Barbara Lewison, LCSW, LLC

Per David Kessler,
Grief requires us to bravely face our deepest feelings. While avoiding this challenge might seem simpler at first, it ultimately creates a darker, more difficult journey, weighed down by unaddressed emotions. Confronting grief head-on, though daunting, paves the way for true peace.

Grief requires us to bravely face our deepest feelings. While avoiding this challenge might seem simpler at first, it ultimately creates a darker, more difficult journey, weighed down by unaddressed emotions. Confronting grief head-on, though daunting, paves the way for true peace.

Although rest is an integral part of our body’s rhythm, many of us have a complicated relationship to rest. That’s because our culture tends to condition us to believe that our self-worth is based on productivity. You might feel guilty for resting or believe that it is selfish to take time out. You might fear that if you slow down, you will miss an opportunity. Maybe you fear that you will lose momentum or that you will become stagnant. Perhaps you have received messages that you’re lazy if you’re not working hard or being productive. These ingrained messages can cause you to neglect your health or believe that “hard work” is what brings happiness. Sadly, this can lead you to feel disconnected from your deeper self, and you might question the point of all this hard work.

Over time, an addiction to busyness can also lead to burnout, which can affect your endocrine system functioning and overall physical health. Cultivating a nourishing relationship to rest takes consistency and practice. Paradoxically, when you do embrace the need for rest, you tend to be more focused and attentive during the day, which can ultimately allow you to be more productive.

In order to rest into a place of deep stillness, you must feel safe enough to let go of your defenses, which will allow you to access your parasympathetic nervous system’s relaxation response. Reclaiming a healthy relationship to stillness can take time.

It's Time To THANK a SOCIAL WORKER!

Empowering Social Workers. Please spend Social Work Month with us at The New Social Worker. THANK you for all you do. Get our month-long Social Work Month 2024 Empowerment Calendar at:

https://www.socialworker.com/extras/social-work-month-project-2024/social-work-month-2024-thank-you-empowerment-calendar/

Share this to thank a special social worker in your life.

More information and resources for Eating Disorders Awareness week.

Different types of eating disorders.

Warning. Information around eating disorders.

In recent years, it has become clear that there are many people with different types of eating disorders who don't fit the classic profile of someone with anorexia or bulimia.

We have information on our website about all the different types of eating disorders, including ARFID which is being highlighted for this year's Eating Disorders Awareness Week: https://okt.to/YBykax

Here are some helpful resources - this week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

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Today is the first day of Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024💜🩷 The aim of this Awareness Week is to inform, educate, reduce stigma around eating disorders, challenge misconceptions and promote understanding.✨

Here are 5 key reminders about eating disorders:

✅ It is never “too late” to recover. Remember that no matter how long you’ve been struggling with your eating disorder, and no matter its severity, recovery is possible for you. And it is never too late to get the right treatment and support.💫🤍

✅ You always deserve to eat. No matter what your eating disorder is telling you, you have unconditional permission to eat. Remember that restricting food is very harmful and you cannot function properly or recover without eating enough.🫶

✅ Your body is not the enemy. Making peace with your body and healing your body image is an important part of recovery. With the right support, you can heal a negative body image or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and start developing a better relationship with your body.❤️‍🩹

✅ You are strong enough. It is normal to sometimes believe that you don’t have the strength or energy to keep going. Recovering from an eating disorder is extremely hard and it can be terribly exhausting and difficult both mentally and physically to keep fighting. Recovery is not linear. It takes time, patience and a lot of courage and strength. But always remember that you are strong enough, even when at times you can’t see it.👊💕

✅ Most importantly, remember that no matter what your story is, or if you have suffered from trauma or painful traumatic experiences in your life, recovering from your eating disorder is absolutely possible for you. In the difficult moments, hang in there and don’t lose hope. You can recover and there is hope, even when your mind tells you there isn’t.🌟🌈

Today through March 3rd is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The most important thing to know if you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder is that recovery is possible. You have the courage and strength to recover. Challenge yourself to prove your eating disorder wrong ✨ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Now available! Episode 176 with Dr. Amy Marschall.

Amy Marschall, Psy.D. has been a licensed psychologist since 2016. She’s a clinical advisor for ADHD Online, and currently owns a private practice, RMH-Therapy. Her clinical specializations include trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming care, rural mental health, and telemental health.

Dr. Marschall is the author of several books, including her most recent children’s book about Slipper, a neurodivergent penguin, and the soon-to-be-released A Clinicians Guide to Supporting Autistic Clients.

We discuss what the term “neurodiversity affirming” means when it comes to the treatment of Autism and ADHD, and we discuss the ways in which Dr. Marschall is working to make telemental health more accessible for neurodivergent clients.

We talk about some of the challenges she faced when seeking her own diagnosis of Autism a few years ago, and we talk about the current and future landscape of telemental health, and how to find accessible, ethical online therapy.

Enjoy!

Listen here: https://www.womenandadhd.com/episodes

Body dysmorphic disorder is more common than eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, yet few people are aware of its dangers About a quarter of those with body dysmorphic disorder attempt su***de or struggle with ideas of su***de. Fortunately, medication and therapy have proved highly effective at treating the disorder.

Mothers’ dieting habits and self-talk have profound impact on daughters − 2 psychologists explain how to cultivate healthy behaviors and body image Adopting healthy behaviors and thought patterns around food and nutrition takes time and intentional effort. But it will lead to more lasting change and positive outcomes than quick-fix dieting will.

February 1 - 7 is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. It's time to come together to learn, share stories, and spread awareness about the support that's available. Join us on social media all week for content!

Mark your calendars! Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 26 to March 3. This year, NEDA is asking you to "Get in the Know". In order to better recognize, support and effectively treat eating disorders, public awareness is key. Let’s come together to spread awareness, share resources, and support each other on the journey to understanding and recovery. 💙

Over 200 individuals and organizations have signed up to be collaborators to help our efforts to raise awareness during EDAW. To join us, visit https://bit.ly/49BdvgL

More kids are being hospitalized for eating disorders -- researchers learned why Over the last decade, physicians have taken a broader view of adolescent eating disorders, thanks to a growing recognition of the variety of disordered eating patterns that can harm patients’ health, especially their heart function.

Parents for Online Safe Spaces — Advocating for Online Harms Prevention We are 20 families bound together by the unimaginable: the loss of a child. We've come together to advocate for the Kids Online Safety Act to enact long-term guardrails on social media to prevent online harms.

Grief changes the brain, so it’s important to be extra gentle with yourself by allowing time to process these feelings and physical changes throughout your mind and body. Most importantly, be gentle with yourself and honor this difficult experience.

Healing Your Brain After Loss: How Grief Rewires the Brain Dr. Lisa M. Shulman explains how tragedy affects the brain and shares practices to help heal the brain after loss. Learn more and watch the webinar.

Holidays can be very stressful. Here are some ways to take care of yourself from SAMHSA: samhsa.gov/find-support/how-to-cope

Sometimes it can feel like it's too late to make your recovery goals happen, like too much lies behind you to start something anew. But it is never too late to start over and try again. You never know what rewarding future might lie ahead of you.

Grief is profoundly raw and, at its core, a form of social communication. Consciously making space for grief is essential if we are to heal our collective wounds. When attending to each other’s grief, it is important to remember that grief needs presence. Nothing more. It is not necessary to say the “right” thing because there is no “right” thing to say. It is not necessary to have the answer because sometimes there are no answers.

It is important to simply let each other know that we are there and that we are not afraid. Sometimes this involves being there and sitting in silence, breathing, or offering a nod of reassurance. Overall, being with someone in grief is about holding an outer container so that the person in grief can go on the inward journey needed during this vulnerable time.

Some days you might be receiving support, and other days you might be giving support to another. However, so long as we all play our part in this exchange, we can facilitate an interconnected web of community.

At some point in life, we are all likely to be a caregiver. Caregiving can often be a difficult job, and here is a brief list of helpful tips. Above all, remember to take care of yourself when you're a caregiver. Thank you for everything you do to help your family member or friend!

10 Tips for Family Caregivers *Para ver estos consejos en español, haga clic aquí* 10 Tips for Family Caregivers High Quality-min.png Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone! Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one. Accept offers of help and suggest specific th...

Monday Reminder: You do not need to earn the right to pause. ⁠Rest is a necessity. 💙

Hard truth: Sometimes you feel great after therapy. Sometimes you feel worse after therapy. Sometimes you love your therapist. Sometimes you’re angry at your therapist.
Healing is a messy process with lots of highs and lows. Expect the process to be frustrating at times and trust that even when it feels like you’ve taken a step back, you’re still on a forward trajectory of healing. 💙