Mental Health Association of Fauquier County

Hey friends! 🤗 As we count down the days until Christmas, let's take a moment to check in with each other. 🎄 It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but let's not forget to be kind to ourselves. 🤗 Remember, it's okay to not be perfect! 🙅♀️ Your decorations don't have to be Instagram-worthy, 📸 your cookies don't have to be professionally baked, 🍪 and your gifts don't have to be extravagantly wrapped. 🎁 What matters most is the love and joy we share with our loved ones. ❤️ So, let's take a deep breath, relax, and remember that it's the thought that counts! 🎉 Wishing you all a peaceful, joyful, and perfectly imperfect holiday season! 🎄❤️ #HolidayCheer #SelfCare #MentalHealthMatters #ChristmasMagic #ImperfectlyPerfect

Do you notice glimmers throughout your day!! This doesn't mean the Christmas lights on the house across the street. But it could! A "glimmer" is a small, fleeting moment of positive feeling, like a brief sense of joy, peace, or connection, often arising from simple everyday experiences like noticing a beautiful sunset, hearing a loved one's laughter, or feeling the warmth of sunshine. It could be someone complimenting your outfit. It could be a leaf floating through the sky outside your office window. Essentially, it's a tiny spark of happiness that can help regulate your nervous system and make you feel more safe and grounded!

Earl Johnson, the author of "Finding Comfort During Hard Times: A Guide to Healing after Disaster, Violence, and Other Community Trauma," will be the speaker at tomorrow's Lunch & Learn session. A review of his book notes: Earl Johnson’s Finding Comfort During Hard Times is an encyclopedic handbook on how to give care and offer comfort. It is an incredibly wise, gentle and thoughtful road map on how to survive the trauma, both anticipated and unexpected, of the deep emotional challenges of loss we face as individuals, a family or community so that we, in turn, can provide assistance, solace and hope either as a professional or volunteer. Limited in-person seats are available for the PATH Rappahannock Room. Contact us if you'd like to attend in person. Register to attend by zoom here: https://buff.ly/3Dnifvu

Breaking News! 🚨 We're thrilled to announce that our website is now available in Spanish! To switch languages, simply click the toggle button at the top right corner of our site. We hope this new feature will help us reach and support even more individuals in their journey towards wellness. 💡

Check out our Mental Health Times newsletter for: Monthly Theme Resources Upcoming Mental Health First Aid class schedules Lunch and Learn Details Read more here: https://buff.ly/49o8NnI

November 29th is recognized as the National Day of Giving, a day dedicated to charitable giving and volunteering. This day encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to come together and give back to those in need. How can you benefit from giving?? 🎁 Improved Mental Health 🎁 Increased Sense of Purpose 🎁 Stronger Community Bonds 🎁 Personal Growth 🎁 Positive Impact Look for the nonprofit organizations in your local community and make an impact today!

Our trainings are held twice a month and they are always FREE. Please sign up to spend the day learning how to help others.  Register for December 12th: https://buff.ly/3Ba4hfR Register for December 19th: https://buff.ly/41dVOTq

December 2nd is National Mutt Day, a celebration of mixed-breed dogs and the joy they bring to our lives. But did you know that dogs, including mutts, can also have a significant impact on our mental health? 🐶 The Mental Health Benefits of Dog Ownership 🐶 Stress Relief: Interacting with dogs has been shown to reduce stress levels and lower blood pressure. 😬 Anxiety and ⛅️ Depression: Dogs can provide companionship and emotional support, which can be especially helpful for people struggling with anxiety and depression. 🤗 Social Connections: Owning a dog can help people meet new friends and connect with their community, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. 🤗 Mood Boost: Playing with dogs or simply petting them can release endorphins, also known as "feel-good" hormones, which can improve our mood and overall sense of well-being. ❤️ Share Your Story ❤️ Share your own story of how dogs have positively impacted your mental health!

I'll bet you didn't know this... it's National Gingerbread Cookie Day. And guess what? There is a connection between baking and mental health. Baking helps you practice mindfulness which in turn helps your mental health. Baking requires your full attention, especially when measuring and making and rolling dough. You focus on the smell and taste and allow yourself to be present with your creation. Then you get to express yourself in your decoration of the baked good. 🍪 So get out there and bake!

Are you an illuminator? 🌟 We have a small book club here with some staff and some board members. The book this month is How to Know a Person by David Brooks. Illuminators: have a persistent curiosity about other people they have trained themselves in the craft of understanding others they know what to look for and how to ask the right questions at the right time they shine the brightness of their care on people and make them feel 🌟bigger, 🌟deeper, 🌟respected 🌟LIT UP Who is the illuminator in your life? #HowToKnowAPerson #Illuminator #DavidBrooks #PersonalityTypes #SelfDiscovery