Mental Health: The Up & Up!

Mental health has become a big topic in society, and we see it being referenced and included in many of the shows and books we read. As a therapist, Geralyn has strong opinions about how mental healthcare is used and represented. So we discussed different therapists on TV and how well/poorly they showcased Mental Health! We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk...

What is Existentialism? It's one of those vague sounding words that feels important... Simply put, Existentialism is just the study of how we, as humans exist, and how it's different than how a dog, a bee, or that chair over there exists. When we think too hard on this, it can leave us feeling both overwhelmed and underwhelmed with life, so it's important to take it easy and study a little at a ti...

Cognitive Distortions are beliefs that may not be true or false; maybe they're just distorted, from looking through the wrong lense? Sometimes this is helpful, and sometimes... Not so much. It's good to pause and reflect on these distortions, and check in with how well they are serving you in building the life you want. We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk...

Auto thoughts assemble themselves! That's the whole point. These are the thought reactions we have to everyday situations. And sometimes those autothoughts get in the way of what we need/want to be in the world. So it's worth pausing to reflect on what thoughts jump in our heads and lead us to act/react in different ways. We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We tal...

Not all therapy is good or helpful. I have heard a few people share about trying to seek help and having a therapist say, "Well you just can't be helped" or "That's not even a thing!" It's appalling how many people have had this negative experience. and we are so sorry it happens! Unfortunately, therapists are people too, and there are good ones and bad ones, and ones we click with and ones we don...

Why do I struggle to do the thing I KNOW will help me?? There are a few possible reasons: Do you know how? Are you motivated and ready to build this habit? Is there something else that seems more important right now? Even if none of these questions apply, don't lose hope! Sometimes the answer is hidden in the void, and we just have to keep working at it to find Jupiter.

We've all been on the receiving end of bad apologies. And if we're honest, we've probably given some awful ones too. There are 5 parts of an apology, and we aim to hit at least 3 every time we need to reconcile. Which 3 are important depends on the situation: 5 Parts Of Apology: Sincere Feeling Acknowledgement Explanation Plan To Change Amends

Dissecting anxiety even more; What is the difference between anxiety, panic attacks, or PTSD? Most media make them sound interchangeable. www.upandupwellness.com We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk with Therapists, but this is not therapy! This is general information and ideas to help you pursue your own journey of wellness.

During our Podcast about Insomnia and sleep, we got on a rabbit trail about nightmares, and how the patterns in nightmares are the OPPOSITE of what we practice to help us relax; To relax, we use patterns and visualizations that move down or away from us (ex. Climbing down a staircase, counting sheep as they run away). In nightmares, often the pattern is upward, or closer (The monster is getting cl...

Time to use the sleeps! But what's actually going on when we sleep, and how do we help ourselves when sleep feels impossible? From the mechanics of sleep, to insomnia and dreams, our theory is that sleep is your bodies chance to sort itself out and heal from the stress of the day. Give yourself a sleeping chance; remember that those anxieties and stressors keeping your brain spiraling are there fo...

Last time we discussed the nuts and bolts of finding a counselor near you, that takes your insurance. But how do you know you've found a good one? Above all, your therapist should make you feel heard, understood, and safe. If any one of those is missing, then it's time to evaluate your options. We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk with Therapists, but this...

How do I help myself with anxiety? This is the question that spurred an entire google deep dive, and a 5 year rant for me, because the resources that are available online are... not helpful. Geralyn and I are deep diving into what anxiety is, to give you the building blocks of coping when your brain won't let you relax. shop more resources: www.upandupwellness.com We want to make mental health car...

You've heard the phrase, "Stuck between a rock and a hard place?" It's kinda like that. When you know that if you act or don't, it will make 'the problem' worse. Shop more resources: www.upandupwellness.com We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk with Therapists, but this is not therapy! This is general information and ideas to help you pursue your own journey...

I would much rather plow through my workday and try and get everything done before I run out of steam! But doing so often leaves me feeling burnt out and tense at the end of the day, and downright cranky. Maybe there's something to these work breaks they force us to take! www.upandupwellness.com We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk with Therapists, but this...

Hold up: This is NOT one more video encouraging you to exercise for your mental health (though that's good too). We're talking about specific motions and gestures, and how the physical acting out of a feeling can help you work it through (example: rubbing your chin in thought, or shaking your fist in frustration). This is great news for those of us who talk with our hands! www.upandupwellness.com...

We've talked about what counseling is and why we do it, now lets dig in: How do you get started?? How do you find a counselor, particularly one that can help with your specific need? There are several resources for finding therapists in your area, including your own medical insurance and Psychologytoday.com . Check out our shop for more resources to aid you in your wellness journey: www.upandupwel...

We want to make mental health care clear, helpful and maybe even fun! We talk with Therapists, but this is not therapy! This is general information and ideas to help you pursue your own journey of wellness. To start off, let's talk about what counseling is, and why we bother seeing a therapist.

There is so much pressure wrapped up in getting each other the perfect gift! Every store, every toy company, every jeweler has their opinion on the matter... But what actually makes a good gift? Step away from the commercials, and let's discuss...

We're asking the big question: Is Santa Real?? This is for all the parents wondering whether it's healthy or not to talk about Santa. We're talking about the deeper meanings and the different ways to frame the conversation.