Category: Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation

The Version of Me I Had to Let Go Of

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation



I used to know exactly where my life was going.

Or at least, I thought I did.

For most of my adult life, I was two things: a mom and a woman working toward becoming an English teacher. Every step I took felt intentional. Every late night, every class, every moment of juggling kids and coursework – it all had a purpose.

There was a finish line.

And I reached it.

I earned the degree. I stepped into the classroom. I became the version of myself I had been building toward for years.

And then, just like that… it was over.

Not because I failed.
Not because I didn’t care.
Not because of the kids.

But because life shifted in a way I didn’t expect.

After two years in the classroom, and after an injury that forced me to stop and really look at everything, I realized something I wasn’t prepared to admit:

Education, in the way it exists right now, wasn’t for me.

That realization didn’t come with relief at first.

It came with grief.

Because I wasn’t just walking away from a job –
I was letting go of a version of myself I had spent years becoming.

And no one really talks about that part.

No one tells you how disorienting it is to outgrow a dream you worked so hard for.
How quiet it feels when the path you were so sure about… just ends.
How you’re left standing there asking, now what?

But it wasn’t just about my career.

I also had to let go of expectations I didn’t even realize I was holding onto.

Who I thought I’d be by now.
Where I thought I’d be by now.
Who I thought my kids would become.

That one is the hardest to say out loud.

Because as parents, we don’t always notice when our hopes quietly turn into expectations. We imagine futures for them – safe ones, successful ones, maybe even easier ones than what we had.

But our kids?

They are their own people.

And the truth is… mine are not who I once imagined they would be.

They are better in some ways.
More complex in others.
They have real struggles, real challenges, real lives that don’t fit neatly into the picture I once held in my mind.

And you know what?

That doesn’t mean anything went wrong.

It means they’re human.

It means they’re becoming.

And somehow, even now – maybe especially now – they still call me when they need a little help. A little guidance. A little piece of home.

So maybe I didn’t fail at motherhood either.

Maybe it just looks different than I expected.

And maybe that’s the theme of this season of my life:

Letting go of what I thought it would be…
to make room for what it actually is.

I won’t pretend that process is easy.

There are still moments where I grieve the life I thought I’d have.
The version of me I thought I’d be.
The timeline I thought I was on.

But there’s also something else, quietly growing underneath all of that:

Space.

Space to ask new questions.
Space to rediscover what I love.
Space to figure out what’s next – not based on who I thought I had to be, but who I actually am.

Because here’s what I’m learning:

Letting go isn’t the end of your story.

It’s the part where you stop following a script… and start writing something real.

I may not be where I thought I would be.

But I am here.

I am okay.

My kids are okay.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m not chasing a version of life that no longer fits.

I’m standing in the middle of what is…

and slowly, honestly, figuring out what comes next.

Spring Cleaning….House and Mind

Featured by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation

Spring Cleaning Your Mind (And Your Stuff)


Spring equinox is here, and yes—it’s that magical time when the world starts fresh, the days get longer, and everything feels like it could use a good tidy. But here’s the thing: spring cleaning isn’t just for closets. It’s for your mind, your energy, your thoughts… and yes, even your memories.
I know, I know. Some of you are already feeling that panic: “Wait, if I let go of that hoodie, that memory disappears!” To my neurospicy friends—you KNOW exactly what I mean. The texture, the smell, the little stitch that makes you remember… it’s sticky. It feels like letting go of the thing is letting go of the story.
But here’s the truth: it’s not real. Memories live in your brain, your heart, and your soul—they don’t live in the item itself. You can absolutely keep the memory without keeping the clutter. That hoodie? The shoes? The ticket stub? They’re props. You’re the star of the story, not the accessory.
Why Letting Go Feels Hard
Objects, habits, even old thoughts—they cling. We hold onto them because they’re familiar, because they make us feel safe, or because our brain just really likes a good story. But here’s the catch: cluttered spaces, whether physical or mental, make it harder to breathe, to think, to be fully present.
Your Step-by-Step Mental Spring Cleaning
Pick a zone – Closet? Phone? Thoughts that keep looping? Start somewhere small.
Ask yourself – Does this serve me? Or am I holding it out of habit, guilt, or fear?
Let it go – Donate, recycle, delete, journal about it, take a picture… whatever makes it safe to release.
Celebrate the space – Notice how your energy shifts when there’s breathing room.
Reclaim & Renew
Letting go isn’t losing—it’s reclaiming. It’s saying, “I honor my memories, and I honor myself by making space for joy, growth, and intention.” That’s reclamation. That’s renewal. That’s you stepping into a season where you aren’t weighed down by what no longer serves you.
So here’s your challenge for the equinox: pick one thing today—a hoodie, a thought, a habit—and let it go. Notice the difference it makes when you reclaim that space for yourself.
Because spring isn’t just about cleaning the house—it’s about cleaning your mind, your heart, and your life. And yes… you can absolutely keep the memories without keeping the clutter.

2026 Saddle Up

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation

2026: Saddle Up – Multiple Streams in a Changing America.   

      We are living in a rapidly shifting America. The news cycle moves at lightning speed, and if you let it, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.    

     Layoffs. Inflation. Political noise. Social division. It is a lot. But here’s the flip side.       

                                        We are also living in one of the most opportunity-rich times in history. Never before have ordinary people had such direct access to tools, platforms, and audiences that allow them to create income outside of a traditional 9–5. And while I have written before about the pressure to monetize every hobby (because yes, that pressure is real), there is a difference between feeling forced… and feeling empowered. If you want to crochet. If you want to sew. If you want to flip furniture. If you want to create content. There is no harm in building something that belongs to you.    

And in 2026 – The Year of the Horse – maybe it is time to ride….       

🧶Turning Hobbies into Income

You do not have to quit your job. In fact, keeping your standard job as a safety net while building something on the side is one of the smartest financial moves you can make.   

Here are some practical ways people are monetizing hobbies right now:  

Handmade & Creative Goods Selling on Etsy.   

Handmade or Vintage finds on eBay 

Local vendor markets and pop-up events.    

Custom orders through social media.

Crochet blankets.  

Quilts.  

Reusable bags. 

Seasonal décor. 

Digital downloads. 

Printable planners.  

There is a niche for almost everything. The key? Start small. Test the waters. You don’t need a warehouse –  you need consistency….   

 ♻️ Refurbish, Repurpose, Resell.  

  Some people see junk. Others see opportunity.   Furniture flipping. Thrift store reselling.     Estate sale sourcing.     Upcycling décor.     Restoring tools or equipment.        A $20 dresser and a weekend of sanding can turn into $200. Small margins add up when you learn what sells. And bonus: you are keeping items out of landfills….      

📱 The Digital Gold Rush: UGC & Affiliate Marketing.  

This is where things get interesting. Many brands now pay everyday people to create UGC (User Generated Content) – short videos, testimonials, product demonstrations -that they use for advertising.You do not need a massive following. You need: Clear audio. Decent lighting. Authentic delivery.             Opportunities include:

UGC creator platforms.    SKOOL, Discord                                    Affiliate marketing (earn commission for recommending products)   

 Amazon storefronts.   

 Digital course creation.

 Print-on-demand merchandising. 

Blogging with ad revenue.    

If you already talk about products you love, why not get paid for it?     

💼 Network & Financial Services Opportunities.   

  Some choose to build businesses through established companies like Primerica, insurance sales, or financial education services. These models require research, licensing, and understanding compensation structures — but for the right personality, they can create residual income streams and team-based growth.   

As with anything: do your homework. Understand the commitment. Make sure it aligns with your values.  

  ⚖️ The Balance: Productivity vs. Peace

Let me say this clearly. Not every hobby needs to become a hustle.The joy of crocheting just to crochet? Sacred. The peace of baking just to share? Beautiful. The creativity of writing just because you must? Necessary.      

But if you feel a pull, not pressure — a genuine curiosity about building something of your own, this is a uniquely powerful time to try.   

        You can:     

✅️Keep your day job.    

 ✅️Protect your benefits.  

✅️Experiment in evenings or weekends.  

✅️Fail quietly.     

 ✅️Learn loudly.       

 ✅️Adjust quickly.  

   Multiple streams of income are not about greed. They are about resilience….       

  🐴 2026: The Year of the Horse. 🐴         The horse represents momentum. Strength. Endurance. Forward motion.    Maybe this is not the year of frantic hustling. Maybe it is the year of intentional building. Start the Etsy shop. List the first item on eBay. Film the first UGC sample. Sign up for the course. Research the opportunity. Draft the business name.You do not have to gallop. You just have to move.  

  2026 is going to be a ride.  Let’s go.

A is for Addiction

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation

Addiction.


Just sit with that word for a moment.
It carries weight. It sounds heavy. Shame-filled. Final. I can’t think of many positive things we associate with it.
I personally smoke cigarettes (working toward quitting), and I am absolutely a caffeine addict — and probably sugar too. But beyond my own habits, I have loved addicts. Not just romantically. Friends. Family. People I would go to the ends of the earth for.


So let’s ask the question plainly:
Is addiction a disease? A condition to be treated? Something recovery is possible from?
Yeah. Yes. It is.


What Is Addiction?
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as:
A treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.


The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains it similarly — addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences.
Chronic.
Medical.
Treatable.


Those words matter.


And here’s something else that matters:


In the United States, about 1 in 6 people struggle with a substance use disorder each year.
Millions more struggle with nicotine dependence.
Caffeine dependence is widely recognized.
Studies show that highly processed foods can trigger brain reward systems in ways similar to addictive substances.
This isn’t rare. This isn’t “those people.” This is us. Our neighbors. Our families.


We Joke About It… But Should We?
People casually say, “I’m a coffee addict.”
Or “I’m addicted to Diet Coke.”
Or “Don’t talk to me before my sugar.”
But do we understand the weight of that word?


Yes — you really can be addicted to sugar, caffeine, nicotine, and highly processed foods. That doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human with a brain wired for reward.
Our brains are designed to remember what feels good and to repeat it. Dopamine — the “feel good” neurotransmitter — reinforces behaviors that provide pleasure or relief. Over time, repetition becomes reliance. Reliance becomes dependence.
And dependence, when disrupted, becomes withdrawal.


The Logan Story
Let me tell you a story.
Logan was 10. His mom wasn’t much of a cook, so meals were mostly pre-packaged, fast food, convenient — and let me say clearly: fed is fed. No judgment. Survival comes first.
But when summer came, Logan went to stay with Dad and stepmom. They cooked fresh food. Fruits. Vegetables. Homemade meals. Grilled burgers and hot dogs.
Within days, Logan had what looked like the flu. Headaches. Fatigue. Irritability. Just not himself.
His big sister picked him up, took him to the movies and — yes — McDonald’s.
Miraculous recovery.
Until a week later, when the “flu” returned.
He wasn’t sick. He was withdrawing.
His body had become accustomed to high levels of sugar, sodium, and processed additives. When they disappeared, his system reacted.
Dad refused to reintroduce the fast food. They let his body recalibrate. It was uncomfortable. It was eye-opening. And it was very real.
Logan didn’t know he was dependent.
But his body did.


It’s All the Same Brain
Opioids.
Nicotine.
Methamphetamine.
Alcohol.
Sugar.
Caffeine.


Different substances. Same reward circuitry.
When we remove what the brain has grown used to, the body protests.


Withdrawal can look like:
Headaches
Fatigue
Anxiety
Irritability
Nausea
Depression
Physical pain


Some withdrawals are uncomfortable. Some are dangerous. Some are life-threatening.
But the mechanism? The brain wanting what it has been trained to expect.


So Where Do We Start?


We start by naming it.


Without shame.


We stop whispering about addiction like it’s a moral failure. We stop labeling people as “weak” or “lacking willpower.”
We start asking:
What pain is this numbing?
What pattern is this reinforcing?
What support is missing?
Addiction thrives in isolation. Recovery thrives in connection.
Somewhere, there has to be a conscious decision to become mindful of what we are putting into our bodies — and why.


Not with judgment.
With curiosity.


My Truth
I am a caffeine addict.
I am nicotine dependent.
I am working on both.
And I have loved addicts.


Deeply.


We need to help one another make better choices instead of judging someone’s struggle. Because it could be you. It could be me. It could be someone you love.
Addiction is not a character flaw.


It is a condition.
It is treatable.
Recovery is possible.


And compassion? That should be non-negotiable

Simple Steps to Cope When Life Becomes a Disaster

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation, This Life

When Your Life Is a Shitstorm: How to Pull Yourself Back from the Edge

You’re doomscrolling again. Your thumb moves, the screen refreshes, and more bad news floods in. It’s easier than thinking about your own life because, let’s face it, your life is a mess right now. Maybe it’s a slow, painful unraveling, or maybe everything collapsed at once. Either way, you’re here, trying to escape into the abyss of the internet, trying to feel something or nothing or anything other than what you are feeling right now.

First things first: Stop.

Not everything. Not forever. Just pause for a moment. Put the phone down, even if it’s just for a few seconds. You don’t have to fix everything right now. You don’t even have to do anything right now. But you do have to breathe. Not the automatic, shallow breathing that keeps you technically alive, but the kind where you take control of your own body again.

Breathe Like You Mean It

Breathe in deeply, slowly, deliberately. Feel the air fill your lungs. Hold it for a moment, then let it out. Do it again. And again. Because when everything feels out of control, this is the one thing you can control. You can’t change the past, you can’t predict the future, and you can’t force other people to act the way you want them to. But you can breathe, right now, in this moment.

Eat Something. No, Really.

Have you eaten today? No, coffee doesn’t count. Neither does the handful of crackers you barely noticed shoving into your mouth. Eat something real. It doesn’t have to be healthy. It just has to be food. A sandwich, a bowl of cereal, some fruit, even a damn granola bar—just something with actual calories and nutrients. When life is a wreck, basic self-care falls by the wayside, and eating is one of the first things to go. But you need fuel. You wouldn’t expect a car to run on an empty tank, so why are you expecting your body and mind to function when you haven’t given them anything to work with?

Drink Some Water. Yes, Right Now.

Dehydration sneaks up on you. It makes you foggy, sluggish, and more irritable. It messes with your mood and your ability to think clearly. And when you’re in crisis mode, drinking enough water is often the last thing on your mind. Grab a glass, a bottle, anything. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be lemon-infused or electrolyte-enhanced. Just drink.

Be Still.

This one is hard. We live in a world that screams at us to always be doing something, fixing something, achieving something. But when everything is a disaster, sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing. Be still. Let your body settle, let your mind settle. Give yourself permission to not have the answers, to not have a plan, to not know what comes next. Sometimes, the storm has to pass before you can even see the ground beneath your feet again.

Being still doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re letting your nervous system catch up, allowing your emotions to level out so that when you do move forward, you’re doing so with a clearer head and steadier hands.

You Are Still Here.

Life is not always fair. It is not always kind. Sometimes, it throws things at you that you never asked for and don’t deserve. But you are still here. And as long as you are here, you have choices. Maybe not the ones you wish you had, maybe not the ones that make everything magically better, but some choices.

Start with the small ones. The ones that remind you that you are, in fact, still in control of something. Breathe. Eat. Drink. Be still. And when you’re ready, take the next step. One moment, one breath, one tiny act of care at a time.

You’ve survived 100% of your worst days so far. You can survive this one too.