Jack Pine Wellness

10/27/2025

🌼 Parenthood changes everything — including how easily we can meet our own basic needs.

Before kids, you could sleep when you were tired, eat when you were hungry, shower when you needed to, and rest when your body said “enough.” After kids, even the simplest acts of self-care—using the bathroom alone, eating a full meal, or finishing a thought—can start to feel like luxuries instead of essentials.

When your basic needs go unmet for too long, your nervous system stays on high alert. You may notice more irritability, anxiety, or emotional numbness. It’s not a sign of failure — it’s a biological response to chronic stress and unmet needs. Your body and mind are trying to survive in a season that demands constant giving.

Meeting your needs doesn’t have to look like a “perfect” self-care routine. It might look like:

Eating a full meal instead of finishing your child’s leftovers.

Taking three deep breaths before responding to the next “Mom/Dad!”

Letting the dishes wait while you sit for five quiet minutes.

Asking for help, even when it feels uncomfortable.

You are a human being first — your needs matter, too. Getting your needs met isn’t selfish; it’s what allows you to show up as the steady, grounded version of yourself that your children rely on.

If you’re feeling depleted, that’s not weakness — it’s information. It’s your body saying, “I need care, too.”

💛 Be gentle with yourself. This season is demanding, but you deserve nourishment, rest, and compassion just as much as the little ones you care for.

10/20/2025

🖤 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 🖤

As a therapist, I want to hold space for anyone who has ever been caught in the painful cycle of abuse — whether it was emotional, physical, sexual, or psychological. Abuse doesn’t always look like bruises or screaming. Sometimes, it looks like bread crumbing — when someone gives you just enough affection, attention, or hope to keep you from leaving, but never enough to truly meet your needs.

You start to question your reality.
You wonder if you’re “too sensitive.”
You cling to the good moments, even though they’re crumbs compared to the pain.

Leaving an abusive relationship is not easy. It’s not as simple as “just walk away.” It’s a process that involves grief, confusion, fear, and often, rebuilding your entire sense of self. You may still love the person who hurt you — and that does not make you weak. It makes you human.

Healing begins when you start to believe that you deserve consistency, safety, and genuine care — not crumbs, not manipulation, not fear.

If you’re in a situation that feels unsafe or uncertain, you don’t have to face it alone.
💜 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
💜 Text: “START” to 88788
💜 Chat online: thehotline.org

You are not “too much.” You are not “crazy.”
You are worthy of peace, safety, and love that doesn’t hurt.

10/15/2025

Tonight at 7 PM, we light our candles for the babies we carry in our hearts, not our arms. 🕯️💛
A wave of light across the world..
for every little life gone too soon 🪽

10/14/2025

🌿 Let’s talk about postpartum mental health 🌿

Becoming a parent is often described as one of life’s most beautiful experiences — and while that can be true, it can also be incredibly overwhelming, exhausting, and emotionally complex. Many new parents find themselves feeling anxious, sad, disconnected, or even scared — and then feel guilty for having those feelings.

Postpartum mental health challenges are common and treatable. Postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and trauma responses can show up in subtle ways — racing thoughts, intrusive worries about your baby’s safety, irritability, or feeling “numb” instead of joyful.

You are not failing. You are not alone.
Your nervous system is adjusting to major change — physically, emotionally, and hormonally. Support, therapy, rest, and compassion all play vital roles in recovery.

If you’re in the postpartum period and something doesn’t feel right — reach out. Help is available, and healing is possible. 💛

10/06/2025

10/02/2025

💙 Baby Blues vs PPD vs PPA: Know the Difference 💙

Not every mood change after birth is the same:

🔹 Baby Blues: Mild mood swings, tears, irritability; usually resolves within 2 weeks.
🔹 Postpartum Depression (PPD): Persistent sadness, hopelessness, low energy, loss of interest; can last months without treatment.
🔹 Postpartum Anxiety (PPA): Intense worry, racing thoughts, panic attacks; can interfere with daily life.

Recognizing the signs early is key to recovery. Mental Illness Awareness Week is the perfect time to learn, reach out, and support each other.

*️⃣ Perinatal mental health disorders also include OCD, Bipolar Mood Disorders, PTSD, and Psychosis. *️⃣

You are not alone. Get help now ⤵️
🔷 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
🔷 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔷 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
🔷 Download the Connect by PSI app in the App Store or Google Play Store
🔷 Visit postpartum.net for additional programs and resources.

09/29/2025

☕✨ Today is National Coffee Day!

For many, coffee is more than just a morning ritual—it’s a moment of grounding, a source of comfort, or even a chance to pause in the middle of a busy day. Whether it’s the warmth of the cup in your hands, the aroma that fills the room, or the act of sitting with someone and sharing conversation, coffee often creates small moments of connection and mindfulness.

In mental health, we often talk about the importance of intentional pauses—those little breaks that allow us to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves. For some, coffee can be part of that ritual. For others, it may be tea, a walk outside, or a few quiet minutes of deep breathing.

So today, as you enjoy your favorite cup, I invite you to notice the present moment. How does it smell? How does it taste? How does your body feel as you take a sip? That mindful awareness can be a gentle way to bring calm into your day.

Happy National Coffee Day! ☕🌿 What’s your favorite coffee ritual?

09/11/2025

🕊️ Reflecting on 9/11 and National Tragedies 🕊️

Today, we pause to remember 9/11—a day that forever changed the lives of so many and continues to ripple through our collective memory. Days like this remind us how tragedies, whether they are terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or school shootings, do not just affect individuals—they touch us as a community, as a nation, as human beings.

When events like these occur, they often leave us with a mix of emotions: grief, fear, anger, or even numbness. It’s important to know that all of these reactions are normal. Trauma—whether experienced directly or witnessed from afar—lives in our bodies and hearts. Collective trauma, in particular, can resurface on anniversaries or when similar tragedies occur.

As we remember those lost and honor the resilience shown in the face of unimaginable pain, let’s also hold space for the ongoing impact. Many continue to carry invisible wounds. Offering compassion, listening without judgment, and standing in solidarity can help us heal together.

If today feels heavy, know that you are not alone. Reach out to someone you trust, take a break from the news if you need to, and give yourself permission to feel what you feel. Healing is not about “moving on”—it’s about learning to live with the memory while caring for ourselves and each other.

💙 To those grieving, remembering, or feeling shaken by tragedies past and present—you are seen, you are supported, and you are not alone.

09/05/2025

🌟 You’re Invited! 🌟
Join us on September 12th from 9–11 am at the Sanilac County Career Center for a powerful community event focused on maternal mental health.

📽️ Watch short films from a local project
💬 Engage in a meaningful panel discussion with parents, community leaders, and health professionals
👶 Free daycare available
☕ Breakfast & gift card for community members

📍 175 E Aitken Rd, Peck, MI 48466

👉 Register here: https://wkf.ms/3UhT9Uh

Let’s come together to support families and raise awareness about maternal mental health. 💙

09/05/2025

💙 September is Su***de Awareness Month 💙

As a therapist, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the importance of this month. Su***de is not just about wanting life to end—it’s often about wanting the pain to end. Many people carry silent struggles that others may never see, and raising awareness helps break the stigma so no one has to carry that burden alone.

If you are struggling, please know you do not have to face it in silence. Reaching out for support is not a weakness—it’s a sign of courage and strength. Healing is possible, and connection can save lives.

✨ This month, I encourage everyone to check in with yourself and with those around you. A simple text, call, or expression of care can make an incredible difference.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone.

Let’s use this month to spread awareness, compassion, and hope 🙏 💙

07/14/2025

🌊 Therapist Tip: Breathe With the Waves 🌊

Take a moment. Close your eyes. Imagine the gentle sound of waves rolling in and out on the shore.

Let your breath follow that rhythm:

🌬 Inhale slowly as the wave rises…
🌊 Pause…
😮‍💨 Exhale gently as the wave recedes…

Deep breathing can calm your nervous system, lower anxiety, and bring your body back to the present. When you pair it with the natural rhythm of ocean waves—real or imagined—you invite your mind and body into a state of deeper ease.

Whether you're at the beach or sitting in your living room, let the sound of waves guide you back to yourself. You deserve moments of peace. 🌿