This is the last episode of “In The Open” and Theresa and America cover healing. They share their perspectives in just the four years they’ve been doing the podcast and the amount of growth they’ve both experienced. They reminisce on the process of opening up and how it became extensive therapy over the years, how they’ve become better equipped to set and handle boundaries and a genuine thank you to everyone that joined the podcast on this journey. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

America and Theresa have found ways to stop themselves from being negative and they share some techniques they use when those bad feelings hit. On a scale of 1-10 they rank how positive or negative they are and where it fluctuates on that scale. They talk about accepting help, practicing awareness and stepping into the wise mind and stepping out of the irrational mind. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

Theresa and America can do hard things. There is a discussion about the difficulties of putting the hard things into action; for Theresa it’s forgiveness and for America it’s letting go of control. They talk about avoiding avoidance, practicing self-kindness and starting with thankfulness. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

Theresa and America talk about the process of setting boundaries and making sure people are respecting those boundaries. They both explain how boundaries can change over time and some examples of their firm and soft boundaries. They talk about prepping before setting boundaries, taking actions when boundaries are crossed and understanding where and why these boundaries exist for you and others. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

Theresa and America feel nervous taking on this topic of forgiveness. Theresa explains why forgiveness is complex and why it’s intertwined with expectations while America battles with getting past being a grudge-holder to forgive others. They talk about how you must forgive yourself before you can forgive others, trying not to put your expectations on other people and why forgiveness doesn’t have to be the end game. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

America and Theresa start a brand-new series which is now focused on “I Can.” Letting things go takes vulnerability and they get to the bottom of why you might be holding onto things. They talk about capacity and ability to unpack trauma, making the effort to heal and how letting go also requires celebrating success. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

Theresa and America explore what causes their stress dreams and the effects they feel from them. They both have been going through recent stress dreams and they explain what the dreams were about and the recurring dreams they have when they’re stressed. They talk about rituals before going to bed, the benefits of sleep for your brain and journaling about your dreams.  To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

Theresa and America continue their “I can’t…” series and this episode is focused on wanting control. America gives examples of things in her life she tries to control to make her life easier and help ease her routine. They talk about the good/bad of trying to have a contingency plan, grieving the loss of expectations and trying to accept not everything will always go your way. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

America and Theresa talk about always having to be right no matter the circumstances. America struggles with this while Theresa does not; they dig in on both of their perspectives. There is a conversation about getting to the bottom of the fear of being wrong, feelings of being misrepresented and the goal of finding a place of common understanding. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org

Theresa and America have a candid conversation about the times they’ve shut people out of their lives. They talk about the difficulties of creating boundaries and the continual effort in relationships. They share about the complicated process of letting people in, accepting and giving love and the process of committing to and depending on others. To take a mental health screen, or to find mental health information and resources, visit mhascreening.org To submit questions, comments or ideas about future topics on the podcast, contact  podcast@mhanational.org