nice things are what help you get through. So tell that voice to shut the fuck up.

Positive Long-Term Changes

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You’ve just eaten praline brioche, a chocolate eclair, AND a slice of chocolate cake…

You’re standing in front of the Louvre…

But instead of being happy and excited, you’re spiraling like the Dior staircase, crying, and on the verge of an anxiety attack…

Well this JUST happened to me. Bet ya didn’t see that coming!

I was post-pastry-tour, pre-Louvre-tour, on day one of a 10-day trip across France, and I was feeling anxious as hell. Once I felt the anxiety creep in and my heart rate spike, I did a little check-in with myself. What is happening around me right now? What’s going through my head? What could actually be contributing to this?

So Why Was I Anxious?

Finances. Going on vacation is fucking expensive. I used points for flights, gift cards for hotels, and every trick in the budget travel book, but it was still a lot of money to eat at restaurants, buy museum tickets, and get around…not to mention the dog boarding bill waiting for me at home. I had planned for it ahead of time, but it is still deeply unsettling to watch your bank account drain in real time, even if you are eating a croissant.

Loneliness. I traveled semi-solo, which is a fun way of saying I was with a group of total strangers I had met 18 hours earlier. I didn’t have anyone I trusted to talk to about how I was actually feeling, which made the anxiety worse. And with the time difference, I couldn’t exactly call someone back home for comfort without them assuming my plane had gone down somewhere over the Atlantic.

Exhaustion. As I’ve talked about before, mental health and physical health are deeply linked, and I was jet-lagged out of my mind. For the first time maybe ever, I did not sleep on the plane. So naturally, that made the anxiety even louder.

So there I am, standing at a historic museum in Paris, feeling anxious, and getting mad at myself for it. “You’re in fucking France, Grace! Get a grip!” Like how could I be upset in this place?!

Now, anxiety does not care that you are in France. It does not read the itinerary. You cannot just tell it to go away and expect it to listen; it’s like my disobedient eight-year-old puppy who hears “sit” and simply chooses not to.

How Did I Deal With It?

At first, not well, bitch. (Quote: Dorinda Medley, Real Housewives of New York)

I used my coping skills, and they helped, don’t get me wrong, but the anxiety didn’t fully disappear overnight. Seven days in, I was still feeling it a bit, and it definitely did not help that the fire alarm went off in my hotel room one night, because apparently the universe wanted to test me. But the goal was never to make it vanish, it was to keep using the skills until I felt functional again.

By the time the trip ended, I was doing so much better, because I didn’t give up on my toolkit.

Here’s what I did:

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Now, before I get into it, I want to make it clear that I am a HUGE proponent of therapy. Life isn’t always easy for any of us, and we could all use a sounding board sometimes.

That being said…

In all my years of individual therapy, I did a LOT of talking. Shocking, I know. My therapists helped me work through problems, validated my feelings, let me vent when I needed to vent. They provided general guidance, but none of them handed me an actual list of coping skills and how to use them.

I first learned about coping skills in an outpatient program back in high school. This was life-changing. I remember thinking, “THIS is what I’ve been waiting for. THIS is what’s actually going to help me get through.” It was laid out so simply: if you’re feeling anxious, do this. If you’re feeling sad, do this. Groundbreaking, as Miranda Priestly would say, and yet somehow no one had specifically mentioned it before!

I like to split coping skills into two buckets: emotion management and crisis management. They serve very different purposes.

Emotion management is your day-to-day maintenance. It’s the stuff you practice regularly, not just when things are falling apart, to keep your emotions, thoughts, and feelings from building up in the first place. Think of it like brushing your teeth to prevent cavities.

For me, this looks like:

• Moving my body daily, even a short walk counts!

• Protecting my sleep like it’s sacred, because I am a genuinely different person on 6 hours versus 8.

• Checking in with a friend regularly instead of only reaching out when I’m drowning, because nothing says “healthy friendship” like only texting people during a crisis.

It’s small, boring, consistent stuff. None of it feels dramatic in the moment, but it’s the difference between a bad day staying a bad day versus spiraling into a bad month.

Crisis management, on the other hand, is what you pull out when you’re fully crashing out. This isn’t maintenance anymore; this is triage. These are the tools for when your brain is in full alarm mode and you need something that works FAST, not something that sounds nice on a Pinterest board.

For me, that’s things like:

• Grounding myself using my senses.

• Calling a friend or family member to vent.

• Physically removing myself from whatever environment is making things worse.

So here’s where I’ve landed after all these years: therapy and coping skills aren’t competing with each other, they’re doing two different jobs. Therapy helped me understand WHY I feel the way I do and gave me a space to process it. Coping skills gave me the WHAT, the actual actions to take when the feelings show up.

I needed both. I still need both. And so do you. So if no one’s handed you a map like this yet, consider this your chance.

Follow along for my coping skills road map and how to apply them in real life!

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It wasn’t just cute or romantic. It was a story that made me feel something profound. The connection between Shane and Ilya didn’t just stay on the page or screen. It fucking followed me. And suddenly I was thinking: Why did this hit me so hard? Why can’t I stop thinking about it? And how do I move on?

Upon searching the internet, I learned I was not the only person feeling this way. Social media is full of people talking about their Heated Rivalry obsessions, and that made me feel slightly less insane.

The Life-Changing Part

Let’s talk about what makes Heated Rivalry so intriguing. It’s not just the plot (although it is absolutely fantastic). It’s all the feelings it gives:

• Being deeply seen by someone

• Emotional safety mixed with fiery chemistry

• Humor, banter, and vulnerability

• Someone choosing you over and over again against all odds

That combination is powerful. It taps into something truly human: the desire for exciting, yet secure connection. When a person experiences that (even through a fictional story), the brain says, “more please.” That’s why it sticks.

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Why Do We Have Emotions?

Growing up and going through life, we tend to associate emotions with being bad or weak. But emotions actually serve a few very important roles in our lives. Emotions…

Motivate Our Behavior

Emotions push us to act. Fear makes us run or protect ourselves. Anger pushes us to set boundaries or fight injustice. Happiness motivates us to move toward things we care about. Without emotions, we’d have very little drive to do anything meaningful, protect ourselves, or change situations that aren’t working.

Communicate to Others

Emotions show other people what’s going on with us, often without us saying a single word. Tears signal sadness or pain. Laughter signals happiness and warmth. Facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language help others understand us so they can respond, comfort, support, or adjust their behavior.

Communicate to Ourselves

Emotions are also internal messengers. They let us know when something matters, when something feels off, or when a boundary has been crossed. Anxiety might be your brain saying, “Something feels uncertain or threatening.” Sadness might signal loss. Happiness tells you, “More of this, please.” Emotions give us data about our needs, values, and experiences.

Describing Emotions

A huge part of regulating emotions is learning how to properly name them. Many of us walk around saying we feel “sad” or “good” when there are usually more specific emotions underneath. Being able to say, “I feel excited,” “I feel disappointed,” or “I feel scared and sad at the same time,” gives you clarity. When you can describe your emotions accurately, you can understand them, respond to them, and work with them instead of drowning in them.

Here is a chart of common emotions and how they affect us. Notice that the second column has similar words. These words help us get more specific when identifying what we’re experiencing. Instead of stopping at “I feel sad,” you might ask yourself, “Am I lonely? Am I grieving?” That clarity can change how you understand the feeling and how you choose to respond to it.

What Can Make It Difficult to Regulate Your Emotions?

Biological Factors

Some people are simply born more emotionally sensitive. Genetics, brain chemistry, trauma history, or chronic stress can make emotions stronger and harder to calm down from. Your nervous system may get activated more easily, and that’s not a character flaw—it’s biology, dammit!

Lack of Regulation Skill/Knowledge

Most of us were never taught how to handle emotions. We learn math, history, and parallel parking, but not how to cope with heartbreak, fear, shame, or grief. We aren’t given a “Guide to Feeling Lonely?” McGraw-Hill textbook. If no one modeled healthy emotional coping, how would you magically know how to do it?

Emotional Overload

When too many stressful things are happening at once, or when life feels like “one thing after another,” your emotional system can get overwhelmed. When your stress bucket is full, even small things feel huge. This makes regulation harder because your system is already stretched thin.

Reinforcement for Responses

Sometimes our emotional reactions get unintentionally reinforced. If yelling finally gets someone to listen, your brain learns that yelling gets you what you want. If shutting down helps you avoid conflict, your brain learns that numbing keeps you safe. Over time, these patterns become habits, even if they aren’t actually helpful long-term.

Emotion Myths

So many of us believe unhelpful stories like:
“Emotions are weak.”
“If I feel it, it will never stop.”
“If I’m emotional, I’m out of control.”
These beliefs make us suppress emotions, judge ourselves, or panic when we feel something intense. Emotion regulation becomes so much harder when we believe emotions are dangerous instead of human.

Emotion regulation isn’t about shutting emotions down or pretending they don’t exist. It’s about understanding why they show up, learning how to work with them, and recognizing that they can guide us instead of overwhelming us. When we build skills, emotions become manageable, meaningful, and something we can move through rather than fear.

Stick around for more emotion regulation articles coming soon!

Everyone loves to talk about the new year like it is a clean slate. Fresh start. New chapter. Best year yet! And while that sounds lovely, for some of us the new year feels less like a reset and more like a performance review we did not ask for.

As a pessimist, the new year is not exciting for me. Instead of feeling motivated, I immediately think about all the goals I didn’t accomplish and the things I didn’t get to do. I wanted to lose weight. I wanted to secure a boyfriend. I wanted to go to Europe. And yet, here I am. Overweight. Single. Lonely. In debt. Still online shopping for things I can’t afford just to admire the beauty.

If this resonates with you, subscribe and keep reading to see how I am using my DBT skills to get through this new year season.

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And I wish that were true. I wish healing came with some kind of punch card where, after ten therapy sessions and one spiritual awakening, you earn immunity from heartbreak. But that is not how it works.

Even when your life is stable, your mental health feels balanced, and you’re using your coping skills, one breakup or rejection can knock everything off the shelf in a single swipe. Suddenly, you are sitting there thinking, “Why am I crying over someone who loved his Zyn pouches and didn’t have a bed frame?”

Now, let me be clear: I am NO expert at dating. But I have been broken up with. I have been ghosted. I have been rejected in ways you only see in movies:

• Guy went to the bathroom and never came back

• Guy showed up, saw me, and left

• Guy told me he was on his way but stood me up and blocked my number

I could go on…

So if anything, I am a semi-pro at dealing with rejection. Not because I want to be, but because the universe handed me a whole textbook worth of experience. And through that, I learned how pain shows up, how healing feels, and what it takes to keep going.

Healing Does Not Make You Invincible

Cat Stevens once said, “The first cut is the deepest.” People think the first heartbreak is the worst because it is your first crash course in loss. The truth is that heartbreak, even after you have spent years working on yourself and multiple break ups, can hit even harder. It feels sharper and almost insulting. Thoughts start piling up:

• I thought I was stronger than this…

• Why is this triggering old patterns I have not felt in years?

• How did one man in without a bed frame send me into a spiral after all that therapy?

It is not that you are back to square one; it just feels like it. But feelings are not facts. They are simply loud and annoying as hell.

Breakups Activate Old Wounds, Not Old Versions of You

Healing does not erase your past. It gives you tools for when the past tries to sneak back in wearing a new outfit. A breakup can trigger:

• Abandonment fears and attachment issues you thought you resolved

• Insecurities from grade school or high school bullying

• The part of you that still wonders if you are too much, not enough, or somehow both

This does not mean you are broken. It means you are human. You are not regressing. You are revisiting with more awareness and more experience than before.

In the past, a breakup might have launched you into chaos mode. Now you feel pain, but you also notice yourself doing things differently:

• You let yourself cry instead of shaming yourself

• You talk to your therapist instead of rage-texting the ex

• You remind yourself that you have survived moments like this before

• You remember that pain is temporary, even when it feels endless

It is hard to see your progress while you are wiping your tears your duvet, but it is there.

The Hardest Part = Letting Go

There is one thing that always makes the healing process easier, even if it stings in the moment. Delete their contact. Unfollow. Remove the temptation completely.

Out of sight, really is out of mind. You cannot move forward when you are still scrolling through their Instagram stories or rereading texts like they are sacred artifacts. You need a clean break. You deserve peace. You deserve a phone that is not a museum dedicated to someone who left your life.

It is not petty. It is self-protection. And your future self will thank you.

Heartbreak Does NOT Mean You Failed

A breakup does not undo your progress. It does not erase your healing. It does not mean you are back at square one. It does not make you weak or unlovable or behind.

It means you cared. You let someone in. You risked vulnerability. You showed up with an open heart in a world that loves to armor up.

That is not regression. It is courage and growth!

That deeper cut does not destroy you. It simply makes you use your skills again. It makes you practice what you have learned. It reminds you that healing is not a finish line.

If this breakup shook you, it is because you are alive. You are trying, and you are HUMAN.

You are not back to square one. You are on a familiar part of the path, and this time you are not walking it alone. You have your coping skills, your support system, your growth, your awareness, and every version of you who survived before.

And you will survive this, too. Stronger. Softer. And, hopefully, one day, we will find the love we fucking deserve.

1. Brushing Your Teeth
Yep, two minutes of foam and fluoride can actually be a mindfulness practice. Instead of running through your to-do list or replaying last night’s awkward conversation in your head, just notice:

• What does the toothpaste taste like?

• Can you feel the bristles on your gums?

• Is the water warm or cold when you rinse?

Sounds simple, but paying attention to these details pulls you out of autopilot.

2. In the Shower
Showers are basically free sensory experiences. Warm water, steam, the smell of your shampoo…it’s all there waiting to be noticed. Next time you’re in there, ask yourself:

• How does the water feel hitting my skin?

• Can I hear the difference between water splashing on my hair vs. the shower floor?

• Do I actually like this shampoo smell, or did I just buy it because it was on sale?

3. Being Outside
Fresh air is underrated. Whether you’re walking your dog, waiting for the bus (or your Uber because public transportation in the US leaves much to be desired), or having a picnic, there’s plenty to notice:

• What colors stand out around me right now?

• Can I hear birds, cars, or maybe someone’s bass turned up way too high?

• How does the air feel—crisp, heavy, humid, freezing-my-face-off?

• What can I smell—freshly cut grass, leaf piles, dog shit?

4. Eating a Meal
Mindful eating doesn’t mean chewing your food 37 times like some health blogs suggest. It just means actually noticing what you’re eating instead of inhaling it like the vacuum cleaner from The Teletubbies. Try asking:

• What’s the texture of this bite? Crunchy, soft, chewy?

• Can I taste different flavors, or is it just “delicious and gone”?

• Am I actually hungry right now or just bored?

5. Waiting (in Line, in Traffic, on Hold with Customer Service)
Waiting usually feels like wasted time, but it’s actually perfect for mindfulness because what else are you going to do? Scroll Instagram for the 100th time today? Instead, check in with yourself:

• What does my body feel like sitting/standing here?

• What sounds are around me right now?

• Am I holding tension anywhere (jaw, shoulders, fists of rage)?

Mindfulness isn’t about being calm or zen all the time. It’s about showing up for the little moments in your day. You can start small and go from there!

If you are in a dark place right now, I have picked 11 (it’s my lucky number) small, ridiculous things that are worth one more day:

1. So many countries and places to see

This is my biggest motivator. There’s a whole world out there to explore. There is always another park or sea or city to check out. Seeing such different places can open your eyes and your mind. I have found that traveling as an adult has given me an entirely different outlook on things. I feel strong and independent and excited when walking down a new street or seeing something in real life that I have previously seen in a photo.

The thing about traveling is that once you do it, you get the bug. You want to go everywhere and see everything. When you get back from one trip, you are ready to plan the next. This helps me because I have something to look forward to. Even if it’s in 5 years, because I need time to save money, it keeps me going. My next trip will be to Greece and Croatia. When will I go? I don’t know, but I will get there!

2. Oh my god, millennial music is back again

The Backstreet Boys are back (ALRIGHT) with an amazing Vegas residency. Jesse McCartney is on tour. Hilary Duff is making new music. The new Chicago Bears tight end sang Let Me Love You for his rookie karaoke. My millennial heart is exploding. You have to keep going because who else is gonna make a comeback?!?!

3. Chocolate

Dark, milk, salted, mint…the options are ENDLESS. Need I say more?

4. Another Packers Super Bowl Win

I grew up a big Green Bay fan in the Chicago area. The last time the Packers won the Super Bowl, I felt such a high, and I want to feel that again. Rooting for something like a sports team gives you a reason to keep pushing. And if they win, keep going for another win! And another! And so on until you’re a billion years old.

So, go Pack go! Maybe this is our year!

5. Emily Henry’s next book

In recent years, Emily Henry has come out with a new, saucy book every summer. As someone who loves an easy, entertaining read while floating in the pool, this is exciting for me. I gotta see what she will come up with next summer!

Regardless of who your favorite author is or whose podcast you love to listen to, keep going so that you can absorb more of their content!

6. The holiday season

The snow, the twinkling lights, the music, the cookies… No matter what holiday you celebrate, the season itself is just so magical and uplifting. Everyone seems to be in a more cheerful mood. You can never experience too many holiday seasons.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the Macy’s window displays in Chicago. Every year, they create a brand-new story, told through a series of window displays. Each window is like a page in a book, complete with text and little animatronic people or animals bringing the scene to life. You walk from window to window, following along as the story unfolds. Then, when you’re done, you roam the store and look at the huge tree on the top floor. If you haven’t seen this, you HAVE to.

7. Pet the pups

Puppies (and other baby animals) are just so damn cute and goofy and snuggly. My dog cracks me up every time he picks up trash on a walk or thinks he’s being sneaky when stealing my socks. And he warms my heart when he snuggles right up to me every time I lie down.

There are so many pups out there who want to be loved and pet, so keep going! There is no such thing as too many belly rubs!

8. Movie theater popcorn

I’m not talking about the microwave stuff that says “movie theater popcorn” on it. I’m talking about the freshly popped, hot popcorn at the theater, then drenching it with that fake butter they have and a pound of salt. It just hits different than any other snack. And fun fact: you can go to the movie theater JUST to pick up some popcorn. I do it all the time! And sometimes I even bring my own tupperware so it stays fresh. So if nothing else, stay for the sodium.

9. Real Housewives drama

Escapism is necessary, and reality TV is my escape. I love turning Peacock on to see what my favorite real housewives are up to. Whether it’s gossiping, traveling, or spending copious amounts of money on clothes, it is just so entertaining. I’m currently rewatching RHONY, and it’s as though I’m seeing it again for the first time with the level of drama.

You need to go another day, because this shit is so unexpected. Anything (and I mean ANYTHING) can happen! Who will get a divorce? Who will get arrested? Who will declare bankruptcy? You just never know!!

10. MN Zoo Jack O’Lantern Spectacular

This is so far my favorite thing about Minnesota. Every fall, thousands of intricately hand-carved pumpkins glow in the dark all throughout the zoo. It is so magical. Walking through, I am constantly in awe of the skill these artists have. And they even have snacks and drinks!

If you have not been, add it to your fall activities list now. You won’t be sorry.

11. You are loved

This is the one that matters the most. Even on days that tell you otherwise, someone cares about you. If you feel like you have no one to reach out to or confide in, give me a call! I struggle with feelings of loneliness all the f-ing time. I will literally give you my personal phone number, and we can be friends. I will love you as much as I love chocolate.

If even just ONE of these resonates with you, hold on to that. Take it one day at a time.

Stay one more day - you got this!

If you’re in crisis right now, please reach out. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7. Unfortunately, the government has shut down some crisis lines, but 988 remains available!! You can also dial 911 for emergency medical services.

If you’re not in the US, contact your local emergency number or search for your country’s crisis line.

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My Personal Struggles

My name is Grace Fleming, and mental illness has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was just 9 years old when I started individual therapy, trying to make sense of feelings that felt way too big for a kid. By 14, I was prescribed my first SSRI. At 16, things became so overwhelming and unbearable that I was contemplating suicide. I was hospitalized for suicidal ideations and attended a daily, month-long outpatient program.

That month changed my life. For the first time, I was introduced to coping strategies and practical tools that actually helped. Instead of just talking about emotions, I learned real-life skills to get through hard days, manage the chaos in my mind, and navigate hardships.

During this time, I promised myself that I would always make an effort to improve my mental health. In college, I joined a therapy group focused on communication and healthy relationships. It helped me better understand myself and the people around me.

Then, at 25, I found myself in another mental health crisis and was hospitalized again. As part of my recovery, I committed to a two-year intensive therapy program. Week after week, I learned new coping skills and how to implement them into my life.

Of course, even with all of these tools, I still struggle with my mental health. It’s an ongoing battle. But now I feel far more equipped to handle it.

So why did I start The Art of Not Spiraling?

I created this space to share my story and the tools that have helped me survive and improve my life. I have been lucky enough in my life to receive the treatment I need. Unfortunately, not everyone is that fortunate. So I started The Art of Not Spiraling to share the knowledge I have gained over the years with everyone.

MENTAL. HEALTHCARE. SHOULD. BE. ACCESSIBLE. TO. EVERYONE.

Whether you’re here because you’re curious about coping skills, navigating your own mental health journey, or just looking for someone who gets it, I’m glad you’re here. I’m here for you, and you are NOT alone.

How do I create a life I want to live?

To me, a life worth living is a life with happiness, love, and adventure. I like to exercise (Zumba, run, spin, lift…), play with my puppy Nestle, bake yummy things with chocolate, crochet, hang out at the pool, read mystery and romance books, and watch reality TV.

When I can (aka have the money for it), I also LOVE to travel and experience other countries and cultures. I have been to 13 countries and counting!