Depression

15 Oct

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, Comments Off

Your mistakes did not define you then and they do not define you now.

Is everyone falling in love, getting married, having children, getting great jobs with magnificent pay and having a fantastic social life? Does it feel like everyone around you is moving forward except for you? Does your life seem to be at a stand still? Are you running in circles or even worse, are you plummeting … Continue reading »

27 Sep

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, self-esteem, Comments Off

The Approval of Others.

We walk on eggshells just to please others. We do what they want us to do because it’s just easier. We accept the status quo because everyone around us seems okay with it. We tip toe through life making other people happy. Not because it is what we want, but because we think we’ll win … Continue reading »

25 Sep

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, therapy, Comments Off

Happiness doesn’t always lie downstream.

Does it feel like you’re always waiting for something better to arrive? Many of us have the following formula for happiness. We wait for 5:00 o’clock. We wait for the weekend. We wait until our boss quits. We wait until we finally get that raise and/or promotion at work. We wait for retirement. We wait … Continue reading »

15 Sep

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, 2 Comments

Confronting your past.

Confronting our past can be terrifying. The past may contain painful memories that we haven’t fully sorted through. Out of fear, we talk ourselves into believing that if we leave the past alone, it will eventually go away. If we bury the past so deeply, we won’t have to see, feel or remember any of … Continue reading »

12 Sep

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, Comments Off

Betrayal.

Betrayal is one of the most painful human experiences and oftentimes the most difficult to understand. Discovering that someone we trusted has violated us can be incredibly jolting and traumatic.For many of us, when we hear the word “betrayal”, we instantly think “affair.” But betrayal comes in many forms including deceit, deception, disrespect, lying, disloyalty, … Continue reading »

01 Aug

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, relationships, 2 Comments

Whose problem is it?

Do you come up with solutions to problems for people? Do you preoccupy yourself with others’ emotions that you don’t attend to your own needs? Do you find yourself in relationships where you are the one managing the relationship? Do you accept people’s burdens without recognizing that you are the sole bearer of the weight? … Continue reading »

01 Aug

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, therapy, 2 Comments

Depression: “Get over it”

Please don’t ever tell a depressed person to “get over it” or “snap out of it.” Depression is a medical condition, not a character flaw. You can’t beat depression with will power. You wouldn’t tell someone with a broken leg, high blood pressure or cancer to “get a grip” or “suck it up”. You know … Continue reading »

24 Jul

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, bipolar, Comments Off

Bipolar Spouses… who’s taking care of you?

A diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder demands attention. Spouses, family and friends often have to cope with their loved one’s serious mood and behavioral problems. These mood swings and behaviors can have lasting consequences. It is possible that over time, your marriage or relationship could become all about Bipolar. For someone with mental illness, the support … Continue reading »

10 Jul

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, therapy, Comments Off

Emotional Pain.

Acknowledging emotional pain may seem like an obvious step in the healing process that everyone is already doing. If you’re in pain, you already know it, right? Not necessarily. It is common for us to become practiced at denial of emotional pain in order to function in our lives. Unconsciously, we have learned how to … Continue reading »

03 Jul

By Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, MA, LCPC, depression, Comments Off

What stories do you tell yourself about yourself?

Do you convey stories of inquisitiveness, courage, action and successes, or do you tell yourself stories of victimization and self-pity? For many of us, the story may go something like this… I’m not smart enough. I’m the black sheep in the family. I’m not good enough. I never do anything right. Nothing is ever going … Continue reading »