Michelle Pettengill, LCSW

Hello Hello!!! Catching up here for our August blog!  To recap, we have learned how self care relates to our anxiety, hormones, cortisol, adrenals, and stress. In addition, we have learned about next steps in taking a pause to ask ourselves what the best for you right now, as well as you were given tools to track your food, mood, and stool. So now with this blog and upcoming blogs, we will dive into daily tools that you can use to increase self care, and to help you regulate your moods, so that you can feel more balanced, nurtured, and energized!!  We will start with nutrition.  It is not a secret that what we eat can have a significant impact on our mental health. I have done a ton of research and have found that there is a strong connection between nutrition and mental health, with certain foods being so important for our brain function, gut health, and mood regulation. Now, what I am saying does not mean that you have to go cold turkey and eat all fruits and vegetables...

One of the MOST important things we can do as humans is keep learning and growing by listening to our bodies and asking ourselves: What is the best way for ME to respond right now? Our bodies are constantly giving us information. Sometimes we just have to slow down enough to notice & listen to it.  For example, let's say I eat a mouthwatering chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. It tastes SOOOOO AMAZING.  But I also know my body. I know that combination leaves me feeling bloated and uncomfortable, and I may not sleep well afterward. And I love my sleep!  So I can pause and ask myself: “Is this worth it for me right now?” There isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer. The point is becoming aware of how your choices affect YOUR body and then making a choice that feels supportive & nurturing. This same concept applies to stress. Imagine you're at work and you've just received feedback that the project you worked hard on didn't meet the requested crite...