Chocolates and Tissues

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

    Category: Mental Health Tips

    • Stop Catastrophizing!

      It has been a long time since I last posted. I feel like the months, and summer since my father’s death have been jumbled. There have been a lot of emotions, activities, and life-changing events. I am one of those people who worry about everything. And, some of those worries get catastrophized beyond need. WE…

      Read more: Stop Catastrophizing!

    • Feeling Angry

      I have been feeling angry for the last 4-5 days. I want to yell at everyone and everything! While I am not exactly sure why this is I can surmise that it is related to my dad’s death and the upcoming life transitions that I am processing. Do you ever feel angry for no obvious…

      Read more: Feeling Angry

    • Getting through Grief, What a Girl Wants

      What is grief? How do you measure it? Getting through grief is different for each person experiencing it. There are many causes of grief from losing a loved one to the sadness that comes from a significant life event such as moving far away from family or ending a friendship. No two experiences are the…

      Read more: Getting through Grief, What a Girl Wants

    • Caring About Elderly Parents

      Back at the beginning of February, I wrote a post about caring for elderly parents. Today I want to talk about caring about elderly parents. You see, my father is dying. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but sometime soon. He got home from the hospital about a week after I posted that last blog about…

      Read more: Caring About Elderly Parents

    • 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…

      Read more: Caring for Elderly Parents

    • 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…

      Read more: 5 Steps to Feeling Grounded

    • The Power of Positive Affirmations

      Have you ever wondered if positive affirmations really work? A 2016 study with 68 participants found that affirmations had a positive impact on the neural reward pathways in the brain. Those participants who used positive affirmations showed positive behavioral changes by the end of the study. What are Affirmations? Affirmations are simple phrases used to…

      Read more: The Power of Positive Affirmations

    • 5 Reasons to Take a Mental Health Day

      Many people do not consider the importance of taking mental health days from time to time. Just as you would take a sick day when you have a migraine or the flu, so should you take a mental health day when you are really feeling overwhelmed, sluggish, and not yourself. There is no shame in…

      Read more: 5 Reasons to Take a Mental Health Day

    • Keeping it Simple

      My sister and I were texting and this topic actually came up in our conversation. She and I both have bouts of anxiety. We agreed that there is a need for keeping it simple. This could be over a huge thing or the tiniest of things. Sometimes it is a cumulative effect of dealing with…

      Read more: Keeping it Simple

    • Self-care in the new year

      Do you worry about everyone else before you even begin to think about your own needs and your own self-care? I find myself slipping into that rut and this year I want to be better about putting my needs first. The problem is that for the most part, I really enjoy taking care of others.…

      Read more: Self-care in the new year

    Meet the Blogger

    Lenore Cortez, MSN, RN, PMH-BC

    Site Map

    Image

    Subscribe

    Sign up for free content.

    I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Image

    Subscribe Below

    Sign up for free content.

    I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Image

    Subscribe

    Sign up for free content.

    I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    About Site

    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.

    My Happy Place

    shallow focus photo of person holding a starfish
    Photo by Efe Yağız Soysal on Pexels.com

    Contact Me

    Tell me what you would like to learn more about or a topic you would like me to cover in this blog.

    Earnings disclaimer: Affiliate links may pop up on this site. I will receive a commission when a reader clicks on a link and then makes a purchase.