You know that feeling of utter confidence, when you are so sure that you're ready to fly? Or what about when you feel so sure that you are done -- I mean spell it out D-O-N-E -- with a situation or relationship?

Well I know those feelings. Recently, I was convinced beyond anything that I was stick-a-fork-in-it-DONE with a certain relationship with someone in my family who we’ll call Angie. On many levels, I was done with Angie. But I want to share a very interesting thing that occurred when I went a little deeper -- into myself, into our relationship, and into that feeling. 

I took part in a workshop this past weekend: about 18 women and 12 men played in a very interactive, energetic, inquiry as to the nature of sexuality and how it lives or does not live in each of us.

In one moment, our brilliant facilitator noticed that there was a "men vs. women" dynamic showing up in the conversation, so she invited us to make it more real and play it out. All the men stood on one side of the room and all the women on the other. "Let out all the judgments you have about the other sex — say it to the people across from you now!"

Greetings, Pinkies! In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week and today -- National Depression Screening Awareness Day -- we want to share some insight, bust some myths, and get real about how depression affects us and our loved ones. Jennifer's story about finding the right therapist will no doubt resonate with many of us who have searched, or thought about searching, for that special someone -- ok, the other special someone: the therapist with whom you feel most comfortable and heard. Enjoy -- and many thanks to Jennifer for digging deep and sharing your journey!

When I was in high school, I wanted to see a therapist; I was experiencing massive anxiety about school and relationships and it was affecting my sleep and my eating habits. There were periods when my hands would shake so much it was hard to hold a pencil or fork. But, I knew it was useless to ask my parents about it. They made their thoughts on therapy very clear. The idea of telling a stranger all your secrets went against everything they believed in. According to them, if people know things about you, no matter how mundane, they’ll use this knowledge against you. They’ll judge you. They’ll tell everyone else, and your life will be ruined. You’ll never get into college or get a job or a loan for a car. And, if other people were to know you were going to a therapist, they’d assume the worst, and there would be even more people ruining your life.

Growing up, particularly while I was in elementary and middle school, I can remember being friends with certain people who my mother didn’t approve of. I saw the reasons for her disapproval -- but I also saw something different that these people had to offer. It put my concern for safety in the backseat and the love of friendship in the front.