Mental Health Archives - Blossom Counseling

How Creativity Boosts Brain Health and Emotional Wellbeing

When we think about taking care of our mental health, we often go straight to the usual suspects: therapy, mindfulness, exercise, maybe some journaling or deep breathing. But creativity? That one doesn’t always make the list—though it absolutely should. Creativity isn’t just for artists or “right-brained” people. It’s for anyone with a brain (so, all […]

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Emotions, Mental Health, Wellness

8 Subtle Signs You’re Healing from Anxiety (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It Yet)

Healing from anxiety doesn’t always come with a neon sign or a dramatic “aha” moment. Sometimes, it’s quiet. It can look like noticing your own thoughts instead of being ruled by them. It might feel like breathing just a little easier in situations that used to send your heart racing. Anxiety can be persistent and

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Anxiety, Healing, Mental Health, Personal Development

What Are “Spoons”? Understanding the Spoon Theory in Mental Health

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m out of spoons today,” and wondered what on earth they meant, you’re not alone. It’s not about forgetting to do the dishes—it’s a shorthand that’s taken root in disability and mental health communities to describe something many of us struggle to explain: limited energy. The Spoon Theory, coined

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Acceptance, Anxiety, Boundaries, Challenges, College/Students, Compassion, Coping Skills, Couples, Family, Friends, Mental Health, Relationships, Stress

Why Brain Breaks Matter: The Science of Pausing to Boost Focus and Mental Health

In a culture that glorifies being busy, taking a break can feel like slacking off. Whether you’re a student grinding through assignments, a professional hopping from one Zoom call to another, or a parent juggling a hundred mental tabs, stopping—even for a minute—can feel counterintuitive. But the truth is, our brains aren’t designed to run

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Acceptance, Coping Skills, Goals, Mental Health, Professional/Work, Resilience

Color Psychology: How Colors Quietly Influence Your Mood (Without You Even Noticing)

Ever walk into a coffee shop and instantly feel cozy, or notice how hospitals always seem to go heavy on the beige? That’s not a coincidence. It’s color psychology at work. Colors do way more than make a room look nice. They set the mood, influence how we think, and even affect how our bodies

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Art Therapy, Emotions, Mental Health, Sensory

Why “Letting Them” Might Be Your Best Mental Health Move Yet

If you’ve ever found yourself constantly stepping in to fix, manage, or smooth things over for everyone else, you’re in good company. It’s a habit that sneaks in quietly and stays for the long haul. And while it often comes from a caring place, it can leave you feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. What if

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Acceptance, Challenges, Family, Mental Health, Relationships

How Building Healthy Habits Can Transform Your Mental Health (and Your Life!)

Habits often get a bad reputation. We talk so much about “breaking bad habits” that we forget the other side of the story: the ones that heal, restore, and actually give back to us. Think of healthy habits as investments in your mental and emotional well-being. They don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to

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Mental Health, Motivation, Personal Development, Wellness

6 Subtle Abuse Tactics That Are Easy to Miss (But Harmful All the Same)

When most people hear the word abuse, they think of something loud, obvious, or physically violent. But not all abuse looks like screaming or bruises. In fact, some of the most damaging tactics are quiet, subtle, and easy to dismiss—especially at first. These behaviors can slip under the radar not because they’re harmless, but because

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Mental Health

How Lowering Your Expectations Can Actually Boost Your Happiness (Seriously!)

You know that feeling—when you build something up in your mind, only to have reality come in and knock it sideways? Maybe it was a weekend you were really looking forward to, a family get-together you hoped would be healing, or a vacation you thought would reset everything… and then, it just didn’t go the

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Acceptance, Challenges, Mental Health, Resilience

Joyful Reciprocity: The Mental Health Magic of Giving and Receiving with Intention

There is something very comforting about the moment someone does something kind for you and you naturally want to respond with care. Not to pay them back or even things out, but simply because it feels good to give from a genuine place. That feeling is joyful reciprocity. It is not just politeness and it

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Celebrate, Friends, Mental Health, Relationships

What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression? Understanding the Diagnosis No One Talks About

Depression can be heavy, isolating, and incredibly frustrating—especially when you’ve done all the things and still don’t feel better. You’ve tried therapy. You’ve taken medication. Maybe more than one. Maybe more than five. And yet, that cloud hasn’t lifted. If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with something called treatment-resistant depression (TRD)—a term that

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Depression, Mental Health, Q&A, Therapy, Treatments

Understanding the Window of Tolerance: Why You Feel “Too Much” or “Totally Numb”

Have you ever found yourself reacting way more strongly than the situation called for—like crying after a mildly annoying email or snapping at someone because they asked a question? Or maybe you’ve had moments when you felt nothing at all, just flat and checked out, even when something big was happening. These aren’t just mood

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Challenges, Emotions, Mental Health

Inside the Therapy Room: Things Your Therapist Probably Says (And Why They Matter)

Ever wondered what goes on behind the closed doors of a therapy session? If you’ve been in therapy before, you’ve probably noticed certain phrases that seem to pop up again and again. It’s not because therapists have a secret script (though that would make our jobs easier). These statements are often rooted in research, psychology,

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Mental Health, Therapists, Therapy, Tips

Why Replacing Negative Thoughts Isn’t Working (And What to Try Instead)

We’ve all been there: your therapist or favorite Instagram self-help guru tells you to “just replace those negative thoughts!” So, you try swapping out “I’m terrible at this” for something like, “I’m amazing and totally unstoppable!” But for some reason, it feels fake, forced, or just plain ineffective. Here’s the truth: simply swapping negative thoughts

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Congitive Defusion, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Tips

7 Grounding Techniques to Help You Stay Present When You Dissociate

Dissociation can feel like slipping out of reality—like you’re floating outside your body, detached from your surroundings, or watching your life like a movie. It’s a protective mechanism, often linked to trauma, anxiety, or extreme stress. Your brain essentially hits the “eject” button when things feel overwhelming.While dissociation can serve a purpose in the moment,

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Dissociation, Guides, Mental Health, Tips