Author name: Mary Joan Brinson

Recognizing postpartum depression might not be as easy as you think. There are two reasons for this: It doesn’t always look like typical depression Many women will hide their symptoms and suffering for fear of being judged Some mothers will experience more classic depression symptoms where it is difficult to function, they do not want […]

Addictions hurt. They hurt the individual who struggles with them. They hurt the people who love them. Sometimes addiction is easy to spot, while other times it is more easily disguised. But the harsh reality is that addiction interferes with how we see ourselves, how we cope with the challenges life throws at us, and

Creating good strong relationships can be hard work – even under the best of circumstances. But when you factor in an experience of childhood emotional neglect – it can feel impossible. Sadly, adults who experienced childhood emotional neglect did not get what they emotionally needed as children. As a result, they often experience some of

Emotional neglect is hard to identify. It is created by what did not happen and it does not leave physical injuries or scars. And it is confusing to those who experience it. Emotional neglect is not the same as child abuse as it is often unintentional. It occurs when parents are unable to recognize and respond to the

Disordered Eating or Eating Disorder – What is the Difference? Many people have a messed-up relationship with food. And whether it is a full-blown eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, or disordered eating – they all cause physical and psychological harm. And sadly, research suggests up to 50 percent of us suffer from some

I was a girl who looked perfectly happy and healthy but internally I was broken, torn apart, and completely consumed by disordered eating and exercising obsessively. Not everyone who struggles with an eating disorder has the stereotypical anorexic body type. It may not be visible on the outside, but the internal struggle is real. This

Life has beaten you down.You are tired.You feel lost and hopeless.The motivation and desires that once characterized who you are, are gone.And this feels bad. It feels really bad. We all experience occasional ups and downs but when we get hit with one big challenge after another, it affects how we feel. It also affects

Do you struggle with feeling hopeless or helpless? It is impossible to have a positive sense of wellbeing if you are plagued with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.It is important to recognize that there are steps you can take to improve how you feel creating a new sense of empowerment. If you find yourself feeling

Parents are struggling. They have been struggling since mid-March when a two-week extension to March break became a six-month hiatus from school as we knew it. Many have become reluctant home-schoolers. Many have had to balance the anxiety associated with being an essential worker and the threat of bringing the virus home to their families. Many

Parenting is a tough gig. We all want to do it so well – but I believe it is the hardest job in the world. It has certainly been the hardest job I have ever done. I thought I would be a natural parent – I had always loved kids and knew I wanted to be