Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well With Mental Illness

🧠 Mental Health Fact of the Week Just 1–5 minutes of morning sunlight can boost mood, improve focus, and regulate your sleep-wake cycle 🌞🧠. Small daily light exposure = big mental health benefits! Summary: Did you know that just a few minutes of morning sunlight can enhance mood, regulate sleep, and improve focus? 🌿 This simple habit, practiced daily, supports mental clarity, emotional well-being, and resilience 💛. Why It Works Morning sunlight exposure helps reset your circadian rhythm, boosting serotonin levels and promoting better sleep at night 🌅. Just 1–5 minutes a day can make a noticeable difference, especially for those with irregular sleep patterns or seasonal mood fluctuations 🌤️. Quick Tips to Start Step Outside ☀️ – Find a spot with direct sunlight. Keep It Short ⏱️ – Aim for 1–5 minutes. Consistency is Key 🔑 – Make it part of your morning routine. No Sun? No Problem 💡 – Use a light therapy lamp as an alternative. Why It Matters Inco...

Mental Health Recovery Tip of the Week A gentle tool for focusing on joy Grow Your Joyspan: How to Build Lasting Joy in Daily Life 🌿✨ Summary: Feeling stuck in fleeting happiness? Focus on your joyspan,  the practice of cultivating enduring joy in daily life 🌞. These simple strategies can boost your mental health, resilience, and overall wellbeing 💛. What Is Joyspan? Joyspan, a term coined by gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight , refers to the intentional cultivation of lasting joy, not just short bursts of happiness 🌈. Unlike temporary moods, joyspan grows over time through mindful habits and consistent self-care, creating a more fulfilling, resilient life 🌱. 5 Practical Ways to Build Your Joyspan: Savor Joyful Moments ☕ Pause and fully experience moments that bring you happiness, even if they seem small, like a warm cup of tea or a kind gesture. Practice Gratitude 🙏 Keep a daily gratitude journal or reflect on what you’re thankful for. Shifting focus to positivi...

Monthly Mental Health Spotlight August/September 2025 Edition Written By: Aaron Smith Curated By: Caralyn Dreyer Finding Home: Aaron’s Story Every so often, I come across a story that reminds me why I do what I do. Aaron Smith’s journey is one of those stories. His path through questioning faith, exploring altered states, falling into addiction, and finding peace through yoga nidra is not just compelling; it’s a reminder that mental health recovery can take many forms. I’m honored to share his story here. Summary Aaron Smith’s mental health recovery journey began with a teenage mystical experience, took a detour into addiction, and ultimately found grounding in yoga nidra. His story is raw, inspiring, and full of insights for anyone seeking healing. Key Insights Aaron Smith overcame anxiety, depression, and addiction through yoga nidra, a meditative practice he describes as both instantly rewarding and deeply transformative. It became the key to his mental, emotional, and spiritual hea...

Somatic Psychology: How Trauma Lives in the Body, and What It Means for Mental Health Recovery Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes Summary Trauma and stress aren’t just in your mind; they live in your body. This post explores somatic psychology, showing how understanding and working with bodily sensations can strengthen emotional healing, reduce relapse risk, and create a more holistic recovery journey. Key Takeaway Somatic psychology connects body sensations to emotional healing, revealing how trauma is stored physically. Recognizing and working with these signals supports mental health recovery and sustainable emotional regulation. When the Body Remembers I remember the days when anxiety felt like a heavy weight pressing on my chest, and exhaustion seemed to settle deep in my muscles, no matter how much I rested. My body held stress and pain I couldn’t name; a silent echo of past trauma. "Healing my mind wasn’t enough; my body needed attention too." It took time to realize that...

    July/August 2025 Edition 🧭 Feature Spotlight: Joe Matulewicz From Darkness to Direction Author’s Note: This month’s feature was written by me, Caralyn Dreyer. I had the privilege of interviewing Joe and writing this piece based on our conversation. His story is shared here with his permission. The transition from military life to civilian reality is often painted as a proud homecoming, but for many veterans, it’s a quiet unraveling. Beneath the surface of structure, service, and strength, there can be confusion, loss of identity, and the haunting echo of unresolved battles. This month, we’re spotlighting someone who knows that terrain well. Joe’s story is one of honesty, resilience, and the ongoing work of redefining what it means to heal, not just for himself, but for the community he now serves. 🕯 Transitioning from the Military: Letting Go of Perfection Joe shared that adjusting to life after service came with unexpected emotional weight. The image of perfection, so i...

Patterns or Personality? How to Tell the Difference in Mental Health Recovery Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes Summary  When you’re healing from mental illness or trauma, it’s easy to confuse learned coping behaviors with your true personality. This post explains how to distinguish between patterns and traits, why this distinction is important, and how it can facilitate genuine change in your recovery journey. Key Takeaway Patterns are learned behaviors shaped by environment, trauma, or mental illness, while personality traits are more stable, biologically influenced tendencies. Recognizing the difference helps you change what’s changeable and embrace what’s authentically you. When I Thought My Patterns Were Me I used to believe my avoidance, people-pleasing, and overthinking were “just my personality.” Friends described me that way. But when I began my healing journey, I learned these weren’t my true nature, they were survival strategies I’d developed over years of stress and trauma...

Mental Health in the News: August 2025 🕓 Estimated Read Time: 9 minutes Illinois Restricts AI Therapy: A Victory for Safe Mental Health Recovery Article Summary Illinois became the first U.S. state to ban AI chatbots from delivering mental health therapy or making clinical decisions. This landmark legislation prioritizes human oversight in mental health care, raising essential ethical questions as AI tools become more prevalent. Key Takeaway Illinois passed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources (WOPR) Act, which prohibits AI systems from providing therapy unless licensed professionals supervise them. Violations may result in fines up to $10,000. ( IDFPR , Axios ) What Is Happening? Background and Legislation Details AI-powered chatbots have surged in popularity, offering immediate, accessible mental health support, especially where traditional care is scarce. These tools can engage users with empathetic language, provide mood tracking, and offer mindfulness exercis...

🔍 What It  Really  Takes to Rewrite Patterns After Trauma, Diagnosis, or Burnout 🕓  Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes 🧠 Article Summary Reconditioning isn’t just about changing behaviors; it’s about healing your nervous system, rewiring automatic thoughts, and creating real, embodied change.  This post explores what reconditioning actually means and why it’s an essential (and often overlooked) part of sustainable mental health recovery. ✨ From Reaction to Resilience: How I Began to Recondition My Mind There was a time in my recovery when I genuinely believed I was broken, because I kept reacting the same way to familiar triggers, even after I had “done the work.” Journaling, reflecting, celebrating small wins... none of it seemed to stop the return of survival-mode reactions when I felt abandoned or unseen. But what I’ve since learned is this: I wasn’t broken, I was conditioned. And what I needed wasn’t just more insight. I needed  reconditioning . Reconditionin...