Connell & Associates

Just in case you were told differently

I don’t know who needs to hear this tonight, but hey:

Take your freaking pill.

(Your anti depressant. Your SSRI. Your anti anxiety med.)

You know, whatever pill you begrudge having to take?

Yah. That one.

Take it, please.

You deserve to be healthy.
You deserve to feel sunshine.
You deserve joy.

You deserve a brain that doesn’t sucker punch you.

And yes, I know it’s kind of a pain.

I also know some days you might feel strong enough to do without it.

But that little pill isn’t for the good days, my love.

And don’t you remember the bad days?

Those days when the storm clouds gather.

When energy leaks out of your body like someone pulled the drain.

When brushing your teeth feels like a marathon and sunshine is offensive and even the most joyful noises of your household sounds like a million bees in your head...

I remember those days.

And that’s why *I* take the pill.

One day at a time, one refill at a time, one season at a time, I take the pill.

You see, sometimes sunshine tastes like sour chalk and has to be washed down with water.

Sometimes God’s biggest miracles come in orange cylindrical bottles.

Sometimes your very salvation is written on a prescription pad, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Fight the good fight with me. Stay in the sunshine. Vulnerability is courageous as hell, and it takes so much courage to admit you need this.

Warrior on, my friend. You aren’t alone.

Take your freaking pill.

I’m sure as heck taking mine.

*cheers*

Anyone else feel this way?

"FEELING TOUCHED OUT IS NORMAL

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by touch when you’ve got a cluster-feeding newborn and a jealous toddler and you never get to p*e or shower or eat by yourself.

It is NORMAL to feel touched out and it does NOT mean you aren’t bonding or that you don’t love your babies enough.

Postpartum is hard enough as it is without you judging yourself for your feelings. Talk to your partner, talk to a postpartum doula, talk to ANYONE about your feelings. Be honest with yourself and with your support team. Most importantly, ask for HELP.

They weren’t kidding when they said it takes a village.

So ask for help and take a shower, p*e with the bathroom door shut, and eat a full, nourishing meal. Take a moment for yourself and reset your touch threshold. Your babies need you happy, healthy, and ready to fill their needs. If your cup is empty, you can’t fill theirs.

Ask for help ✨"

**Beautiful image and words from Stellarbear Art ❤❤❤

A quick word to everyone for whom this Thanksgiving is a sad first. First Thanksgiving after you lost someone precious this year, after a divorce, after a hard move, after a job loss, after something broke apart.

Thanksgiving (and the Christmas season) are wrapped up in traditions, but when an important person or place is missing, everything can feel disoriented and broken.

I love you. God loves you and sees you. Praying this morning for new joy, fresh enthusiasm, the creation of new memories. Asking that grief does not rule your heart and mind this year.

You are strong and capable and still able to fill your days with laughter and joy. Jesus is the best. People love you. You matter. There is still so much ahead.

God gave us an amazing tool to mitigate sorrow and seize joy by the collar: gratitude. It is a crazy effective trick.

Maybe we can bear witness for each other here today. For those of us who suffered a loss this year and those of us who just love you. Let's list it, name it all, as a sheer act of courage and trust in the face of struggle:

What are you thankful for, in spite of everything, dear ones?

A 20-Minute Practice to Deepen Your Awareness - Mindful Explore this guided meditation focused on allowing ourselves to settle in the present moment. Practice with Rhonda Magee now.

How to stay motivated to work out during the winter, according to exercise psychologists Exercise psychologists share their favorite winter workout tips to keep you moving.

Sibling Study Bolsters Connection Between Autism and ADHD If you have a child with ADHD or autism, this is worth a read.

Interesting

Can Autoimmune Antibodies Explain Blood Clots in COVID-19? For people with severe COVID-19, one of the most troubling complications is abnormal blood clotting that puts them at risk of having a debilitating stroke or heart attack.

10 Ways Depression and Anxiety Can Cause Physical Pain Have you experienced any of these symptoms?

The single most important emotion you can feel is safe.

Promising Interim Results from Clinical Trial of NIH-Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine An interim review of trial data suggests that the vaccine is safe and effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in adults.

Y’all. So many of us are going thru this, or we love someone who is. Give it a read.

How to Deal With Quarantine-Induced Social Anxiety Yes, you can enjoy socializing again. But it might take a little effort.

New quarantine orders?

Share with us how you’re coping!

Connell & Associates wants you to know that all people are equal in our eyes. We welcome the LGBTQ population with open arms.
One of the most important things psychotherapy should provide is emotional safety. It is the desire of Connell & Associates that everyone who comes to us feel safe and heard.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments you may have. Thank you.

Connell & Associates have announced we are expanding into online psychotherapy throughout the great state of Texas. Online psychotherapy gives people the ability to access behavioral health care at a time and place that is most convenient for them, without the worries of additional time off to drive to an office, the need for a babysitter, or the added stress of arranging for transportation. This service is very user-friendly and easy to use for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“I have always strived to provide exceptional service to our clients and referring providers,” says Dr. Richard Connell, owner and CEO at Connell & Associates. “Telehealth is an exciting extension of that service.”

Features and benefits of online therapy include:

• Access care from the location of your choice
• Be seen on your schedule
• Video software insures HIPAA privacy and confidentiality
• Perfect for busy working professionals and stay at home moms
• Psychiatric and prescribing services are also available online through Connell & Associates

Online therapy is available starting immediately. Most major insurance plans are accepted. For more information regarding online therapy, please visit www.connellbhs.com or call (254)628-0056 during regular business hours.

About Connell & Associates: We are a private behavioral healthcare practice offering psychotherapy, psychotropic medication management and psychological evaluation services. Dr. Connell has proudly served central Texas for 22 years. We are passionate about helping people.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
We hope you have a Wonderful Day.

As the news surrounding COVID-19 evolves, our practice continues to take the health and safety of our clients, staff, and community as a top priority. We want to inform you of the preventative measures we are taking to reduce the risk of illness. Our main objective is to ensure access to services while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Our providers are now offering teletherapy, online virtual sessions for those clients who are sick or are actively reducing social contact. This gives you the option to meet with your provider from the comfort of your own home. We encourage you to contact us at (254) 628-0056 for more information about accessing this service.

How to manage the stress of COVID-19:

• Use the opportunity in session to speak to your clinician about the balance between productive versus unproductive worry
• Speak to your medical provider about ways to manage your personal risk
• Balance the use of hand sanitizer with the use of lotion, disinfecting wipes, and disinfecting spray to minimize pain and dryness in hands
• Reach out for more support if worry anxiety or panic increase or feel overwhelming

There is no right or wrong way to feel about COVID-19. If you have a low level of concern, you are not under-reacting; and, if you are concerned and taking precautions and/or cancelling travel, you are not overreacting. If at any point between sessions you notice a level of fear or anxiety that is concerning to you or difficult to manage, please reach out - we are here to support you.

If you loved the service you received, please leave us a review on Google or your favorite social media platform. We will be entering all clients that leave us a review into a monthly drawing for a $100 gift card.
Congrats To our February winner! 🥳

Connell & Associates updated their business hours.

We are proud to have Dr. John Pierson as a member of our clinical team. Dr. Pierson is a psychiatrist who hales from Charleston, South Carolina where he enjoyed an idyllic childhood and enjoyed scouting, eventually earning his Eagle Scout. While pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina he made the decision to become a physician because he enjoyed studying anatomy and physiology. He then earned a Doctor of Osteopathy in medicine at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. Dr. Pierson stated that he chose the Osteopath route because “Holistic medicine fell in line more with my values.” He made the decision to specialize in psychiatry for similar reasons, “During my clinical rotations, I enjoyed the stories people tell…it was more humanistic than other types of medicine.”

In his clinical work as a psychiatrist, Dr. Pierson finds gratification in “helping people make change, to become the best version of themselves.” He is the doting father of two and enjoys fitness and weight training.

We are pleased to announce that a new Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner has joined our group. Jeanine Swindoll is now accepting new adult patients, as well as adolescents 13 years and older.

Ms. Swindoll grew up in Lubbock, where her family operated a successful pet shop. She decided to pursue a career in nursing after working as a nurses aid, when “I realized I really liked helping people.” Ms. Swindoll earned both a Bachelor and Masters degrees in nursing from Texas Tech University. She began working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary care, then in pediatric surgery. Her inspiration for psychiatry grew out of that experience.
“On trauma call, it is necessary to communicate with people in possibly the worst moments of their lives.” It was then she realized a natural gift for putting people at ease. Ms. Swindoll then completed a Psychiatric Fellowship program at Texas Tech, and became licensed as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through University of Texas.
Jeanine and her husband have two adult daughters, and 3 granddaughters. “I lost a son to illness so I understand the complex emotions associated with grief.” Her husband is an electrical contractor. When not working, they enjoy spending time with family, travel and scuba diving.
While she has a great deal of experience working with adults presenting with the full range of behavioral-health issues, as well as addiction, Ms. Swindoll finds gratification in working with people suffering from PTSD. “I never realized how many people suffer from childhood and other traumas.” When asked what she most enjoys about her work, Ms. Swindoll stated that it is the ability to truly change the quality of people’s lives… patients she has treated have told her “I feel normal now, and I didn’t know that was possible.”

We are pleased to announce that a new Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner has joined our group. Jeanine Swindoll is now accepting new adult patients, as well as adolescents 13 years and older.

Ms. Swindoll grew up in Lubbock, where her family operated a successful pet shop. She decided to pursue a career in nursing after working as a nurses aid, when “I realized I really liked helping people.” Ms. Swindoll earned both a Bachelor and Masters degree in nursing from Texas Tech University. She began working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary care, then in pediatric surgery. Her inspiration for psychiatry grew out of that experience.

“On trauma call, it is necessary to communicate with people in possibly the worst moments of their lives.” It was then she realized a natural gift for putting people at ease. Ms. Swindoll then completed a Psychiatric Fellowship program at Texas Tech, and became licensed as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the University of Texas.

Jeanine and her husband have two adult daughters, and 3 granddaughters. “I lost a son to illness so I understand the complex emotions associated with grief.” Her husband is an electrical contractor. When not working, they enjoy spending time with family, travel and scuba diving.

While she has a great deal of experience working with adults presenting with the full range of behavioral-health issues, as well as addiction, Ms. Swindoll finds gratification in working with people suffering from PTSD. “I never realized how many people suffer from childhood and other traumas.” When asked what she most enjoys about her work, Ms. Swindoll stated that it is the ability to truly change the quality of people’s lives… patients she has treated have told her “I feel normal now, and I didn’t know that was possible.”

If you loved the service you received, please leave us a review on Google or your favorite social media platform. We will be entering all clients that leave us a review into a monthly drawing for a $100 gift card.
Congrats To our December winner! 🥳