Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well With Mental Illness

Summary Sometimes, healing looks like an emotional shutdown, and it can feel like a sign of strength. But that numbness may be a detour, not a sign you’re doing better. In this post, you’ll learn how to tell whether you’re truly building resilience or just shutting your feelings off, and why it matters. Quick Insight Strength in recovery is about being emotionally present and processing what comes up. Numbness, although it may feel protective, is an emotional disconnection that can hinder true healing. My Story: When Feeling Nothing Seemed Like Something I remember the moment clearly: I thought I was "strong" because I didn’t cry at that old trigger, couldn't remember why it used to hurt me so much. Later, I realized I wasn’t strong; I was numb. I’d shut down to survive, and that numbness felt like peace…until it didn’t. Over time, I learned the real sign of strength wasn’t not crying, it was feeling and surviving the tears. I began noticing when I was processing emotions...

🧠 Mental Health Fact of the Week How Music Boosts Mental Health and Emotional Wellness Why Music Affects Mood Listening to music that matches your emotions can help you process difficult feelings Uplifting or energizing music reduces stress and increases positive emotions Music activates brain regions linked to reward, motivation, and emotional regulation How to Use Music for Mental Health Choose music that resonates with your current mood to process emotions Add uplifting tracks to lift energy and improve outlook Create playlists for relaxation, focus, or emotional reflection Benefits for Your Mental Health Reduces stress and anxiety Enhances mood and emotional resilience Supports mindfulness and self-reflection Explore More Unlock the Power of Music Research Support For science-backed evidence on music and emotional wellness, check: Frontiers in Psychology – Music and Emotion FAQ Q: Can music really improve mental health? A: Yes. Research shows music...

  Summary  Many of us rely on coping strategies that feel helpful but actually slow our mental health recovery. This post reveals the hidden cost of these habits and shows practical ways to shift them for lasting resilience. What You Need to Know Not all coping skills are created equal. Some may soothe temporarily, but keep you stuck in patterns that slow recovery. Recognizing which strategies limit your growth and replacing them with healthier alternatives can accelerate healing and build resilience. Learning from My Own Coping Patterns For years, I relied on coping skills that felt “helpful,” but in reality, they were keeping me stuck. When I struggled with depression, anxiety, and trauma, I withdrew from friends and family. I believed that avoiding conflict or painful emotions would protect me, but it only amplified my isolation and shame. I also turned to distractions, social media scrolling, overworking, or overplanning—to numb emotional pain. These habits gave te...

Summary  Have you ever felt fear quietly creep in, years after a painful experience, as if your body suddenly remembered before your mind did? That’s retrospective trauma, and that late-arriving fear often marks deeper recovery, not relapse. Quick Answer Retrospective trauma occurs when fear or distress surfaces long after the original trauma. Rather than being a setback, it can be a sign you’re finally safe enough to process what happened. Recognizing it as part of your healing journey empowers recovery, rather than derailing it. When Silence Speaks: Learning to Listen to the Fear That Shows Up Late In many recovery journeys, whether from PTSD, chronic anxiety, or deep mental health wounds, fear doesn’t always happen in the moment. It can show up later, sometimes years after the painful event. And that isn’t failure. It's healing. Symptoms might emerge as sudden panic, disturbing memories, or creeping dread. Instead of panicking, consider pausing. This isn’t a regression; it may b...

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 trauma isn’t only a mental phenomenon. Somatic psychology taught me that my nervous system, mu...

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...

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...