Posts in mental health
impostor syndrome
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When I started posting here I had no expectations for what might come of this page, I just wanted to share information that might be helpful.

Even as an experienced therapist, I definitely experience impostor syndrome and have to remind myself that I deserve the success I’m seeing in my life, both personally and professionally.

Impostor syndrome is an internal experience where someone doubts their accomplishments and has feelings of not being good enough, smart enough, or “real enough". 😓

Despite any evidence to the contrary, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they do not deserve what they have achieved. People with this experience (most frequently studied in high achieving women) incorrectly attribute their success to luck, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent than they perceive themselves to be. 

Anyone out there struggle with the experience of impostor syndrome? I promise you’re not alone! 💕

overthinking vs impulsivity

When I was a teenager and young adult, I feel like I couldn’t stop making impulse decisions and made most of my choices based on my gut feelings alone.

Now that I’m an adult, I feel like I can’t make an impulse decision to save my life! 😅

My anxiety drives the bus 🚌 so much more than it did when I was young- instead of being chronically impulsive, now I’m a chronic overthinker!! 

I think it’s important in all realms of life to practice skills we need to work on, so today I’m going to try and “trust my gut” on something and just go with it- obviously I’m not talking about anything risky or dangerous- but maybe ordering a coffee I don’t usually get or taking a different way to get to work, just to challenge the ol’ thinker. 

Love this art from @bethdrawsthings

Love this art from @bethdrawsthings

nature medicine
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Went for a hike this weekend in #ForestPark here in Portland. Trying to get out into the woods more since the weathers been cooler! 

Nature 🌼 has a hugely understated affect on our mental health. Studies show spending time outdoors can reduce levels of anxiety, increase our happiness and sense of connectedness, increase focus and attention, and helps us bounce back from stressful situations quicker.

Evidence shows that having more regular exposure to green spaces 🌿 decreases our chances for anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. Spending time outdoors had also been proven to decreases cortisol levels, reduces blood pressure, and can even reduce chronic pain. 

As a society, we have not yet accepted that nature can function as such a strong protective factor for both mental and physical health!

Has anyone experienced positive effects of nature on their body or mind? I want to hear your stories! 💚