Whole Mentality Blog

Let’s get some things straight off the bat. Content is my thing - grammar is not. At some point, my best friend will send me a long text about all the places that need commas or colons, and you’ll come back to a revised grammatically correct version of all my posts. For now, you get my authentic, grammatically flawed self.

Erica Smith 8/15/20 Erica Smith 8/15/20

Coping During

One thing I have learned in dealing with lupus is the idea of coping during. Coping during means not waiting until the end of the stressor to take care of yourself. Coping during stress means taking care of yourself along the way.

Erica Smith 8/10/20 Erica Smith 8/10/20

A Chronic Illness of Today

Erica Smith 7/1/20 Erica Smith 7/1/20

Microaggressions and the Therapeutic Space

How do microaggressions effect mental health? If you can feel the effect of years of “micro” moments, ask for help. See a therapist, talk about it, process through it, and learn to see yourself as enough…A therapist Not understanding or having knowledge of another culture/group/identity, is not an excuse to make assumptions and behave accordingly.

Erica Smith 4/24/20 Erica Smith 4/24/20

Quarantine Mentality vs. Compassion Mentality

It’s all right and it’s all wrong for someone. Productivity vs relaxing, guilt vs grief - I have seen all of the memes/GIFs/quotes/tweets related to how we should and shouldn’t be during this season. The reality is - they are all right and they are all wrong for someone.

Erica Smith 4/8/20 Erica Smith 4/8/20

The One Where I Went [Back] to Therapy

Yes, this is exhausting. Yes, this has caused tension in relationships because I forget that not working is often more valuable. Without excessive practice, I am guilty of defining the purpose of rest as “the charger for working better the next day”. Cue - my therapist.