Shame is a familiar feeling; the hot flush on your cheeks after a social blunder, a pang of regret in your heart for a harsh word spoken. But what happens when this sense of shame lives constantly in your soul, weaving into your sense of self? The persistent and gnawing feeling of worthlessness becomes chronic shame.  Without realizing it, this chronic shame can impact how you interact with others, live your life, and even think. Chronic shame isn’t about a calmsage

Our childhood is a time when we’re the most vulnerable. We rely on our parents and caregivers for not just physical needs, but also for emotional ones. Love, acceptance, and a sense of safety become the cornerstone on which our self-image is built. However, when these elements are missing, the effects can reverberate far into adulthood, influencing our relationships, self-esteem, and well-being.  You can’t see a young plant survive in barren soil. It’ll desperately seek water and sunlight to thrive. calmsage

When I conceived my daughter, every evening I struggled with thoughts such as “Will I be able to raise my child or not, will I be able to fulfill all needs of my child, or will I be able to balance my work or parenting.” As a result, the postpartum phase hit me hard and I ended up regretting having a child! Little did I know that when a child is born, it’s quite a normal thing to have concerns calmsage

Have you ever watched movies like Goodnight Mommy, Hereditary, August, Little Miss Sunshine, Knives Out, or The Darjeeling Unlimited? Did you find something common in these movies? All these movies convey a strong message regarding the importance of familial bonds and relationships. Not only this, such movies cover an important topic which is dysfunctional families. Dysfunctional families are grounded on issues like secrecy, neglect, emotional unavailability, abuse, addiction, denial, and more! In such families, children struggle through emotional unavailability because calmsage

Our childhood times are the most formative years of our lives. Feeling lonely and left out by our peers can hurt, but it can hurt us emotionally more when our loved ones bring on the feeling of loneliness. In childhood, that title goes to parents, siblings, and other family members. So, if you’ve ever felt that your loved ones have never been there for you – emotionally – then it could be a sign of emotional abandonment. Today, we’re exploring calmsage

Have you ever found yourself zoning out in the middle of a conversation, only to snap back awake with a jolt and no memory of the missed moments? Or maybe you’ve jolted yourself awake while driving on a monotonous freeway? It has happened to me a lot more than I care to admit. For me, these moments are either too early in the morning or in the middle of dinner when I’ve had a long day. These sleep moments can calmsage

Spring is a time of renewal and blooming flowers that add optimism to the air. But for some, especially for people with bipolar disorder, spring can usher a different kind of change – an increase in the manic mood, also known as spring mania. This unpredictable mood shift disrupts the usual springtime joy and replaces it with a rollercoaster of emotions and impulsivity.  I know this whole concept of bipolar mania in spring sounds odd but trust me, it’s an calmsage