Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS that causes intense emotional and physical symptoms during the luteal phase, typically one to two weeks before your period begins. But a clinical definition does not capture what a PMDD episode feeling is actually like to live through. It does not describe the sudden shift … Read more
If you are reading this, you have probably answered the same question five, ten, maybe twenty times today already. You are not failing. You are not impatient. You are human, and what you are experiencing is one of the most emotionally draining aspects of dementia caregiving. Repetitive questioning is a common symptom of dementia caused … Read more
If you are reading this, you already suspect something. Maybe you have been paying your loved one’s rent, calling in sick for them, or lending money that never comes back. You did these things because you care. But a quiet voice keeps asking: am I helping or enabling my addicted loved one? That question is … Read more
Walking into your parent’s room and seeing a blank look where there used to be warmth is one of the most painful experiences a family member can face. You are still their child, but they no longer know your face. If you are reading this, you probably already know that ache. Learning how to cope … Read more
If you have recently gotten sober and find yourself looking in the mirror thinking, “I do not even recognize this person anymore,” you are far from alone. The experience of feeling like a stranger to yourself in early recovery is one of the most common, least talked about parts of getting clean. I have been … Read more
Caring for a parent with dementia means providing physical, emotional, and practical support to a parent experiencing progressive cognitive decline. It is a role that can be simultaneously deeply loving, profoundly exhausting, and emotionally complex. You become a nurse, an advocate, a scheduler, a cook, a companion, and sometimes a stranger to the person who … Read more
If you have decided to stop drinking, one of the hardest parts is not the cravings or the late-night temptations. It is figuring out how to tell old drinking buddies you do not drink anymore without making things weird. You might be wondering whether your friends will judge you, pressure you, or slowly stop inviting … Read more
If you have found yourself searching for what mild cognitive impairment feels like, you are probably worried about changes you or someone you love has been experiencing. Maybe you walked into a room and forgot why. Maybe you stopped mid-sentence because the word you needed simply vanished. Maybe a family member has mentioned something that … Read more
You have done the work. You have put in the hours, the reflection, the uncomfortable self-examination, and the daily effort to become a better version of yourself. Yet when you look around, the people closest to you still treat you like the person you used to be. If you are wondering what to do when … Read more
Walking into a room and forgetting why. Losing your train of thought mid-sentence. Searching for a word that sits just out of reach. If you are in perimenopause or menopause and these moments are happening more often, you are not alone. Studies show that up to 60% of women experience cognitive symptoms during the menopausal … Read more