October often feels like the quiet drumroll before the holiday season begins. At the end of the month, we kick off with Halloween—a favorite for both kids and adults. Then comes November and Thanksgiving, which quickly rolls into December with Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more. Lastly, but not least, January marks the beginning of the New Year.

That’s four months of celebrations, expectations, and transitions all stacked together. It’s no wonder that, for many, October is when we start to prepare mentally. We make lists. We check our calendars. We start thinking about travel plans, gifts, budgets, and all the moving parts that make up “the holidays.”

But let’s pause here and check in.

The start of a new school year brings a flurry of activity. After the slower pace of summer, we return to alarm clocks, structured schedules, lesson plans, after-school activities, and packed calendars. On the surface, it may feel like everyone is “back to normal.” But beneath that structure, many teachers and parents are carrying stress, worry, or fatigue that’s often overlooked or disregarded. 

This season brings unique challenges. It’s a time of transition, and with that transition comes pressure, responsibility, and emotional strain. That’s why, this month, I encourage you to pause and check in with yourself.

“I just want to know who I really am.”

This is one of the most common and vulnerable statements I hear from adults in therapy. And often, it’s whispered between tears or after a long pause, when someone has spent years living according to expectations, roles, or inherited beliefs without stopping to ask: Is this actually me?

“I hate how my legs look in shorts.”

“I’ll never be a good partner.”

“I don’t work hard enough, no wonder I’m failing.”

Have you ever caught yourself thinking thoughts like these? Maybe you’ve stood in front of a mirror, picking apart every detail of your appearance. Or maybe you made a mistake at work, in your relationship, in parenting, and the harsh commentary inside your mind kicked in instantly: “Why can’t I ever get it right?”

Now pause for a moment. Imagine someone you love, a friend, a sister, a child, saying these exact things about themselves. Would you agree with them? Would you nod and say, “Yes, you’re right, you are failing”?

Probably not. You’d remind them of their worth, their effort, their strengths. 

So why does your inner voice speak to you so differently?

You know where you want to be.

You’ve named your obstacles. You might have even written them down, cried over them, or maybe even brought them up in therapy.

You’re aware that you’re stuck–not in a hopeless way, but in that deeply frustrating way. 

You tell yourself you want to change. That you need to change. But you just can’t seem to get going.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. For some of your friends and family, it’s a warm celebration filled with flowers, brunch, and heartfelt cards. But that warm fuzziness seems a pipe dream for you. It’s a complicated day that puts a knot in your stomach and an ache in your heart.

The world feels heavy right now. The political climate is exhausting. Women’s health and autonomy are under constant debate. Starting a family feels more uncertain than ever. If you’re trans or in an LGBTQIA+ relationship, there are still far too many barriers to simply existing safely, let alone attempting things like adopting a child or accessing affirming healthcare. All of this—on top of the regular stress of daily life—can make maintaining mental health an uphill battle.

In moments like this, we need to ask ourselves these questions: Who’s in our community? More specifically, who’s in our mental health community?

Ding. Another notification.

Scroll. Another tragic news update.

Click. Another video warning of impending doom.

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Social media, especially news-heavy content that we’re all so plugged into now, can quickly become overwhelming. With TikTok’s FYP feeding us a never-ending stream of information and Instagram Reels pulling us into an emotional whirlwind (not to mention the plethora of other social media feeds,) it’s easy to feel consumed by the weight of the world.

Let’s face it—communication can be hard. It’s something we all rely on to build relationships, express ourselves, and navigate through life. Yet, for some reason, it often feels like one of the trickiest skills to master. What makes it even harder is how deeply tied communication is to our mental health. Whether it’s the way we talk to others or the way we speak to ourselves, the words we use and the stories we tell play a huge role in shaping how we feel, how we perceive the world, and how we connect with the people in our lives.

Yes, it really is a new year. Whether it snuck up on you, or you’ve been looking forward to flipping over a new calendar, one thing may still be at the forefront of your mind: your mental health. And if so, you’re not alone. 

What do you think of when you hear the word family? Do you think of your brothers and sisters, parents, uncles, and aunts? Or do you think of some of your closest friends, neighbors, or colleagues? For some, the word family is no longer restricted to biological ties or legal connections and instead includes the close-knit circle of friends and loved ones we bring into our lives. These people, who truly get us, stand by us, and fill spaces traditional family might not always reach are who we call “chosen family.”

If you're a Charlotte local and are maybe seeking ways to connect with your community while nurturing your mental health, this post about meditation is for you. I’ll guide you through how to dip your toes into meditation and share five great places in Charlotte where you can practice.

Learn more about what matters most when looking for a good therapist in Charlotte, NC.

Life is a crazy, beautiful, brutal, and joyous journey, filled with transitions, some monumental and others so subtle they almost go unnoticed. While major life transitions—such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, or the loss of a loved one—often garner attention and support from those around us, it’s the smaller, subtler shifts that can go unnoticed, and unfortunately, unsupported.

Whether you’re experiencing highs or lows, we all seek (and need) connection. We need people who help us move, to watch our kids, to help us set up a party. We need people to turn to for advice, who we reach out to when we’re feeling hopeless, or who we know will just listen patiently. From the earliest days of humanity, having a community has been essential for survival, growth, and happiness.

As much as we may fight our emotions as human beings, they're designed to help us; to alert us when something is dangerous or pleasurable. Sometimes though, we experience emotions that seem out of control, or jarring, and leave us reeling in their wake. These situations and individuals that evoke strong emotional reactions are called triggers. And if left unmanaged can cause obstacles in our lives.

For such a deeply rewarding profession, teaching is incredibly demanding. In the last few years, teachers have grappled with how to connect with, teach, and organize classrooms during a pandemic, support the learning gaps and needs of students post-pandemic, and continue to struggle with the ever-present lack of resources, funding, and support.

Relationships can be beautiful, frustrating, joyous, traumatic, and so much more. But they can be particularly messy when one foundational part of us is lacking: self-love.

I get it! Sometimes it's not easy to voice your opinions or stand up for yourself, especially if you grapple with anxiety and/or depression. When we can't voice our desires, needs, or opinions, we feel powerless and frustrated. Learn how to self-advocate and set boundaries in this article.

Therapy really is for everyone. Read more about how counseling and therapy are essential components of holistic well-being, regardless of life's perceived magnitude of challenges.