Mental Health Archives - Blossom Counseling

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

Habits sometimes get a bad rap. We often talk about “breaking bad habits,” but what if we shifted the conversation toward nurturing habits that actually give back to us? Think of it this way: good habits aren’t chores—they’re investments. They compound over time, paying dividends in emotional resilience, self-esteem, and mental clarity. And the best […]

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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!)

We’ve all been there—you plan the perfect weekend, imagine an amazing vacation, or dream up an ideal family gathering, and then reality hits. Things don’t go quite as planned, and suddenly you’re left disappointed, frustrated, or downright cranky. Sound familiar? You might just be falling into the expectation trap. Expectations are natural; they help us

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Acceptance, Challenges, Mental Health, Resilience

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

There’s something quietly magical about the moment someone does something kind for you—and you genuinely want to give back. Not out of obligation, not to even the score, but because it feels good to respond with care. That feeling? It’s joyful reciprocity. And it’s more than just good manners or emotional instinct—it’s a concept deeply

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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

Fortune Telling: How This Sneaky Cognitive Distortion Keeps You Stuck

Picture this: you’re lying in bed, unable to sleep, convinced tomorrow’s meeting is destined to be a disaster. You’ve imagined every possible way it could go wrong—your boss frowning, colleagues rolling their eyes, or your ideas being dismissed. Before you know it, you’ve already decided tomorrow is doomed, leaving you anxious and exhausted before the

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Connection, Mental Health, Mindfulness

Why Therapy Can Feel Exhausting—And Why That’s Completely Normal

Therapy is often painted as a relaxing escape—a space to unwind, unload your worries, and feel refreshed. While that’s true (therapy can be wonderfully restorative), it can also be surprisingly exhausting. But why? Aren’t you supposed to leave sessions feeling lighter, not drained? The truth is, therapy can feel tiring for a very good reason.

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Emotions, Getting Started, Mental Health, Therapy

Understanding and Managing Self-Destructive Impulses: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle

Ever found yourself doing something you know isn’t good for you, but you do it anyway? Maybe it’s eating an entire tub of ice cream when you’re already full, skipping a big opportunity out of fear, or procrastinating on something important until it becomes overwhelming. These moments might seem small or even trivial, but they

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Guides, Mental Health, Therapy

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

The Hidden Side Effects of Gaslighting: How It Impacts Your Mental Health

Gaslighting isn’t just a trendy buzzword—it’s a subtle but powerful form of emotional manipulation that can leave deep psychological scars. Often, people who experience gaslighting don’t realize it’s happening until the effects are already woven into their mental and emotional well-being. It’s like living in a funhouse of distorted mirrors where your sense of reality

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Anxiety, Compassion, Depression, Gaslighting, Mental Health, Therapy

Understanding the Cost of Crossing Your Own Boundaries

Have you ever agreed to something that felt wrong the moment you said “yes”? Maybe you stayed late at work, even though you promised yourself you’d set firmer limits. Or perhaps you said “yes” to a favor when your plate was already overflowing. Crossing your own boundaries can feel like the easiest way to keep

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Boundaries, Mental Health

Simple Mental Health Swaps: What to Do Instead for a Happier Mind

We’ve all been there—caught in habits that feel comforting in the moment but leave us drained, stressed, or stuck in the long run. It’s easy to fall into patterns that feel familiar, even if they don’t serve us. But what if we could shift those habits into something healthier, more supportive, and ultimately more empowering?

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Affirmations, Coping Skills, Mental Health, Tips