Wellness Archives

Mental Health, Anxiety & EMDR with Janelle Nelson, LMFT

March 22, 2019June 7, 2019by Positively Posie1 Comment

Hey Friends, I know it’s been forever since I have written again. Has my sabbatical caused you some sort of anxiety? I’m so sorry– forgive me but I have been busy starting a podcast, This Girl Life.

THIS GIRL LIFE PODCAST

It has been a dream of mine for awhile now to start a lifestyle podcast with my best friend Kristen of the Everyday Grace. We wanted to connect with women, really all of you on another level. Plus, we love talking way more than we love typing… so a podcast was a perfect fit. You can catch up on latest TGL episodes on itunes, Soundcloud, Googleplay, Spotify.We just released EPISODE 5 with Janelle Nelson, (LMFT) a family, marriage life therapist who specializes in EMDR( Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR is a tool used to help combat PTS from trauma, anxiety, even helps people with phobias. EMDR has helped me work through some of my anxiety that I asked Janelle Nelson, LMFT to share about this amazing tool on the blog after her episode on TGL aired.

My Anxiety Struggle

I have talked a lot about my struggle with anxiety with the hope of showing people… we don’t have to “sweep” this topic under the rug. Check out past posts here and here. I have been using EMDR in my therapy sessions with Dr. Cassidy. and OMG EMDR is amazing. I have seen great improvement in my own life since starting my sessions, it really helps peel back all the layers of your anxiety.

On Positively Posie.com I truly want to be a force in breaking the stigma that still surrounds the topic of mental health. One of the first steps in breaking that is to say and believe…

” there is no weakness in asking for help”

In our latest TGL Episode with Janelle Nelson, LMFT , I share how I got a point with my anxiety where I KNEW I needed to talk to someone. It was truly freeing and reduced my anxiety by just take that step and going to first session. I believe there is POWER in being heard and understood by someone else. SO GUYS- I hope this post and podcast episode can be a little piece in helping start a productive conversation about mental health, anxiety and therapy.

The Interview

Whitney: Hey Janelle thanks for coming on Positively Posie and sharing about EMDR. First tell us little bit about you, your practice.

Janelle: Thanks for having me! I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist trained in specific type of therapy called EMDR. I have a private practice in Carlsbad, CA (North County San Diego). I’m also a mom, artist, nature lover and health/wellness geek 🙂

Whitney: Let’s start off with the basics: what is EMDR?

Janelle: EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and is now the most proven form of trauma therapy that’s available. It works incredibly fast and can be used to treat a wide range of trauma – from incredibly severe to very mild.

Whitney: Can your quickly breakdown what an EMDR session looks like?

Janelle: First, I work with my clients to find the most effective memory to target (called a touchstone memory). After identifying this memory I will go through a list of questions with my client to help my client really get in touch with the memory. For example; I would ask them to identify what image represents the worst part of the incident. Also, what negative belief are they believing because of the incident, what feelings do they have around the incident, and have them rate the trauma. After all these questions (and more) are answered and the client is in touch with the incident then the actual processing can start.

The processing phase is where the client gets in touch with the memory and then with their eyes follows a lightbar tool I have in my office to allow the brain to ‘digest’ the trauma (go to my instagram @jncounseling to see an actual video of this). The bi-lateral movement from the eyes allows the brain to move and reprocess the memory using both hemispheres of the brain. I will pause and check in with the client throughout the process to see if there distress levels have shifted. When they get to the point where nothing about the incident bothers them (yes- this happens every time!) then we can move to the installation and body scan phases.

The installation and body scan phases is where they are able to pair the positive belief with the incident and they start to feel really good! At the end of the sessions my clients are usually tired, but incredibly light and relieved or they literally skip out of my office! Ha! I once had a teenage client ask me, “Do you feel like a magician? From like, Harry Potter or something?! That was crazy!”

Whitney: You’ve been using EMDR in your practice for over 7 years. Why is it such a powerful tool in the world of healthcare.

Janelle: Because it goes deep and works so so quickly! Trauma literally gets “stuck” in the brain and gets paired with a negative belief about ourselves. We might do a lot of talk therapy and in our minds know “I am good enough,” but in our hearts we don’t FEEL that way. EMDR helps make our head knowledge actual heart knowledge… and that’s what makes it so powerful.

Whitney: As an military spouse I knew about EMDR, but I only thought it was for Post traumatic stress trauma, who else could benefit from EMDR ?

Janelle: It can benefit literally anyone. I have never met a person who hasn’t experienced some form of trauma (shame or pain). I have worked with many of our Military who have PTSD and the results are incredible for them, but anyone can benefit. Some common things I see (unfortunately) is a lot of sexual abuse, bullying, and attachment trauma (ex: alcoholic/workaholic parent). Other things I have used it for are fear of flying, cancer or illness recovery, and death of a loved one. It has endless uses…

Whitney: I have used EMDR to tap into past childhood issues that are the stem of a lot of my adult anxiety. Are you seeing more patients like myself using EMDR to manage chronic anxiety.

Janelle: Most of my clients are just like you! Awesome, high functioning people who are wanting to self improve and work through whatever is blocking them in their present life.

Whitney: What are some myths you’ve heard when people talk about EMDR?

Janelle: That it’s some form of hypnosis- It’s definitely not! You are completely conscious the during the processing. Nothing scary I promise 🙂

Whitney: If a person is interested in trying a session where should they start? What should they look for when trying to find a practitioner like yourself.

J: Personal referrals are always the first best resource, but if you don’t have one I would do a search on Psychology Today.

Whitney: Where can our listens/ readers find you!

Website: jncounseling.com

Social: Instagram: @jncounseling / Facebook: Janelle Nelson Counseling

Emails: jntherapy@gmail.com

Why I Made Drinking Celery Juice a Priority

November 20, 2018August 11, 2019by Positively PosieLeave a Comment

Over the last year celery juice has become the “cool kid” in the world of juicing. If you follow my Instagram you know I am drinking celery juice almost daily on an empty stomach, over ice and out of a straw cause it taste better that way.

Many of us have never payed much attention to celery. I mean who does love it with almond butter or in a bloodmary!! But about a year ago I fell head over heels in love with it celery juice and now I consider celery juice my beauti-fuel!

Celery has so many benefits especially when it’s juiced, if you are not a huge fan of only celery juice, at least drinking some sort of green juice everyday is still so positive for your body. But I want to give you the scoop on the power of drinking celery juice SOLO, so let’s get into the nitty gritty of why you should be a fan of celery juice.

Disclaimer * If you are wanting to juice and not sure about it first consult with your practitioner.

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HOW TO DRINK CELERY JUICE

Celery juice is most powerful when fresh and drank solo. If you are new to the juicing game and can’t stand the taste start out adding in a little lemon or ginger to help you get used to the taste. And then gradually ween that back out so you have only celery juice.

AMOUNT OF CELERY JUICE TO GET THE BENEFITS?
Starting out a great number to hit is 16 oz daily. Some people with chronic illness have been saying they drink up to 24-32 oz but I am not there quite yet.

HOW MUCH CELERY DO I NEED TO GET 16oz ?
Okay this varies because it depends on the type of celery you have, and remember to always buy organic. I notice a large bunch yields 16 oz of juice.

WHEN SHOUD YOU DRINK DRINK CELERY JUICE?
I always drink it in the morning before I eat anything, but sometimes I wanna grab a juice while I’m out so I just wait 15-30 minutes before or after eating something.

LETS TALK PRE- JUICING

I personally don’t pre-juice but if you need to because of a super busy AM schedule make sure to seal it tight in a mason jar and drink within 24 hrs of juicing. I personally drink my celery juice immediately after juicing on an empty stomach, over ice and out of a straw cause it tastes way better like that!!

HCL

Celery juice helps to rebuild the hydrochloric acid in your stomach so it can properly break down protein. What is hydrochloric acid: HCL –is what we know as stomach acid which helps your gut break down the food, specifically proteins. But when you have an autoimmune disease like Hashimotos or have a chronic stress issue your HCL levels can drop super low. This creates symptoms like indigestion, acid reflux and can even create IBS. So if you are unable to properly digest your foods then you aren’t able to absorb the essential nutrients from food. But with celery juice contains cluster salt (mineral salts) which helps with digestion and helps to restore your stomach’s HCL levels.

King of Detox

Celery juice will DETOX your body. Drinking celery juice will kill off unproductive bacteria in the gut, also detoxing the liver. Some people who’s body is super toxic can experience diarrhea, I haven’t had this problem but I do know people who have. SO it is smart to start drinking a smaller amount of juice like 2 to 8 oz of celery juice then work your way up to 16 oz. Check out the medical medium tips.

Diuretic

Celery juice is a diuretic and flushes the body of bloat. From my own experience celery juice definitely reduces my belly bloat, if I miss a few days of juice I notice an increase in gas and bloat. So I rarely miss a day of celery juice, but things happen like vacation so I have to just roll with it.

Reduces Cravings

Celery juice has been found to help reduced cravings. Often you’ll see cravings when our body is lacking certain minerals and vitamins. This happens due to a lack of variety in the diet or when we eat unhealthy foods all the time. Like I said celery juice helps repair your gut and rebuilding the HCL, once your gut is repaired more quality nutrients will be absorbed into your system and decrease those annoying food cravings.

If you don’t want to start with just celery juice or you don’t want to juice anything yourself, I believe that any green juice is better than no green juice.

I’ll leave you with my 3 Rules of Juice: 1. When buying juice make sure it’s a green vegetable juice with no more than 100 calories per serving. 2. Juices with little fruit content will mean the less sugar. 3. The farther down the ingredient on the list of ingredients, the less of the ingredient used in the juice!

Happy Juicing

xo- Whitney

Wellness

Making Gluten Free & Dairy Free Eating Easy- Positively Posie Pantry Picks

October 16, 2018August 7, 2019by Positively Posie1 Comment

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “how do you eat gluten free and dairy free, what do you eat? In 2018 I totally expected more people to be open to the gluten free & dairy free way of life, but people are still leery. So I want to share with you my favorite gluten and dairy free items that we eat on a daily basis. These are the stand outs, the must have items. Even if you aren’t gluten & dairy free these are still must try items… trust me you won’t be sorry.

A few thought nuggets about Gluten Free and Dairy Free items:

Make sure to inspect the labels– if it states “made in a facility that also processes wheat” it’s not truly gluten free.
Not all gluten-free foods items are healthy! Just because it’s gluten free or dairy free doesn’t mean the product is SUPER clean or LOW in calories

Organic Meats Organic Veggies

+ Turkey + Spinach & Kale + Celery

+ Chicken + Asparagus + Butternut Squash

+ Organic Wild Fish +Cucumber + Zucchini

Beauty, Wellness

3 Superfoods That Will Boost Your Skin

October 1, 2018July 24, 2019by Positively PosieLeave a Comment

This isn’t the typical post telling you all about random superfoods out there, Positively Posie is a place filled with wellness tips to improve your daily life and adding superfoods is a great place to start. Did you know that your epidermis is the top part of your skin and its the body’s largest organ. Our skin is here to protects us, so the least we can do is nourish it with some superfoods.

Listen I’m an efficient lady when it comes to my body’s wellness and my skin of course. So adding in superfoods was a no brainer, it’s an easy way to detox and energize your body and skin. And I can’t commit to one superfood, it’s just not gonna happen. There are THREE superfoods that I’m obsessed with and they are so easy to throw in your AM shake or even in some water.

moon juice: beauty shroom

Adds a some creaminess to your morning shake with moon juice: beauty shrom. It’s full of skin-protecting superfoods to help preserve your natural collagen while hydrating skin from the inside out.

Raw Beauty- green superfood powder

HUM nutrition has 39 beauty detox superfoods to help improve your energy, support radiant, hydrated skin and boost your metabolism.

apple cider vinegar

Maybe you hate the taste & smell but my apple cider vinegar obsession runs deep. I love adding it to my shakes and or in my morning water with a bunch of lemon. Why is ACV so amazing well studies show that Apple Cider Vinegar

• Reduces oxidative stress in your body

• Helps improve insulin resistance

• ACV promotes an alkaline gut environment

• Promotes a healthy cardiovascular health

Positively Posie Superfood Picks

Lifestyle, Wellness

Lets Get Real: What’s Your PM routine

September 16, 2018October 1, 2018by Positively PosieLeave a Comment

We hear it a lot- – the phrase “me time”. Finding me time has become harder as my miss B has grown older. As a type A personality I’ve had to create rituals in my everyday life to find some sort of balance.

My evening ritual is something that I look forward to all day, it just helps me refocus my energy and power down for the day. Sounds silly maybe but it works for me.

Skincare: I’m a huge believer in taking off your makeup before hitting the sheets & a having a killer skincare routine– shocker. So I double cleanse off all my makeup, I have been doing this for awhile now and its just my thing– plus I incorporate my whole other skincare routine. For my hyper-pigmentation I’ve been using no BS. super clean & natural vitamin C, plus some must needed anti- aging retinol or a cleaner way to beat fine lines Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil , a dab of eye cream… the whole deal. AND wait can we please talk about Kopari Coconut Rose Toner. I have been using it for a month now and it’s my new best friends. It helps reduce my monstrous pores and balance my skin which I’m always looking for and it FREE of all the bad stuff: GMO’s, Sulfate, Cruelty and Paraben!

I’m also all about slipping into crisp, clean sheets- – which mean using my Slip pillowcase nightly… anti-aging, anti-sleep crease, anti-bed head! We spend a lot of of our lives sleeping so might as well make the most of it with the best pillow case.

There you have it, I want to know your PM routine because I’m always up for trying something new! Share in the comments

-xo Whitney

Wellness

How to Manage Anxiety: Practical Advice from Jenny West – Mehrer LMFT

May 30, 2018by Positively Posie1 Comment

Hey Guys- – I’m back yet again talking about ANXIETY. A few weeks back I shared with you my tips for breaking up with anxiety. But I wanted to bring in a true professional on the topic of anxiety, so we can really kick anxiety’s butt! My good friend Jenny Mehrer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist here in San Diego, we’ve known each other since 9th grade and you guys she is such an amazing person and great at her job. She is here to give us her professional tips on how to manage anxiety… so let’s get into it! Dear Anxiety, Let's Break Up

Hi Everyone Jenny Here… Anxiety is something that I spend most of my days learning about, working with and helping others (and myself) manage. It sure is powerful and we live in a society that creates an environment for it to grow. I want to highlight that it is important to remember that not ALL anxiety is bad. Anxiety often serves a purpose and, at times, can keep us safe and aware. To be honest, most of the time anxiety or worry can feel like too much. Here are a few quick tips to help manage anxiety when it becomes “too much.”

Jenny’s 5 Tips For Managing Anxiety

Write it out: Whatever is on your mind, write it down. It does not have to make sense or be perfect, just get your thoughts (which are often rushing around) down on paper or in a note in your phone. Once your thoughts/worries/fears are written down, they often appear more manageable.
Press pause: Set aside time to engage in 15-20 minutes of yoga, meditation or prayer. You can do this with or without the assistance of apps (Mycalmbeat and Mindshift are great). Youtube has a handful of great yoga videos and guided meditations.
Practice self-care: Drink a cup of tea, take a bath, get a pedicure or message, go to bed early, sit in a cozy spot and read a book. Whatever you feel gives you a break and nourishes your soul, do it. Make it a priority. NOTE: Caffeine, alcohol and junk food can make anxiety worse so avoid “treating yourself” that way.
Get moving: It is amazing what a quick 15-minute walk can do for your mood. If you have more time, try to get a 45-minute workout. If walking is not your thing, get moving in other ways. Go to a barre class, find a Zumba video on YouTube, lift weights or go for a swim. Any sort of activity will help improve your mood and release endorphins.
Check yourself: After you engage in an activity that helps you calm down, check yourself. What triggered the anxiety? Are your thoughts and feelings accurate? Can you try a different approach to your worry? Sometimes it is helpful to talk it out with a trusted (and empathetic) friend or family member.

Sometimes anxiety (or depression or a feeling of being “off”) is not easily managed. If that is the case for you or someone you care about, I recommend seeking our professional help.

www.westmehrertherapy.com

Sources: https://adaa.org/tips https://www.verywellfit.com/walking-for-your-mind-and-spirit-3432871

Wellness

We’re Friends Right? So Lets Talk About Anxiety

May 15, 2018August 7, 2018by Positively Posie2 Comments

friends 2.jpg ANXIETY– Can literally control someone’s life. That is such a sad statement, but guys that is the truth. I am not ashamed to talk about this and say ya.. I have anxiety.

Let me just say anxiety is no JOKE. We need to take care of our mental health just like we take care of skin or our physical health. I think it’s an important topic to talk about and shed some light on. So I wanted to share with you the things I do to calm my anxiety and take back control of my thoughts.

Don’t you think everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life? Well they do.. Anxiety is highly subjective to each person, obviously worse for some than others. Something that helped me right away is just saying..I need some help- – like I’m at a point that I need some guidance on how to manage my anxiety. It’s never a bad time to ask for help, just asking for help that was a first step….

So here is what I have done over the last few years of my life to help manage my anxiety.

I broke these up into the FOUR basic things I started out doing and I STILL do on a daily basis.

Positively Posie (4).png

▴ Take a moment and breath. When I consciously focus on calming thoughts and calming breaths, I can feel my body start to relax. Honestly, there are tons of different breathing exercises for anxiety, so try out several to see what works best for you. What I do is I close my eyes, and start to relax every muscle group from my toes up to my head. I then take 6 deep breaths through my nose and hold for 5 seconds.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” — Amit Raz

▴ Adrenal Support- So I’ve talked about the importance of adrenal support before and I’ll say it again if you have anxiety you need to study up on the connection between the two. I support my adrenals with proper supplementation and I notice a huge difference when I am not on them. Someone like a naturopathic doctor is going to be able to guide best, let me know if you have any questions about this.

▴ Lay off the coffee--This is a very sad truth! I have now limited my caffeine intake to one cup a day and I notice a big difference.

▴ Meditation. I have been trying to incorporate meditation into my life for awhile now. I am trying try train myself to be mindful. Meditation is helping me take unproductive worries and look at them in a totally different way. There are tons of apps out there if you don’t know where to start, I’ve been using headspace and I like it so far.

next FOUR steps I’ve implemented over the last year.

▴ Therapy… I cant tell you how awesome therapy can be. Finding the right person is key, do your research and then pray about it. Guys, listen I personally think there is still such a stigma around therapy, which is so sad. People need to freaking GET OVER IT! Therapy for is a place to learn about yourself and how to handle all feelings. It’s truly Fantastic!

I’ve linked my therapist here in San Diego, talking to her and learning from her has been key! Just connecting with another human being and having them show you compassion, it’s JUST incredible!! Check out her Instagram and FANTASTIC podcast!

▴ Have a “person”. Guys–I am all about going to therapy when you need it. If you are NOT at a point where you are ready to go to a therapist then find a FRIEND someone to talk to about how you are feeling!

So many times I just hear people say, “Oh I’m just working through it myself.” That might work for some people but for me my mom couldn’t be my therapist FOREVER (love you mom). I guess the take away is at the end of the day, you NEVER have to worry alone. PLEASE talk to someone when you need to talk.

▴ FILL your CUP with good and positive things. It’s key everyday to Talk, Learn, and Grow by filling your mind with positivity. Recently I was introduced to Susan David who talks about emotional agility, which is eye opening & mind blowing at the same time. Listen to her wisdom over on the podcast, The Robcast. Other positive Podcasts or books I love and use everyday to fill my cup – – The Alison Show Ep 52 is all about her anxiety journey and WELL everything Brene Brown.

These are a few tips that really have worked for me and helped me handle my day to day anxiety. I’m still working on EVERY DAMN DAY because I’m not perfect and still struggle!

Let me know if you have any questions. AND of course I want to know how you deal with your anxiety. Comment and Share your tips me here or on instagram, I love hearing them!

XO- Whitney

Wellness

Channel Your Inner Yogi, 5 At-Home Yoga Workout Videos

October 13, 2017April 25, 2018by Positively PosieLeave a Comment

At Home Yoga Workouts

At home projects, the blog, my two year old have me running around like a mad women the last week. This weekend I had to step back and take a breather, just clear my mind with yoga time.

Since having my daughter I only practice at home, but at home yoga workouts are the best! It’s important to mix up your daily fitness regime with gentler routines, like yoga! Whatever level your at in your fitness game, I swear this is beneficial to everyone.

Okay guys so why do yoga? Well it will help you improve flexibility, core strength and posture. But for me it give me such mental clarity, a way to slow down my thoughts and connect to my body! I have my Check out my top five favorite yoga workouts.

I hope you enjoy these routines and they revive your spirit!!

At Home Yoga Workouts

Tag: Wellness

Mental Health, Anxiety & EMDR with Janelle Nelson, LMFT

THIS GIRL LIFE PODCAST

My Anxiety Struggle

The Interview

Like this:

Why I Made Drinking Celery Juice a Priority

Disclaimer * If you are wanting to juice and not sure about it first consult with your practitioner.