Kate Motaung

We all face workdays that sometimes require more than just completing tasks and meeting deadlines. For adults with autism, this can be more challenging. Their days are full of demands to appear Neurotypical, which means they must suppress natural responses, force eye contact, and mimic social behaviors that feel out of the ordinary. This invisible struggle is exhausting, and for many of them, it will lead to burnout, anxiety, and a deep sense of disconnection from who they truly [...]

Church youth groups are supposed to be safe places where teenagers can grow in faith and community. Parents trust that sending their teens to Wednesday night gatherings and weekend retreats can shield them from the harsh reality of school hallways and the cruelty of social media. But the truth is, bullying does not stop at the church door. Bullying that happens in faith-based settings creates issues surrounded by confusion about what it means to be a Christian. Teens become trapped [...]

Emotional abandonment can stem from a lack of attentiveness to an infant or child when the child is young, or it can play out in adolescence and even adulthood in other impactful relationships. At its core, this type of abandonment can be subtle. Its message is that the person who suffered isn’t valuable enough to have their emotional, mental, or physical needs met, or those needs are only worthy when they’re convenient for the caregiver or other person. Because [...]

The cultural message for kids today is to bury trauma, even though the storm rages deep within them. They are taught to exhibit strength in this silence, yet it is breeding a harsh clash between their desire to follow family rules and the turmoil within. These kids are bearing a load and acting calm while their insides are reeling from an unhealed trauma. Hiding behind a brave face is a tension that is destroying their peace. Holistic childhood trauma [...]

Being a caregiver can be a taxing experience under the best conditions, but caregiver fatigue is even more prevalent if you don’t have a support system. Here are some ideas on how to avoid caregiver fatigue and care for yourself when you don’t have anyone else to lean on for support. Make the environment comfortable for yourself If you focus heavily on making the person you’re caring for comfortable, you can easily overlook ways to create a comfortable environment [...]

Depression does not always look the way people expect. Sometimes there are no signs of isolation or inability to function. For many men, depression is hidden under getting up every morning, going to work, providing for a family, and attending church. High-functioning depression has uniquely deceptive symptoms. Some men struggling with high-functioning depression can keep others at a distance, preventing people from seeing the weight that they actually carry. The performance is often convincing enough that even those closest [...]

We often think of mental health challenges as being a clear diagnosis with obvious symptoms. However, there are times when the signs are subtle. Borderline traits are one of those challenges that can exist beneath the surface, shaping relationships, emotions, and decision-making without ever being recognized for what they are. Borderline traits are often dismissed as personality, quirks, or emotional sensitivity. The person experiencing them may feel like something is off, but they don’t know how to name it. [...]

The word “family” can conjure up wildly different pictures and emotions for different people. Your experience of family shapes what you expect and desire regarding family. These experiences will vary, as some families have one parent or none; a person may be an only child or have many siblings; and the home that one grows up in might be a happy and healthy one, but it can also be extremely dysfunctional. One family situation that you could find yourself [...]

Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are commonly known as stress responses. The nervous system activates this response to protect you from danger. Unfortunately, due to daily stressors, our minds and bodies now assume danger in anything that causes worry or stress. We no longer fear apex predators; we are anxious about mortgages or rent, utilities, car payments, medical bills, student loans, work, and relationships. The body responds to these stimuli by activating the sympathetic nervous system, eliciting one or more of these responses. Understanding the responses Understanding the responses can lead to better [...]

Most parents strive to be loving, supportive, and caring to their children. They read self-help and parenting books to learn how to be the best parents they can be. They painstakingly curate friendships to help their kids thrive and run to the rescue whenever someone says something offensive to them. They may even rehearse pep talks and thoughtfully craft sentimental birthday card messages. And yet, even the most well-intentioned parents fall short of their own parenting ideals sometimes. In [...]

Family issues have a distinct way of echoing through time. Unresolved conflict, unspoken pain, or unhealthy patterns in one generation likely resurface in the next. The result is the shaping of a generation in how they understand relationships, process emotions, and view themselves. Family dynamics and mental health are connected, as seen in daily interactions. These interactions may be how they respond to stress, or the beliefs they carry about their worth in the future. Whether it is recognized [...]

As a parent, you know what it feels like to see your child upset but not know the full story. Sometimes your kid slams a door, or they just suddenly go quiet, and sometimes they just shrug and say, “I don’t care.” You know they’re not fine, but you don’t know how to reach them. Deep down, you know something is brewing. What’s really happening in those instances is more than just attitude; most times, it’s repressed anger. Anger [...]