I had been managing a diagnosis of endometriosis for almost 20 years and was exploring a hysterectomy for suspected adenomyosis. Endometriosis occurs when endometrial-like tissue is found outside of the uterus. Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissue is found within the uterine wall. Endometriosis is chronic and does not have a definitive cure, adenomyosis can be cured with a hysterectomy.

I have such a vivid memory of waking up after the surgery and feeling the void in my abdomen where my uterus once lived. I could almost picture the emptiness. It was as if a physical (and mental) weight had immediately been lifted. In that moment, I felt relieved. Which then transitioned to grief. And back to relief. And then pity. And then an overwhelming sense of “oh shit, what did I do?” And to be completely honest, all of those emotions are still present today. Some more so than others, but the process has never been, nor will ever be, linear. There is no emotional state to be achieved and attained. They are simply to be acknowledged and recognized, validated and understood. They ebb, they flow, and they exist on the spectrum together. And you better believe I still routinely fear that I have bled through my pants in public because some teenage horror stories never die.

Masturbation is often seen as such a tongue-in-cheek topic, but why? Even though it is a natural part of the human experience, it is seen as only acceptable to think about in the darkness of our bedrooms. The experience can look different for everyone, but the benefits are universally abundant! There is much more to masturbation than what we are socialized to accept. Whether it is a regular part of your living routine or saved for special occasions- how comfortable are you with exploring your self-pleasure journey?

With medical gaslighting, patients often experience feeling as though they aren’t being heard or understood, that their questions aren’t being answered, and that their symptoms are being minimized and/or are being blamed solely on mental health, as if the brain and body aren’t intrinsically connected and worth treating in tandem. If you find yourself experiencing medical gaslighting or are feeling anxious about entering into a medical setting after previous experiences with medical gaslighting, check out this blog for a few things you can do before, during, and after to ensure you are getting the care you deserve.

Because so many penis owners struggle with erections, I think it’s important to talk about it. ESPECIALLY because there is so much stigma around ED. A lot of people believe that strong erections are an indication of masculinity, that you can’t have satisfying sex if there are erection difficulties and many other lies that the world likes to throw at us. Let’s dig into the truth about ED and what we can do about it.

So many find themselves on a confusing and distressing path of redefining their identity and beliefs after experiencing trauma within the realm of their religious system. It’s not always the spiritual component that is necessarily harmful, but the loud voices spreading judgment, shame, hate, and fear. We can separate the self from the system, but I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s actually pretty terrifying, and I’m saying that from experience.

However trauma manifests, the key to whole person health is never “just in your head.” That is because trauma is not a psychological condition; it is a system-wide physiological reality. If the body is not included in therapy, treatment is incomplete.

Read more about what to expect in somatic trauma therapy and why it is so important to whole-person healing.

Here we go again friends! Busting these myths is something I take great satisfaction in and having the opportunity to share them is even better. In my previous blog about common myths, we discussed the female orgasm, sex for exercise, and spontaneous versus planned sex. Now it’s time for even more fun talking about self-pleasure, “successful” sex, and arousal. Let’s get started!

I’m the first to tell people that relationships are complex before having children. After children, everything we think we know somehow gets tossed out the window, and here we are treading water, falling asleep cramped into the space of a toddler’s twin-size bed, and absolutely dreading the thought of even more physical touch. Of course, that could have been just me. However, I’m also confident that there are at least a few others out there who know what I’m talking about and can relate to the feeling. While I know I don’t have a perfect one-size-fits-all all answer, I’m hopeful that some of the suggestions below will help in healing, nurturing, and growing your relationships as an individual as well as a parent.