Lauren D. Costine, Phd

Know your no’s. Empower yourself to say no to the things that drain you, to the things that don’t serve you, and to the people who won’t appreciate or reciprocate.

Is stress & anxiety keeping you up at night? You lay in bed going down a rabbithole of thoughts. Or maybe you’re on your phone just doom-scrolling the hours away. You toss and turn, and before you know it, it’s time to get up and you feel like a hot mess. We all know how important sleep is for every function of our mind and body. Take some of these steps to help you get the sleep you so desperately need.... You know it, you don’t want to hear it: no screen time an hour before bed. Put your phone away and DON’T pick it up until the morning. Try a guided meditation to help you unwind in the evening. You can find them on apps like Peloton, Headspace, Calm or on Youtube. Stop eating 3 hours before bed, so your digestive system has time to wind down. Skip the afternoon coffee or soda, and keep your caffeine intake in the morning. Move your body during the day! A little exercise will help you get out that extra energy. Keep a gratitude journal by your bedside, and write a couple things you’re grateful for each night. This helps you get into a more peaceful, positive mindset. Experience the difference of a great night’s sleep, you’ll feel like a whole new you.

I know for many of us anxiety is high during this time of uncertainty - I encourage you to try one of these anxiety-reducing actions & take care of your mental health

Today is the day! If you are casting your vote in person check out these tips & know your rights. Vote to protect our future!

There’s a reason they say that laughter is the best medicine. Have you ever tried it? When you're feeling negative and you just want your mind to change course... Laugh. Out. Loud. Like if someone saw you, they’d think you were crazy laughing. It’s funny how that fake laughter can kick start laughing for real, and before you know it, those negative thoughts are stopped in their tracks. Try it -- try it alone or with your partner. Just laugh with abandon and you’ll feel the difference physically and emotionally. The last time I laughed out loud was ______. Tell us in the comments!

Happy Halloween! Treat yourself with some autumnal self care this weekend - What's your favorite fall activity?

The healing process is different for everyone! It's okay to feel lots of different emotions at the same time - sit with your feelings to better understand them

Here are some tips to get the most out of your therapy sessions!

Be kind to yourself - the way you feel is always valid! Reach out if you are struggling to navigate your emotions

We all face setbacks. Sometimes we expect to fly high, but instead get knocked down. We don’t get that job we wanted, that relationship doesn’t work out, or we just say the wrong thing. ... Well this is your come back! Get back up and dust yourself off. You didn’t fail. You just closed one chapter, and are ready to start the next. And if you need help starting the new chapter, reach out to see if I can help. #mentalhealthadvocate #resilience

If your friend made a mistake, would you tell them that they’re an idiot? *Probably* not. But many of us are quick to go down that road when it comes to ourselves. We dwell on mistakes we made in the past. We wonder what’s wrong with us. We refuse to forgive ourselves.... If that sounds like you, give yourself a break. Treat yourself the way you’d treat someone you love. Acknowledge that a mistake happened, tell yourself you’ll do better, and literally LAUGH OUT LOUD so you can change course and avoid a negative thought spiral. #mentalhealthawareness #selflove

Now Live! Check out episode 13 of Light from the Rabbit Hole Podcast where I discuss spirituality, mental health and more! Avalible now on Spotify and Apple! http://ow.ly/WYnt50BZg0c

I was interviewed on the Light from the Rabbit Hole podcast with Dawn Whitney where we talked about spirituality, mental health, addiction recovery and more. Scan this using your Spotify app to listen to the trailer - full episode drops today at 12:30! You can also find it here http://ow.ly/zlE750BYVog or on Apple Music http://ow.ly/o6Lf50BYVom