Guys- it’s been a crazy few weeks! It started last week with some pretty significant work and personal stress coupled with the horrific news story of a woman who killed her three children here in MA. It’s taken me a week and a half to even begin writing about it- or even process it. I mean, it’s more tragedy than one person, one family or a whole community can bear. And I just can’t shake the sadness thinking about it.

You guys know I advocate for health and wellness- in an annoying amount, probably 🤷🏻‍♀️ Fitness, nutrition, alternative therapies and integrative health are absolute passions of mine. Which is why I care so much about the topic of mental health. There is NO separating physical from mental health, and we should stop pretending there is. We absolutely need both to survive and to thrive. And, at some point in our lives, we’re all going to need to focus on both. And it’s really REALLY time we start prioritizing both!

As someone with a lifetime of pretty bad anxiety…I understand firsthand that you can have a healthy body and not be completely well. I also see how much easier it is for people to talk about their migraines than their depression, their insomnia than PTSD, a bad back than anxiety. Not only are so many of these things related…there’s also NOTHING shameful about talking about our mental health struggles.

I guess I’m here to say that my heart breaks for any woman- or ANYONE- who feels they need to live their struggles in silence.

⭐️If someone isn’t ok, let’s make it normal and inviting for them to talk about it- as often as for as long as they need to.

⭐️Let’s take the shame out of any necessary treatment. And mental health days from work. And any level of outpatient or inpatient care a person needs.

⭐️Lets talk about our health early, often and openly

I’ve found some really tools over the year to balance my own struggles- fitness, nutrition, supplements, meditation, acupuncture, daily sunlight and fresh air, socializing as often as possible, journaling, gratitude, prayer, volunteering, therapy, sometimes medication and the most supportive friends and family.

There are many tools and some might work for you and some might not work all the time. But my hope for every reader, friend and loved one in my life and beyond is that we will all start prioritizing our health…in every way we need to.

I invite you all to share your stories, struggles and successes. Let’s keep this conversation open and ongoing…so no one ever feels for one second that they are alone ❤️