With Love, Alexa

Be Forever Strong

Staying Forever Strong with Rachael Tomlinson

Today on Staying Strong Forever Strong I spoke with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis warrior and I loved hearing her honesty.

What do you suffer from?

Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

When were you diagnosed?

2018

What was it like when you were diagnosed?

A relief as what I had been experiencing finally had a name and I wasn’t being dismissed

Did you know a lot about your condition?

Not a lot no

What was your support system like? What is it like now?

I have been fortunate to have a good support system of family and friends

What is the hardest part about dealing with (issue)?

Accepting that my deterioration is permanent

What is a piece of advice you have for anyone who is just being diagnosed?

No two people with MS have it the same, you will go through a rollercoaster of emotions, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

What is a piece of advice you have for someone who doesn’t understand or believe?

Not all disabilties and illness is visable

What helps to keep you Forever Strong?

That’s a tough one because I am not sure I always am.

Staying Forever Strong Interview with Clinical Social Worker Monica Goodwin

I loved talking with Monica Goodwin all about how she got into her profession. She shared with us the best and hardest part of her career and advice she has for people suffering.

What is your profession and title?

Clinical Social Worker LLMSW

Why did you decide to go into Your Profession?

I wanted to be in the helping profession because I believe that everyone can benefit from therapy. I know that when a person finds the right “fit” with a therapist it can open up the door to tremendous growth and personal awareness. There’s a safety within the walls of that alliance that promotes introspection and change. I want to be that source of light for my clients.

What is the best thing about what you do?

I like being the person who can be there for my clients, helping them to feel heard, offering them honesty and a safe forum where they won’t be judged.

What is the hardest thing about what you do?

Pain and grief will find its way to each of us no matter what we do. I can’t eliminate pain and grief .. but I can listen.

What is some advice you have for those struggling with (mental health, illness and or pain)?

I think it’s important to reach out to someone, don’t suffer alone. Additionally, find ways to focus your mental energy in a mindful way because your thoughts can impact your physicality.

What does mental health mean to you?

Just like your physical health, your mental health is equally important. Mental health means an awareness of your emotional and psychological states and taking care of both. Getting help when you need it and not being embarrassed or afraid to say “I’m not ok today”.

What is a day in the life like for you at work?

It varies .. no day is exactly the same because no client is exactly the same.

How do you separate work from home life, especially if it was a tough day?

That can be tough some days. Life is messy and difficult and sometimes extremely unfair. Most therapists are empaths, meaning they feel others pain, so obviously it can impact our lives because we are human. That’s why self care is stressed so highly in our field. Being aware of burnout, taking time to to meditate, work out, or talk to our own therapist can help. I have a great support system of family and friends Sometimes just being with the people I love and practicing gratitude helps me.

Have you had any experince with (mental health, pain or illness) and has that helped or hindered you with work?

I don’t think anyone gets through life without dealing with something painful, either physically or mentally. For me, knowing that I have been able to weather many difficult storms in my own life has given me an awareness that no matter what is happening in life, it keeps moving forward .. change is happening every moment of our days.. so just take each moment as it comes, be in that moment and if it doesn’t feel good right now, maybe it will be better in five minutes, five hours or five days.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you or the field?

I love the helping profession and I worked very hard to earn my MSW while raising my family and going to school at the same time. I had an amazing support system who pushed me to accomplish my goal of being a therapist. There’s that story about a little boy on a beach with thousands of starfish that are washed ashore and how he throws one back periodically as he’s walking along the beach.. his friend asks how it can help throwing one back periodically when there are so many starfish left and the boy responds “ it helps the ones I can throw back”.. I can’t help everyone but if I can help even one person I’m happy.

Staying Forever Strong with Professional Counselor Kelly Houseman

I loved getting to know Counselor Kelly Houseman and hearing about she got started in counseling. She is truly an inspiring human and I am thankful to have friended her.

Why did you decide to go into (your profession)?

I have seen the power of therapy in my personal life and by countless friends and family that have surrounded me from a young age. I was such a believer in it that I decided to make that my career and have the privilege of being a guiding light in someone else’s life as well.

What is the best thing about what you do?

Seeing progress and watching a client transform themselves and achieve their goals. Watching the journey of finally figuring out how to live the life someone can be grateful, hopeful and enjoy is the best feeling.

What is the hardest thing about what you do?

Many times people come to therapy with a “fix me” attitude and aren’t ready to put in the work and difficult feelings that change brings about. It can be frustrating for the client and therapist when this happens and someone continues to be stuck. That’s when we both have to get creative in how to make it work.

What is some advice you have for those struggling with (mental health, illness and or pain)?

Know that there are other people out there who think like you even if it seems like you’re the only one. Don’t keep the feelings bottled up-talking to a caring therapist is one of the best reliefs for that! There are so many tools, techniques and support out there we can find something that works for you.

What does mental health mean to you?

Mental health means accepting each emotion as it comes through your body and not judging it but knowing you are capable of working through it. Its confidence in yourself and contentment with the past and present while looking forward to the future.

What is a day in the life like for you at work?

I typically see clients back to back and it is all virtual now so that is a change! I spend 50 minutes truly connecting with each person and breaking down their goals, feelings and questions.

How do you separate work from home life, especially if it was a tough day?

I usually give myself a few moments at the end of the work day to process and breathe. When I go downstairs to take on the role of mom and wife I put my work in a box with a lock on it and transition to being present in the moment with who and what I am doing. Of course there are times I think about a client but I am really working on the mindfulness aspect of life and that helps tremendously.

Have you had any experince with (mental health, pain or illness) and has that helped or hindered you with work?

Our grad school encouraged all counseling students to try therapy so we knew what it felt like on the other side. I have proudly been in therapy myself and am the first one to sing its praises and recommend it to everyone.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you or the field?

I have a mental health podcast and YouTube channel (Kelly’s Reality) where I interview celebrities on how they got to where they are and how they take care of themselves to stay at the top.

If you want to learn more about Kelly you can check her out below.

Website: http://www.kellysreality.com

Instagram: @KellyHouseman

Facebook: @KellysReality

Warriors: Are You or Someone You Know Struggling?

Dear Warriors,
I want to start by telling you to stop what you are doing and breathe.

In through your nose and out through your mouth.

Once again, in through your nose and out through your mouth.

I also wanted to say that YOU are among the strongest people I know and NEVER forget that.

We all go through ups and downs in life, and unfortunately, no one gets off easy. One day we are scrolling through social media and see people who just got a new job, got married, or went on the best vacation of their lives. There could be a tad bit of jealousy if we aren’t currently in a happy place. That’s okay, but it doesn’t mean they are in a healthy place either.

We as warriors also known as humans tend to post more when we are happy than when we are struggling. So it’s easy to get caught up in the moment due to that notion.

I want you to know it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel. It’s okay to talk about it.

What’s not okay is to judge others for how they feel. To tell someone “to get over it” and to belittle someone.

If you are on the receiving end of any of the above 3, stand up for yourself. Back away from that person if you have to, but most of all, DON’T listen to their nonsense.

We are all made to feel, hurt, laugh, cry, and be strong. We need to take the time to understand and empathize with others. It’s essential to give everyone the same respect you would want.

Maybe today you are happy and living your best life. Perhaps you are reading this and have never known much about struggling. If that’s the case, then think about how you would want someone to treat a loved one who was suffering and give them the same respect. You never know what might happen from one day to the next.

Life is a journey, and it’s essential to take it one day at a time and live in the moment.

Lastly, I want to bring one point back. No matter what you or your loved ones are going through, know YOU are, and will always be FOREVER STRONG.

With Love,

Alexa

Staying Forever Strong with Jenny of Life’s a Polyp

Today on Staying Forever Strong I interviewed Jenny of Life’s a Polyp. She is a strong warrior and I am so proud to share her story and the lessons she has learned along the way.

What do you suffer from?

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Short Bowel Syndrome.

When were you diagnosed?

Age 8

What was it like when you were diagnosed?

I was diagnosed with fap after seeing a GI specialist for stomach pain. After surgeries to remove my colon and part of my small intestine I was diagnosed with sbs.

Did you know a lot about your condition?

Not at the time but I

5 Things to do to Help You Stay Strong

There are so many ways for us to stay strong, but it can be hard to pinpoint “the perfect” one. Many people struggle mentally, physically, and emotionally due to lack of jobs, lack of places to go, and just overall worry. I have been interviewing people about how they stay strong during hard times, and I have listed a few of my favorites.

Staying Connected

Staying connected can mean multiple things. You can stay connected with loved ones but also stay connected with yourself. The one good thing with technology is that it makes it so much easier to stay involved with loved ones worldwide.

We have social media that you can keep people in your life updated on what is going on. It is a great way to connect with people we have lost touch with or meeting new people. Nowadays, Zoom has been a great form of communication for work, doing online learning, and even staying in touch with family. I have seen people using for family get-togethers that maybe can’t happen in person.

There is also our connection with ourselves, which can help you to stay healthy. It is always essential to check on yourself and your mental health. When you are feeling down, try and let yourself feel those emotions rather than hiding it. The more we distract ourselves, the worse we may end up feeling because eventually, everything will come to the surface.

The most important takeaway from this is listening to your body and your emotions because they will guide you to where you need to be.

Spending Time Outdoors

Even if it’s just for a few minutes a day, spending time outdoors can help change your mood. I have noticed that there are days that I don’t want to move from my bed, but when I force myself to get up and go outside, I tend to feel better. I find it necessary not to turn it into a chore but a healthy habit because when an activity becomes a chore, it becomes less inviting.

 We are all busy, so going for walks with a friend is like killing two birds with one stone. You get to have time with a friend while also doing something good for you.

Picking Up a New Hobby

If you are feeling stuck, try a new hobby, or pick up a hobby, you may have stopped for a while. A few of my favorite things to do are reading, coloring, writing, and crafting. In my opinion, one of the best ways to get lost for a few hours is to pick up a good book. My favorite genre is romance, and there are days I could read for hours. I know it is a good book when I feel like I am living the story with characters.

I have heard from other people that they like to cook/bake when they are struggling. Working out can be a great hobby to pick up.

If you like to learn, think about picking up an online class or two on a topic of your choice. My favorite online learning source is UDEMY. They are relatively cheap and have thousands of courses to pick from.

Mediation

A way to connect with yourself (one above) is to meditate. That can be through apps or just sitting alone in a room and breathing. I am slowly getting into mediation, but I have heard of some great apps, including headspace, calm, insight timer, and more.

There is no right way to meditate. It is all about you and how you want to do it.

Faith

Many of the other ideas above are things we can do to stay strong, but one thing we don’t always talk about is faith. Faith can sometimes feel like a taboo subject because when someone talks about it, they are trying to convert us to believe what they believe. The truth is faith is magical and can be a lot of different things.

Faith can be religion or a G-D, but it can also be a belief in yourself. To me, faith can be looking at a higher power and knowing that whatever happens is meant to be. I believe in myself, and I know that life is scary, but it is also exciting. I have had a few near-death experiences, and because of that, I believe everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we don’t need “something” to stay healthy, but maybe just a simple thought.

The list of ideas about what we can do to are endless, and it is a process. Unfortunately, nothing comes easy, but always know you are a powerful individual, and whatever happens, it will all work out.

***Disclaimer: The ideas and thoughts are just my own opinions, and I am not speaking for anyone but myself.

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