I don’t think any married couple likes conflict. It’s a part of being together that seems to cast doubt and negativity over the entire marriage. If we argue, are we destined to fail? Is he going to get fed up with me and leave? Will we always have this same argument? Pretty soon, the thought of…
Mental Health
Mental Health Support for Kids
Awhile back, someone following my Instagram @faithhopefood asked for a sort of guide to help her make food choices that would benefit the mental health of her children. I thought it was such a great idea, so here we go! If you've been with me for a while, you've read about the basics of how…
Essential Oils for Mental Health
You know how I keep saying that God provides all we need for help and healing? Foods, supplements, and every element of His great creation has provable benefits for our physical, mental and spiritual health. One of my favorite tools to address symptoms of anxiety, depression and ADHD is essential oils. I buy my oils…
Vanilla Frappe Smoothie
How to have a healthy start during a cross-country move? Smoothies! We packed frozen kale, vanilla protein powder, iced coffee, coconut oil and acacia fiber along with our Magic Bullet for a nutrient dense Frappe Smoothie every morning. Kale offers important antioxidants and phytonutrients, protein powder grounds our blood sugar and provides us with amino…
Are you too busy?
When my husband prepared to deploy for the first time in our marriage, I got a lot of advice. One of the most common pieces of advice I heard was, "Get busy, and stay busy." The implication was that if I was busy enough, I wouldn't have the time to laze about eating copious amounts…
JOY
As a counselor, I have spent a lot of time over the years talking with people about how to be happy. Some people seem to just be “happy people,” natural optimists, but for many, happiness is elusive, fleeting, and often buried under dark feelings of despair and anxiety. When a person’s mindset is despairing, they…
Handling Depression as a Christian
The truth. This word, this concept has been sparking debates for ages. What is truth? What is the truth? How can we know? Why does man search for it so ardently? We need the truth to ground us, to give us a point of reference from which to order our lives, like an anchor. Without…
Morning Coffee
Who needs a cup of coffee in the morning to feel human? Just me? Something like 64% of Americans drink at least one cup a day, so obviously I'm not alone in my morning ritual. Let's talk about improvements you can make to your coffee so that it helps your mental health. Some people can…
Boundaries
I've been thinking about an old favorite verse lately... "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23, NLT). As far as I can remember, this verse has been referenced in support of avoiding negative influences that might lead to sin. Don't watch bad movies or listen to…
Neurotransmitter Support
Most of us are vaguely familiar with the relationship between low neurotransmitters and symptoms of mental health disorders. For too many years, I've heard people say that the reason they are depressed is because of a "chemical imbalance" in their brains. What they usually mean is that their brains don't produce enough of a neurotransmitter,…