Take Your Pills Blog Archive

Hey, buds.

Thanks for checking out the Take Your Pills blog archive. I’ve decided to close the site and move the blog here—so it can be immortalized in a well-deserved spot in my writing portfolio.

Some backstory: Take Your Pills was a mental illness advocacy site that I founded and ran from 2017-2019. It was my pride and joy—honestly, still is. It was created for a few reasons:

-To give those living with mental illness a place to feel less alone.

-To educate allies.

-To destigmatize the behaviors exhibited due to mental illness.

-To normalize the discussion of mental illness—not just mental health.

In the blog you’ll find a few different kinds of posts:

-Self-Care Tarot: a monthly guest post written by Cassandra Snow.

-Trick or Treatment: a segment where I test out “wellness” products so you don’t have to.

-Therapy Thursday: A weekly video series held on my Instagram (via IGTV) where I share with viewers one tip I learned in therapy. I still record new episodes, which you can check out here.

and more!

Thank you so much for your willingness to get hella vulnerable with me! I hope you enjoy what Take Your Pills has to offer.

-Dom

PS: Need some more random Dom content? Check out a little blog shoutout from The BTWN here, and then visit Half the Story to see my mental health social media takeover.

January 2019 Self-Care Tarot: We Don’t Have to Like Everything.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL. Here’s hoping I finally learn to post shit on time in 2019. Expect some new posts, more Therapy Thursday’s on my IG, and a few published pieces out in the world this year. See you soon.

Check out what Cassandra and her cards have to say about this new year!

+++

The Page of Swords is all about sudden realizations, brash insight, and the unsettling feeling that these epiphanies just might change your life. As a new year rolls in this makes perfect sense regardless of our mental health status. Suddenly we are focused on what we want to do and where we want to go in 2019. Old dreams are released as new ones take shape. A lot of us are spending time analyzing what went right and what went wrong in 2018 and the answers to what we’ve learned and where we’ve been are likely to surprise even the most self-aware of us. The Page of Swords brings this insight kindly, if not peacefully, and with a reminder that anything that we cut out or that changes us now is for a long-term benefit that we’ll be grateful for later.

For those of us struggling to stay afloat because of mental health, the Page of Swords does show a rougher January. Change is sometimes harder on us than the general population, and January is no different where that’s concerned. The insights and realizations we get can cause radical mood swings or sudden upheavals in our moods. While deep down we might know this is part of our long-term life plan it does not feel good, and we do not like it this month. That’s okay. We don’t have to like everything. The self-care piece of this card says to do it anyway. Struggle through if you need to but do the inner work and listen to those moments when clarity drowns out the self-loathing clamor.

A Page of Swords can be taken incredibly straightforward too. January may be a month for new meds, a new therapist, or even a totally new mental illness emerging. These changes are easier for us, so just try to document how you’re feeling and what’s working so you can stay on top of your health. We all think we’re going to start the most nuanced journal practice ever in the New Year but go easy on yourself if you’re not a writer or journaler by nature. Start the year by adding a mood tracker (digital or paper) to your daily routine and look back at the past couple of weeks every week. If that goes well or goes well but isn’t enough, then we can add in other facets of journaling. The great thing about a mood tracker is it can be artistic or written, digital or paper, and it has the same effect: allowing us to trace the patterns of our mental health rollercoaster so we can make better decisions about our health moving forward. The Swords love patterns, and they love order. The Court Cards are mostly very concerned with autonomy. This simple practice meets both of these facets and helps you start off the New Year with some hope and excitement.

For more info on Cassandra and to book your own card reading, click HERE!

December 2018 Self-Care Tarot: Close That Damn Door, Beeb!

Hi from my busy ass that can’t even remember to post on December 1st. As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been a little absent from my blog (aside from these epic tarotscopes from Cassandra) and social media. There’s no reason other than the fact that I’m still trying to learn to make time for this side of my life in addition to my work during the day. If any of you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments below or send me a message. Let’s see what Cassandra and her cards had to say about what’s in store for our brains this month.

+++

The World is about endings, and it is a very predictable December reading regardless of context. In the context of mental illness and self-care, The World speaks directly to what’s next for our healing and the ability to maintain our mental health. This year had a lot of ups and downs, and now we’re here at the end wondering what 2019 will bring. It’s natural that this kind and affirming end-of-chapter card would show up, but it’s not coming without bringing us some homework.

The World is specifically interpreted as coming to a successful ending or close, and it’s often discussed that for this ending to truly be successful you’ve got to go through and track and learn the lessons that life and the tarot were trying to teach you throughout 2018. Specifically, where our mental illness is concerned, this is a card of thinking through the tools in our toolkits that did and did not work this year. As we think about the effect our mental health has on the rest of our life, we need to think through what we learned about ourselves as employees or employers, as friends, as partners, as our parent’s children, as our cat’s mom, or any other role we fulfill in this life. What made us able to bring our best self-even at our worst-into a situation or relationship? What was NOT successful? I hate asking you all to relive ugly times from the past year, but it’s crucial as we do move ahead and move forward to review where we might have gone awry or if there were certain triggers or times in the year where our mental illness was not manageable. Once you have those answers, you can go into 2019 confidently.

The World is also sometimes incredibly literal. If your depression makes you isolate or poverty trauma makes you hesitant to travel, this card wants us to spend some of December breaking out of our shell and getting out into the literal world. Even if you’re broke, there are cheap and free things to do in your city or township, most likely, and getting out is the most important thing. This is especially true as SAD kicks in for the year as it does for so many people who are already struggling with their mental illness. It’s so tempting just to stay home because we’re low energy, but that’s almost never the right thing to do when it’s the season change that’s messing with those energy levels.

What I love about The World from this particular deck is that the person in the photo is sitting on top of the world, smug as can be. This person has lived through all of the advice I just walked you through and knows there are great things in the coming year if we can but learn and close the current chapters successfully. We don’t know what 2019 will hold and if we’ve had an unpredictable 2018 that’s probably making us as nervous as anything. This card promises that there are happy surprises and intriguing mysteries along the way. This month we should be prepping to embrace the best life, and The World have to offer, even if we know we’ll still hit significant speed bumps along the way. -Cassandra Snow

For more info on Cassandra and to book your own card reading, click HERE!

November 2018 Self-Care Tarot: Finally Some Goddam Stability

Me being stable as fuck in Bogota, Colombia

I have no idea how people balance their passions with a day job. That being said, my lack of understanding of this concept is the reason this is 6 days late. Here’s what Cassandra and her cards have to say about this month.

+++

I was very surprised to see the King of Coins pop up for our self-care tarot this November. Everything feels like it’s falling apart right now for me and so many people, and that includes my own mental health. I have felt underresourced and undercared for so much this year, and I know I’m not alone. The King of Coins promises a reprieve from all of that scarcity and pain as abundance and generosity move into our lives. This King is COMFORTABLE and knows how blessed he is, and that is the energy we are supposed to absorb and project throughout November. This card also promises financial success, forward movement in our careers, and lots of quality nesting time at home.

In terms of mental health, things should feel relatively stable this month and you should use that to build on your current treatment and self-care plans. It’s tempting to wait until things are bad to take those next steps towards trauma recovery or mental illness management but it’s actually the best time to do it because you’re thinking clearly and know what your long-term goals are. As your career advances and your pockets are more full, this might even be a good time to invest in yourself and your long-term health.

 This month still does call for the discipline required to manage said mental illnesses, because often times when things are stable we don’t want to think about our healing. We want to go blow a bunch of money on fun or pretty things and have fun with our friends. While it’s fine to do those things this month, we need to keep our feet on the ground and keep going on our emotional and mental journey, doing the hard work that’s required for long term growth (on top of spoiling ourselves a little).

 The King of Coins is a strong message to remember that we deserve success and comfort no matter what. With mental illness often comes low self-esteem and strained relationships, but this King knows who he is and has learned to work with it. Use the good energy this month to nurture those positive relationships with people who accept you just as you are. This energy can also be used to carve out space for comfort and relaxation in your home, which is always a critical self-care step that a lot of us skip over when times are tough. You’ve been working really hard to get better for a long time, and as mentioned earlier, this month promises a reprieve. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, and you can envision how beautiful things can be in your next stages. Remember that you’ve worked for this and earned this, and you owe it to yourself to enjoy it. -Cassandra Snow

For more info on Cassandra and to book your own card reading, click HERE!

Self-Care Tarot October 2018: Balance, Moderation, & Peace

Let’s get right into it and hear what Cassandra and her cards have to say about self-care this month.

Hello all! I am so sorry for the delay in your monthly self-care tarot. If I’m being 100% honest, I got really overwhelmed in September and forgot about a slew of important tasks, including getting this together. I’m back though, and ready to sling cards and see to whatever else October has in store for me.

For October we pulled the Temperance card from the Major Arcana to guide us through the month. I thought this was an interesting choice from the cards. October is usually all Death and endings or cards that connect us to deities and spiritual allies. Instead, I pulled a card of balance, moderation, and peace. Temperance is one of my favorite cards in the tarot for that reason though. Every time I feel like I’m barely treading water, Temperance shows up to remind me that I might be making things harder than they are. Sure, I might be stuck out in the middle of a metaphorical lake, but I don’t need to tread the whole time. Humans can float, and it’s totally acceptable this month to just stop pressing and urging and just trust life to carry you where it needs you to go.

Furthermore, if we’re still hanging out to this lake metaphor, I know how to swim. For some reason, I just choose not to sometimes-usually the times I need to the most. In other words, I am doing “work” (on myself, on my mental health, in my spiritual life, actual work that people pay me for) that is just busy work. I’m not actually getting anywhere or doing anything. I’m lighting candles and calling it witchcraft with no intention put it into it. I’m complaining on Twitter about the lack of writing gigs and only sending out a couple of pitches a week (if that). I’m journaling about what I did that day but not connecting it to my emotional journey. None of that is very useful. If anything, I’m making it harder on myself than it needs to be.

Temperance shows up this month to tell us to STOP treading. Stop making things harder than they need to be. Either give up, float, enjoy being surrounded by water and wait for something or someone to come help you or crack your knuckles and get down to the dirty work you’ve been putting off. Either option is going to be a million times better for your mental health this month.

Remember the key words of this card: balance, peace, moderation. Further self-care regarding your mental health includes not overindulging but not depriving yourself, hence the “moderation.” Balance and peace are present now, but it takes work to keep them steady. Meditation, pulling your own tarot cards, or just sitting by a nice lake for a while if you get extra depressed or anxious should pull you back to reality.

Blessed be, Y'all!

-Cassandra Snow

For more info on Cassandra and to book your own card reading, click HERE!

Therapy Thursday: How To Tell Your Anxiety To Fuck Off

Check out the latest #TherapyThursday up on my IGTV right now! This time we’re talking about naming our anxiety and telling it to fuck off. Here’s a SUPER easy trick you can try in order to feel better right now. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

What is #TherapyThursday? TT is a weekly installment where I share with you one tip I learned in therapy over the years. Check it out HERE on my IGTV each week. Be sure to follow me on Instagram HERE so you never miss an episode.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional (just a professional psycho). Please don’t take my content as medical advice, a diagnosis, and/or treatment. Always talk with your doctor first before you try anything on this blog or my social media channels. Likewise, be sure to speak to your doctor before altering or starting a treatment plan. Thank you! 

If You've Ever Had Negative Thoughts, You Have to Try This App

Me, probably having fucked up thoughts

I swear this is not sponsored. I just really fucking like this app and I wanted to share it with all who do not yet know about it. If you’ve been reading my work for a little while, you might have heard me talk HERE about an app called CALM. The makers of this rad meditation app (that comes with bedtime stories for adults -which I still can’t get over) created another banger called CALM HARM.

Calm Harm was created to reduce the urge to self-harm. If that is something you are working to overcome, I think it’s worth checking out. However, if you are like me and no longer (or do not) struggle with this this symptom of mental illness, I found many other EPIC uses for it as well. I’ll get into that in a minute.

Using a number of different activities, the app allows you to “ride the wave” of the urge you are experiencing. The goal is to ride it out so that it will pass or lessen. To do so, you can pick from techniques that comfort or distract you, allow you to express yourself, let you release any stress, or help you breathe it out. Each option allows you to perform tasks for either 5 or 15 minutes. I frequently use the ‘distract’ technique, which asks me questions like, “how many singers can you name?” or “count the many things you know that are green.” These tasks aim to take your mind off the urge and in my experience, work like a charm.

Here are some other GREAT uses for the app:

#1 - Use it to drive away persistent negative thoughts. Like at 3:00 am when your brain decides to replay that time you and your friends stood on Josh Hartnett’s lawn in high school and repeatedly screamed his name in hopes he’d come out (and in no way be annoyed with you at all).

#2 - Use it to soothe anxiety or a panic attack. Because workplace culture hasn’t evolved enough to welcome crying at your desk.

#3 - Use it as an anger management tool. This def would have been useful that time I screamed at a meter maid in college for giving me a totally reasonable ticket I definitely deserved.

Those are a few of the ways that I’ve been using it. Let me know if you try it for yourself!

Therapy Thursday: Act Like a Kid to Feel Better

The latest #TherapyThursday is up on my IGTV right now. If you don’t know, Therapy Thursday is a weekly installment where I share with you one tip I learned in therapy over the years. This time we’re talking about why periodically acting like a child can actually make you feel better. Watch my vid right HERE!

And if you’re not already following me on Instagram, do so HERE and never miss a Therapy Thursday again.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. Just a professional psycho! Please don’t take my words as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with your doctor first before altering or starting a treatment plan. Thank you! 

Trick Or Treatment: Can These Sunglasses Cure Anxiety?

Have you ever dreamed of owning a pair of sunglasses that could wipe your ass, clean your tub and call you pretty? Me either but when I heard about a pair that might help with anxiety I had to test it out.

I reached out to Rainbow OPTX, who were sweet enough to send me a free pair to try. I picked the cat-eye frames in blue which is apparently supposed to promote everything I’ve been trying to feel for at least 20 years; “calm, relaxed and reassured.” You can read more about them on their website HERE.

Watch my review HERE to find out if these are a blatent trick or a legit treatment.

What is Trick or Treatment? I test out wellness cliches, health fad was, and alternative treatment methods for mental illness (so you don’t have to). Read my last one RIGHT HERE!

Therapy Thursday: Why Do I Feel Like Shit?

Here’s the latest #TherapyThursday! A weekly installment where I share with you one tip I learned in therapy. This time we’re talking about how to find out what might be responsible for your shitty mood. Check it out right HERE!

And if you’re not already following me on Instagram, do so HERE and never miss a Therapy Thursday again. xo!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. Just a professional psycho. Please don’t take my words as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with your doctor first before altering or starting a treatment plan. Thank you! 

Self-Care Tarot September 2018: Wade Through the Depths

My bad for posting this one day late. Happy Labor Day/September! Let's see what Cassandra and her cards have to say about self-care this month. xo! 

+++

I asked the tarot to give us anything that wasn’t a Wands card this time. I’m a Double Pisces with a Cancer rising, and I’ve taken about as much fire as I can handle lately, especially where my own mental health is concerned. Luckily the tarot delivered in a big way with the Ten of Cups, but while this card is rife with messages of joy and fulfillment, tarot and mental health can be both be double-edged. 

On the surface, the Ten of Cups says we should expect a placid and calm September. Expect get-togethers with soulmate-friends and cuddle sessions with romantic partners as we start our slow and peaceful descent into Autumn. For a lot of us who deal with mental illness, you can take this at face value and expect a September where your mood is regulated and your emotions are stable. This allows us to really grow and thrive in all areas of our life, but remember that your illness is most likely cyclical so soak up those sunny days while you can, but don’t be discouraged if you relapse at any point throughout the month. 

Digging deeper the Ten of Cups talks about love, emotions, and transformation. In a perfect world, we aren’t supposed to rely on others for our happiness, and all of our joy is supposed to come from within. In the real world, it is often our partners, siblings, and best friends who stabilize us and make us see the best parts of ourselves. That’s transformation. That’s love. Take the month to really appreciate the people in your life and the effect they have on your long-term mental health goals. That will probably have you feeling all grateful and misty-eyed, so take the time to send a quick thank you or buy your favorite co-worker a muffin while you have the capacity to do so. 

The Ten of Cups ultimately drives us to peak contentment and peak happiness. The darker side of the card recognizes that for those of us with trauma, we have to be willing to wade through our own depths and dig deep into our subconscious to heal. Depressive episodes and deep dives into trauma should also be expected this September then, but the energy is a little different this time because it feels like it’s really going to lead you to a new place in your healing and emotional journey. Allow your emotional journey to take you on the ride it needs to, and strive for healing with every step. 

The past two months have been about fighting and strength, but Cups want you to give in to the softer side of yourself. It’s okay to be sad. It’s good to be sensitive in a world that can be really callous. That might mean your Ten of Cups September is a lot of tears, but as long as you recognize the goodness and kindness in those around you who are holding space for your struggles, you’re going to have a much better September than you did August. Allow yourself space for that happiness. You deserve it. -Cassandra Snow

For more info on Cassandra Snow, or to schedule a reading of your own, CLICK HERE. 

QUIZ: Is Your Therapist Actually Part of the Problem?

Shitty therapists can be a massive pain in the ass, and they’re sadly more common than we think. In the midst of our vulnerability, we may not even realize they're problematic. If you think something might be off with yours, read the following ten statements. Keeping in mind your current therapist, psychiatrist, or mental health professional, decide whether or not each statement is true or false. Check out your results at the bottom.  

1) Your therapist doesn’t take the time to get to know you. 
Consider the following: Do they ask you questions about you and your situation? Are they using the entire session effectively? Are they answering questions you have about your issues, illness, or treatment? Are they present and listening to you speak? Are they diagnosing you right away without taking the time to understand you or your history? Are they eager to throw medication your way? Are they rushing through your visits?

2) They make you do all the work.
A common myth about therapy is that you do all the talking and the therapist sits and nods. If your therapist is legit, this isn’t always the case. Some sessions you’ll do more of the talking, and other times there's a balance. You shouldn’t feel like you have to push your therapist to help you, though. Typically you’ll work together to carry the conversation along. If you’re stuck, the therapist might say something to get things flowing again. Unless your treatment adheres to a strict process, it helps to clarify with your doc the way in which you prefer to walk through your sessions. Consider what they suggest as well so you can co-create an environment that works best for both of you. 

3) They use your time together as their personal time. 
Are they distracted by other patients? Are they spending your session talking about themselves? Is your session their sushi break? Are they checking their phone? It may seem obvious, but let me tell you. The number of sessions I’ve had interrupted by mail carriers, text messages, and iced coffee sips is an unfortunate one. 

4) They are unprofessional.
Is your therapist bailing on appointments? Are they making fun of you, your illness, appearance, or the things you say or do? Are they failing to give advanced notice of changes in schedule or session cost? Are your physical surroundings conducive to privacy and safety? For example, I once had a therapist ask me to conduct a session at a very busy, and public coffee shop. Therapy on its own is intense enough. Confessing confidential problems in front of a patio of patrons is pushing it.  

5) They push their personal beliefs on you.
Do they judge or shame you, your actions, or your problems? Do they attempt to get you to admit to things that are false? Are you feeling manipulated? Do you feel as though you need to lie to them to be treated with respect? Do they treat you poorly because of your beliefs, culture, lifestyle, gender identity, income, or sexual orientation? Do you feel pressure to act a certain way in front of them? Do they label you unfairly or plant seeds of doubt? For example, a therapist once told me my inability to motivate myself stemmed from laziness instead of depression. News flash: that is not fucking helpful! 

6) They put you in danger.
Do the things they say feel abusive? Do they threaten you? Do they make sexual or inappropriate comments or advances? Are they sharing your confidential information when it's not appropriate? Are they touching you without your consent? Are they violent or hot-tempered? Are they rude and condescending? Do they suggest harmful, or unattainable treatment methods? Are they diagnosing illnesses or prescribing treatments for issues outside of their area of expertise? Are they properly licensed to be practicing under the title in which they market themselves? For example, do they refer to themselves as a therapist but only carry the certification of a life coach? 

7) They don't respect your time.
Do they cancel, frequently reschedule, or ghost on appointments? Are they late more often than not? Do they consistently avoid talking about important issues? Do they frequently move the discussion off topic? 

8) They are never available outside of therapy.
Most therapists allow you to contact them outside of your sessions in the event of a crisis, or if you have questions. If your therapist doesn’t offer this option, you may want to find another. For real, though. Having a therapist and not being able to reach them in a time of crisis can sometimes be a matter of life or death.  

9) They don't set healthy boundaries.
Has your therapist tried to follow you on social media or asked you to follow them? Are they asking to spend time together outside of (or in a manner that is not related to) therapy? Are they contacting you for reasons unrelated to your treatment? Are they confiding in you as if you are their therapist? Are they sharing with you private information about other clients? Are they disclosing information about themselves that makes you feel uncomfortable? 

10) If you try and fire your therapist, they attempt to keep you in therapy against your will. Do they shame and guilt you for wanting to seek treatment elsewhere? Do they refer to you as hopeless or untreatable without their guidance? Do they become insulting or hostile if you try to go your separate ways? Do they insist they are the only ones who know what’s best for you? 

RESULTS

If you scored 0 points - It’s likely that you found yourself a mighty fine mental health professional. They key word here, however, is “likely.” The above scenarios are based on my personal experience in therapy and don’t reflect a complete list of red flags. That being said, if you scored zero, but you still don't feel satisfied with therapy, it may be a good idea to start that conversation in your next session. Explain what aspects of your treatment are not helpful and see where you two can go from there. 

If you scored 1-10 points -  Your therapist is most likely a lint-licking loser. If you can’t work things out with a conversation (and in some cases, like if you feel you are in danger, for example, you shouldn’t even try), then hunting for a new therapist is probably a good idea. 

To see my #TherapyThursday episode on this topic, click HERE! 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional which means this quiz is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. This quiz is strictly based on my personal opinions and experience with therapy and is not backed by scientific or medical research. Please, do not take the words and advice in this quiz as medical advice or guidance. Thanks, for not being a dum dum!

Therapy Thursday: How to Break Up With Your Trash Therapist

Welcome back to #TherapyThursday. The weekly installment where I share with you one tip I learned in therapy. Today we’re talking about three ways to break up with your therapist. 

Click HERE to watch now! And don't forget to follow me on Instagram @DomJoelleHaikel, so you don't miss an episode. 

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. Just a professional psycho. Please don’t take my words as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with your doctor first before altering or starting a treatment plan. Thank you! 

An Argument for Staying In Bed

TRIGGER WARNING/CW: Suicide, dark humor, self-deprecating humor.

Sometimes I have to take a break from informative "How-To" blog posts, get back to my writerly roots, and create a short essay for the good of my own mental health. The reason I started this blog is because I enjoy using comedy and sarcasm to cope with my mental illness. Likewise, using comedy to help end the stigma can be equally as effective as sharing difficult stories in a serious tone. The one below is based on my past experiences with extreme depression. Small details have been changed so I should emphasize that this is ~creative~ non-fiction. Also, even though this post contains dark humor, I am currently doing JUST FINE and can confirm that a wellness check is not necessary. 

+++

Depression is flicking a booger and accepting it’s new life on the wall. Wellness is using a tissue and throwing said wad in the trash. What makes the latter series of steps so unfathomable to the deeply depressed, is the idea of taking action. At a time when movement is as pleasurable as broiling your bladder, trading a bed for a trek to the trash is equally as enchanting. Immediately you are bullied by a murky morass. Clothing butters the floor like a dozen flattened corpses. Your brows furrow at flies. Garbage looks up at you with its egg-carton eyes, “please, please let me go. We’re so much better off apart.” Passing off the plastics plea, you mold your tissue to fit an overloaded bin. You wait for a sense of uplifting accomplishment, but she stands you up. In retaliation, the trash ejects a dowry of salsa. Like toes in a shell-riddled tide, tiny tomatillos tingle the tops of your feet. While drying a perished pedicure, your thoughts make a noose of the towel.

Self-Care Tarot August 2018: Fight For Your Joy

The bad news: it's August, and I still haven't started my new year's resolution of going to the gym (i'm a fucking cliche, I know). The good news is Cassandra, our awesome tarot reader, says August is going to be passionate and exciting, which means maybe I'll lower my cholesterol burning calories from all the looming anxiety attacks I'm sure to have. Let's see what else the cards have to say this month. Also, unrelated update: pardon the temporary dead links and unfinished pages on my blog right now. Still giving it a wee makeover. xoxo

+++

"The Tarot is still very tuned into Wands & fire energy. Fire continues to oversee our August, just like it did our July, but this month it’s a little bit easier to stay in the driver’s seat. While passion and excitement will at times consume us if we can turn that energy into something productive we’re in for a good month.

Knights are fighters, and Wands energy can bring us outbursts of joy and excitement. A life lesson sits at the heart of it for those of us who are mentally ill: we need to learn to fight for those moments of joy when we can. Your moods will still be swinging, and your anxiety will still be singing this August, but there will be moments of lucid clarity where you stun even yourself with what you’re able to accomplish and entire days to laugh with our loved ones. Hold on to those times, especially as summer winds down and the days start getting shorter soon. 

For those who deal with manic depression, this card can characterize mania showing up this month. We might see extra anxiety flare-ups and heightened energy in the most unlikely of scenarios. While you can’t change your brain chemistry, this Knight does offer us the hope that if we can take that heightened energy and use it productively while still doing all of our other self-care in this time, we might be able to get on top of it for now. That might mean improving your sleep hygiene or forcing yourself to rest for eight hours a night even if you can’t sleep, and that’s never how we want to spend our time. Setting up good habits now though allows us to flourish later on.

The Knight of Wands in this deck sees a determination and pride that you are being called to this August, no matter what. It will be hard to keep any chronic illness under control, but with a good foundation and determination, we can do it. Get ahead of things this month--don’t let them snowball.  Focus on passion projects, friends who make you excited to see them, and fighting for the joy you do find on good days. Fire can turn into something beautiful and warm and affirming, but if we’re not careful, it can become a wildfire beyond our control or burn out completely. Let’s try to keep ourselves evenly warm this month." -Cassandra Snow

For more on Cassandra, head over to her page right HERE.

Take Your Pills Is Getting a Makeover

Hey all! Take Your Pills is undergoing a quick little makeover right now. Please pardon some blank pages and wonky links while we tweak our site for a few days. In the meantime, please distract yourself with one of my favorite recent articles right HERE. See you in a few days! 

Self-Care Tarot July 2018: Are You a Doormat? Read This

Happy July! How are you, habibi? Have you brushed your teeth yet? Did you drink any water? Have you left the house today? If not, put this on pause while you go do those things. I'll be here when you get back, I prom. If you're good to go, let's get into it. You're being asked to perform a special kind of self-care this summer that goes beyond SPF and smoothies. Our resident tarot reader Cassandra Snow dives into the importance of setting boundaries so you don't end up trampled like a shoe-squished Skittle on the Santa Monica Pier. Check the reading below to see what the hell I'm talking about. And, if you missed last months Self-Care Tarot, click HERE to read. 

-Dom

+++

"The Seven of Wands came practically screaming out of my tarot deck when I started shuffling for this month’s column. I stuffed it back in, kept shuffling, and when I pulled the card--there it was again. This is one of my least favorite cards in the tarot deck, truth be told. This card urges us to stand up for ourselves and what we believe in. In a global sense, this is a time to fight for the things we believe in, and I’m usually pretty good at that. That messages obviously still stands. There is a LOT going on, and we want to be on the right side of history (whatever that means to us). Most of us are fired up for those fights though. We almost don’t need that message. We know to stay alert and stay active now more than ever. 

What we might be less prepared to do is stand up for ourselves in our personal or medical lives, which is also a core message of the Seven of Wands. Personally, I have Avoidant Personality Disorder, and while I can overcome that to march in the street, I am often unable to tell my doctor when meds aren’t working or enforce boundaries with certain family members. Regardless of your own mental illness, your capacity for making your needs known and enforcing that will be tested this month. A Cancer sun makes us emotional, crabby, and protective but there are people in our lives who push our buttons or situations we can’t just escape from. The Seven of Wands urges us to be adults and have these hard conversations. It wants us to put our needs first in those relationships and not allow people to be walked on. 

The silly thing about putting up boundaries is that most of the time the offending party had no idea they were doing anything wrong. It's terrifying to say “hey, I actually don’t want alcohol in the house since I’m trying to stay sober” or “That phrase you use is really triggering for me, do you mind stopping?” Nine times out of ten though the person in question will immediately apologize and acquiesce. While we need to put up and enforce boundaries for obvious reasons and as part of our ongoing treatment plans this month, it’s important to remember the payoff of standing up for yourself. It gets easier every time, and at some point, we’re able to sit back, relax, and know we can trust our support system. Don’t let your fear of confrontation overwhelm the goal right now, because coming to a place of peace is and should be your priority.

Unfortunately, some people will be resistant to change or shows of “force” from you. Think about your long-term treatment and healing goals if that does come up this month. You may need some substantial space from those people or situations, or you may just need to find a way to communicate so that they understand. If all else fails, call on the people you know you can trust and ask them to help you. We are not wading through life alone, and it’s important to recognize when additional support is needed."

-Cassandra Snow
 

+++

For more on Cassandra, head over to her page right HERE.

Trick or Treatment: Wellness Week LA Recap

I swear I meant to post this before I left for our trip to Scotland (pix on my Insta right here!) but omg you guys. I realized I hadn't purchased the required nude shoes to go with my bridesmaid dress, so the week before we left my life became all about that journey instead. Anyway please excuse the delay as I transition back into our regularly scheduled mental health bloggery. 

+++

In case you missed it, I recently attended Wellness Week LA and wrote about my experience stretching, meditating, and sweating out the sadness. As with all of my Trick or Treatment segments, I had to find out if this week of stereotypical ~wellness~ foolery did anything positive for my mental health OR if it was just an overpriced mound of crystal-infused horseshit.

Exploring supplemental methods to ease mental illness? Click on each day to find out which Wellness Week experiences were trash and trickery and which could actually be labeled a treatment. Then, try them for yourself (ask your doctor first) and let me know how it goes!  

Day One: Meditation

Day Two: Stretching 

Day Three: The Infrared Sauna

+++

My time at Wellness Week LA was SPONSORED. Huge merci to WWLA for the chance to attend! xo

Saunas, Sweating, & Suicide: My Last Day at Wellness Week LA #TrickOrTreatment

Trick or Treatment exists to help those on their mental health journey find a treatment plan that is tailored to their needs. Sometimes therapy and meds aren't enough. Sometimes we can't afford or gain access to traditional treatments. Occasionally certain options just aren't our style. Trick or Treatment isn't about the products I review or the places I visit or the events I may attend. It's about shedding light on as many potential mental health treatments as I can gain access to, so that readers of this blog may be presented with an abundance of options to try themselves. Society may refer to these options as wellness "cliches," but much of these cliches are only described that way because they are truly beneficial to the many who use them. 

That being said, the last day of my Wellness Week LA experience happened to fall on the day of the death of one of my writerly inspirations, Anthony Bourdain. I had plans to try out the infrared sauna experience at Sweattheory, but I found it hard to focus on relaxation when I got there. I'll keep today's recap short and sweet; I don't feel as excited to write today as I usually do. 

Verdict: Sitting in an infrared sauna in and of itself is not a treatment for mental illness. If anyone tells you that, run. It could be, however, a supplemental activity that you partake in to decrease the physical manifestations of stress, anxiety, depression, and so forth. What I mean by that is, if you are of appropriate physical health to withstand a sauna (check with your doctor first, people!), this treatment is a great way to unwind, relax your body, and imagine yourself tanning at the beach. It's also a nice space to sit with your thoughts, meditate, journal, listen to music, and enjoy some solo time. I would file this under general self-care, much like getting a massage or drinking a healthy smoothie. If you're in the LA area, def hit up Sweattheory. They'll give you a shot of Cayenne, a bathrobe, and a sauna with your own damn shower(!) in the name of sweating yourself better. Not to mention the whole place is covered in candles, plants, and smells like the inside of a sage-infused cupcake. Delish. 10/10 would return again. 

For more info, you can also follow my WWLA experience on my Instagram story right HERE. To learn more about WWLA, and Sweatheory, click their names.       

*Just FYI - my attendance at Wellness Week LA is sponsored. They were kind enough to give me a ticket at my request so that I could share my experiences with you. Huge thank you to WWLA!

Can a Stretch a Day Keep the Crazies at Bay? #TrickOrTreatment

Welcome to  Trick or Treatment! The series where I test out cliche, wellness trends to see if they will make my mental illness journey less of a fucking mess. You can read the previous #TT on meditation right HERE if you’re new to my blog or missed my last installment. This particular Trick or Treatment is part of my experience at Wellness Week LA; a health/lifestyle event from June 3rd-June 10th, 2018. Ticket holders are matched with various fitness, nutritional, and self-care activities in the city, depending on their interests. If you'd like more information on WWLA, or the business I mention below, click their names for more!

On Wednesday I chronicled my experience at Stretch Pro, a studio specifically designed for athletes and pain-sufferers alike to come and get their muscles worked in the name of feeling better in your body. 

+++

If you want to experience the benefits of yoga and a massage, minus the price tag, stretching is your new mom. True story: I'm terrified of group yoga since I'm super slow at keeping up with all the movements. I also needed something a little more intense than just a back rub to an Enya playlist. Cue: stretching; the cheaper version of visiting a physical therapist. JK, don't replace this with physical therapy if you need it, but it was equally as enjoyable for me.

Tbh, I was worried I had to be a walking Quest bar to feel welcomed here. I even flat-ironed my fucking hair like I was trying to get past airport security frisk-free. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me. God bless the girl at the front desk and her ultra-casual, vintage GAP sweatshirt, though. Her welcoming demeanor was very much like, "Don't worry, Dominique. I know you only had an Equinox membership for the chilled towels, and that's okay." Thankfully, the stretch sesh was worth conquering my anxiety. Aside from the fact that the woman stretching my neck, back, and shoulders basically cured my three-year-long stiff neck problem, I felt the physical manifestations of my stress get flexed out of my being from the SEEDS OF MY SOUL. TL;DR - a firm yes.  

Verdict: So! Has my bipolar disorder been successfully taffy-pulled out of my system? Obvi, not but I would still call this a treatment for general physical pains stemming from anxiousness and stress. I'm a bit lethargic today and canceled my WWLA fitness class at Sandbox Fitness, but I'm not sure if that's due to the stretching or being weighed down by my overall hatred for fitness. Regardless, StretchPro was worth it, and I'd pay $40 for 25 minutes of that again. Of course, I have to clarify; this would be a grand *supplement* to your existing health plan. Not about to go off-brand and throw my meds into the ocean anytime soon.

Stay tuned for my next #WellnessWeekLA-themed Trick or Treatment: An infrared sauna session! I’ll be sweating my nips off in a wooden box in an attempt to reach mental bliss. Most likely I'll probably be in there trying to take selfies. You can also follow my WWLA experience on my Instagram story right HERE. 

Have any of you tried stretching as a form of self-care? Do you think this could be a suitable replacement for yoga since I'm literally the only person who seems to be terrible at it? Message me or leave a comment and help an anxious blogger out. xo 

*Just FYI - my attendance at Wellness Week LA is sponsored. They were kind enough to give me a ticket at my request so that I could share my experiences with you. Huge thank you to WWLA!