NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC

02/02/2026

Boundaries & Emotional Regulation: Why They Go Hand-in-Hand 🧠💬

Ever notice how your emotions feel out of control when your boundaries are constantly crossed?

That’s not a coincidence.

Boundaries are the limits we set to protect our time, energy, and emotional well-being.
Emotional regulation is our ability to manage how we respond to feelings like stress, anger, guilt, or overwhelm.

When boundaries are unclear or ignored:
❌ Resentment builds
❌ Anxiety increases
❌ Emotions feel “explosive” or shut down

When boundaries are healthy:
✅ You feel safer and more in control
✅ Emotions are easier to manage
✅ Relationships feel more balanced

What healthy boundaries can sound like:
• “I need some time before responding to this.”
• “I can help, but not right now.”
• “That doesn’t work for me.”

Setting boundaries isn’t being selfish — it’s being self-aware.

At NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC, we help patients:
✔ Learn how emotions show up in the body
✔ Build skills to regulate big feelings
✔ Set boundaries without guilt or fear

If emotional overwhelm or people-pleasing feels familiar, you’re not alone — and support is available.

📍 Learn more at: www.nccpsych.com, call 712-541-6620 to schedule an appointment.

01/31/2026

Breaking the Stigma in Small Towns 💙

In small towns, everyone seems to know everyone—and that can make talking about mental health feel even harder. Fear of being judged, misunderstood, or “talked about” keeps many people silent. But silence is exactly what stigma thrives on.

Here’s the truth:

Mental health conditions are common.

Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

You can be a good parent, employee, neighbor, or leader and need support.

Mental health is just as real as physical health. We don’t expect people to “tough it out” with diabetes or heart disease—mental health deserves the same compassion and care.

Breaking stigma starts with small steps:
✔️ Having open conversations
✔️ Using respectful language
✔️ Normalizing therapy and medication when needed
✔️ Supporting one another instead of judging

In close-knit communities, one person choosing help can make it safer for others to do the same. You never know who you’re helping just by being open and kind.

At NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC, we’re committed to providing confidential, compassionate care—because everyone deserves support, no matter the size of the town they live in.

💬 You are not alone. And asking for help is always okay.

01/29/2026

🚩 Red Flags Your Mental Health May Need Attention 🚩

We all have tough days, but sometimes the signs are telling us it’s time to check in with our mental health. Here are a few common red flags that are easy to overlook:

• You feel overwhelmed most days, even by small tasks
• Your sleep or appetite has changed a lot
• You’re more irritable, withdrawn, or emotionally numb than usual
• Things you used to enjoy don’t bring the same joy
• You’re relying more on substances, food, or screens to cope
• You’re constantly exhausted, even after resting
• You feel stuck, hopeless, or “not like yourself”

💬 Important reminder: Needing support doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you—it means you’re human. Mental health deserves the same care as physical health.

If any of these sound familiar, it may be time to talk with a professional. Early support can make a big difference.

📞 NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC
Call or text 712-541-6620
🌐 Visit nccpsych.com

You don’t have to wait until you’re at a breaking point. We’re here to help. 🤍

01/27/2026

Progress Isn’t Always Linear 💛

Healing doesn’t move in a straight line. Some days feel like big wins, others feel like setbacks—and both are part of real progress.

You might notice:

Good weeks followed by hard days

Symptoms that improve… then briefly return

Motivation that comes and goes

This doesn’t mean treatment isn’t working. It means you’re human.

Mental health progress often looks like:
✔️ Learning new coping skills
✔️ Recovering faster after tough moments
✔️ Understanding your triggers better
✔️ Showing yourself more compassion

Growth is happening even when it feels slow or messy. Be patient with yourself—progress is still progress, even when it doesn’t look perfect.

If you’re feeling discouraged, you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

📞 NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC
Call 712-541-6620
🌐 nccpsych.com

Keep going. You’re doing better than you think.

01/22/2026

OCD: Intrusive Thoughts vs. Compulsions — What’s the Difference?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood. Many people think it’s just about being “neat” or “organized,” but OCD is much more complex — and distressing.

🧠 Intrusive Thoughts (Obsessions)
These are unwanted, repetitive thoughts, images, or urges that pop into your mind and cause anxiety or fear.
Examples might include:

“What if I hurt someone?”

“What if something bad happens because I didn’t do this just right?”

Graphic, disturbing, or taboo thoughts you don’t want and don’t agree with

👉 Important to know: Having intrusive thoughts does NOT mean you want to act on them. They are involuntary and can be very upsetting.

🔁 Compulsions
Compulsions are the behaviors or mental rituals someone feels driven to do to reduce the anxiety caused by intrusive thoughts.
Examples include:

Excessive checking, washing, or cleaning

Repeating actions until they feel “right”

Counting, praying, or mentally reviewing situations

Seeking reassurance over and over

👉 Relief from compulsions is usually temporary, which keeps the OCD cycle going.

🔄 How the Cycle Works
Intrusive thought → anxiety → compulsion → short-term relief → intrusive thought returns

💙 You’re Not Broken — and Help Exists
OCD is a medical condition, not a personal failure. With proper treatment (like therapy and/or medication), many people experience significant relief and regain control of their lives.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to manage it by yourself.

📞 NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC
Compassionate, evidence-based mental health care
🌐 nccpsych.com
📱 712-541-6620

01/19/2026

What Recovery Really Looks Like 💚

Recovery isn’t a straight line—and it definitely isn’t “perfect.”
It’s real life, with ups, downs, and everything in between.

✨ Recovery can look like:
• Having good days and hard days
• Using coping skills instead of old habits
• Asking for help when you need it
• Setting boundaries—even when it’s uncomfortable
• Progress that feels slow… but is still progress

Recovery doesn’t mean you never struggle again.
It means you’re learning how to respond differently when you do.

💬 Some days, recovery is big wins.
💬 Other days, it’s just getting out of bed—and that still counts.

If you’re showing up, trying again, and choosing yourself—even imperfectly—you’re doing the work. And you don’t have to do it alone.

📞 NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC
712-541-6620
🌐 nccpsych.com

01/16/2026

What “Chemical Imbalance” Really Means (and What It Doesn’t) 🧠

You may have heard mental health conditions described as a “chemical imbalance.” While this phrase can be helpful, it’s also often misunderstood.

What it means
✔️ Brain chemicals (called neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine) help regulate mood, sleep, focus, and emotions
✔️ Mental health conditions can involve how these chemicals are used, released, or received in the brain
✔️ Medications can help improve how these signals work — not by “fixing” you, but by supporting brain function

What it doesn’t mean
❌ You’re broken or permanently damaged
❌ One single chemical is “low” and needs to be topped off
❌ Medication is the only solution

The bigger picture
Mental health is influenced by biology, life experiences, stress, trauma, sleep, hormones, medical conditions, and environment. Medication can be one helpful tool,often alongside therapy, lifestyle changes, and support.

At NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC, we take an individualized approach. We don’t treat labels, we treat people. Together, we look at the whole picture to decide what care makes the most sense for you.

You’re not “imbalanced.” You’re human and support can help.

📞 Call 712-541-6620
🌐 Visit www.nccpsych.com

01/14/2026

A Child’s Voice – After School, I Need You to Know
The Child Who Masks

Earlier today I shared the swan model.

The one that looks calm on the surface, gliding through the school day — while underneath, it’s paddling fast just to stay afloat.

This is that same child, speaking now.

When I come out of school, I’m not being “dramatic”.
I’m not suddenly difficult.
I’m not undoing all the good behaviour you were told about.

I’ve been holding it together all day.

I’ve pushed feelings down so I didn’t stand out.
I’ve copied others so I could fit in.
I’ve kept my stims small and hidden.
I’ve smiled when I didn’t feel OK.
I’ve tried to remember every rule so no one got cross.
I’ve ignored what felt too loud, too bright, too much.

And by the time I reach you, there’s nothing left in the tank.

What looks like defiance, tears, shutdown, or anger after school is often exhaustion from masking.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone — and neither is your child.

To SAVE, click on the image, tap the three dots, and choose Save.
If you’d like the boy version, comment BOY below.

My Masking Toolkit supports parents and educators to understand masking, recognise the hidden load, and reduce the pressure children carry just to be accepted. Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

01/14/2026

01/14/2026

When distressing events unfold, it’s common to feel shock, sadness, or helplessness. Psychological research shows that trauma can have both immediate and lasting effects—and that repeated exposure to upsetting news can also take a toll on mental health, even from afar.

Learn more: https://at.apa.org/m0x

01/14/2026

Anniversaries of traumatic events can cause stress, discomfort, or worry for trauma survivors. These “anniversary reactions” are normal and not a sign of weakness. It may help to understand why you are reacting to a trauma reminder and learn about tools that can help you feel better: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/anniversary_reactions.asp

01/13/2026

Trauma responses that can look like “bad behavior”

Not all trauma shows up as tears or panic attacks.
Sometimes, it shows up in ways that are misunderstood as attitude, defiance, or lack of effort.

Here are some common trauma responses that often get mislabeled as “bad behavior”:

• Irritability or anger – a nervous system stuck in survival mode
• Avoidance or withdrawal – the brain trying to stay safe
• Shutting down or “not caring” – emotional overwhelm, not apathy
• Hypervigilance or control issues – learned protection from past harm
• Difficulty trusting others – especially authority figures or caregivers
• Impulsivity or risk-taking – attempts to regulate intense emotions

These behaviors are not character flaws.
They are signals of a nervous system that learned to adapt under stress.

At NCC Psychiatric Services PLLC, we look beyond the behavior to understand what the brain and body have experienced—and how to help them heal.

Trauma-informed care means asking:
👉 “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”

If you or someone you love struggles with trauma-related symptoms, support is available. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

📞 Call 712-541-6620
🌐 Visit www.nccpsych.com