Inner Beauty: Keeping Mentally Healthy

Yesterday was, by far, the most inspirational show we've done to date. Danielle and I find issues like mental health, extremely important to touch upon. Outer beauty is absolutely not possible if a woman is a mess on the inside. I can attest to this. The last year of my life has really aged me because of the inner turmoil I went through. I see that now as I study my own reflection. It is unfortunate that stress and anxiety can manifest itself in our physical appearance, but it does.

I encourage you to listen to "Removing The Stigma" if you have not heard it yet. We shared some very personal stories and talked about the importance of seeking help. Danielle and I would like to thank Melanie for her bravery in sharing her brother's story. It means so much to us that women are willing to share their life stories with us and all who listen to "Uncorked." We did pledge to list some helpful links to sites that provide information on dealing with mood disorders. If you have any questions or would like to share your own story, feel free to email us.

• American Psychiatric Association: www.psych.org (703)907-7300
• Health 24 (info on mental health): www.health24.com
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (an alternative or supplement to medication, in treating mood disorders) Lindsay Kiriakos, MD 310-473-9580 LKiriakos@hotmail.com
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America (self help info): www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_self_help.htm
• Depression Is Real: http://www.depressionisreal.org/?gclid=CIrW0KXCnZgCFQ9Jagod_jfNnw
• Loma Linda Behavioral Health: https://lomalindahealth.org/sem/bmc/youth-services/index.php?gclid=CIHoj7nCnZgCFQ9Jagod_jfNnw
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks: http://www.anxietypanic.com/
• Treating anxiety naturally: http://www.doctoryourself.com/anxiety.html
• Info on SSRI's and other mood disorder medication: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-publication.shtml

You Are Not Alone..

I have anxiety. I have severe panic attacks that make physically ill. Why? Usually no reason other than the inability to slow down the millions of thoughts and fears swarming my already crowded mind. Is this a new thing? Nope, I now realize its been an issue for years, many years. Does this make me a complete nutcase who lacks the ability to live a normal life? Nope, it just means I need to do things a bit differently so I can live a HAPPIER life. See my realization and diagnosis (by a professional) is VERY recent. All this time I wrote off my feelings as stemming from being overworked, taking on too much, or just thinking it was a really bad personality trait.  Its a scary and enlightening moment you realize you need help. You get to a point where you feel like no one understands, you don't even understand. And it doesn't seem to pass, but sits there hanging on. You finally get to the point you ask for help, you open up to those close to you, and you find out your more normal than you thought.  Depression and Anxiety are not as rare as you may think. The statistics state that around one in four adults suffers from some kind of mental illness. Many of these people are talented, very successful, and outwardly living a fabulous life. But the battle within is an obstacle they traverse each and every day. Now these stats are based on the people who have been diagnosed, I would bet the numbers would be EVEN HIGHER if you counted those who were not officially diagnosed but attempt to deal with it on their own, are too embarrassed to seek out help, or just accept the feelings they have as normal.  

The answer does not lie solely with medication. Which yes, I am on. Both Kadi and I are members of the Prozac club. But there are so many lifestyle changes that you can make that are very beneficial to combating stress, depression, and anxiety. These changes combined with meds and therapy (if necessary) can help you learn to live with and manage these disorders. Combined with my meds, I have decided to make some dietary changes, find my triggers, change how I do my daily work, and implement an exercise program. 

Please listen to Uncorked today as we discuss this issue! And visit these sites for more info on treating and managing anxiety and depression. 

http://www.uspharmd.com/blog/2008/100-natural-ways-to-overcome-anxiety/

http://hubpages.com/hub/Anti-Anxiety-Diet

Truly Femme Resources

Do you ever find yourself needing some inspirational information on self esteem and feeling good about the woman you are? Here at True Femme, we will not only provide you with the information we have from our own experience, we will also aide you in finding other resources that are beneficial. We will be posting a resource article with links, once a week, to things that we find helpful, inspirational and relevant to the journey we are taking. Here are the ones that I have for this week:

For all new moms who feel like the birth of their baby has caused their life and self esteem to spiral downward toward a state of depression or melancholy, maybe it is time for some ideas to help you regain your confidence and state of happiness: I found this article and was pleased with all of the great ideas it offered.

Are you a working woman who has very little time to relax? Then it is high time to take a weekend to do so. The Working Woman's Survival Show, in Missouri, would be a perfect place to unwind, get some inspiration from other successful women and can count as business on your taxes. If you are just sick of business and need a break from it all, check into Spa Finder and book a day of rejuvenation, close to home. Oh...and the best part is that you can book your spa day online!

Has the New Year got you hungry for a better skin care regimen? Sephora has numerous lines of skin care to fit every budget and skin type. Right now, you can pick your free samples when you join their rewards program. Some of my favorite brands are MD Skincare, Benefit and CLEAN. My favorite little beauty secret that Sephora carries? THIS little baby, aptly named "I Love Myself." It makes me feel put together and all kinds of sexy!

We are giving away my favorite little beauty secret to one lucky True Femme. All you have to do is sign up for our newsletter! The link is on the sidebar and it takes only a minute. For extra entries, you may blog about True Femme, beauty, self esteem, or why you need to start loving yourself and link back to us.

Do you have a website link that helps you find your True Femme? Email me and I will review it for consideration in our future "Truly Femme Resources" posts.