Mandi Walden, APC

11/27/2023

A little Monday encouragement for you ;)

11/13/2023

The holidays are just around the corner! Does the thought of spending time with certain family members cause your anxiety to spike? Here's a helpful article for navigating difficult relatives during the holidays. What works for you? Share your tips in the comments!
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/difficult-family-holidays/

11/10/2023

I can't tell you the number of times I've told my therapist, "I thought I was past this!" It's okay to still be saddened by the things you've healed from. Healing is a journey, and wounds run deep. You can be healed and still feel sad.

11/08/2023

Take a minute to appreciate the journey that's gotten you here. Think back to the person you were and how proud they are of you right now.

11/03/2023

As we end the week, give yourself grace if you didn't quite get to everything on your to-do list. No matter how slow you go, progress is progress. Give yourself credit for what you have done.

11/01/2023

10/30/2023

I love this! Remember, your relationship with your spouse came before your kids and it'll still be there when they've moved out. What state do you want it to be in? Continue to pursue each other and make your marriage a priority.

We came first.

Before the pacing of hallways with colicky babies.

Before the little hands started grabbing ours to ask us to come play.

We came first.

Before the postpartum depression and anxiety.

Before fixing 3 littles’ plates at every meal and saying “please don’t lick that” to the most random things throughout the day.

We came first.

Before the adorable little onesies, superhero figures, and princess dresses.

Before the bassinets, Pack ‘N Plays, and bunk beds.

We came first.

Before the squeals and screams that interrupt our every conversation.

Before the little snuggles of our Littles between us in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.

We came first.

And each day I’m reminded that we still need to make time for us.

It might look different right now.

It might be harder to figure out right now.

But we will.

Because we came first and will still be holding hands when our birdies fly from our little nest.

Art: Amanda Oleander Art
Words: Fire Wife Chronicles by Lizzy Christian

10/27/2023

Besides good old therapy, one of the best things for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is sunlight! The decreased amount of sunlight during the fall and winter months is believed to be what causes the chemical change in the brain that leads to SAD, so a great way to combat that is to spend more time in the sun.

10/26/2023

It's that time of year again, and I'm not talking about pumpkin spice or holidays. Nope, it's time for seasonal affective disorder, appropriately shortened to SAD. SAD is a type of depression that generally affects people during the fall/winter months and usually affects women more than men. The symptoms of SAD are similar to regular depression symptoms and include fatigue, increased sleep, irritability, loss of interest in activities, social isolation, anxiety, difficulty focusing, and appetite changes. Post in the comments if you know what has been shown to help with SAD. Stay tuned for the answer tomorrow!

10/25/2023

Oh, the expectations of being a mom! It can be so overwhelming! Just know, mama, that you're doing your best and that is enough.

10/23/2023

You deserve to be in environments where you're not just surviving. Choose to make yourself a priority. Schedule a counseling appointment today!

10/22/2023

When the world seems scary, our kids turn to us to make sense of it all. It's important that we don't catastrophize a situation and make sure they're feeling heard. We are the first safety net in our children's lives.

10/10/2023

You may have noticed that the name of this page has changed from Mandi Walden, MA, to Mandi Walden, APC. What’s up with that? I am now an Associate Professional Counselor, which means I have my first stage of licensure! This means I need to get a certain amount of clinical hours, supervision, and continuing education before I can get my full license in two to three years. At that point I’ll be an LPC–a Licensed Professional Counselor.

08/29/2023

Just posting this again to see if any mom friends want to join me at this event! Sounds like it'll be fun!

08/28/2023

I love this so much! It reminds me of another visual I've seen that's very similar that I'll try to find some time. It's hard to change our patterns, but we do not have to repeat generational traumas. It ran in the the family until it ran into me.

08/27/2023

You can't always trust your feelings. Feelings can lie. Trust the truth you know rather than the lie you feel.