Body Positive Influencers
People are shamed everyday for their weight and the way they look, and that is not right at all. Influencers all over the world have decided this stigma against plus-size creators should be put to a stop immediately. As the number of body positive creators rose, the better the social media environment gets.
Social media has always tried to fit people into a “box”. To get famous, you need to be “skinny” and have a perfect life. This idea has brought down the confidence of men and women for a long time. People are shamed everyday for their weight and the way they look, and that is not right at all. Influencers all over the world have decided this stigma against plus-size creators should be put to a stop immediately. As the number of body positive creators rose, the better the social media environment has gotten. In today’s blog, I have listed ten body positive creators on the social media platform Instagram that you should check out and follow!
#1 Mik Zazon (@mikzazon)
Mik Zazon is a 26 year old instagram influencer who has 1 million followers. She posts multiple times a week, and focuses on normalizing insecurities in women today.
#2 Michelle Elman (@michellelelman)
Elman is a 29 year old life coach, author, and influencer who has 245 thousand followers. She talks about many mental health topics and stigmas on her page.
#3 Anna Sweeney (@dietitiananna)
Anna is an eating counselor with 130 thousand followers. On her page, she posts about having healthy eating habits and exposing the harm of eating disorders.
#4 Neha Parulkar (@nehaparulkar)
Neha is a plus-size model and body positive influencer with 50 thousand followers. She posts about what it’s like to be a plus-size ethnic woman in today’s society.
#5 Kadeeja Sel Khan (@emeraldxbeauty)
Khan is an acne model and skin activist with 383 thousand followers. She is trying to normalize having acne and stop people from feeling ashamed of it.
#6 Claus Fleissner (@extra_inches_plussizeblog)
Fleissner is a plus-size model with 20 thousand followers. He uses his page to promote more plus-size representation in the fashion industry.
#7 Riccardo Onorato (@guyoverboard)
Onorato is a body-positive influencer with 81.7 thousand followers. He uses his page to show how men are pressured to conform to society’s beauty standards, and how he got through those pressures himself.
#8 Ryan Sheldon (@realryansheldon)
Sheldon is an influencer with 20.6 thousand followers. He talks about how he struggles with an eating disorder on his page, and also how he overcame it.
#9 Zach Miko (@zackmiko)
Miko was Target’s first plus-size model ever, and caused people to start talking about body inclusivity more because of his achievements.
#10 Kelvin Davis (@kelvindavis)
Davis is a body-positive influencer and model with 124 thousand followers. His page promotes self-love and acceptance of yourself and your body.
Resources :
Taylor Andrews (2021, March 3). Follow these 15 body positive activists for all the ~good Vibes~. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/g13352390/body-positivity-instagram-accounts/
Wheeler, K. (2020, July 10). 11 male body confidence bloggers you need to follow now. Happiful Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://happiful.com/male-body-confidence-bloggers-to-follow/
Kylee Roberts, Mental Health Virtual Assistant
Co-Written by Amber Madden, LPCC-S
How to Practice Positive Thinking
One of the biggest problems in the world today is pessimism. Pessimism is when you have a negative outlook towards almost everything in life. This can cause more stress, and negatively affect your mental health. Turning pessimism into positive thinking can be a hard transition, but it comes with many benefits. Positive thinking can increase your life-span and lower your chances of developing depression. In this article, I am going to give some tips on how to think positively.
One of the biggest problems in the world today is pessimism. Pessimism is when you have a negative outlook towards almost everything in life. This can cause more stress, and negatively affect your mental health. Turning pessimism into positive thinking can be a hard transition, but it comes with many benefits. Positive thinking can increase your life-span and lower your chances of developing depression. In this article, I am going to give some tips on how to think positively.
Identify Where The Negative Thinking Is Coming From
The first thing you need to do when you are trying to think positively is assess your life and find the source of the negativity. Is it coming from a situation in your life? Is it coming from negative thoughts about yourself? Once you find where the negative thoughts are stimming from, then it is time to slowly transition those thoughts into positive ones. Take small steps into thinking about the negative things in your life positively. It can be hard, but putting a positive spin on the bad things in your life can help your mental health tremendously.
Spend Time With Positive People
One thing that can trigger a pessimistic mindset is being around others with a pessimistic mindset. We humans tend to copy the behavior of the people around us. By surrounding yourself with people who are positive, it can encourage you to be positive, as well. Putting yourself around positive people can give you encouragement, help you reach more goals, and boost your self-esteem. Try looking for people who encourage you instead of people who put you down.
In conclusion, having a positive mindset is great for your mental health. While a negative mindset can lead you to feeling fatigued and stressed, a positive mindset uplifts your energy and gives you a better quality of life. If you are struggling with developing a positive mindset, visit a mental health professional and voice your concerns.
Resources
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, February 3). How to stop negative self-talk. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
Santos-Longhurst, A. (2019, February 21). How to think positive and have an optimistic outlook: 8 tips. Healthline. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-think-positive#overview
Think positive: 16 simple ways to start thinking positive. The Berkeley Well-Being Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/think-positive-16-ways-positive-thinking.html
Kylee Roberts, MH Virtual Assistant
Co-written by Amber Madden, LPCC-S
What is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is a common mental illness in today’s society. Every year, about 11% of Americans have a panic attack, and 3% of them go on to be diagnosed with panic disorder. People with this disorder typically begin to show symptoms during their adolescent/early adult years.
Panic disorder is a common mental illness in today’s society. Every year, about 11% of Americans have a panic attack, and 3% of them go on to be diagnosed with panic disorder. People with this disorder typically begin to show symptoms during their adolescent/early adult years. The majority of people who have panic disorder are female; however, any gender can develop this disorder. In this post, I am going to describe panic disorder and how you can get help for it.
What is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is when a person has frequent panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of fear that comes over someone, even if no danger is present. Panic attacks can cause physical reactions, such as sweating and shaking. However, not everyone that has had a panic attack will develop this disorder. People with panic disorder are so afraid of having another attack that they change their everyday life to avoid things that could cause them to have an attack.
What are some symptoms of Panic Disorder?
Some symptoms of panic disorder include:
Many sudden panic attacks
Fear about when another attack will come
Avoidance of situations that could cause an attack
Symptoms of a panic attack include:
Chest pain
Chills
Intense fear
Shaking
Sweating
Nausea
Heat flashes
Dizziness
What causes Panic Disorder?
It isn’t known exactly why people develop panic disorder. However, it is proven that panic disorder can be hereditary. Also, people with other health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are more prone to panic attacks than others. Alcohol and drugs can increase your risk of developing panic disorders. Some experts think that panic attacks are caused when the body’s survival instincts work too strongly and/or too often. Many parts of the brain and biology play a role in developing panic disorder.
How do I get diagnosed with Panic Disorder?
To be diagnosed with panic disorder, according to the DSM-5, you must meet the following criteria:
You must have frequent panic attacks that occur out of the blue.
At least one of your attacks must be followed by one month or more of worrying about having another attack.
You avoid situations that you think may cause an attack.
Your panic attacks aren’t caused by medication, a medical condition, or another mental health condition.
If you are only suffering from panic attacks and not from panic disorder, it is still important that you seek help for your issue. Not all of this list has to be met for a serious issue surrounding panic attacks to be present.
What are the treatment options for Panic Disorder?
One way to treat panic disorder is by using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a form of psychotherapy. You discuss your feelings and your triggers with a mental health professional, and they help you change your reaction to them. As your response to your triggers change, panic attacks happen less frequently. Also, certain antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can make panic attacks less severe and less frequent. Things you can do at home are exercise regularly, have a healthy diet, and manage your stress.
It is important that you get help as soon as you start having panic attacks. Even if it is not a panic disorder, something else could be wrong. Panic attacks can cause extreme stress and stop you from doing things that you love. There is no need to be embarrassed about seeing help for your panic attacks, for you may find a treatment that works wonders for you!
Resources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Panic disorder: When fear overwhelms. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms
Panic attacks: Panic disorder, anxiety disorder, symptoms, causes. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4451-panic-disorder
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, May 4). Panic attacks and panic disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/symptoms-causes/syc-20376021
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, May 4). Panic attacks and panic disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376027
Kylee Roberts, MH Virtual Assistant
Co-Written by Amber Madden, LPCC-S
Introducing Our New Therapist
We would like to make a special announcement in welcoming our incoming intern for the Fall 2021 term. She is excited to begin offering services and is currently accepting new clients.
We would like to make a special announcement in welcoming Michael Killibrew to the team as a contract therapist. He is excited to begin offering services and is currently accepting new clients via telehealth. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Michael, please contact us via our email at bloomtherapyky@gmail.com or through our Contact form.
Hello my name is Michael Killebrew I am a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate with 3 years of addictions counseling and mental health counseling experience. My theory of choice is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy but I am versed in many other theories. I look forward to working with you.
~ Michael
Professional Bio
Michael graduated from Austin Peay with a Bachelors in Psychology. He received a Masters of Education with concentration on Mental Health Counseling. He worked in Community Mental Health for 1 year with a wide range of populations (depression anxiety schizophrenia, ADD/ADHD, grief counseling, school based therapy, geriatrics, and IDD). He has two years experience with substance abuse and addictions counseling and has worked in two Suboxone clinics as a substance abuse counselor.
Introducing Our New Practicum Student
We would like to make a special announcement in welcoming our incoming intern for the Fall 2021 term. She is excited to begin offering services and is currently accepting new clients.
We would like to make a special announcement in welcoming our incoming practicum student for the Fall 2021 term. She is excited to begin offering services and is currently accepting new clients via telehealth. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Alyssa, please contact us via our email at amber@maddenwellnessky.com or through our Contact form.
I’m Alyssa Clary, a student working to finish my masters in Mental Health Counseling. I believe in approaching mental health issues from a holistic approach when addressing issues including trauma, depression, and anxiety. Having previously worked in drug recovery and a mental health facility, I’ve had the privilege to discover what it means to hold hope and journey with others through what can sometimes be very challenging circumstances. I look forward to joining my clients on this journey to become more wholey healthy and filled with hope.
~ Alyssa
Professional Bio
Alyssa is currently a masters level student in the mental health counseling program at Asbury Theological Seminary. Alyssa obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2015. She has experience working with various age groups as a substitute teacher for Christian Academy of Louisville. From 2015 until 2017, she was the Program Manager for the Teen Challenge of Kentucky program at Priscilla’s Place. In this position, she provided one-on-one meetings with residents of the addiction recovery center, helping them to focus on the development of life skills and relapse prevention. Her studies and interests have focused on sensorimotor psychotherapy, trauma treatment, as well as a focus on children and adolescent treatment. In addition, she is an active member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Kentucky Counseling Association (KCA).
Bloom Book Club - Winter Selection
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to mental health wellness and recovery.
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to mental health wellness and recovery.
For our Winter selection, we'll be reading You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap) How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can, Too.
About the book…
Once, Tammy Strobel and her husband were living a normal middle-class lifestyle: driving two cars, commuting long distances, and living well beyond their means. Now they are living the voluntary downsizing — or smart-sizing — dream. In this book Strobel combines research on well-being with numerous real-world examples to offer practical inspiration. Her fresh take on our things, our work, and our relationships spells out micro-actions that anyone can take to step into a life that’s more conscious and connected, sustainable and sustaining, heartfelt and happy.
~~~~~~~~
A message from Amber ~
“I chose this title for our Winter selection because more than ever, I’m feeling like this year has been a time of reflection and introspection. We have all had our own challenges with 2020 and I know I am looking forward to new beginnings for 2021. However, this life of quiet isolation and being at home has definitely not passed me by as a special time. That said, I am looking for new ways to bring happiness into my life and one of the best ways is to live with less.” ~ Amber
Join Us!
Interested in becoming a Bloom Book Club member? We read a book every quarter with themes advocating Intuitive Eating, HAES, positive body image and more. Check out some of the benefits:
The Book Club includes:
LIVE discussions of the current selection members can attend as a group.
Action challenges and homework assignments emailed directly to you to help you implement the material of the reading.
The ability to vote and recommend upcoming selections.
A separate, private Facebook group with weekly discussions, live videos and lively debate about the current selection.
A way to improve your learning, continue your recovery and promote positive change without attending sessions or webinars.
You can join us for free or just $5 a month (billed annually).
Bloom Book Club - Summer Selection
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to eating disorder recovery.
For our Summer selection, we'll be reading Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, by Linda Bacon, Ph. D.
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to eating disorder recovery.
For our Summer selection, we'll be reading Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, by Linda Bacon, Ph. D.
Begins May 15! (but feel free to join in anytime)
The excerpt about the book from Amazon:
Fat isn’t the problem. Dieting is the problem. A society that rejects anyone whose body shape or size doesn’t match an impossible ideal is the problem. A medical establishment that equates “thin” with “healthy” is the problem.
The solution?
Health at Every Size.
Tune in to your body’s expert guidance. Find the joy in movement. Eat what you want, when you want, choosing pleasurable foods that help you to feel good. You too can feel great in your body right now—and Health at Every Size will show you how.
Health at Every Size has been scientifically proven to boost health and self-esteem. The program was evaluated in a government-funded academic study, its data published in well-respected scientific journals.
Updated with the latest scientific research and even more powerful messages, Health at Every Size is not a diet book, and after reading it, you will be convinced the best way to win the war against fat is to give up the fight.
Join Us!
Interested in becoming a Bloom Book Club member? We read a book every quarter with themes advocating Intuitive Eating, HAES, positive body image and more. Check out some of the benefits:
The Book Club includes:
LIVE discussions of the current selection members can attend as a group.
Action challenges and homework assignments emailed directly to you to help you implement the material of the reading.
The ability to vote and recommend upcoming selections.
A separate, private Facebook group with weekly discussions, live videos and lively debate about the current selection.
A way to improve your learning, continue your recovery and promote positive change without attending sessions or webinars.
For a limited time, you can get membership access to the Bloom Book Club fora LIFETIME for just $25.00. Click the link below to learn more.
Join our Book Club community! It’s free!
Bloom Book Club
A supportive reading community for individuals and professionals.