Depression Archives - Restoration Hope

Sublimation: Is it a Cognitive Distortion, or an Adaptable Strength?

In our series of cognitive distortions, sublimation is one type of distortion that at first appearance does not seem like a negative ‘distortion’. Sublimation is, in essence, turning something that is perceived as a weakness or inappropriate to the society/culture, into something that is good and acceptable. It is adaptable as somewhat of a strength, […]

Emotionally Preparing for the Holidays

Although the holiday season has been called “the most wonderful time of the year” by some, for many of us it can feel like quite the opposite. Emotions and stress can be high as we engage in the season, leaving us vulnerable to triggers and overwhelm. If you are feeling any of these things, […]

Transitioning out of the Pandemic: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself As You Process

The constant hardships and stressors of the pandemic have resulted in a prolonged state of stress for our nervous systems and has led many of us to operate in a type of “survival mode.” Survival mode is difficult, yet so is moving out of it. Transitioning from surviving to processing comes with it’s own set […]

The Never Enough Problem

Having lived in Colorado most of my life, an observation I have made is that “Denverites” are often transient people. We move quickly from one thing to the next. We seek out the new hip coffee shop or the popular brewery around the corner. We spend large amounts of money on new ski-wear and attempt […]

The Practice of Gratitude

Ten years ago, after my older sister had died in a car accident, I received a package in the mail from a friend. I was beaten down with grief, feeling hopeless and confused as to how to navigate the sorrow. To my surprise, when I opened the box, I read the title of a book: […]

Why Has There been an Increase in Teen Violence?

Violence has become all too real in our lives. Mass shootings at public places, schools, suicides—it’s all become terrifyingly common. We ask, “Why do these things keep happening?”. It doesn’t seem to make sense. While we cannot reconcile the horror of these events, the truth is that we can try to make sense of it. […]

Emotional Health

As COVID restrictions are lifting it seems people are left with the question of how now to navigate life when things are “getting back to normal” yet everything has changed. People are wondering how they re-integrate with friends after becoming used to the isolation, some are questioning how to be vulnerable and share about […]

Running on Empty

I truly believe at any given moment, we’re all doing the best we can. All of us. And our best looks different from week to week, day to day, and even moment to moment. Sometimes our best looks like excelling at work, school, or home. We’re productive and focused. We can see a what we […]

MOVE Your Way Through Stress

It’s easy to think about how our mood affects our movement. Maybe you have a hard time sitting still when you are feeling anxious or you find it difficult to move at all when you are depressed? But let’s talk about the reverse- moving your body can also change your emotional state! If you are […]

Mother’s Day and Difficult Emotions

Motherhood is a big deal. It’s a tall order when you think about it. As a mom, you’re the first person your baby attaches to. A baby knows the sound of his or her mother’s voice while still in the womb. Infants like to be rocked at the same pace as their mother’s heartbeat. Babies […]