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Self-Love, self-compassion, kindness to yourself Desiree Castenada Self-Love, self-compassion, kindness to yourself Desiree Castenada

Navigating Grief through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: 5 Tips for Healing

Grief is a deeply personal experience, and while there is no "right" way to grieve, many people seek out support in navigating the overwhelming emotions that come with loss. One such approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) a powerful psychological framework that can help individuals face the pain of grief while maintaining a sense of hope and meaning.

In this post, we’ll explore what ACT is, how it can support those who are grieving, and offer five practical tips for applying ACT principles to your own grief journey.

 

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Self-Love, self-compassion, kindness to yourself Desiree Castenada Self-Love, self-compassion, kindness to yourself Desiree Castenada

How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Social Media

Have you ever considered how social media affects your mental health?

Social media has become a large part of our lives; we may not realize how much time we spend on social media. Some studies found social media to positively impact people’s lives, while others warned against the possible connection between social media and depression or anxiety.

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Self-Love, self-compassion, kindness to yourself Desiree Castenada Self-Love, self-compassion, kindness to yourself Desiree Castenada

Understanding the Spectrum: Narcissistic Tendencies vs. Narcissism

In today’s world, the term “narcissism” is often tossed around in casual conversations, sometimes labeling individuals with an overly inflated sense of self. However, it’s essential to distinguish between narcissistic tendencies and clinical narcissism. This distinction can illuminate our understanding of human behavior and help us recognize that everyone can exhibit narcissistic traits without being a full-blown narcissist.

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Desiree Castenada Desiree Castenada

Surviving Uncertainty

If there is one thing that I think everyone can agree on at the moment it is that we are living through uncertain times. Between the craziness of what is currently going on and the uncertainty of what is going to happen, we are all way more vulnerable to stress, intense emotions, and other unpleasant mental health consequences. So how do we cope with this? How do we prevent ourselves from falling victim to this unpredictability?

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self-compassion, mental health Desiree Castenada self-compassion, mental health Desiree Castenada

The Perfectionism Trap

In a world that often celebrates flawless achievements and idealized images, it’s easy to fall into the trap of perfectionism. The pursuit of perfection may seem like a standard goal, but it often comes at a high cost to our mental and emotional well-being. Instead of bringing satisfaction, perfectionism can lead to stress, anxiety, and a constant feeling of never being "good enough." Perfectionism is the relentless pursuit of flawlessness, driven by an internal critic that demands nothing less than perfection in every aspect of life. Whether it’s in work, relationships, or personal appearance, this mindset creates an unyielding standard that’s nearly impossible to meet. The result is often chronic stress, anxiety, and a fear of failure that can prevent us from taking risks or trying new things. However, perfectionism can also lead to procrastination, as the fear of not getting it "just right" can be paralyzing.

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Desiree Castenada Desiree Castenada

Am I Burned Out?

Life can move at a fast pace and you may feel no matter how hard you try, there is always something left on the to-do list. Burnout has become a silent plague running rampant among the lives of countless people. But what exactly is burnout, and how can you identify the signs to stop the cycle of exhaustion?

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growth, vulnerability, boundaries Desiree Castenada growth, vulnerability, boundaries Desiree Castenada

5 Steps to Setting Boundaries

From your significant other to your mother, relationships are complicated. This is not to say that relationships aren’t worth it. Though, sometimes it may feel that way. Sometimes you may feel the urge to cut ties because you’re sick of feeling hurt or tired of fighting. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. However, it may be worth exploring the concept of boundaries before burning any bridges

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self-understanding, balance, mental health Desiree Castenada self-understanding, balance, mental health Desiree Castenada

Dialectical Thinking: Embrace Opposing Thoughts

Our bodies biologically exist to be most efficient for survival. Our brains create schema- or mental frameworks based on our lived experience- to most efficiently process new things and fuel our thoughts and actions. If you’ve been fired in the past over a small mistake, your brain may create anxiety around every mistake at your next job. If you’ve been cheated on while a partner was distant, your brain may overanalyze your next partner’s presence in your relationship. Schemas are helpful when we need to survive, like when our brain shortcuts to avoid a dish that's fresh from the oven, but life is not always as simple as that.

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self-compassion, balance Desiree Castenada self-compassion, balance Desiree Castenada

Finding Work-Life Balance

Do you often find yourself struggling to keep up with the demands of both your work and personal life? Does it feel like there are never enough hours in the day to complete everything on your plate? If so, you’re not alone. Achieving work-life balance is a common challenge many of us face. The good news is finding a work-life balance is possible and obtainable.

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