Willow Counseling, PLLC

Spirituality can offer a profound moral compass for how you embrace to live your life. It may provide a sense of solace and community when going through a difficult time. ⁠ ⁠ However, this isn’t always the case. Spiritual abuse can quickly transform a beautiful way of living into a perpetually trapped feeling of discomfort. At times, this discomfort may morph into complete terror. ⁠ ⁠ All types of abuse can be challenging and shameful, but spiritual abuse is particularly confusing. https://lnkd.in/egjxbS_W

Discipline, in a sense, means taking your emotions out of the equation. You simply commit to the actions, even if you don’t necessarily want to do them.⁠ ⁠ Discipline starts by identifying your particular weaknesses. What gets in the way of you taking care of yourself? What excuses do you repeatedly make? And, finally, how can you actually address those weaknesses? ⁠

Maybe you want to feel closer to other people. Maybe you also want to be authentic and bold and honest and embrace your truest self. And yet, something stops you from feeling safe. Something causes you to hold back, withdraw, lie, and restrain yourself.⁠ ⁠ What causes people to be afraid of being vulnerable? And if you recognize that you’re struggling, how can you work through this fear? Let’s get into it.⁠ ⁠ https://lnkd.in/eK6qjCgh

When you allow yourself to “be real,” you highlight the importance of making room for mistakes. With that, you tend to be more open to growth and change.⁠

Trauma often affects how people trust their intuitions and recognize their internal needs. As a result, you may find it extremely hard to make decisions or go after what you want. ⁠ ⁠ For example, you might need constant reassurance from others that you are making the right choice. Or, you may avoid making significant decisions and feel perpetually “stuck” with where you are in life. ⁠ ⁠ Furthermore, some people overcompensate for their indecisiveness by acting impulsively. Instead of thinking about the best logical action, you might be quick to react based on a feeling. You might decide something just to get it over with. But, over time, this pattern may cause you to feel even more anxious and depressed.⁠

When you’re experiencing burnout, it’s hard to find the motivation to engage in good self-care. As a result, you may not take care of your physical health. You might not be concerned with having a healthy diet or exercise regimen. Thus, it becomes a cycle of exhaustion. If you have been going, going, going and begin to notice that your physical health is on the decline, it can be a symptom of burnout.⁠ ⁠ It may not be a surprise, but burnout and stress can impact your immune system. Being mentally and physically tired can result in physical symptoms that include gastrointestinal (stomach) problems, migraines and headaches, cold-like symptoms, and sleep issues. https://lnkd.in/emUeBp87

Take a few deep breaths. Reflect on your gratitude for a few moments. Repeat this pattern as often as necessary, and you should find that you feel a little more relaxed and clear-headed. ⁠

An abusive parent. A gruesome car accident. A sexual assault. Whether they happened just yesterday or several years ago, these all represent different types of traumatic events. Any combination of traumatic experiences can result in a range of physical and emotional symptoms that can seriously impact your health.⁠ ⁠ Healing from trauma can get complicated, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for recovery. With that in mind, learning and practicing healthy self-care for trauma is an essential part of regaining a sense of empowerment and self-esteem.⁠ ⁠ Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/euT_Nf76

Daily gratitude allows you to put life into perspective, especially when things feel challenging. The more you practice gratitude, the more you will start to recognize the small virtues each day.⁠ ⁠ You can complete this task by yourself or with your partner. Before you go to sleep, write down, or describe the best parts of your day. Start with three, but feel free to add more. ⁠

You recognize that you're struggling with your mental health, and maybe you feel ambivalent about seeking treatment.⁠ ⁠ Many clients benefit from therapy. But what if you met with someone in the past, and you just weren't all that impressed? Was it them? Was it you?⁠ ⁠ Bad experiences in therapy do happen. Maybe you felt dismissed by a certain mental health professional. Regardless, these negative moments can make it hard to want to reach out for support again. Click here for more: https://lnkd.in/evcs9UxQ