Boosting mental health skill building
A Tool for Overthinking, Avoidance, and the Freeze Response Fear doesn’t disappear when we grow up. It just becomes more socially acceptable to hide. Instead of saying “I’m scared,” adults say: But underneath those phrases is often the same nervous system response children experience — activation, overwhelm, and sometimes a freeze response. You’re Not Alone …
Continue reading “How to Manage Fear as an Adult: A Simple 5-Step Tool”
Entering a New Phase of phearnik!® If you’ve been following along on this journey, you know that phearnik!®, a mental health plush, hasn’t just appeared overnight. This little Courage Buddy™ has grown through intentional, thoughtful phases — each one stretching me as a creator and as a business owner. In my earlier post about theCourage …
Continue reading “Production Party for phearnik!®, a Mental Health Plush”
Overcoming Writer’s Block There’s an unmistakable moment for every writer: sitting before a blank page, feeling equal parts excitement and uncertainty, a need for overcoming writer’s block. You may have your favorite pen or keyboard ready and ideas swirling in your mind, but somehow, starting that first sentence feels overwhelming. It’s not the act of …
Continue reading “Overcoming Writer’s Block: A Way for Writers to Start with Confidence”
Overcome Blank Canvas Syndrome There’s an unmistakable moment for every artist: standing before a blank canvas, feeling equal parts excitement and uncertainty, a need to overcome blank canvas syndrome. You may have all the materials ready and creative ideas swirling in your mind, but somehow, taking that very first step feels overwhelming. It’s not the …
Ready to Start Your Small Business but… Is the dream of running your own business finally becoming a reality? You have read a lot about what you need to get started. Maybe you are still working in another job. You want to be cautious about your start-up. So, you work on it on the side. …
Continue reading “Overcoming Barriers to Launching Your Small Business “
A Plush Toy for Managing Fear Discover how a plush toy for managing fear can be an ideal solution, offering comfort and support to help both children and adults take control of their anxieties. Mental Health Issues on the Rise Importantly, many children struggle to manage fear and anxiety, such as being afraid of the …
Why phearnik!®- the Fear Less Courage Buddy I created the phearnik!® (pronounced “fear nick,” meaning “Little Fear”) Courage Buddy plush to help me fear less and manage my anxiety. The character started out with a face of buttons and beads. Over the past four years, it has gone through four transformations—each one showing a new …
Continue reading “The 4 Phases of phearnik!®- The Fear Less Plush”
Transform Fearful Kids and Adults to Fear Less C’mon. How Does This Thing Work?! I want you to know how the phearnik!® plush works to help with fears and transform fearful kids and adults to fear less. I’ve told you about phearnik! — what it is and how it works. I’ve given you some proof …
Mental Health Issues on the Rise After 9/11, I remember hearing a news report that said over the following five years, the US would see a sharp rise in mental health issues and an increased need for access to treatment. During that time, the topic slowly crept into the news. Ten years later, the pandemic …
Continue reading “Improving Access to Treatment with Skill Building”
The phearnik!® Campaign A month ago, I announced my campaign to make phearnik!® available to every child who could use its subtle powers. These “powers” work to support children’s mental health. In particular, the quirky little plush helps kids be less scared of everything. A Crowdfunding Project To help me make the plush available in the …