Neil Parekh
Thriving as an Advocate with the Support of Other Survivors
Survivors CAN be thrivers. They just need the help and support of people around them: other survivors, people they can trust.
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NEIL PAREKH'S
LENS ON LIFE BLOG
Thoughts and observations on mental health, technology, social media, photography and more.
Dawn Helmrich
Jul 23
The Personal and Community Benefits of Advocacy Work
I knew that my voice could be a tool to make change in the systems that failed me. So that is what I did. I spoke up and I spoke out.
Samantha Collier
Jul 23
Thriving and Surviving by Soaring Beyond the Ashes
My biggest flex and healing skill has been to rise beyond the ashes and soar, while helping others.
Neil Parekh
Jul 23
Ep. 11 Samantha Collier | Shining Light on Shadows: Surviving and Thriving After Rape and Sexual Abuse
Samantha, Dawn and Neil are all survivors of sexual abuse / rape. They've each used advocacy to not only survive, but to also thrive.
Neil Parekh
Jul 9
A Candid Conversation With My Daughter About Mental Health
It’s never too early to talk about difficult issues with your child. You may be surprised at how well it goes.
Dawn Helmrich
Jul 8
The Negative Self-Talk Started in High School as a Teen; It Continues to This Day
Finding the right way to love yourself should definitely begin between the ages of 13 and 23 and certainty shouldn’t wait until you are 52.
Sara Wilson
Jul 8
Navigating the Rollercoaster; Themes that Teen Girls Explore in Therapy
The years between 13-23 are a whirlwind of emotions, social pressures, and self-discovery; no surprise that many young women seek therapy.
Neil Parekh
Jul 8
Ep. 10 Sara Wilson, LMFT | Shining Light on Shadows: Teen Girls and Therapy
This episode will focus on teens and young adults ages 13-23. We'll explore the reasons behind teenage mood swings, risky behavior, etc.
Neil Parekh
Jun 27
“All or Nothing” Thinking Has Not Served Me Well
I’ve thought of mindfulness as being intentional, deliberate and/or calm. I’d never thought of it as the opposite of me.
Ambrose Wilson-Brown
Jun 26
The Benefits of Mindfulness Over “All-or-Nothing” Thinking
Stay on the path of the middle way with mindfulness, which at its core is: present-moment awareness without judgment.
Dawn Helmrich
Jun 26
My Mindfulness Practices Look Different and That’s OK
Mindfulness can be baking cupcakes or cooking a meal. Mindfulness can be writing a poem or working on a blog.
Neil Parekh
Jun 25
Ep. 9 Ambrose Wilson-Brown | Shining Light on Shadows: How Mindfulness Can Help With Anxiety and Depression
The idea of mindfulness doesn’t have to be maddening. This week’s show will focus on a practical approach to mindfulness.
Neil Parekh
May 22
Ep. 8 Tiffany Westerfield | Shining Light on Shadows: Is There Still a Stigma Around Mental Health?
Our conversation will focus on the question of whether there is still a stigma around mental health.
Dawn Helmrich
May 22
My Whole Life I Have Been Dealing with the Word Stigma
For people in the Gen X and Boomer age groups, mental health is still swept under the rug and not dealt with in a positive manner.
Tiffany Westerfield
May 22
A Lifetime of Being Judged
I don’t want people to know about my challenges because I do not wish to be perceived as weak or incapable.
Neil Parekh
May 6
Ep. 7 Kate Easton | Shining Light on Shadows: Parenting a Child with Mental Health Challenges
We'll focus on the challenges of parenting a child with mental illness. Kate’s son: bipolar disorder. Dawn’s son: social anxiety.
Dawn Helmrich
May 6
My Son’s Struggle With Social Anxiety and the Difficulty of Getting Help
I think my son was 12 or 13, a new middle schooler, when I realized that he was more than just a kid having a bad day at school.
Kate Easton
May 6
When Your Child Struggles with Bipolar, Everyone Struggles
My son, at the age of 16, was grappling with challenges that seemed to grow more daunting by the day.
Dawn Helmrich
Apr 23
My Advocacy Journey
Each time I tell a piece of my story, I know that someone will benefit from my words, and that is all that matters to me.
Kat Klawes
Apr 23
A Mental Health Journey From Action to Advocacy
I found that engaging in advocacy work helped to combat feelings of powerlessness and helped me rebuild a sense of agency and control.
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