Are you who you want to be? 

What is keeping you from jumping with a leap of faith and courage to change your life for the better?

Sometimes, it is more comfortable to stay and live in fear and with what is familiar for us.  

Change can be frightening.

Trying can be frightening. 

But here is nothing worse than not even trying to work on positive changes in your life.

What do you want? Who do you want to be? Are you living life as your authentic self?

If not, why not?

Be true to yourself.

Be proud of being YOU.

Take the jump toward what needs to happen so that you can live more abundantly today!

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

When we accept what we do not have control over while doing the best that we can, we free ourselves.

Try letting go and accepting situations in which you do not have the power to change.

It is wasted energy to worry and focus on what is out of your control.

Do the best that you can with where you are with what you have......................... then let go of what is not in your control.

Set yourself free.

Then, have faith that things will work out.

Things may not work out the way that you planned or the way that you would like, but maybe they will turn out to be even better.

We cannot see the bigger picture but God can.

We don't need to always understand, but we can still have faith.

Free yourself today. 

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

 

We all have choices. 

Choosing to have hope over fear is even a choice. 

What we focus on- grows bigger.

Try focusing on having hope and thinking of what can go right instead of thinking of fear.

What we choose to think about influences our feelings and then our actions.

Choose Hope.

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

 

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

 

First of all.....What Is Protein?

One of the three macronutrients that your body needs to function properly (along with fats and carbohydrates) is proteins. They are primarily important for tissue growth and repair, but also necessary for digestion, metabolism, and the production of antibodies to fight infection. 

When you digest protein, it is broken down into its component amino acids, which are then reassembled into 50,000 different forms your body can use for things like hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters. 

Not only do these amino acids form the building blocks of your brain’s neural network and have significant impact on your mood and brain function, but they are especially important in infants’ developing brains.

The difference between Complete vs Incomplete Protein Sources:
Your body needs 22 different types of amino acids to function properly. 

Adults can synthesize 13 of those within the body (known as non-essential amino acids), however, the other 9 must be obtained from food (known as essential amino acids). It is these essential amino acids that derive the classification of protein as either complete or incomplete.

Complete Protein Sources:

Complete proteins are those that contain all essential amino acids in a sufficient quantity. These are typically animal-based proteins, but a few plant sources are also considered complete. A few examples are (* indicates plant-based):

Meat

Fish

Dairy products (milk, yogurt, whey)

Eggs

Quinoa*

Buckwheat*

Hemp and chia seed*

Spirulina*

Incomplete Protein Sources:

Incomplete proteins are those that don’t contain all 9 essential amino acids, or don’t have sufficient quantities of them to meet the body’s needs, and must be supplemented with other proteins. These include:

Nuts & seeds

Legumes

Grains

Vegetables

Just because they are incomplete doesn’t make them inferior, though, they just need to be combined to provide the right balance of essential aminos. 

 

Proteins that, in combination, make a complete amino acid profile are known as complementary proteins. Here are a few tasty examples:

Rice and beans

Spinach salad with almonds

Hummus and whole-grain pitas

Whole-grain noodles with peanut sauce

Complementary proteins do not necessarily need to be eaten together, but since your body doesn’t store amino acids for later use in protein combining, they should be eaten throughout a day’s meals. 

^{Reference:  https://www.builtlean.com/2012/10/03/complete-vs-incomplete-protein-sources/ By Nate Morrow}


CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

 

Support Group for Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and Trauma for adults of all ages 
(male and female) tonight at 7pm.

Registration is required for each meeting. 

Email Diane:
Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com or call or text 615-556-8406 to register or for more information 
   Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.
 
CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

The Next Depression/ Anxiety Support Group is Monday, August 21st.

Registration is required for each meeting. 

Email Diane:
Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com or call or text 615-556-8406 to register or for more information 
   Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.
 
CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

Free Miscarriage and Infant Loss Support Group every 3rd Tuesday evening. Registration is required. 

Call or text Diane Gammon at 615-556-8406 or email her at Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com to register or for more information. 

The dates for this group will be different at times. Please always contact Diane before coming to a group.

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

Traumatic stress recovery tip 1: Minimize media exposure

While some survivors or witnesses to a traumatic event can regain a sense of control by watching media coverage of the event or by observing the recovery effort, others find the reminders can be further traumatizing. 

Excessive exposure to images of a disturbing event like repeatedly viewing video clips on social media or news sites can even create traumatic stress in people who are not directly affected by the event. 

Limit your media exposure to the traumatic event.
 
If coverage makes you feel overwhelmed, take a complete break from the news.  

Tip 2: Accept your feelings

Traumatic stress can cause you to experience all kinds of difficult and surprising emotions, including shock, anger, and guilt. 

These emotions are normal reactions to the loss of safety and security that comes in the wake of a disaster. Accepting these feelings and allowing yourself to feel what you feel, is necessary for healing.

Dealing with the painful emotions of traumatic stress

• Give yourself time to heal and to mourn any losses you’ve experienced.
• Don’t try to force the healing process.
• Be patient with the pace of recovery.
• Be prepared for difficult and volatile emotions.
• Allow yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling without judgment or guilt.

Tip 3: Challenge your sense of helplessness and connect with others for support

Overcoming traumatic stress is all about taking action. 

Positive action can help you overcome feelings of fear, helplessness, and hopelessness—and even small acts can make a big difference.

• Connect with others affected by the traumatic event or participate in memorials, events, and other public rituals. Feeling connected to others and remembering the lives lost or broken in the event can help overcome the sense of hopelessness that often follows a tragedy. 
• Volunteer in your community. Helping others can help you to feel better.

Tip 4: Get moving

It may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re experiencing traumatic stress, but exercising can burn off adrenaline and release feel-good endorphins to boost your mood. 

Physical activity can revive your nervous system from that “stuck” feeling and help you move on from the traumatic event.

• Exercise that is rhythmic and engages both your arms and legs—such as walking, running, swimming, basketball, or dancing—are good choices.
• To add a mindful element, try to focus on your body and how it feels as you move. Notice the sensation of your feet hitting the ground, for example, or the rhythm of your breathing, or the feeling of wind on your skin.
• If you’re struggling to find the energy or motivation to exercise, start by playing your favorite music and moving around or dancing. Once you get moving, you’ll start to feel more energetic.
• Aim to exercise for 15-30 minutes or more each day—or if it’s easier, three 10-minute spurts of exercise are just as good.
•  Seek a doctor's professional opinion before starting a new physical health regiment. 

Tip 5: Reduce and Manage Stress

While a certain amount of stress is normal, and can even be helpful, as you face the challenges that come in the aftermath of a disaster or tragic event, excessive stress will get in the way of recovery.

Learn to relieve stress in the moment

Mindful breathing. To quickly calm yourself in any situation, simply take 60 breaths, focusing your attention on each out breath.

Sensory input. Does listening to an uplifting song make you feel calm? Or smelling ground coffee? Or maybe petting an animal works quickly to make you feel centered? Everyone responds to sensory input a little differently, so experiment to find what works best for you.

Make time to relax

Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or Tai Chi.

Schedule time for activities that bring you joy—a favorite hobby or pastime, a chat with a cherished friend.

Use your downtime to relax. Read a book, take a bath, or enjoy an uplifting or funny movie.

Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep places considerable stress on your mind and body and makes it more difficult to maintain your emotional balance.

Reestablish a routine- structure is comforting

There is comfort in the familiar. After a traumatic event, getting back to your normal routine as much as possible will help you minimize stress.

• Even if your work or school routine is disrupted, structure your day with regular times for eating, sleeping, exercising, and spending time with friends.
• Do things that keep your mind occupied (read, watch a movie, cook, play with your kids), so that you’re not focusing all your attention to the traumatic event.

Tip 6: Eat a healthy diet

The food you eat can improve or worsen your mood and affect your ability to cope with traumatic stress. 

Eating a diet full of processed and convenience food, refined carbohydrates, and sugary snacks can worsen symptoms of traumatic stress. 

Eating a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, high-quality protein, and healthy fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids, can help you better cope with the ups and downs that follow a tragic event. 

By choosing new ways of eating that can boost your mental health, you can find an eating plan that not only helps to relieve traumatic stress, but also boosts your energy and improves your outlook.

 Reference:  https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/traumatic-stress.htm

Closed support group/ classes offered for Trauma and PTSD Recovery.
Registration is required. 

Email Diane:
Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com or call or text 615-556-8406 to register or for more information.


CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........

 Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Rmans  8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 12:12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 
CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments
615-556-8406
Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

 Have Hope! Renew Health! and...........