Chocolates and Tissues

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

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    Chocolates & Tissues

    Two things that almost always help improve a bad or sad mood are chocolates and tissues. I keep both in my office and often have visitors stop by just to pick up a piece of chocolate.

    • 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

    • How to Begin a Book Club

      First, I just want to put it out there that I love reading and books. There is something warm and fuzzy about sitting down with a book and escaping into a different world for a bit. My parents instilled the love of reading into my sister and me at a young age. I recently started…

      Read more: How to Begin a Book Club

    • 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

    • Jumping in with Both Feet

      With the start of this blog I have decided jumping in with both feet is my best approach. Sometimes it is necessary to take a chance even if it feels little bit scary. I actually am really excited about getting into the blogging world. I have always enjoyed writing and this is the perfect place…

      Read more: Jumping in with Both Feet

    • About Me

      Let me tell you a little about me…I have been a psychiatric mental health nurse for almost 20 years. During that time I have disclosed my own struggles with anxiety with my co-workers, friends, and students. I teach the mental health nursing course to first-semester nursing students at the university where I work. Basically, during…

      Read more: About Me

    • Hello world!

      January 15, 2023 Hello world! Welcome to my blog on a new platform that I hope will be more interactive for my readers. I encourage you to leave me comments about what you like, or would like to see, your experience navigating through my website, and topics you would like to see covered here. I…

      Read more: Hello world!

    • Just Some Fun With Music

      How often do you find yourself driving along in the car singing at the top of your lungs to the radio? I would say it is a pretty common thing that people do in the safety of an enclosed vehicle. I was recently in the car with my husband and we got into the funniest…

      Read more: Just Some Fun With Music

    • 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

    • Motivational Moments

      What provides you with a burst of motivation? I hear so many people say they cannot get going in the morning without a cup of coffee. I am not talking about that kind of motivation. What truly makes you feel like doing something amazing, catching up on that pile of laundry, or getting rid of…

      Read more: Motivational Moments

    Meet the Blogger

    Lenore Cortez, MSN, RN, PMH-BC

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    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.

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    Find resources and help for mental health issues at NAMI.