- Break the Stigma, Mental Health, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Caregiver, Military Topics, PTSD, Suicidality, Suicide Awareness, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Statistics, Veteran health, Veterans
17.5 is the Number of Veteran Suicide Deaths a day in the U.S. & We Must Change what We are Doing to Make a Difference.
17.5 a day is too many.* Statistics: The Number of Veterans who Die by Suicide Daily 17.5 is the number of veterans who died by suicide each day in 2021.* 6,392 U.S. veterans total died by suicide in 2021.* When adjusted, the suicide mortality rate of veterans is still higher than what is observed in the non-Veteran population.* When adjusted for age and sex-subspecific suicide rates in the non-Veteran population, the % of Veterans dying by suicide is 12.4% higher than what would have been observed.* 12.4% more suicide deaths for Veterans than suicide deaths in the general population.* That is significant. All deaths by suicide are tragedies and leave…
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My Recent Article on Suffering & Caregiving for a Chronic Illness
I was honored to write for Briannagrams blog on her current Releasing to God series. My article “When Suffering Continues and No Healing Is In Sight” can be read on her website through the link at the end of this post. Here is an excerpt from my article: “By having a constant need and reliance on God for physical protection, it becomes much easier to daily recognize and desire his help and deliverance in all the other areas of our life – to ask him to permeate every aspect of our life- our mental, emotional, and spiritual life also.When our need is great, our dependence on God through prayer deepens.Our…
- Caregiving, Mental Health, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Caregiver, Not Alone, Pursuing health and wholeness, Suicidality, Suicide Awareness, Suicide Prevention
The Caregiver of Mental Crisis Needs Support & to Be Seen.
The caregiver of mental crisis needs support. They need someone in their corner uplifting them and saying “I see you. You are not alone. The work you are doing to keep your loved one alive matters.” They need tools and resources to know how to navigate the deep, murky waters of suicide caregiving, as they advocate for and come alongside their loved one struggling. They support their loved one day after day and need support themselves. My book: “Battle Forged & Battle Ready: A Message of Hope & Resilience for the Caregiver of Suicidality, Trauma, & Persistent Mental Illness” is for you the caregiver. It comes out of my personal…
- Beauty, Bible, Choose Joy, Coping strategies, Encouragement, faith and psychology, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, intentionality, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, Mental Health Advocate, Not Alone, Pursuing health and wholeness, Truth
The act of noticing beauty is a powerful antidote to mental health struggles
The act of noticing beauty is a powerful antidote to mental health struggles.It doesn’t remove the struggles from our life, but it uplifts and brings goodness into the difficult. ❤️ I stopped in my everyday moment to see beauty right there.Flowers still blooming though fall has come.One of my favorite flowers… The purple coneflower What beauty have you found today in your everyday life?Share in the comments ⬇️ This act of noticing beauty in your everyday life is a powerful antidote to mental health struggles. If you haven’t noticed something yet, stop, find something, and comment here. It can be a hot cup of coffee, a smiling face, or anything…
- Break the Stigma, Coping strategies, EMDR therapy, Faith, faith and psychology, For the one struggling with suicidal ideation-, Mental Health, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Caregiver, Not Alone, Suicidality, Suicide Awareness, Suicide Prevention, Warning signs of increased suicide risk
Truths About Suicide: Truths for the Person Battling Suicide & Truths for the Loved One, the Caregiver, of Suicidality
Suicide is a battle many face— Silently. It catches you unaware whether you are the one struggling with thoughts of it or you are the one supporting a loved one battling suicide. Both of you need encouragement, support, and truth to help you in the midst of the battle for life you are fighting. The caregiver is the loved one or close support person who cares for the person struggling with suicidal thoughts, intention, attempts, or plans. Suicidality is an all-encompassing term including anything associated with suicide to include: suicidal ideation, intention, attempt, plan, etc. It is important for many voices to come together in solidarity on this incredibly difficult…
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Isaiah, Mental Health, Truth for Today
Truth for Today- Do not fear. God is with you.
DO YOU NEED SOME TRUTH TODAY?I’ve been focused on these words for most of this week…Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)“So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Let that sink in. God is with me.He will strengthen me.He will help me.He will uphold me. I’ve been weary this week as I’ve been “hard pressed on every side” but God has given me just enough for each day to face each new and different challenge.I’ve leaned into Him and His strength. Thank you Jesus for your gracious…
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Isaiah, Mental Health, Truth for Today
Truth for Today- Do not fear. God is with you.
DO YOU NEED SOME TRUTH TODAY?I’ve been focused on these words for most of this week…Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)“So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Let that sink in. God is with me.He will strengthen me.He will help me.He will uphold me. I’ve been weary this week as I’ve been “hard pressed on every side” but God has given me just enough for each day to face each new and different challenge.I’ve leaned into Him and His strength. Thank you Jesus for your gracious…
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Amber J. Parker Podcast Interview on Trauma, Triggers, & EMDR Released!
I had the privilege of speaking on The Room To Bloom Podcast with Julie Rebboah, the host, about trauma, triggers, & EMDR therapy. You can listen to the episode “Overcoming Trauma & Triggers with EMDR Therapy” anywhere you get your podcasts. To go directly to listen to the podcast, click one of the links below depending on your preferred listening platform: Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/room-to-bloom/id1733546964?i=1000662640787 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MNc94oIVmLEgX8375iCRG?si=kGYgz3ICQryqQI5Y8wZ2BQ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/84835a12-ece1-4d43-a187-635c59fac6c1/episodes/562e0d36-2e93-46b8-bc13-7c222f43b0a7/room-to-bloom-overcoming-trauma-triggers-with-emdr-therapy?ref=dm_sh_7Oo63JoeEzvbT2zXghF5f3gNT I hope you are blessed by our conversation, friends. Feel free to share with a friend who comes to mind as you listen. Be blessed! -Amber
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Shop Debut: Beautiful Truth Design Launches Today!
Well friends, my shop just launched publicly today.http://Beautifultruthdesign.com is my online shop for Choose Joy In the Midst. You will find truth-infused merchandise to empower and encourage you today in the midst of your battle. This store and the items in it have been on my heart and in the works for over a year. It is so exciting to finally share it with you. Go directly to http://Beautifultruthdesign.com to order your empowering and truth-infused items today! Don’t wait. To have truth to set your mind on when life is hard is incredibly important to keep persevering. Mugs, journals, and other key items with words of truth on them have…
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Manuscript Update- Over 42,000 words written. Why? Because Reader, you matter.
Writing a manuscript on a subject you have lived out… & choosing to share vulnerably out of your pain and story for your readers to feel seen and find transformation & gain the resources they need… in their battle against trauma and su*icidality for their loved one… is not for the faint of heart. Caregiving for mental health crisis is a sacred and difficult fight. I’m 42,199 words in. I’ve been putting countless hours into it. Last weekend I spent 5 and 1/2 hours editing and reworking Chapter 1. I spent a couple hours the day prior to that reading over and having fresh inspiration for parts of the Introduction…
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Thank You for Voting & Here’s The Winner of the Starbucks Gift Card!
Thank you everyone for voting in the Final Book Cover Poll- of the TOP 2 Designs for “Battle Forged & Battle Ready”! *Scroll down for the winner of the Starbucks drawing.* 85 Responses were recorded, and there was a *CLEAR* design that won! 🙌 Stay tuned for the winner because I’ll be revealing the winning design mid-July. Hop on my newsletter HERE to not miss finding out which design won and to receive content focused on empowering you in your battles! Thank you also for all your feedback and insight on the different covers. It was very valuable and helpful to hear from so many people’s perspectives. And now- for…
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Top 2 Final Book Cover Design Poll- for Amber J. Parker’s Book
This week of July 1st is the vote for the top 2 final designs on my book cover from last week’s poll! Make sure to read my words at the end of this article as well. There’s a drawing for a $10 Starbucks gift card for those who vote and are on my email newsletter. To be entered, read the directions. Last week I revealed the book title: “Battle Forged & Battle Ready”, and you voted on 8 designs. Thank you so much to everyone who voted on the designs and gave feedback. Your insight, opinions, and voting were extremely valuable. It was very close between both of these cover…
- Bible, Bible teaching, Choose Joy In the Midst, Faith, Life Battles, Life Storms, Lisa Harper, spiritual warfare, Truth
Meeting Lisa Harper & Stepping Out In Faith
The last 8 days have been hard and filled with spiritual attacks and difficulties. They have also had God’s gracious blessings and leading as well. Read more about both below. First, I want to share the ending… I was at a conference this week and was blessed to meet and talk with Lisa Harper. I even got a picture with her and got to give her my business card for Choose Joy In the Midst and speak on hard topics, to include my upcoming book. If you are not familiar— Lisa Harper is a strong believer in Jesus, a theologian, speaker, author, and she doesn’t take herself too seriously. She…
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Amber J. Parker’s Book Title Reveal & Book Design Poll- Vote Today!
Hi friends, my book title is: “Battle Forged & Battle Ready”. It is a book to help the primary caregiver of trauma & suicidality navigate the chaos and turmoil of mental health crisis so they can live with improved strength, hope, and resilience. It comes out of our own personal story of my caregiving for my husband through combat trauma and worsening mental crisis. We were in a fight for his life. This book is the one I wished I had back then, and so I am writing it for you, reader, as you fight your own battle for the life of your loved one. I’ve been busy working on…
- Anxiety, Bible, Caregiving, Coping strategies, Faith, Fear, Focusing on Truth, Overcome anxiety & worry, positive self-talk, Prayer, Pursuing health and wholeness, spirit of fear, Trauma
How to Deal With Fear and Anxiety Part 2- Focus on Powerful Truth
I learned how to do life with fear alongside.Not leading the way, not overtaking me… but fear in its’ proper place- as a tool to give information, and as an emotion to acknowledge. In caregiving for my child with a life-threatening diagnosis, I clung to the powerful truth found in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I prayed it. I told God I didn’t want the spirit of fear and asked Him to help me have His power, His love, His sound mind. It wasn’t a one and done conversation. It was…
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How to Deal With Fear & Anxiety Part 1- Do Life With Fear Alongside
- Anxiety, Anxiety tips and tricks, Caregiving, Coping strategies, Fear, how to decrease fear, Medical diagnosis, Mental Health, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Trauma, Truth
How to Deal With Fear & Anxiety Part 1- Do Life With Fear Alongside
Fear and anxiety can be ever present with us, but I learned a powerful truth about fear as I walked thru caregiving for a life-threatening diagnosis for my child. I have a powerful truth for you to hold onto in the midst of difficulty and fear. Grab these 2 free powerful printables- just for you- 2 FREE 8.5 x 11 Printables- To Empower & Encourage You. You will also get on my email newsletter which you don’t want to miss. Stick around to see part 2 of Fear & Anxiety. I learned how to live life with fear alongside.And it was empowering & life-changing for me. “Live life with fear…
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New Life & Hope Springing Forth
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness & streams in the wasteland.“ (Isaiah 43:19, NIV). Friend—What new thing are you seeing spring up in your life? After the darkness, trials, adversity, and pain—Can you see any goodness in your life? The glimmer of new things springing forth. I journeyed through the lengthy darkness of night for so long & God finally brought forth newness and light. Hope. The working of redemption in my life. It is a continual work, the growing and bringing forth of newness in my life.The goodness in your life…
- Choose Joy In the Midst, Coping strategies, EMDR, Fight or Flight Response, Mental Health, Not Alone, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, therapy, Trauma
How Can You Decrease Your PTSD or Trauma Response? It is, in fact, Possible.
You Don’t Have to Be Stuck in Your PTSD or Trauma Response. There are ways to decrease and dial down the response in the moment friend. There is hope. The intensity of your responses to trauma can be dialed down. How? The first step is self-awareness. Being aware of what is occurring and what specific things trigger you. (A trigger is something associated with the trauma memory. A trigger is not something you choose, but something your amygdala has connected to the trauma. An object, a similar situation, a sound, a smell, etc.) I know it’s likely not something you want to think about or focus on because avoidance of…
- Choose Joy, Choose Joy In the Midst, Coping strategies, Fight or Flight Response, Mental Health, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, Trauma
Choose Joy In the Midst of PTSD & Trauma Responses
You may be wondering how on earth can both phrases “Choose Joy In the Midst” and “PTSD and Trauma Responses” be connected? I believe we *can* in fact find Joy and choose joy in the midst of very difficult trauma responses we face. We can choose joy and fight for goodness in our lives by pursuing healing and finding ways to positively cope and decrease our trauma responses. Read on, friend. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can ensue from trauma and cause your body to go into a fight or flight response when switched on (or triggered) by something that reminds you of that traumatic event. ➡️ Triggers can be…
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God Restores, Redeems, & Renews
God restores, redeems, & renews the broken pieces of your life. Did you know? God can restore, redeem, & renew the broken pieces of your life, friend. The reason I know this to be true is because: He has been in the business of doing it in my own life. The things I thought were dead, past hope, broken, & done for… HE breathed new life into them— He began to re-form them bit by bit. God breathes new life into what was dead, past hope, broken, & done for. He began to give new purposes and new direction. Direction & Purpose from Him. “Praise be to God from whom…
- break the stigma, faith and psychology, Fighting for Joy, Free Resource, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, therapy, Trauma
Break the Stigma. Normalize Therapy. Download my Resource.
Break the stigma. Normalize therapy. Grab my free resource ➡️ Here’s the link! There is no shame in mental health therapy, in fact there is freedom. So, let me ask— What valley are you walking through? Has your joy been stolen like the song “For My Good” by Maverick City Music says? Are you dealing with relational struggles? The impact of past trauma? Depression? Changes in life you hadn’t planned on? Grief? Loss? Anxiety? PTSD (A response following trauma) ? Manic and depressive changes? Stress? Disappointments? Alcoholism? Addiction? The list goes on… These and so many more topics are reasons to find a therapist— to help you process through the…
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You Are Not ALONE In Your Battle.
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, Overcome anxiety & worry, Psalms
God sits with you in your pain.
Hey friend- You know that thing that’s causing you heartache, pain, fear, anxiety, or questioning… God sits with you in the midst of it. He truly does. It doesn’t mean the hard thing in your life will be resolved or magically gone, but He will supply the strength you need to walk through it as you rely on Him.Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God deeply cares about and is drawn to those who are hurting to come alongside in compassion and kindness. Jesus, Himself, walked through excruciating suffering when He was on this earth. He experientially understands.…
- Bible teaching, Darkness, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, Peace, Psalms, Pursuing health and wholeness, Resting In Peace
I Will Not Die But Live- A Word of Hope & Truth!
Friend- Can I ask- What in your life have you walked through that has felt like death or actually been death? Read these words and consider them. I will not die but live. It’s a statement based in the nature and goodness of God. The psalmist declares they won’t die but they will instead live… They have been so affected by how God has moved in their life and cared for them and fought their battles, that they are now determined to LIVE — & proclaim what the Lord has done. In what aspect of your life has there been a miracle, a shift, a change? Has peace come into…
- Declare, Declare Proclaim Boldly, Encouragement, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, Proclaim, Pursuing health and wholeness, Word of the Year, WOTY, WOTY 2024
2024 Word(s) Of the Year: Declare/Proclaim…Boldly
My 2024 Word(s) of the year are: Declare/Proclaim …Boldly. This comes out of Psalm 118:17 & Ephesians 6:19-20. The Lord brought these verses to me in late November and early December, and I began to notice the words- Declare. Proclaim. As Psalm 118:17 states, “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” This deeply resonates with me. There has been so much that has felt like death in the last 8 years. And there has been actual death (2 angel babies) and also the caregiving and navigating 3 very different life-threatening illnesses/diagnoses for my husband and 2 of my children and close calls with…
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Don’t Compare Your Trauma. Instead, Validate your Trauma.
Don’t compare your trauma. What do I mean by this? Don’t compare your trauma to someone else’s trauma. The details of a trauma do not determine the impact on a person, psychologically and physiologically. The details or “facts” of a trauma do not tell the emotional memory details of that trauma. The trauma story does not share how the trauma affects the person with triggers from the trauma or how it affects their day-to-day life, their stress responses, or the physiological impact the trauma produces on their bodies. Do not try to determine how bad someone else’s trauma is in comparison to your own or try to categorize the trauma…
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May We Be Joyful, Hopeful, Patient, Persevering, Faithful, & Prayerful.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. [Rom. 12:12] Let’s focus our mind on this truth, asking God for His help and strength to do so. I’ve been sitting with this verse and considering its’ truth over this last week. The words and encouragement are empowering, and they resonate with my heart. I want to be joyful as I wait hopefully and in hope for what God will do and continue to do in my story, in my life, in my circumstances, in any unanswered prayers I am waiting on, waiting in hope. Let me be joyful as I wait, as I hope. Let me keep focused…
- Bible teaching, Christmas, Darkness, Encouragement, Faith, faith and psychology, Fighting for Joy, God’s Love, God’s mighty power, Life Battles, Mental Health, Peace, Prayer, Resting In Peace, spiritual warfare, therapy
Peace Over Darkness & Mental Health Battles This Christmas
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” [John 14:27] “Peace, bringing it all to peace. The storm surrounding me. Let it break at your name…. …Jesus. Jesus. You make the darkness tremble. Jesus. Jesus. You silence fear…” I have sung the words to that song, Tremble, many a time when going through the darkest battles for the life of my husband. Walking through the mental health battle for his life. Praying and asking the Lord for strength, for discernment, for wisdom. For peace. For breakthrough…
- Bible teaching, Daniel, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, miracles, Overcome anxiety & worry, Pursuing health and wholeness, spiritual warfare
God Is In the Room & He Still Does Miracles.
Friend— You are Not alone. No matter what you are going through. No matter if anyone knows the battle you are facing, the struggles that are pressing in, the pressures you face. God is right there with you. The song “In the Room” by Maverick City Music is one of my current favorites because it testifies to how God has always been the same, back when Daniel was in the lion’s den and wasn’t devoured after going against the command to only pray to the king. He continued to pray to God and was sentenced to death by the lion’s den as a result. But God protected him. (Read about…
- Both. And, Christmas, Encouragement, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s Love, Grief & Loss, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Love, Prayer, Pursuing health and wholeness, Resting In Peace, Romans
Loss, Joy, Love, & Grief Co-mingled This Christmas
You don’t have to sugarcoat your life. This Christmas allow yourself to miss and grieve the hard things in your life, the people you have lost, the circumstances and relationships that haven’t gone how you hoped. Make room for joy and loss. The excitement of Christmas and the pain of grief. Be kind to yourself and determine ways to honor any grief or loss you have this Christmas. Honor that loved person who you miss so much. How? Put a special ornament on the tree in honor of them. Put a small stocking up somewhere or a little angel or other meaningful item that signifies importance to you. This is…
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Who Needs Help with Their Problems & Struggles in Life- God is an Ever-Present Help.
Lord you are mighty & good. Move in the midst of so many who need to hear your voice— & feel your presence— in the midst of their battle right now. Today. Be their ever-present help in times of trouble, as you already are. Help them to know you are near & care and are working everything for their ultimate good. Increase their trust in you, God. 🙏❤️ Friend— Share this prayer with whoever needs encouragement in their life battles and difficulties they are facing today. Tag me on social media @choosejoyinthemidst Christmas doesn’t put a pause on life difficulties. We all need encouragement and strength to face the storms…
- Amygdala, calming techniques, Coping strategies, EMDR, empathy, faith and psychology, Fight or Flight Response, Mental Health, Overcome anxiety & worry, positive self-talk, Prayer, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, therapy, Trauma
Fight or Flight Response Series: Part 3. Stress Responses Don’t Have to Rule Your Life- Decrease Tension, Find Calm, & Take Back Control!
Triggers, trauma, and PTSD don’t need to run your life. There are ways to have improved resilience and decrease those fight or flight symptoms when they hijack your life at unexpected and undesirable moments. We will talk today about some of those amazing techniques- Read on with the hope and knowledge that the intensity of the stress responses you experience can, in fact, be lessened. Their intensity can be dialed down. You can manage and begin to have more control over those intense responses you feel. You don’t have to live your life with amygdala hijack taking over at unexpected and unwanted moments. In my last fight or flight writing,…
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, Focusing on Truth, God’s Love, Prayer, Pursuing health and wholeness
God’s Perfect Love Casts Out Fear.
Who needs to know today that you are loved perfectly, wonderfully, just as you are today, right now… with your imperfections, your failings, your strengths, your giftings, yourself. All that makes up you. God loves— YOU. God loves you before you have tried to impress Him, tried to earn love or do something to gain favor. God loved you before the foundation of the world. He already knew you and who you would be (being that He is eternal and outside time), and He loved you with His agape, full, perfect love. A love that is not predicated on what someone will do or not do. A love that can’t…
- Caregiving, Encouragement, Faith, Focusing on Truth, Life Battles, Matthew, Pursuing health and wholeness, sacrificial love
For the Caregiver: God Sees You, Strengthens You, & Helps You
For those who are weary today in their caregiving, no matter the battle or medical issue they are walking through, let me remind you— God sees you. God cares for you. He will give you renewed strength as you continue in the battle you are facing. Let me, now, share a truth the Lord gave to me as I considered all the caregiving I have done… Caregiving is not a reciprocal act. It is an act done in deep sacrificial love without expectation of return on the investment. To caregive is to be asked to love like Jesus did— love without return. Jesus does not expect anything back in return…
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How to Deal With Fear & Anxiety Part 1- Do Life With Fear Alongside
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Hope in God, Life Battles, Psalms, Pursuing health and wholeness, Spiritual Transformation, spiritual warfare
In the Midst of Your Battle, God Sees You & Is Near
What battle are you struggling in friend? God knows it. And he cares about you. In the midst of whatever you are walking through. Whether anyone knows the pain you carry or the storm that you are in. God does. You are not alone. God is with you and will help you through the midst of it. Why do I know? How can I be sure? Well, friend, it’s because God carried me through deeply, painful and difficult seasons in my own life where I couldn’t see the end in sight, but God was there carrying me, guiding me, bringing peace to my heart day by day. God is the…
- Amygdala, anaphylaxis, calming techniques, Coping strategies, EMDR, faith and psychology, Fight or Flight Response, Focusing on Truth, food allergies, Mental Health, Overcome anxiety & worry, positive self-talk, Prayer, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, therapy, Trauma
Fight or Flight Response: Part 2- Assessing Danger, Triggers, & Advocating with An Anaphylactic Allergy Focus
If you’ve dealt with a stressful fight or flight response where your body is on edge, anxious, worried, extremely alert and ready for action, or ready to deal with something dangerous, then you know you don’t choose when to feel that way, it just occurs all of a sudden sometimes. It can be disconcerting and worrisome to have your body jump into a revved up state all of a sudden. So, how do you get control back? How do you begin to tell your body what is dangerous and what is not, How do you calm down that stress response? How do we approach a fight or flight response, a…
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Hope and Trust in God No Matter Your Life’s Storms
In what do you place your hope in friend? Is it something or someone that can shift and change, possibly letting you down. A close relationship with someone. Your money, your items, your own abilities or physical prowess, your ability to accomplish so much on your own? All of those things are blessings from the Lord— our abilities, our talents, our giftings, our finances. They could shift so quickly though. We are not in control of them fully. The only One who does not shift but instead stands firm is God. Read more to find out how!
- Amygdala, Coping strategies, EMDR, empathy, Encouragement, faith and psychology, Fight or Flight Response, Focusing on Truth, Mental Health, Overcome anxiety & worry, positive self-talk, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, therapy, Trauma
The Fight or Flight Response: Part 1- Steps to Take & How to Talk to Yourself During a Response
The fight or flight response. What actually happens when we are triggered and our amygdala takes over, in an instinctual way, to protect ourselves? What occurs and how can we help ourselves turn the dial down on the response when there is, in fact, no actual danger present? Read further on steps to take when a response occurs, how to talk to and interact with yourself when a response occurs, how to identify the reason you are having the revved up fight or flight responses, and ways to decrease the intensity of the response to “get back your life.”
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The Hard Things In Your Life
Don’t shy away from the hard realities of your life.Let me say that again— Don’t ignore, downplay, or dismiss the difficult realities of your life. By being honest with yourself and honest with trusted individuals in your life & with God, you take steps toward wholeness.It’s okay to not have the answers for your difficult circumstances when you do share. By sharing about those— painful and difficult things, the painful realities of your life— with trustworthy, empathetic, and kind people— You can take steps toward wholeness. You are not alone dealing with that reality. Your friend doesn’t have to have wise words or answers for your problems, but they do…
- emotional intelligence, Emotions, Encouragement, faith and psychology, Fight or Flight Response, Mental Health, Pursuing health and wholeness
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Alison Cook on The Best of You Podcast, Episode 70 delved into what it is and what it looks like to enter into a social setting having emotional intelligence vs. not having emotional intelligence (using coping strategies to avoid one’s emotions). She speaks on EQ, which is emotional intelligence, and other types of intelligence and gives strategies for interpersonal relationships— How to interact with your emotions and other people’s emotions to lead to a healthier more resilient life. She even mentions the fight or flight response which is what I talked about on my blog, 2 posts ago. Scroll to the end for the link to her…
- Amygdala, Encouragement, Fight or Flight Response, Focusing on Truth, Mental Health, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Trauma
Emotional Memory & the Amygdala
Did you know that the amygdala is the emotional response center and incredibly important? It processes and stores emotional information, emotional memory. Emotional memories can be tied to items, similar situations, or one of your 5 senses, such as a smell or a sound. Seeing an item may prompt you to have a feeling or emotion tied to it, based on a prior circumstance and moment that occurred in your life, whether positive or negative. The item can evoke negative feelings and maybe unrest or worry and the person won’t possibly even cognitively remember what occurred but will know that that item makes them feel uneasy, weird, nervous, upset. For…
- Amygdala, Encouragement, Fight or Flight Response, Focusing on Truth, Mental Health, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Trauma
Trauma, PTSD, & the Amygdala
Trauma. It’s that thing that turns the dial up high on your amygdala, your emotional response/ emotional memory center, including the fight or flight response. A traumatic experience can cause intense negative emotion to include fear, anxiety, and helplessness, and other emotions too. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can ensue from trauma and cause your body to go into a fight or flight response when switched on (or triggered) by something that reminds you of that traumatic event. Triggers can be those unsuspecting moments that switch the amygdala to “on”, those deja vu moments or circumstances or words that immediately make you feel like you are back in that dangerous…
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A Metamorphosis: God’s Transformative Work As We Embrace His Plans For Our Life
What would life be like if we embraced rather than fought the transformative work the Lord wants to do in our life? What would your life be like if you truly, earnestly sought the Lord for what His desires and plans were for your one life— what His fully encompassing will for your life was? Well, we are going to dive into the beginning of Romans 12 today to try to understand more fully what this looks like and why it’s important. Romans 12:1–2 (NASB): “I urge you brethren…present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be…
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God’s got you: Stay focused solely on Him for true purpose & meaning!
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? [Psalm 27: 1 NIV] I don’t know about you, but I needed these words of truth and encouragement to start my day off and lead me in the right way. I find this passage so comforting as I meditate on it. God is my light. He illuminates my path and helps me see what is around me and where I am going. He is my salvation. He is my lifeline, bringing me out of what was and into life and abundance. He saves me…
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Running after Truth- Through God & Therapy; Becoming a Healthier Self
Truth. God’s truth. Seeking after the truth of something is an integral part of who I am. Writing down the truth, listening to the truth through songs and sound preaching, not taking someone else’s word for it just because I look up to them or they are important in my life. Verifying that what they are saying is truth by studying God’s word for myself. Seeking truth. Reading truth from the Bible and reading books from trusted Biblical scholars. Seeking truth. Friend, are you also seeking God’s truth out for yourself and studying God’s word on your own? Are you having truth-filled inputs throughout your day with songs based in…
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Focusing on God’s Approval & Priorities- A Reordering of Life
Lord help me to be your servant and seek out first what you desire and what honors you in my life. To live for people’s wants or desires or asks or needs and have that be the focus is not deeply fulfilling or eternally purposeful for it is placing people in the place where only You should be. To care for the people in our life out of the heart of seeking Your desires and Your priorities in those relationships is to reorder everything to the right places. God, when you are first, the decisions of life more easily settle into their places. Help my ear be attuned to what…
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Choose Joy
This morning I wanted to share my very first post. The one that communicates what this site is predicated upon. To choose joy in the midst and find hope & strength. Click on the link below to read my heart behind this website and be encouraged today friends! https://choosejoyinthemidst.com/choose-joy-in-the-midst/ Also, don’t forget to follow me on social media: FB: choosejoyinthemidst1 IG: choosejoyinthemidst If you’d rather not click on the link above, you are in luck because I decided to share them below for ease of reading for you also… Here are my words from that post in 2021 for your encouragement. Be encouraged & choose joy! Also, leave me a…
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Both. And. Acknowledging Thanksgiving & Pain Simultaneously
Did you know that thanksgiving and pain can be present at the same time? Both. And. As I look back on the painful and difficult circumstances of my life, I am aware of God in the midst. The God who sees me. The God who redeems the broken and the painful things. The God, who brings newness of life to death. He is the God of hope. I am thankful for how God is using the stories and difficult circumstances in my life for His glory. I am also able to be honest about the reality of life—The brokenness, the painful circumstances. Both. And. They can both be present at…
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God’s Unfailing Love & Goodness in My Life
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me (Psalm 13:5-6) These words wash over me. I trust in your unfailing love. The truth of them settles in my heart. Unfailing love— meaning not running out, doesn’t give up, secure love, never leaving love. I am comforted. Quieted in my spirit. A calm peace settles as I begin to have knowledge of what it means. “I trust in your unfailing love”… I choose to depend on you, God. You can be counted on. You will always show up. You will be there for…
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Be Obedient, Trust God, & Be brave!
What can I be obedient in next Lord? This has been the question on my heart the last 7 days. It is a pivotal question, and each day I have asked myself for the Lord to truly lead and help me to be open to saying yes to what He is telling me to do, to be obedient in it, to be brave. I have been intentional and woken up early, though not rested, and I’ve tried to start each day in His word, praying, writing, reading His word. I have taken tangible steps in my writing desires this week toward believing that God has called me to this, and…
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God is faithful & cares for you today
As I awake this morning, my thoughts are drawn to familiar words of a song, Faithful, by Eric Nieder. “Lord you search me, how you know me. You perceive my every thought from afar”… The chorus goes on to to say “Even when I’m not, you’re faithful. Even when I doubt your truth holds. Even when I’m lost you won’t let me go. When my heart is dry your grace flows. No matter where I run I’m not far from home. Yea, I may be weak but you’re able. Even when I’m not, you’re faithful.” I’m exhausted as I begin my day. The night was not restful with my youngest…
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God has redeemed you, fights for you, & calls you by your name!
Do not fear for I have redeemed you. You are mine. I will be with you. When you walk through difficult and dangerous situations, I will protect you. I am the Lord your God. Your Savior. You are precious and honored in my sight. I love you. Because of that, I will fight for you if you are taken or in trouble and go to every length to bring you back. As you read these bits of this passage from Isaiah 43, I hope you, like me, can’t help but be struck by how comforting and safe these words feel. That the God of the universe, the one who created…
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You know me completely Lord!
…We run after human love to be fully known, accepted, loved, delighted in... and yet, any human love or relationship can never come close to the God of the universe's love and intimate desire to know us. He doesn't even have to work or try to know us because He already does. What lavish love from the creator- to love us and be loved, especially after such intimate knowledge of each one of us- all our thoughts, all our actions. Sit and consider that for a moment, friend…Read the rest of my post below!
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Wait on the Lord- He Will Renew Your Strength
One of my favorite songs right now is “Wait On You” by Maverick City Music. The words and song immediately bring me into a place of worship in the midst of whatever I’m doing in the house or driving somewhere. The song is so powerful. I can begin to sing along with the words and my heart will align with the same prayer of waiting on the Lord in my circumstances, waiting on Him to work, waiting on His timing in my life and not trying to go ahead on my own and in my own power with something… allowing Him to order my steps. Here are some of the…
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But GOD who is rich in mercy- He has set you free!
But God who is rich in mercy
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Our God fills us with joy, peace, & hope!
In whatever life’s circumstances you are faced with today, know that God has the ability and power to bring joy and peace to your heart. He can bring joy and peace to my heart. All we have to choose to do is to trust Him. Trust. God. As I say those words (Trust. God.) I pause and reflect and consider myself and whether I am trusting God with the current circumstance before me. I can look back and see how God has been faithful before and made a way in so many instances prior. I can look back and remind myself of the miracles in my life and then come…
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Be strong & take heart & wait for the Lord!
Here’s an excerpt from my post: We can be confident and trust in the Lord, trust in His plans and in His leading and trust in His timing to work all things out. God still has good things in store. They are coming. Trust. Wait. And be looking on the horizon for God’s goodness to shine in your life as you lean into Him for truth, leading, and hope. Be encouraged today in whatever you are facing! Read the rest of my post on my website friends. 😊 https://choosejoyinthemidst.com
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The weary world rejoices! Christ has come this Christmas. Rejoice & find joy.
Christmas isn’t about perfection. It never was. It’s about coming face to face with the hope of Jesus and the mighty miracle of His descension to earth. It’s about rejoicing in spite of the weariness and less than ideal circumstances you face. It’s about looking to the only One who can provide healing and comfort and joy this season. His name is Jesus, Messiah. Let us focus on that truth this season and find hope that won’t diminish or fade. Hope that isn’t based on the perfect gifts or decorations or plans, but an expectant waiting, watching, rejoicing in the midst of the weariness… and thereby finding true JOY. Joy…
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Man’s Approval or God’s- Which are you following?
This has been an idol in my life. Yes, an idol. The Lord revealed to me that pleasing others or caring about what they think has been an idol in my life. Something that has gotten in the way of obeying and following God’s leading in my life. Anything that we value can become an idol in our lives. So, let me ask you. What is the idol in your life? The thing that is most important to you? Is it financial security? Is it your family or friends? Do you live to please them and “fit in” with how they want you to perform or act? Is it your…
- Encouragement, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Overcome anxiety & worry, Prayer, Pursuing health and wholeness, Spiritual Transformation, spiritual warfare
Focus your Mind on Truth, Decrease Anxiety, & Find God’s Peace
What are you setting your mind on today, friends? Anxious thoughts, busy thoughts, worried thoughts, difficult relationship thoughts, fearful thoughts, harmful thoughts, resentful thoughts, angry thoughts, sad thoughts? The list can go on and on. But what does scripture call us to think on, to set our minds on, to focus on? Let’s look at Philippians 4 to go deeper. Philippians 4:4–8 (ESV): Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the…
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In God’s mighty power we fight!
As a believer in Christ, God has already given me the power to sustain, the power to fight the good fight of faith, to push back in His power the schemes and attacks of the devil in my life. God is at work in me. I must pray and ask Him to continually renew that power and strength within me through the power of the Holy Spirit. I cannot in my own power withstand the attacks of the evil one. This is key. So many try to fight in their own power not even realizing they are doing it… And then they wonder why they fall prey to temptation and…
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What Satan meant for evil… God meant for good
What Satan meant for evil… God meant for good. A recent weekend was hard. A circumstance occurred at the beginning of the weekend that was very difficult… Through prayer and reaching out to a couple prayer warriors to come alongside, the tide turned. Satan wanted destruction, demise, dissolution, & discouragement. God allowed building up, rebuilding, redirection, & renewed hope. Slowly over the weekend, this good occurred as the Lord worked, and I trusted Him to direct the path. It took humility. It took patience. It took wisdom. And it will continue to take these things in walking out the Lord’s leading… It was the start of refocus and something good…
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A Prayer For a Miracle- a Reprieve… In the Storm.
A Prayer For a Miracle- a Reprieve. In the Storm. Lord we come to you and ask for a miracle… for a reprieve in the midst of the hard. We ask for a miracle in the life of so many right now who are grieving, who are hurting, who are sick, who are crying out for a yes answer from you. God, you are sovereign. You are over All. We know this. And we come to you asking for a miracle in so many people’s current circumstances, of sickness, death, and hardship. We know you are mighty, and we know that you have the power to do what we ask.…
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John 10:10 The Thief’s Agenda vs. Jesus’ Abundant Life
Be encouraged today! Jesus came to give abundant life. Grab ahold of it, friend. To read my blog post on this subject, click here: https://choosejoyinthemidst.com/satan-attacks-where-hes-succeeded-in-the-past-grab-hold-of-the-abundant-life-jesus-has-to-offer/Make sure to follow me to not miss any content! Facebook, Instagram, and email updates on my blog!
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Choose Joy In the Midst
By: Choose Joy In the Midst WELCOME TO MY BLOG, FRIEND! You are not here by accident. You are here for a reason… That reason is to find purpose and meaning and *JOY* in the midst of life’s battles and upsets, losses and heartache. It is to pursue *JOY* and *PEACE* in your life in the midst of the good times too. It is to keep fighting… to *CHOOSE* to rise up and not be overtaken by the darkness. It is to eke out joy and purpose and hope bit by bit when life seems dismal, and you are exhausted and weary. I’ve been there over and over again in…
- Faith, Gift idea, God’s mighty power, Isaiah, Mental Health, Not Alone, Online shop, Prayer, Small business, spiritual warfare, Woman owned business
New item in the shop: No weapon formed against will prosper mug
I am so excited about this new mug I designed for BeautifulTruthDesign.com, my online shop filled with faith and mental health merchandise designed to empower you with truth in your everyday life. You will find mugs, journals, and t-shirts with more truth-infused items being added often. I just added a mental health mug too which is powerful and necessary. I’ll share the link to it at the bottom of this post. Having this “No weapon formed against will prosper” mug to start your day is a powerful way to set your mind on truth and the power that comes from God. You need this mug in your life. I love…
- Coping strategies, faith and psychology, Mental Health, Mental Health Advocate, Not Alone, Suicide Awareness, Suicide Prevention, Truth
This Powerful Practice Helped Me As I Cared for my loved one struggling against Suicide
THIS is what I had to do when fighting against suicide for my loved one. 📌 I had to find pause, respite, and hope in the words found in the Bible. The topic of suicide is heavy… I needed power beyond myself to help me as I cared for my loved one struggling with suicidal thoughts and intention. It was an ongoing battle with ups and downs, and I couldn’t do it alone, I had to find strength in the power that God could offer. It can be easy to know the Bible brings comfort, but it can be so difficult to apply that knowledge in the moment when we desperately…
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How to be Patient In Affliction (Pain & Suffering)
Affliction. It isn’t a word often used today.The definition is: something that causes pain or suffering.What are you facing right now causing pain and suffering? Affliction? What battle are you in? Are you fighting mental anguish, depression, anxiety, or even thoughts of harm to yourself, suicidal thoughts? Be patient in affliction. This is not a statement of “do it on your own”.The words right before are: Be joyful in hope.The words after: faithful in prayer. This denotes a dependence on God as we are fighting against the affliction we face. We look to Him for our hope, the only hope is found in Jesus’. We keep persevering in hope, hope…
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September is Suicide Prevention Month. Awareness of the Suicide Epidemic is Critical.
If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts of suicide. Know that your life matters. September is Suicide Prevention Month. Over on Instagram and Facebook you can watch my inspiring reel with music on.Share it with someone who needs to know they aren’t alone in their battle. Here is a question I ask: Has your life or the life of your loved one been affected by suicidal thoughts, “suicide watch”, suicide plans or attempts, or start overs in life? Have you been the one struggling with suicidality or the one caregiving & fighting for the life of your loved one? [ a loved one = someone you care…
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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you
Friend—What is trying to rob you of peace today? I know there are many difficulties that are trying to take my peace today. But— I am acknowledging each one and telling someone specific about it. Someone who can actually GIVE peace. Jesus says:Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.John 14:27 NIV ➡️ Let us breathe in that truth & slowly exhale the anxieties & worries of our day. Let us ask for peace— Peace that Jesus gives to us. He gives it freely when we…
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