The Gray Area Counseling: Angelica Gray, LCSW, CCTP

09/03/2025

09/02/2025

🌟 September is National Su***de Prevention Month 🌟

Every life matters. 💚 This month, we come together to raise awareness, fight stigma, and remind each other that hope is real and help is available.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please know:
📞 You are not alone.
📞 Call or text 988 for the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline — available 24/7.
📞 Reach out to a friend, family member, or trusted professional.

At The Gray Area Counseling, I believe in walking alongside you in life’s hardest seasons. Healing is possible, and your story matters. 💚

Let’s spread awareness, show compassion, and remind others that there is strength in reaching out.
Together, we can make a difference. 🌟

—
Angelica Gray, LCSW
📍 In-person sessions in Jonesboro, AR
💻 Telehealth across Arkansas
📞 870-819-4538
🌐 www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com

08/29/2025

🇺🇸🌟 Labor Day Weekend Reminder 🌟🇺🇸

As we head into the holiday weekend, remember that rest is not a luxury—it’s essential 🧘‍♀️💤💆‍♂️✨

Labor Day is often seen as a time for 🍔🌭🎆 cookouts, 🛍️ sales, and 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family gatherings… but it’s also a chance to pause, breathe, and care for your ❤️ mental health.

💡 Tips for a mentally healthy holiday weekend:
✨ Take time to truly rest 😴🛋️🧸
✨ Say “no” to things that drain your energy 🚫😓
✨ Get outside 🌳☀️🐕 (fresh air does wonders!)
✨ Practice gratitude 🙏🌼🌈
✨ Reach out if you’re struggling 🤝💬💙

Wishing you a peaceful, joyful, and restorative Labor Day weekend 🎇🍂🦋

— Angelica Gray, LCSW 🩵
📍 The Gray Area Counseling | Jonesboro, AR
📞 (870) 819-4538 ☎️
🌐 www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com 💻

08/25/2025

“Why the strongest child often gets overlooked”

In many families, parents tend to pour the most energy into the child who seems the most fragile—the one who struggles with relationships, stability, or emotional regulation.

It can look like:
👶 Dropping everything to rescue the child in crisis
🧯 Rearranging schedules to “put out fires” for them
🤐 Excusing behavior because “they can’t help it”

Meanwhile, the child who shows strength—the one who works hard, builds stability, and doesn’t constantly ask for help—often gets taken for granted. Parents assume, “They’ll be fine.”

👉 But here’s the reality:
• Being the strong one doesn’t mean you don’t need love, support, or acknowledgment.
• Stability deserves just as much care as crisis does.
• Constant rescuing doesn’t equal love—it often creates dependence.

If you grew up as the “strong one,” you may feel unseen or even unfairly labeled as “the problem” simply for setting boundaries. If you were the “fragile one,” you may feel trapped in a cycle of being rescued instead of empowered.

✨ In therapy, we work on breaking these roles. Healing means recognizing the pattern, learning to set boundaries without guilt, and reclaiming your worth—whether you were the one who got overlooked or the one who was rescued.

Your strength matters. Your stability matters. And you don’t have to earn love by falling apart. 💙

—
🌱 Angelica Gray, LCSW
The Gray Area Counseling
www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com

08/19/2025

🌐 The Comparison Trap: Social Media & Mental Health

We live in a world where it’s easy to measure ourselves against the endless scroll of other people’s lives. But here’s the truth: what we see online is a highlight reel, not the full story.
• That perfect vacation? You didn’t see the financial stress behind it.
• The flawless family photo? It took 37 tries (and maybe a few meltdowns) to get there.
• The “effortless” success story? You’re not seeing the years of setbacks that came first.

📊 Research shows:
• People who spend more than 3 hours per day on social media are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety (CDC, 2023).
• Nearly 60% of people say social media makes them feel inadequate about their own lives (American Psychological Association).
• Teens and young adults who compare themselves frequently online report higher rates of body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem (Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 2022).

When we constantly compare our real life to someone else’s filtered version, it can fuel:
✅ Anxiety
✅ Depression
✅ Low self-worth
✅ Disconnection from real relationships

💡 Reminder: Your life is not behind. You are not “less than.” What you see online is only a sliver of reality.

✨ Quick practice: Next time you catch yourself scrolling, pause and ask:
👉 “Am I inspired by this… or am I tearing myself down?”
If it’s the latter, it may be time for a scroll break.

If you’re feeling weighed down by comparison, therapy can help you set healthier boundaries, strengthen self-esteem, and shift focus back to what truly matters — your life.

📍 Offering in-person counseling in Jonesboro, AR & telehealth services across Arkansas
🔗 www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com
👩‍⚕️ Angelica Gray, LCSW – The Gray Area Counseling

08/11/2025

🍎 To the Teachers Who Keep Showing Up 💛

If you’ve ever…
✏️ Graded papers during lunch.
📚 Stayed late to re-do a bulletin board so it would inspire your students.
💵 Spent your own money on pencils, snacks, or tissues.
💬 Held back tears in the middle of class so your students wouldn’t see.
…this one’s for you. ❤️

📚 You notice the quiet child in the back who’s struggling.
🖍 You encourage the one who doubts themselves.
🎯 You find creative ways to make a lesson stick.
📝 You juggle test scores, parent expectations, lesson plans, behavior management, and your own life outside of school… all while showing up for your students.

And you do it despite:
💤 Running on too little sleep.
💵 Buying classroom supplies from your own paycheck.
💬 Navigating tough parent conferences with grace.
🔊 Teaching over the noise of assemblies, hallway chaos, or construction.
🍽 Eating lunch in 4 minutes flat or skipping it entirely.
❤️ Worrying about “your kids” long after the bell rings.
🗂 Staying up late grading, planning, and prepping.
💻 Learning new technology overnight.
😷 Showing up even when you don’t feel well, because finding a sub is harder than teaching sick.
🤹‍♀️ Balancing 25 different personalities in one classroom while staying calm and patient.

Here’s the truth: You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.
Your consistency, your presence, your listening ear, and your steady belief in your students matter more than you’ll ever know. The way you keep showing up — even on the hard days — changes lives in ways you may never see.

This school year, please remember:
✅ Two minutes of deep breathing between classes can reset your whole day.
✅ It’s okay to say “no” to extra responsibilities that drain you.
✅ You don’t have to answer emails at 10 PM.
✅ You are more than your job title.
✅ Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
✅ The impact you make can’t always be measured in test scores.

🍎 Thank you for:
💬 Listening when a child just needs to be heard.
🤝 Showing patience when frustration would be easier.
💡 Inspiring curiosity, not just memorization.
🎉 Celebrating small victories that mean the world to your students.
❤️ Loving your students in ways that go far beyond academics.

✨ Challenge:
• Tag a teacher who inspires you.
• Share this to remind an educator that their mental health matters too.
• Comment one thing a teacher did for you that you’ll never forget — let’s fill this thread with love for educators.

—
Angelica Gray, LCSW
The Gray Area Counseling
🌐 www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com

08/11/2025

📚🧠 Back-to-School Mental Health: Understanding Your Child’s Emotions

As kids head back to school, remember — it’s not just new backpacks and sharpened pencils. This season can bring a whirlwind of emotions: excitement, anxiety, frustration, and even grief over summer ending.

What you might see:
• 😔 Irritability or meltdowns — often a sign of anxiety or fatigue, not disrespect.
• 😴 Difficulty sleeping — the brain is adjusting to a new schedule and new social/academic demands.
• 😶 Quietness or withdrawal — could be them processing big feelings or social changes.
• 😤 “Acting out” — a common way children express stress when they don’t have the words.
• 🍽 Changes in appetite — eating less or more than usual can signal emotional distress.
• 🤢 Complaints of stomachaches or headaches — sometimes physical symptoms are linked to emotional stress.
• 🧍‍♂️ Clinging more than usual — even older kids may regress a bit when routines change.
• 🏃‍♀️ Overly busy or restless — constant movement or distraction-seeking can be a coping strategy.
• 😭 Crying over “small things” — emotional overload often spills into unrelated situations.

How you can help:
• 💬 Listen without judgment. Sometimes kids don’t need a fix — just to feel heard.
• 🕰 Allow decompression time after school before jumping into homework or activities.
• ❤️ Validate feelings (“I can see you’re nervous about meeting new friends, that’s completely normal”).
• 💤 Prioritize rest — sleep is the brain’s best tool for emotional regulation.
• 🧩 Watch for patterns — if stress persists beyond a few weeks, consider extra support.
• 📝 Check in daily — even a simple “What was your favorite part of today?” can open the door.
• 🤝 Model coping skills — deep breaths, walks, journaling, or mindful breaks show kids healthy ways to manage emotions.

Remember: Behavior is communication. Even when it comes out sideways, your child is telling you how they feel.

Let’s make this school year not just about learning facts, but about nurturing emotional resilience. 🌟

— Angelica Gray, LCSW
The Gray Area Counseling
www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com

08/11/2025

🌿💔 You Don’t Have to Keep the Door Open 💔🌿

🚫 You don’t have to keep letting people hurt you just because they’re family.
💌 It’s okay to love them from a distance when their choices keep crossing your boundaries.

Sometimes that means stepping back from:
💊 A sibling battling addiction who refuses help and drains everyone around them
🌀 A parent who manipulates, controls, or guilt-trips you into doing what they want
⚖️ A cousin constantly in legal trouble who drags you into their mess
😡 An uncle who makes hateful, racist, or toxic comments every family gathering
🛑 A family member who steals money or possessions from you
⛔ Someone whose lifestyle puts your safety, sanity, or stability at risk
💔 A partner or in-law who abuses you emotionally, physically, or financially
📣 A relative who spreads lies or gossip to turn others against you
🔥 A sibling who is always in drama and brings chaos into your home
🚔 A family member involved in dangerous or criminal activities
🤥 Someone who constantly lies and refuses to take accountability
🗡️ A person who betrays your trust over and over again
🧠 A relative who mocks your mental health struggles or belittles your healing journey

💚 You can care about them.
🙏 You can wish them healing.
🗣️ And you can still say, “I can’t have this in my life anymore.”

💡 Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re how you protect your peace.

📍 The Gray Area Counseling – Helping you navigate life’s toughest decisions with compassion and clarity.
🌐

Make your Mental Health a Priority

08/06/2025

🌴🐾 Mental Health Moment… with Gretchen Wieners 🐾🌴

Gretchen Wieners (yes, the dapple dachshund diva) made her beach debut this week—and she has a few things to say about self-care:

🐚 “Bury your worries like I buried my pig ear.”
🌊 “Let the waves carry away what no longer serves you.”
☀️ “And never underestimate the power of a good nap in the sunshine.”

Watching her roll in the sand, bark at waves, and live in the moment reminded me—mental health isn’t just therapy, it’s allowing yourself to PLAY. 🧠💛

You deserve rest. You deserve joy.
You deserve to feel the sand between your toes (or paws). 🐾


📍The Gray Area Counseling | www.TheGrayAreaCounseling.com