Category: mental wellbeing

Who Needs an Emotional Support Chicken?

Emotional Support What???

If you’re on Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, you most likely have come across the latest craze in the fiber arts/crafting world…the emotional support chicken! What?? When I first saw this, it was actually through a Local Yarn Shop (LYS) I follow and saw they had a class on how to make your own Emotional Support Chicken.

I was curious as to the connection of “emotional support” and a chicken. Maybe I’ve been living under a rock or something. I read somewhere that people started keeping real chickens as emotional support animals 1during the pandemic. I can see that. In fact, my husband and I have had backyard chickens for about a decade. I see the benefits. But do people really want to make their very own stuffed toy chicken? Certainly there are other cuddly creatures that could lend their emotional support? I’ve seen “positive potatoes” and other similar cutesy things. I suppose if you can’t have real pets or animals, a stuffed toy can be the next best thing!

About a year ago, I started to learn how to knit. I had tried crocheting years ago when my mother-in-law tried to teach me, but back then, it seems my patience and understanding of that craft wasn’t there and so I gave up. I carried on my way doing other crafty and artsy things like drawing, painting, needle felting, sewing…the list goes on (IYKYK.) The one yarn craft I hadn’t tried was knitting. It always seemed complicated and if I couldn’t crochet, how could I knit? Fast forward to 2023. I went on Facebook Marketplace to look for used knitting needles and yarn and started going on YouTube to learn the basics. I also took a couple classes with someone I knew to help me get the technique down.

I explored different projects to make, like scarves, hats, blankets, coasters, etc. As I kept trying different projects and immersing myself into the plethora of videos and tutorials out there, I discovered I really enjoyed this new hobby. A new world of creativity opened up for me and I was excited to learn and try all I could get my hands on to become an expert (ok, maybe not exactly an expert.)

During my knitting discovery, I also started a new job. It was the first one in over a year and I was excited, but also nervous because I had not been in the workforce in awhile. It took some time for me to adjust and there were days where I thought I made a mistake or I felt completely lost. It was tiring and also somewhat stressful. I needed time to adjust and be in work mode. Thankfully, I began as a part-time employee for a few months and transitioned to full-time later in the fall.

I noticed the creative part of me was waning. I was still making little projects, but I felt unbalanced. It made me sad and kind of grumpy, too. Work was the priority and any spare time I had was spent basically plopping in front of the TV and then I’d fall asleep. There wasn’t much time to create and play. Welcome to the real world, Elisa!!!

As I settled and got into more of a routine, I started exploring more in the knitting world. I have become quite a YouTube fanatic and follow many creators who have been inspirational and helpful with my knitting journey. If I had the confidence several months ago, I would have tried making one of those chickens earlier for obvious reasons. We spend a majority of our time at work earning a living to support our families, only to come home to chores before we can get a chance to relax and maybe watch re-runs of Everybody Loves Raymond or day dream of a vacation home you see others buying on HGTV.

Luckily, knitting and crocheting is a craft I can do while I’m relaxing. It’s portable, too! I bring my project bag with me everyday, with the hopes I can grab a few moments during lunch to knit or crochet. I have brought my knitting on road trips, breweries and even when I know there will be a long wait at an appointment. This particular hobby suits me just fine!

Toys seem to be my favorite type of project. Perhaps because they are cute, soft, or whimsical. Or maybe because they remind me of my childhood and my favorite stuffed animal dog, Pappy, who currently resides in my son’s room. Little loveys, softies, stuffed toys, amigurumi, whatever you want to call them, seem to bring out the best of us, too. They comfort us. They make us feel secure or safe. They remind of us of happier times when life wasn’t so chaotic…when we didn’t have to “adult”. I found a blog post by www.bunniesbythebay.com that describes all about the benefits of having a stuffed animal for emotional support. They aren’t just for kids!

Life is challenging. Managing our emotions can be difficult. Sometimes we need a little help from someone (or some thing.) The fact I can make my own now taps into my creative side, too. At the end of making that little softie, I will have my very own emotional support buddy made by me! I can just look at it, smile and feel all those good feelings a stuffed animal can bring out in all of us. Why not make it a chicken?

A few of the softies I’ve made

Knitted bunny I made for Easter
Knitted dinosaur for my 3 year old niece
Emotional Support Pickle I crocheted for a friend
Pappy, my childhood buddy
Sammy Squirrel, my husband’s lovey, hanging out with Pappy
Cuddly stuffed dog my mother gave me that I keep with me at night
  • Pattern for knitted beginner bunny by Claire Garland
  • Bronty dinosaur pattern by fluffandfuzz found on Etsy
  • Pickle Buddy pattern by Spikey Mermaid on Ravelry

Local Yarn Shops to check out in CT

A couple of our hens going for a stroll in the yard

Did You Know?

Chickens are social animals.

They have good memories.

Chickens cluck “lullabies” to their chicks.

Find out more fascinating facts of chickens here below.

The Fact Site
  1. What are Emotional Support Animals ↩︎

Check out The Knitting Tree, L.A. to get your own Emotional Support Chicken Kit

Road Blocks, Rocks and Rivers

They say when faced with many challenges, the ones that prevail come out stronger. I am not so sure how much stronger I can be. At this point, I should be Ms. Universe of Strength, if that’s a thing!

Back in February, I mentioned about changes in my job situation and that I should embrace those changes with a positive attitude. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out. The new owners of the practice made drastic changes that left me feeling frustrated and upset most of the time. After careful thought, I decided to leave the job in early April. I gave a 2-week notice, but was asked to leave a mere 2 days later. It wasn’t the parting I wanted and I left feeling a bit humiliated, disheartened, yet relieved. Without getting into details, it was the right decision.

It has been only about a month and a half, but it feels like a very long time since I’ve been out of work. At first, I figured I’d give myself the time to grieve, re-evaluate, and decide what my next steps would be career-wise. In addition, I was preparing to have surgery for my hip the end of April, so the timing was actually ok.

Then I encountered another road block – my surgery was canceled. The reason? I had gained 30 pounds since my consultation (less than a year prior) and the doctor would not perform the surgery.

Needless to say I was devastated. I knew I had gained some weight, but the amount I gained was astonishing. I was so angry at myself for allowing this to happen. I walked out of the office building and hurled my handbag towards the car in a rage. WTF??? How could this be?? How could I allow myself to get to this point? I have been in a lot of pain and it has only gotten worse. I am unable to sustain long periods of standing and walking is difficult. The arthritis that has caused the deterioration in my hip is pretty bad. I need the surgery!!!

Did anyone say WAKE UP CALL? I won’t say I’m completely depressed because I keep trying every day to make good choices. Yet, I am not super happy with how things are progressing, either. Ever since I received the news about the surgery, I have changed my eating habits. There are so many combination of things I have to think about to ensure I make right choices each time. I’ve spent hours looking online looking for healthy recipes that I think will work for me. So far, I’ve been doing this on my own, with no outside support from sources like professional weight loss programs.

The weight is not coming off fast enough for me. It’s a slow progress. I have probably lost about 4 pounds total in a month. Some would say that’s great. But for me, it’s not good enough. The physical limitations are affecting me even more. Now that the weather is nice, I could go outside and walk, but right now, it’s nearly impossible without pain. The most I can do is probably just do an upper body workout, which I have just come to realize will be my only way out of this dread of feeling physically useless.

And if not to add more salt to my open wounds, I am also managing my parental duties to my kids, especially my younger son, who has struggled with anxiety and depression most of his adolescent life. I spend a lot of time taking care of his needs. I don’t want to disclose too much here, but he is battling things I am not familiar with and so I leave it to the professionals to help him. I’m just there for him to love and support him as much as possible. It’s not easy because as a parent, I feel helpless. Thank goodness, though, I have found good providers.

My older son is a junior in high school and I’ve been trying to guide him, along with a tutor, to prepare for life after high school. He wants to go to college and study physical therapy or something in the health sciences. However, he has his own challenges with grades and extracurricular activities that colleges look for when considering a student for admission. As a mom, I worry about his future and that brings a whole different set of frustrations to the mix. Additionally, there are other things like elderly parents to worry about, my 20+ year marriage to maintain and just working on keeping my mind sane! HA!!

All of these road blocks/obstacles, are certainly difficult and could potentially be paralyzing. Every day I wake up hoping for something to change. But change doesn’t just happen on its own. We have to pave our pathways around those road blocks to find a new road to travel. Sure, what is ahead of us is unknown and can be very scary. But if we don’t make our own way, we’re stuck behind that obstacle holding us back.

My therapist told me of this metaphor in nature about a rock in a river…the water makes its way around it to continue moving forward. The water doesn’t stop flowing just because it ran into a rock. And it certainly doesn’t go backwards, either.

Neither should we. No matter how many obstructions get in our way, we have to keep moving or else we are stuck in our own misery. I don’t want to be stuck. I want to keep moving. I want to find my clear path of success…even if it will take longer than I hope.

As a famous musician once wrote and sang,

We all end in the ocean
We all start in the streams
We’re all carried along
By the river of dreams

-Billy Joel

Keep Smiling and Shining

Happy February! We made it to another year and I’m so glad it is 2022! Honestly, I’m happy to be alive any day, but knowing a new year is ahead is enough to make me smile.

Living the last couple years in a pandemic has been quite the ride, hasn’t it? We have learned how to navigate this new world of living with Covid unlike anything else we knew before. From wearing masks in public to being top online communicators, we have certainly taken this way of living to benefit us so we can continue to thrive.

I’ve also learned a lot about myself, too:

  • Lots of self-reflection
  • Discovering who in my life is truly in my circle
  • Finding new hobbies or interests
  • Learning more about my ADHD
  • Meeting new people through social media
  • Appreciating nature more
  • Knowing what matters most

Despite my mental health status constantly going through ups and downs, I can see that the last couple years have not been horrible, but really a blessing! How can I not smile?

Typically during the beginning of a new year, we decide to make resolutions or goals to live a better life. This usually entails losing weight, eating healthier or maybe giving up on bad habits. All these are admirable objectives and not to downplay them, but I think there are even better intentions in order to have a positive effect:

  1. GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO BE KIND to others and not pass judgment. I know…that’s a biggie, but so important! Plus, kindness is FREE!
  2. ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES and try not to let change in circumstances bring on stress. We all can be little creatures of habit and not deal with change well. However, change can be a good thing and if we focus on the pros, we can see all the possibilities as a result of those changes!
  3. MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE despite our circumstances. Not only is it helpful to keeping ourselves calm, but having a positive attitude can also be an example for others to follow suit.


Through all this self discovery, I recognize that I have gifts I can share with others. I have always had many interests and been a good communicator, which is what I used as the inspiration to start this blog back in 2020. I have always possessed an artistic side and spending more time with art and photography has enabled me to share some of my passions with others. Additionally, being with people, sharing experiences, making new friends is something I’ve always enjoyed.

I have also discovered there are many people that think just like me, too! I know that may sound silly, but when you surround yourself with the same circle all the time, you miss out on so much. I’ve mentioned this a few times, but the community I met through Tik Tok has been unbelievably amazing. Not only are there people who are inspirational, but are also funny, caring, and honest. I have made some special friendships that I wouldn’t change for anything.

Let’s circle back to change for a moment. recently, I have been confronted with some changes that will make a significant impact on me. At first, upon learning of the changes, I absorbed the information and went through a bit of an assimilation process… first came shock/surprise, second was a feeling of sadness/disappointment and then finally came apprehension/anxiety. Now I’m pretty much at the acceptance stage. I cannot change what is not in my control, so once I went through these emotions, I can now feel more at peace of accepting this news.

My logical part of my brain has been outlining all the pros to this change, but my emotional side has been a bit more “vocal” and has made me wonder more about future. I know I can’t predict how things will turn out. I can, however, take a different approach and embrace the unknown. Instead of a bunch of what ifs, how about more WHAT IF???

There’s a quote from Erin Hanson that I have seen with a Winnie the Pooh drawing of him in the air holding onto a balloon that says, “What if I fall? Oh my darling, but what if you fly?” I love this quote because it says so much in a simple way. It addresses our fear of the unknown, but then quickly assures us there are grand possibilities of success if we only allow ourselves to give it a try.

I suppose my goal in life encompasses many things. I need to keep in the forefront of my thinking that with change comes opportunity. And with opportunity, we can learn and grow. That never ends, unless we stop trying. And that isn’t an option for me. I might fall or fail, but at least I am experiencing life with some wonderful rewards.

Doesn’t that just make you want to smile? GOOD! Now pass it on!

Smiling and shining on a sunny day

Achieving Balance with an ADHD brain

It’s been awhile since I have written. In fact it has been awhile since I have done anything significant on a creative level. It’s been a very different summer than in 2020. For one, I had a lot more free time to enjoy and explore my creative outlets. I also slept less and woke practically every morning to watch the sunrise. This summer, my sleep has seemed to have fallen in a more “normal” pattern. Last year I joined Tik Tok and met some amazing people online and embraced a community of positive folks, as well as all kinds of artists. I even made videos that were fun and also videos that I shared diferent thoughts. I enjoyed interacting with so many people and even gained some friendships along the way.

This past Spring, I experienced some life events which made a big impact with practically everything I had done and felt before. My client I worked for as a caregiver for four years died and then a mere four days later, my uncle, whom I was close to, also passed away from complications due to Covid.

A month later, I took on a new job with more hours and a completely different environment. Luckily, I enjoy what I do. With that, my leisurely life sort of came to a halt this summer; a time when I should have been enjoying time taking day trips with the family or hang out with friends. Instead, I jumped into the “real” work world and am learning to adjust.

I attribute my new schedule the reason I stopped being creative. I barely draw, paint or even take photographs like I used to. I miss it but I am also somewhat drained at the end of the day. I need to find a new balance in order to go back to finding time and enjoying the things that made me feel good. Not only has the creative side of me taken a back burner, but so has my health and wellness journey, which also sort of stopped being a main focus since Spring.

With summer coming to an end and my kids going back to school, the reality of that hasn’t quite hit me. It means I won’t see my kids when I get home from work because they will be involved in after school activities. By the time they get home, they’ll be busy with homework and studying and finding their own balance from their carefree summer.

Balance. Such a simple word. Yet, it is very challenging for so many people. Balancing our schedules so as to not leave things out, yet not be overwhelmed either. Balancing the work/life thing is important. When one part of our life takes over and the other part dissipates, it causes a tip on the scales that to some, can bring on a lot of anxiety and stress. Thinking of all of this makes my ADHD brain spin.

Time management and planning will be key even more than ever. I get nervous wondering if I can do it. Time management and being organized are not my strong suits. As much as I strive to be an organized individual, I usually come up short bc it becomes extremely overwhelming and frustrating. I realize I need to take things slower and more methodically so as to not panic and stress out.

Up until recently have I really understood how my brain works. I didn’t realize, for instance that I can’t think on the fly. I have to talk out loud to get my thoughts out. Sometimes it may not make sense, but it’s my way of brainstorming and organizing the thoughts. Another thing is that it takes me a few seconds to actually understand when someone is asking me a question. I need the time to process it. Since there is somewhat of a delay, people may get impatient with me or wonder why I don’t respond immediately.

The most frustrating aspect of my condition is that I have numerous thoughts swirling in my head and most are important, but I have difficulty putting them in order to make sense so I can tackle my ongoing “list”. And because of that, I get extremely overwhelmed and emotional that it literally drains me on a physical level, too. I suppose that is why I have a history of avoiding things.

Tasks that seem so simple to others are exponentially more difficult for a person who lives with ADHD. Add mental health issues into the mix, like anxiety and depression, certainly does not help. I have to be very intenional in everything I do now because there is a lot more happening in my life that I never had to concern myself with as much as when I was younger.

I have also noticed more that I do not want to know every detail of something. Bullet points, highlights, etc. are more effective for me. For example, my husband is extremely detail oriented and a big planner/forward thinker. When there is a project in the home that has to be done and he wants to share it with me or ask for my opinions, he will give me so much info that I tune it out or I will get very upset because I just want to make a decision and not go over every detailed scenario. Once I make my mind up, I go with it and try not to look back because it already took effort for me to come up with my decision.

I have heard and read about things people with ADHD can do to minimize the anxiety and accomplish what needs to be done while still enjoying things that bring joy. That is my ultimate goal. To go back to being creative more often. It not only is fun, but it is therapeutic.

Below is a list of 7 ideas/strategies I have found most helpful for me to incorporate into my life. I hope this list can help you if you’re overwhelmed, overworked, stressed, anxious or just lost. You don’t necessarily need to have ADHD to incorporate these into your life, either.

1. MAKE A LIST. I have had a strange aversion to lists most of my life. I really can’t tell you why. However, I realize I need to make lists and write things down, especially because I am more forgetful as I’ve gotten older. I won’t say I am a master list maker (or follower), but I am working on it!

2. PLAN AHEAD. Don’t wait for the last minute . Boy is this how I have lived most of my life. Perhaps in my youth it worked out ok. As I have gotten older and now have a family, doing things last minute just causes so much stress that I try very hard to do things more in advance.

3. PREPARE FOR THE WEEK. Again, this goes in the same lines as planning ahead. This one is more about meal planning. I have always been one to fly by the seat of my pants kind of person and find many times I never know what we’re having for dinner. Forget about packing lunches or even making breakfast! It’s just not good for any of us. We have been ordering out more or just not eating decent meals. And if I have to fight tooth and nail to prep the meals for the week on Sundays, I really believe I will be happier by the end of the week.

4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Over the last year, my sleep has been sporadic. Insomnia is not healthy and can cause havoc on your body, mind, and emotional well being. We need our sleep!

5. SCHEDULE TIME FOR FUN. Sounds silly, right? Remember what I said earlier? My schedule has changed to the point where everything I enjoyed before has taken a back burner to work and tasks that need to get done. We need to make it a point to have a little fun. If you have to block out time on your calendar and treat it as an appointment, then more than likely you will do it. And try not to talk yourself out of it either!!!

6. BE INTENTIONAL. None of this will work unless we set our minds to doing it. Say it out loud. Write it down. Post stickies on your mirror. Whatever it takes to remind yourself that these things are important for your well-being, the more you will stick to it.

7. FIND YOUR SUPPORT CIRCLE. I cannot ephasize how important this is for true success. We all need that support, love and understanding. If those around us don’t get it, then tell them how you feel and explain just like I did here how your operate and what is important to you and what you need from them.

I’d love to hear your observations or suggestions on how you achieve balance and/or how you are living with ADHD. Leave your comments below. I am sure there are other things I forgot.

“My wish is that I can achieve balance without frustration and those around me have the patience to understand me.” – Elisa Uhrynowski

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The Art of Doing Nothing

I have recently come across several posts and discussions regarding the art of doing nothing. Stillness. Quiet. I am not referring to meditation, although that is a good practice to center yourself. This aspect of doing nothing is just as it says… spending time not doing anything.

Remember as kids we would go outside and play, explore or even lie in the grass on our backs and just stare at the clouds in the sky? We’d daydream, letting our minds wander with no particular goal in mind. The idea of day-dreaming has come to be something of taboo. We are told we aren’t be productive. We are lead to believe we are wasting time and to focus. But little do we realize day-dreaming is what so many famous scientists, inventors and the like did to eventually formulate their ideas!

We live such busy lives. Work. Kids. Activities. Social Media. We are over stimulated. How do we have time to just be? When we stop and just be, we open the possibilities of many things, but most importantly, allow ourselves to truly relax and slow down.

As a person with ADHD, doing nothing is both challenging and a welcomed reprieve. My mind is constantly thinking. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night for no particular reason. Then thoughts enter my mind. The idea of doing nothing excites me because that means my mind and body can truly rest.

When we vacation, we purposely decide to relax or to explore. Vacation is a temporary escape from our everyday lives. Depending on the type of vacation you choose, you may find yourself just as busy as you are at home and you find you may need another vacation from your vacation!

I am not sure if it a cultural thing or if it is human nature. It seems we have difficulty just doing nothing. There is this impending need to fill our calendars with events and activities. Family obligations certainly play a role in this. Yet, we forget to set time aside for ourselves to decompress. Just like many suggest to put your exercise/workout routines in the calendar, we most likely would benefit greatly if we set time in our calendars to “DO NOTHING”. Putting it down on paper is purposeful and encourages us to follow through.

Some say they can’t do this because they aren’t comfortable being with themselves or being quiet. Some may say it’s boredom and they need to do something to feel stimulated. It makes it that much more challenging to fight against the “go-go-go” society. I personally have found solace and quietness such a welcoming feeling. Surprisingly, it energizes me because I am allowing my mind to not be compelled to think…about anything.

Doing nothing seems such an odd state of being. However, when we sit and relax without disturbances and outside factors, our minds open up and that’s when our creativity starts to flow. Our endorphins kick in and we feel happy and less stressed. With that relaxed sense, we can conquer our day with a new perspective and most likely have the ability to overcome obstacles that get in our way.

What are some ways you can learn the art of doing nothing?

  • Breathe. Yes, just focusing on our breath and nothing else can be calming. The goal is to empty our minds and just be.
  • Set time aside in your day to Do Nothing. Mark it in your calendars. Write in on your whiteboards. Set an alarm to remind you it’s time for you to disconnect completely from everything.
  • Turn off ALL electronic devices, both audio and visual. Use nature as your radio and television.
  • No judgement. There is nothing wrong with taking time for yourself to decompress. Don’t criticize yourself for being kind to your mind.
  • Think like a child and then do what they do! Go outside. Sit in a chair or better yet, lie on your back in the grass and stare at the sky.

HOW WILL YOU INCORPORATE DOING NOTHING IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?

If you have ideas or suggestions of how we can learn to do more of nothing, I’d love to hear from you! Leave your comments below.

Wellness Journey Update May 16

It’s been a few weeks since I updated everyone on my progress. Unfortunately, two people in my life recently died and I have been somewhat distracted to write.

First, the woman I was helping/caring for passed away towards the end of April. It was a sad time for me as I’ve been with her for 4 years. I didn’t realize the impact it would have on me. Then, just four days later, I find out my uncle, who I was close to, died. He was my father’s brother, so I immediately flew down to Florida to be with him and the family.

Needless to say, it has been an emotional couple weeks. Being out of my environment, keeping on top of my routine has been harder than I thought. First, the weather was extremely hot and if I didn’t get out early in the morning, I missed my window to walk. I used some weights indoors, but for some reason, I didn’t maintain the same enthusiasm to exercise. I realize these are excuses, but the reality is that I was taking care of my emotional and mental health and reconnecting with family.

I have mentioned how important it is to take care of your mental health. There are several ways we can do so and sometimes doing nothing helps. I did feel relaxed to some extent being at my dad’s house, with my own space and being spoiled by my step-mother. In fact, one day, she and I spent the day at the beach and it was absolutely marvelous!

The change of scenery allowed my mind to wander and not think of my daily stresses that usually consume me.

But now I am back home and need to re-set. I gained some weight while I was away, which was expected. I feel a bit soft and need to regain some firmness. It’s frustrating now that I got out of routine that I have to start over. As they say, nothing worthwhile comes easy. There is something to be said of NEVER giving up, despite our setbacks.

So, as my week begins, I will start again. Focus on moving my body more. Incorporating more strength training and drinking LOTS of water!!! For some reason while I was in Florida, I didn’t drink as much.

image from Pinterest