Ellie Mental Health - Greenville, SC

When we don't talk about mental health, we let shame and misconceptions grow. Speak up, share your story, and let's change the conversation together. 💬

Wondering what your first therapy session will be like? 🤔 It’s totally normal to feel nervous as you’re approaching and anticipating that first session.

Spoiler alert: it's not as scary as you think. Our latest blog post by Amber Silva, LLMSW spills the tea on everything you can expect. Check it out and take the guesswork out of your first step to feeling better: https://elliementalhealth.com/what-to-expect-from-your-first-therapy-session/

:

It's 2024, and it's time to break the silence. Seeking mental health care isn't a sign of weakness; it's a bold act of strength. Every person, in every community deserves to feel safe and supported in their mental health journey.

Let's smash the stigma and lift each other up.

A real therapist is busting the biggest myths about therapy today. Spoiler: It's probably different than what you're envisioning. 💭

Let us know what other myths you've heard about therapy in the comments ⬇️

Listen, everybody has their days (ahem...or months ...or years).

Just like physical health, mental health exists on a spectrum, and it's TOTALLY normal to experience ups and downs from time to time. Sometime we need to take it a bit easier on ourselves-- and that doesn't mean that we aren't strong or that there's something wrong with us.

➡ If you feel like you're struggling more than usual, practice giving yourself a bit more grace, think about what coping skills fit you best, and hey, having a kicka$$ therapist and support crew can also make a huge difference.

Pride month may be ending, but the acceptance, love, and advocacy doesn't! Tag someone who needs to hear this message! ⬇️

Looking for more ways you can celebrate all year long? Find tips from therapists, suggested queer-owned businesses to support this summer, and kid's books recs in our magazine issue:https://elliementalhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EllieMentalHealth_JuneMagazine.pdf

Psst. You can find support and acceptance year-round here at Ellie. 🐘

"But what if I don't know who I really am?!" 💭

Sometimes we are so used to masking, blending in, or serving others' needs that it feels intimidating to even think of figuring out who we really are deep inside. Believe us though, avoiding or pretending can be even more exhausting.

Let a therapist empower you on the path of discovery and self acceptance (they're really good at it). 🌈💖

Curious how a therapist is tackling some of these big questions with their kid clients? 📚🏳‍🌈

Here are a few books that our therapists recommend for talking about self-acceptance, all kinds of families, and gender identity PLUS some discussion questions in the last slide to open the convo up!

ALLY: It's what you do

Let's help create a world where everyone feels seen, cared for, and celebrated for exactly who they are.

Curious on what more you can do? Check out the full article in our magazine:https://elliementalhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EllieMentalHealth_JuneMagazine.pdf

🌟

Relate to this? Consider this your sign to cut yourself some slack! In a world where we're constantly bombarded with stress and expectations, it's easy to become our own toughest critics.

Let's give ourselves some grace and remember: we ARE worthy of love and all the good stuff, just as we are. 🥰💖

Coming out is a deeply personal decision and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Here are some tips from our therapists to help you when coming out. 🌈

➡️ Looking for more? We have a whole blog post about it on our website: https://elliementalhealth.com/ellie-blog/

**Bonus points who can name that movie quote! 💚👑🐴 Comment below if you know ⬇️

PS. Please know that waiting to come out until you feel ready and comfortable is ok. We also want to acknowledge that some LGBTQIA+ folks will never be able to come out due to a lack of safety and security within their community.

You can find acceptance and support at Ellie. 🐘

Therapy isn't always about instant epiphanies and constant breakthroughs, it's about embracing the journey of self-discovery, growth, and healing. 🌱

Ever feel like your thoughts are spiraling? 🌀 Here's how to quiet them down:

Asking yourself questions like, "Is this thought realistic?" or "Is there evidence to support this thought?" or "Is this thought based on assumptions?" 🧠

💚 Next try a mindfulness technique deep breathing, doing a mind dump exercise, drawing or coloring, or

Then try redirecting or distracting your thoughts by calling a friend, or going for a walk.

What works for you? Let us know in the comments! ⬇

Real talk-- Supporting someone when they're dealing with mental health challenge can be hard. It's not always knowing the right words or actions, but sometime's it's simply about being there.

Let's keep showing up, lending an ear, and offering love without judgment. Because in those moments of struggle, our support can make all the difference. 💕

Here are some tips from one of our psychiatrists, Dr. Patty Dickmann, about how you can show up for your loved ones.

#

When we say "SPMIs," we are talking about mental illnesses that are recurrent, long-lasting, and make it hard for you to do your everyday life. Examples include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.

These diagnoses are more common than you realize, AND there are numerous treatment options including medications, psychotherapy, and self-management strategies (like developing healthy routines, optimizing sleep, recognizing triggers, and learning coping skills).

If you are someone with a SPMI, you are not alone. Ellie therapists are here for you. Let's spread awareness and break that stigma. 💪

Ever feel like your brain is overheating? 😳 Try this:

1. Find a quiet place and make sure you have a pen or pencil and plenty of paper or a notebook.

2. Set a timer for five minutes. ⏰

3. Start writing down everything that comes to mind, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Write down thoughts, ideas, tasks, worries, plans, goals, reminders, or anything else that pops into your head.

4. Don't censor your thoughts or worry about organizing them at this stage. Write without pausing to analyze or judge what you're writing. The goal is to get everything out of your head and onto paper.

5. You can organize your thoughts into lists, bullet points, or short phrases if it helps you to structure your mind dump. However, don't spend too much time on formatting—focus on capturing your thoughts quickly.

6. Continue writing until your time limit is up. If you run out of things to write about, sit quietly and wait for more thoughts to come to mind.

This is called a "mind dump" exercise, and by following these steps, you can declutter your mind and gain clarity and focus on the tasks and priorities that matter most to you.

Everyone goes through moments of feeling anxious now and then. 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Sometimes it's just a passing feeling, but for others, it can stick around longer or feel more intense. Just know that it's totally normal, but if it starts getting in the way of everyday stuff, it's good to reach out to a therapist for some extra support.

Here are some common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder:
- Feeling nervous or on edge and you're not sure why
- Trouble concentrating
- Racing thoughts
- Restlessness or irritability
- Feeling panicky for no reason
- Difficulty sleeping

Anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 out of 5 adults, and therapy can be really helpful in relieving these symptoms and giving you the necessary tools to cope.

What's your favorite way to cope with anxiety? Let us know in the comments!

Shoutout to all of the bad-@$% moms out there! 💐 We see you, we appreciate you, and we believe that you deserve fields of flowers on this . 🌻

It's normal to experience fluctuations in motivation from time to time. That doesn't mean something is wrong with you-- it means you're human.

➡️ When lack of motivation becomes persistent, affecting your ability to work or enjoy things you used to, then it might indicate a diagnosis of depression or another underlying issue.

If you feel like you're struggling, a therapist can help you identify some tools for get things back on track.

Depression involves a group of symptoms beyond just lack of motivation including:
- persistent sadness
- loss of interest in activities
- changes in appetite or sleep patterns
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- difficulty concentrating
- thoughts of death or su***de

If you're experiencing several of these symptoms consistently for more than two weeks, it's definitely time to seek professional help like therapy.

This Mental Health Awareness Month we are talking about the whole spectrum: how to cope with those daily stressors and how we can break the stigmas that exist with more severe mental illnesses. Everyone deserves to get help and relief.

Comment below with the topics and tips you're hoping we'll cover this month! ⬇️

*Everything* making you anxious? Here's a coping skill to try:

Progressive Muscle Relaxation involves tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in your body, which can help release physical tension and promote a sense of relaxation.

1. Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit or lie down.
2. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to center yourself.
3. Start with your toes and gradually work your way up through your body, tensing and then relaxing each muscle group for about 5-10 seconds each.
4. As you tense each muscle group, focus on the sensation of tension and then consciously release it as you relax the muscle.
5. Progress through your body, including your feet, calves, thighs, abdomen, chest, arms, hands, shoulders, neck, and face.
6. Continue this process until you've tensed and relaxed all major muscle groups in your body.

By systematically tensing and relaxing your muscles, you can become more aware of physical tension and learn to release it, which can help alleviate feelings of anxiety and stress.

Taking care of yourself isn't just about spa days and meditation (although those are great too)! It's about embracing your inner goofball, letting loose, and being unapologetically YOU. 🧡

What are you doing to care for yourself this weekend?

It's very common to feel overwhelmed when your child is diagnosed with autism, and finding support is vital! 🌟 Here are some tips that our therapists recommend when navigating a new diagnosis.

Celebrating World Book Day with a therapeutic twist! 📚✨ Check out these recommended reads by Ellie therapists and comment below other books that we missed!

We asked a few of our therapists what advice they give to parents after a child is diagnosed with autism, and here's what they had to share!

Being autistic doesn't mean that something is wrong with you or that you need therapy to fix something-- this is one of MANY things that we wish others knew about spectrum disorder.

Here's what one of our Ellie therapists in Boston, MA shared about ASD.