Author: Sephira
Born and raised primarily in Northern Virginia, my family and I moved to North Carolina in 2006. Married for over 20 years, my husband and I have two boys and a gaggle of cats.
For me, writing is a great stress reliever. I can let my mind wander and let my emotions run free in a way that is generally not possible in my normal everyday life. My writings run the gamut in terms of style and genre – for instance my first novel is a historical romance set in the Civil War, but some of the other things I have in the works are fantasy or thrillers, among other things.
It probably goes without saying, but my poetry is somewhat eclectic in nature, and again while some may feel the need to stick with a particular form, I tend to write just whatever comes to mind. Let the winds of inspiration lead me on…
I’m always interested in comments and feedback. So please feel free to share your thoughts with me!
Travel Safely with a Chronic Condition This Summer
Just because you have MS or Crohn’s disease, doesn’t mean your summer vacation has to be like National Lampoon’s.
Having a chronic illness often means living life a little differently than other people. But whether you have diabetes, HIV, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, or any other ailment, you can still take a summer road trip or even fly abroad for a summer vacation…
Sweethearts with Down syndrome to wed 30 years after meeting
Austin Underwood says he has loved his fiancée, Jessica Smith, since they were 4 years old, when their mothers met at a support group for…
Sweethearts with Down syndrome to wed 30 years after meeting
It’s Time to Take Action: Innovative Community Approaches to Children’s Mental Health
Much attention has been given recently to discussing the challenges we, as communities and families, encounter regarding the mental health needs of our youth and young adults. Hosted by NAMI and the Cigna Foundation, this forum takes us from dialogue to action and focuses national attention on the need to adopt innovative approaches to improving children’s mental health. This forum offers practical information on how to bring effective programs to schools, primary care and other settings. It addresses challenges facing communities in preventing bullying, building workforce capacity and addressing addiction disorders. The forum also features youth sharing their thoughts on how to continue to raise the national dialogue on mental health.
George Washington University Conference Center
Washington, D.C.
June 4, 2014 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Whether you are joining us in Washington, D.C., or accessing the forum by live-stream, you won’t want to miss this event. Be sure to bookmark this page for easy access to new content and live-stream video of all sessions.
More information HERE as well as access to the live stream.
my therapist taught me to start thinking of my anxiety as my panicky friend
it’s working???
this is so cute omg
Woah this is super useful!!
Steps for Letting Go of Painful Memories
Experiences can leave us with some painful memories. They tie us to the past and prevent us moving on. And the only way to freedom is to work on letting go – so these memories don’t haunt us or keep us trapped in pain. Below are some guidelines to help you work on this.
1. Before you can let go, you must face whatever happened and accept that it is part of your past experiences. Suppression doesn’t work as a long-term solution. It can only be a band aid that brings temporary relief. Talk to someone you trust, or write about it in your journal. You need to share what happened, in order to move on.
2. Identify the lessons you have learned from what has happened. There’s always a lesson – so look for what you’ve learned. It doesn’t make it better – but it does lessen its power.
3. Write the lesson down on a piece of paper and repeat it to yourself when you’re hit by old, painful memories. For example, if you’ve been scarred by abuse, then you might write something like: “My experience of abuse does not determine who I am. I’m a stronger person now, and that is not my destiny. I’m choosing my own future, and the person I will be.”
4. Repeat this mantra often so it takes root in your mind. Allow it to be stronger than the bad experience. Say it often, till you mean it, then you’ll start to feel you’re freer. Persevere and keep on fighting when those old memories return.
5. Seek to be a person who’s at peace with themselves. When peace is your focus, old thoughts and memories have much less power over how you think and feel. However, seeking after peace must be a conscious, constant choice.
6. When the past tries to intrude, focus firmly on the present. Ground yourself in what’s happening around you in the room, and try to breathe deeply – and deliberately relax. You are here in this moment; you’re not living in the past.
7. Forgive – for your own sake. Try to heal from what happened – then let resentments go. You don’t want them in your life for they’ll just tie you to the past. It’s not an ease process; it takes work and discipline. But it is worth the daily struggle – as one day you’ll be free.
Not feeling sick “enough”
Never compare yourself to anyone, in any part of life. Your struggle is not someone else’s struggle. Even if you have the same diagnosis, it will not treat you both the same and you will not react the same to it. Your symptoms will not be equal, nor will your treatment. When you have the flu, you are not less ill because someone else somewhere has cancer. You are still sick and still need to be taken care of and treated. Not attempting suicide doesn’t mean you’re not depressed “enough”. Not stealing a car & having 17 sexual partners in a night doesn’t mean you’re not manic “enough”. You are you and you deserve to be taken care of and to be OK.
– FAQ page of fuckyeahbipolarowl.
Holding the Bowl 