Chocolates and Tissues

    A blog about mental health, finding joy, and living life to its fullest.

    Category: Blog Posts

    • After the Guests Leave

      There is always that immediate feeling of complete silence after the guests leave. I can almost hear a humming sound in the air. What is that? Did I hear the faint footsteps of my two grandsons? Was that a giggle out in the backyard? What is that shadow near the window? It usually takes me…

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    • Book Club Thoughts

      I want to continue with some thoughts about my book club. It really has become such a nice monthly group gathering. The women are genuine and thoughtful. We all share our opinions of the books we read. No one steps on anyone’s toes. And, the connections we make go far beyond talking about books. We…

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    • Anticipating Visitors

      I enjoy getting the house ready when I am anticipating visitors. Next weekend my daughter and her two oldest sons arrive for a week-long visit. Her youngest son will stay home with Daddy. I cannot wait for the adventures that await us as we visit a family ranch, go to the zoo, go to the…

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    • Happy Valentine’s Day?

      As you celebrate this day of love please take a moment to think of those who are not so happy on Valentine’s Day. For some people, this is a very sad and lonely time. They could have recently lost their partner, never had a partner, or longed for a partner. Holidays are not enjoyable for…

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    • Change is Difficult

      How often do we go through changes in life? Weekly, daily, or sometimes it seems hourly? Change is difficult especially if a lot of it happens all that the same time. What do you do to make the most of it and keep your sanity? Tips for Dealing with Change Change is Guaranteed in Life…

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    • Caring for Elderly Parents

      I am learning that it can be difficult and overwhelming to care for elderly parents. Our move to Texas was precipitated by my husband’s desire to be closer to his aging parents. His mother passed away just 6 weeks before our move, leaving my father-in-law living alone in their house. He did well caring for…

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    • Practice What I Preach

      I took my grandson to the park. While there I did a little practice of the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique I wrote about a few days ago. I know I need to practice what I preach. It is much easier telling everyone else how to feel better than applying it to my life. We were the…

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    • Tea and Toast

      Yesterday my stomach was upset so I decided not to have any dinner. When I finally felt a bit hungry later in the evening I opted for a mug of tea and a slice of cinnamon toast. This is one of my favorite mugs because it reminds me of my two daughters. Several Christmases ago…

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    • 5 Steps to Feeling Grounded

      If you suffer from bouts of anxiety or happen to have a panic attack what can you do to instantly feel grounded? I am going to share the 5 steps to feeling grounded that really work. This is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. It uses five senses to get your thoughts out of your head and into…

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    • Book Club, Part 2

      In my previous post I wrote about starting a book club. In this post I plan to tell you how the first meeting went and give you a little review of our first read. I love to plan ahead and have themes for gatherings. I had decided that my food would be themed after the…

      Read more: Book Club, Part 2

    Meet the Blogger

    Lenore Cortez, MSN, RN, PMH-BC

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    This site is not a replacement for professional help. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency please dial 911. If you need to talk to someone call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): (800) 662-4357. SAMHSA runs a 24-hour mental health hotline that provides education, support, and connections to treatment.

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