Rising Through Grief

A Blog About Understanding, Navigating, and Rising Through Grief.

5 Reasons Why the Right Mother Figure—Not Just a Birth Mom—Can Change Everything

Because mothering is about presence, not just pedigree We tend to put “motherhood” in a tiny, neatly labeled box: we gave birth, made dinner, wiped tears, taught manners, and probably said, “Because I said so.” But in reality? Mothering is so much bigger—sometimes, it comes from people who never carried us in their wombs, but

How to Recognize Growth When It Doesn’t Feel Like It

(aka: Yes, You’re Growing, Even If It’s Not Instagrammable) Let’s discuss the growth that doesn’t make for a good before-and-after photo. You know the one: no six-pack abs, no perfectly color-coded planner, no “just woke up and meditated for 45 minutes” glow. Just… you. Still tired. Still trying and still wondering if you’ve made any

How to Do Emotional Spring-Cleaning and Declutter the Junk Thoughts in Your Head

Because your brain deserves a fresh start, too. We’ve all got mental clutter—outdated beliefs, recurring guilt trips, and thoughts that sound suspiciously like a middle school bully. And just like your junk drawer full of mystery keys and expired batteries, your brain could use a seasonal tidy-up. So put on your metaphorical rubber gloves—let’s scrub

How to Water and Nurture Your Brain This Spring

(Because Even Your Mind Deserves a Little Fresh Air and Fertilizer) Ah, spring. The season of fresh starts, floral overachievers, and the universal urge to clean out the junk drawer that’s been mocking you since January. But while we’re busy dusting shelves and overwatering succulents, let’s not forget the one garden that needs a little

How to Manage Your Mental Health by Measuring It

Let me start by saying that I am all for trusting your gut. That same gut has helped me avoid bad dates, questionable leftovers, and emotionally volatile group texts. But when it comes to managing mental health, vibes alone won’t cut it, friend. We need data. I know. “Data” sounds sterile and spreadsheet-y. But don’t

How to Build a Mental Health Dashboard That Won’t Overwhelm You

Because managing your mind shouldn’t feel like managing a Fortune 500 company If you’ve ever tried to track your mental health only to end up more stressed than when you started, you’re not alone. Between the color-coded journals, mood-tracking apps, 17 wellness podcasts, and that spreadsheet you swore you’d update (but forgot after Day 2),

How to Acknowledge Your Feelings Before They Wreck You

Even quiet emotions have a way of making noise. Many of us share a strange habit: something happens, we feel something, and we power through instead of pausing to process it. We say things like, “I’m fine,”“It’s nothing,”“I’ll deal with that later.” And then “later” arrives looking suspiciously like a tension headache, a snippy comment

PMDD — When Your Hormones Turn into a Villain Once a Month

Why we need to talk about this: Even if you’re not a person who menstruates, we all know and want to help at least one person who does! If you or a loved one have ever felt like turning into a rage storm cloud two weeks before your period, only to wake up wondering if

Complex PTSD — When Your Brain is a Drama Writer on Caffeine

Why we need to talk about this: Imagine having a brain that acts like a drama writer who never got the memo that the trauma ended years ago. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) isn’t just “regular” PTSD’s emo cousin—it’s a whole different beast that deserves its spotlight (and maybe a weighted blanket sponsorship deal). Too many people

Avoidant Personality Disorder — When You Want Friends but Also a Cave to Live in Forever

Why we need to talk about this: Some people avoid parties because they’re tired. Others avoid parties because they’re convinced that if they say the wrong thing, they’ll die of humiliation, and everyone will hate them forever. One of these is introversion. The other? It might be Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD). AvPD often hides in

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