Monarch Behavioral Health, PLLC

02/03/2026

02/02/2026

Self-esteem isn’t about being perfect; it’s about finally feeling "at home" in your own head.

February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month, but let’s be real: the loudest person in the room is often our own inner critic.

At Monarch, we believe growth starts when you stop performing for a crowd and start connecting with yourself.

Tell us you’re working on your self-talk without telling us you’re working on it. I’ll go first: I stopped apologizing for taking up space in a conversation. Your turn!

Share this to remind someone that they are already enough.

01/28/2026

If your sleep had a “lab result,” would it come back as a red flag?

Sleep isn’t just a lifestyle choice. It’s a mental health vital sign. Sleep changes are common in anxiety, depression, trauma, and burnout.

Instead of asking, “Why am I so bad at sleeping?” It can be more helpful to ask, “What is my sleep trying to tell me?”

If you had to describe your sleep in one word right now, what would it be?

💙 If your sleep has been off for a while, and it’s affecting your mood, focus, or functioning, a therapist at Monarch can help you explore what’s underneath and what might help.

01/26/2026

Panic and anxiety are related, but they’re not always the same experience. People often describe panic attacks as sudden, intense fear or discomfort.

Meanwhile, ongoing anxiety often looks more like persistent worry, trouble concentrating, or a steady hum of “what if” in the background.

Both are real. Both are exhausting.

Neither is “all in your head” in the dismissive sense.

Has your body ever scared you more than the situation you were actually in?

📤 Share this with someone who minimizes their symptoms as “just stress.”

💙 At Monarch, our clinicians can help you identify what’s going on – panic, generalized anxiety, or something else – and build a plan so you don’t feel powerless when symptoms hit.

01/22/2026

Are you stonewalling in conflict, or is your nervous system hitting the brakes? In relationships, pulling back can mean different things. Sometimes it’s avoidance, resentment, or punishment.

But often, it’s:

• Flooding: your heart is racing, thoughts are scrambled, and you can’t think clearly.

• Dorsal shutdown: your system is overwhelmed and goes numb.

From the outside, it might look like you “don’t care.” Inside, you might care so much that your body can’t keep up.

In conflict, are you more likely to say too much or shut down completely?

📌 Save this if you’ve ever felt misunderstood for needing space.

Couples and individual therapy at Monarch can help you understand your patterns and practice conflict that doesn’t cost your mental health.

01/19/2026

When basic tasks feel impossibly heavy (emails, dishes, making a call), it’s easy to assume you’re “lazy” or “bad at adulting.”

From a clinical perspective, that stuck feeling can be tied to:

• Executive function overload (planning, sequencing, starting)

• Anxiety, especially if every task feels like it has to be done “perfectly”

• Depression, which can drain energy before you even begin

• ADHD or neurodivergence, where initiation is a genuine brain-level challenge

Your worth isn’t measured in empty inboxes and folded shirts. If your brain puts up a wall in front of simple tasks, there’s usually a reason… and it’s not that you’re broken.

What’s the “ridiculously small” task your brain turns into a mountain?

Share this post with someone who needs to hear that “just do it” isn’t helpful advice.

💙 Therapy can help you understand why initiation is so hard for you and build systems that work with your brain, not against it.

01/16/2026

There’s a difference between being tired and being burned out. Clinically, burnout looks like:

• Emotional flatness or irritability

• Dreading tasks you once handled fine

• Feeling “used up” by 2pm

• Rest days that don’t actually feel restorative

You can’t out-nap chronic stress. And sometimes the most honest diagnosis is, “No human nervous system can keep this pace forever.”

Which feels more true lately: “I’m tired” or “I’m completely tapped out?”

Save this if you keep telling yourself you “You just need more sleep.”
Share it with a friend who jokes about being burned out but might not be joking.

01/12/2026

Functioning and fine are not the same thing.

Something we hear a lot: “I’m not bad enough for therapy. Other people have it worse.”

From a clinical perspective, waiting until everything falls apart isn’t strength. It’s what happens when you’ve had to cope alone for too long.

Today we walk through a few common myths vs. realities about who therapy is “for. Save this for the days you talk yourself out of getting support. Or share it with someone who keeps saying, “It’s not bad enough to see someone.”

🗣️ Question for you:

What’s one fear or misconception about therapy you’ve heard (or had) before?

If you’re wondering whether therapy might help, that’s already a good reason to start a conversation. 💙

01/08/2026

Has your brain been overanalyzing everything lately? You’re not alone in wondering, “Is this anxiety or intuition?”

(Very) short answer: fear tends to shout. Intuition is quieter but clearer.

We did a quick side-by-side guide to how each one often feels in the body and mind. This overview is no substitute for a diagnosis, but it gives you language for what you’re noticing. (And it is a useful jump-off point for a discussion with a counselor/therapist.)

Save this as a reference for the next time you’re spiraling about a decision.

Have you ever realized after the fact that anxiety was the one calling the shots? What did you do next?

💙 If it feels like anxiety is running the show, our therapists at Monarch can help you untangle old fear patterns and rebuild trust in your judgment.

01/07/2026

“They were fine during the break… why are they melting down now?”

For many kids, the hardest part isn’t the holiday season. It’s the transition back to early mornings, school expectations, and social energy. Their nervous system is shifting gears, and sometimes that looks like tears, clinginess, or “attitude.”

Here are four simple ways to make that transition gentler, for you and for them.

📌 Save this for the first week back to school (and the next time it sneaks up on you).
📤 Share it with another parent or caregiver who’s wondering what they’re doing “wrong.”

And tell us: What’s usually harder for your child after a big routine change: mornings, the school day, or evenings?

01/05/2026

If your New Year “fresh start” sounds like a performance review, your nervous system is not on board.

You don’t have to force yourself into growth this year. Instead, try asking better questions…the kind that actually protect your mental health instead of punishing it.

Here are five therapist-approved questions for you to come back to all year long.

📌 Save this as your mental health check-in for the next time resolution pressure kicks in.
Or send it to the friend who already thinks they’re “behind.”

If you’re ready for goals that work with your brain (not against it), our therapists at Monarch can help you plan this year with your mental health in mind. 💙

12/30/2025

Newsflash: you don’t need a “new you” in January. You need a kinder way to treat the you that’s already here.

“Impossible” New Year’s resolutions often come from anxiety and self-criticism: “fix this, change that, be better.” But real change rarely grows from shame. It grows from understanding: seeing what you’ve survived, what you’ve carried, and what you actually need.

Instead of asking, “How do I start over?”

Consider asking, “How can I support myself better this year?”

If you’re ready for growth that doesn’t punish you, therapy can help you step into the new year with clarity and compassion.

What’s one gentle intention you’d like to bring into the new year?