Thoughts from an American Female

I've been sad for a number of reasons (one of which is that I learned that a close family member has terminal cancer, it's very sudden and I'm very sad about it). I also get depressed when the seasons shift anyway, it's part of my illness, but I'm also sad because of certain news stories that come out. I'm sad that time after time men in positions of power abuse their power, and then other men call the woman coming forward a liar. This is sad, and it's outrageous and it needs to stop. My son is three years old. I say things to him like, "If Charlotte is playing with a ball you want, make sure you ask permission before taking it away." Yeah, it's subtle, but he needs to learn that he can't just take what isn't his. I have to start young because not having these conversations with our boys leads to greater issues. Ignoring it by calling it "locker room talk" or saying things like, "boys will be boys" just perpetuate...

I've spoken openly about my illnesses. I have anxiety and depression and have suffered with both my entire life. I know I say "illnesses" but in truth, they are two sides of the same coin. Today, I'm having a very hard time struggling with cognitive distortion. If you don't know what cognitive distortion is, you probably have dealt with it but just don't know if by name. One example: I can't do anything right. I'm the worst. Everyone hates me. Another example: What would happen if I jumped in front of that train? These thoughts happen to all of us but I swear that my vivid imagination deliver them to me in ultra 3D and sometimes, it's too much to bear. Today, I feel like I'm being bombarded with negative thoughts and I am trying to hone in on why and can't come up with anything. In therapy, they teach you to "HALT" and think are you H-hungry, A-Angry, L-Lonely, T-Tired? Hungry? No, I ate. Angry? Yeah, but I'm alw...

Typically, I don't like to compare things but I have to force myself to compare some things in order to remain calm and sane. I'm talking about the current political landscape, of course. Everything happening right now is unprecedented, it's abnormal and we should be worried. I've been saying all along that Trump isn't a problem by himself. It's like when one of the kids throws a temper tantrum and we walk away to let them get it out of their system. However, if one of the kids throws a tantrum and ALL of the other kids decide to join in, well, then we have a bigger problem on our hands. What we are seeing right now is a weird sort of blind agreement to a man that is so utterly awful it's not even possible to put into words just how awful he truly is. We have people kissing his ring and bowing down to him and it is not out of respect. It might be out of fear, though. Fear that something quite embarrassing will be released, oppo research perhaps, that c...