Erin E. Chavez, LMHC

Interesting read about childhood trauma and possible lasting effects.

A little bit of an older article but still very relevant.

Beginning August 15, I will now be accepting Aetna insurance.

Eating healthier, as much as it is not our instinct when depressed, can actually help you feel better!

Please take care of yourself and reach out for help if you feel there is no other option.

You can wait for the one who hurt you to heal you. But the thing is that you’ll die waiting and still wounded. You gotta heal you. That’s your life’s work -- no...t theirs. Let them go and get to work. Their fault -- Okay. Got it. Now, YOU. Love, G See more

I could not resist posting this one. Difficult to be more Zen than that. More on Zen: www.zen-buddhism.net

Not that this is surprising news to anyone that has a dog. Dog have been shown to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and perspiration during a high anxiety situation. Overall people who own dogs are healthier and report more feelings of happiness too. If you can, adopt a dog! If you can't, volunteer at an animal shelter. I can almost guarantee you will feel better.

So when your therapist tells you to change your negative thoughts to positive ones and you want to punch her, this is why. Of course, depression makes it much more difficult to think positive thoughts but it does help if you can do it even for a moment.

It is easy to forget that anyone can have mental health issues. Anxiety and depression, along with all the other mental health problems, do not discriminate based on income, profession or culture. More people than you realize are seeing a therapist, on medication or wondering if they are normal. Because of the stigma that still exists, we don't even realize how prevalent it is. As more people like Kevin Love begin to speak up, the stigma will lessen. You are not weak because you are depressed. You are human.