Ken Donaldson, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Seminole, Florida

01/11/2025

10/15/2024

Who knew?...

The state’s process for involuntary psychiatric evaluations is getting a major overhaul under legislation that’s cleared the Legislature this year, with advocates saying its long overdue.

10/12/2024

Love Druggin'

**Verse 1**
Dopamine hit, got me feelin' so high,
Thinkin' 'bout you, I’m lost in the sky,
You’re flawless, no lies, but it’s all in my mind,
I’m chasin' that buzz, like I’m stuck in rewind.

Oxytocin flow, got me feelin' attached,
Dreamin' of you, like we already matched,
I crave that closeness, it’s deep in my bones,
You’re the drug I fiend, but I’m all alone.

**Chorus**
When love is the drug, I’m addicted, no doubt,
Chasin' that high, can’t figure it out,
My heart’s on a rush, and my brain’s in the game,
But I’m lost in a chemical flame.

When love is the drug, I’m feelin' the heat,
From my head to my feet, it's bittersweet,
I’m trapped in the rush, can’t see through the haze,
I’m stuck in these neurochemical ways.

**Verse 2**
Serotonin’s slippin', my mind’s obsessed,
Can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout you, no time to rest,
Got me idealizin', like you’re the best,
But it’s all just a fantasy, nothin' real left.

Endorphins hit, givin’ comfort and ease,
Like a warm hug in a cold-breeze tease,
I’m chasin' that safety, but it’s just a dream,
Livin' off fumes, swimmin’ upstream.

**Chorus**
When love is the drug, I’m addicted, no doubt,
Chasin' that high, can’t figure it out,
My heart’s on a rush, and my brain’s in the game,
But I’m lost in a chemical flame.

When love is the drug, I’m feelin' the heat,
From my head to my feet, it's bittersweet,
I’m trapped in the rush, can’t see through the haze,
I’m stuck in these neurochemical ways.

**Bridge**
Cortisol’s up, now I’m stressin' for real,
Can’t get validation, it’s all surreal,
Norepinephrine got my pulse on the rise,
Feelin’ that thrill every time you pass by.

But it’s all a loop, got me caught in the spin,
Runnin’ on chemicals deep within,
When love is the drug, it’s a hard game to win,
But I’m playin’ it out, let the fix begin.

**Chorus**
When love is the drug, I’m addicted, no doubt,
Chasin' that high, can’t figure it out,
My heart’s on a rush, and my brain’s in the game,
But I’m lost in a chemical flame.

When love is the drug, I’m feelin' the heat,
From my head to my feet, it's bittersweet,
I’m trapped in the rush, can’t see through the haze,
I’m stuck in these neurochemical ways.

10/12/2024

Thoughts??
-----------------------------------
When Love Is The Drug

When someone overly romanticizes relationships, several neurochemicals and brain systems are involved. Here's a simplified explanation of the key players:

# # # 1. **Dopamine** (The "Feel-Good" Chemical)
- **What it does:** Dopamine is released when you anticipate or experience something pleasurable, like when you're attracted to someone or feel excitement in a relationship. It's the brain's reward system at work.
- **Why it matters:** If you're romanticizing someone, your brain releases extra dopamine when you think about them, making them seem even more perfect than they are. It creates that "high" feeling of infatuation.

# # # 2. **Oxytocin** (The "Bonding" Hormone)
- **What it does:** Oxytocin is released during moments of intimacy, like physical touch, deep conversations, or emotional closeness. It's also known as the "love hormone" because it helps bond people.
- **Why it matters:** When you overly romanticize a relationship, you might seek or imagine that intense bond that oxytocin can reinforce. Even just imagining closeness can trigger feelings of attachment.

# # # 3. **Serotonin** (The "Mood Stabilizer")
- **What it does:** Serotonin regulates mood, and when levels are low, it can cause obsessive thinking, especially about people or relationships.
- **Why it matters:** When you're infatuated or overly focused on someone, serotonin levels can drop. Serotonin can make you obsess over the relationship and idealize the person more than usual.

# # # 4. **Endorphins** (The "Comfort" Chemicals)
- **What it does:** Endorphins are released during moments of happiness or physical touch, reducing stress and making you feel calm and comfortable.
- **Why it matters:** In romantic relationships, endorphins create feelings of emotional security. When imagining a relationship, you might be chasing the comfort and fulfillment that endorphins bring.

# # # 5. **Cortisol** (The "Stress" Hormone)
- **What it does:** Cortisol is released when you're stressed or anxious. In the early stages of a relationship, when things are uncertain, cortisol can spike.
- **Why it matters:** When you overly romanticize someone, you might also experience anxiety about the relationship. Cortisol can lead to a cycle where cortisol rises, making you more focused on the relationship in a stressful way, pushing you to seek more validation from the other person.

# # # 6. **Norepinephrine** (The "Excitement" Hormone)
- **What it does:** Norepinephrine heightens alertness and energy. It's released during the early stages of attraction, causing that rush of excitement and butterflies in your stomach.
- **Why it matters:** This hormone fuels the euphoria and excitement when you think about someone new, making it easier to romanticize the relationship.

# # # Conclusion:
When you're overly romanticizing a relationship, it's often because your brain is flooded with dopamine, oxytocin, and norepinephrine, making you feel excited, attached, and emotionally invested. At the same time, low serotonin and increased cortisol can lead to obsessive thinking or anxiety about the relationship, further pushing you to idealize the person or the situation.

Together, these chemicals create a potent mix that can make relationships (or the idea of them) feel more intense and magical than they might be. Does this help clarify the neurochemistry behind overly romanticizing relationships?

10/12/2024

John P. Weiss writes, "Some bookstores are lonely, and some are not. But they are all forts. Shelters from the ignorance and dark places of the world.

Bookstores spill light onto the sidewalks, illuminating the way for lost wanderers. Bookstores civilize our neighborhoods.

Bookstores remind us that we are never alone."

Read more....

I think the love affair with bookstores began during my middle school years, although I was anything but a prolific reader back then.

10/10/2024

Bear Love and The Kid

Verse 1: Yo, it’s time to listen to the voices in the deep,
That child inside is cryin’, while the wise one’s tryin’ ta speak.
Gotta balance both sides, let the wisdom rise high,
From the playground to the sky, where the Bear Spirit flies.

That Native energy, walkin’ with Great Bear,
Teachin’ me to face fear, learn to love and care.
Got the wisdom of my elders in the steps that I take,
But the kid in me’s still learnin’, tryin’ not to break.

Chorus: Wise guy, rise high, show me what I need to see,
Inner child, don’t cry, let Bear Spirit set you free.
Heal the wounds from the past, find strength in the wild,
Bear energy guides me, protectin’ the child.

Verse 2: Yo, Bear walks slow, but his heart is strong,
Been through the winters, seen right from wrong.
In the cave of the mind, where the shadows creep,
I find that little kid, still scared, and still can’t sleep.

But I’m a wise guy now, got tricks up my sleeve,
Learned from the pain, never quick to believe.
Bear says pause, take it step by step,
In this journey to heal, I got power to rep.

Bridge: Ancestors whisper in the wind, I can feel ‘em,
Bear’s breath in the woods, that’s my spiritual healin’.
Findin’ peace between Cub and The Man,
Holdin’ both hands tight, that’s the Master Plan.

Chorus: Wise guy, rise high, show me what I need to see,
Inner child, don’t cry, let Bear Spirit set you free.
Heal the wounds from the past, find strength in the wild,
Bear energy guides me, protectin’ the child.

Outro: So I step through the forest, with Bear at my side,
Healing the scars where the inner child hides.
The wise guy laughs, yeah, he knows the way,
With Bear Spirit strong, I’m finding peace today…

Keni Lee
“Songs Without Music”

10/09/2024

Yo, Hurricane Milton

(Verse 1)
Yo, Hurricane Milton, rolling in with a roar,
Winds howlin' loud, but we’ve weathered this before.
Rain’s pouring down, but we’ll stand strong,
Together, we rise, it won’t be long.

(Chorus)
Hold on tight, we’re gonna see it through,
Sunshine will break, and we’ll find a way to renew.
From the storm’s embrace, we’ll rebuild and grow,
Hope shines bright, like a lighthouse glow.

(Verse 2)
Trees may sway, but our spirits won’t bend,
Neighbors united, that’s how we mend.
Got each other’s backs, in the darkest of nights,
When the skies clear up, we’ll bask in the lights.

(Chorus)
Hold on tight, we’re gonna see it through,
Sunshine will break, and we’ll find a way to renew.
From the storm’s embrace, we’ll rebuild and grow,
Hope shines bright, like a lighthouse glow.

(Outro)
So here’s to the journey, the trials we face,
In the heart of the storm, we find our place.
With love and resilience, we’ll carry the weight,
Together, we stand, and together we create.

~Keni Lee

10/09/2024

For those who might benefit:

This virtual support group is for individuals in their mid-life & older experiencing eating disorders. It is held every Tuesday at 8 PM EST.

10/09/2024

These are really fun and curious, but for today, I'd like to request that we live in the reality of what's happening. Give it 24 hours, if you would, and then feel free to resume the "fun" mythologies...Thanks🙏🙏🙏

09/19/2024

In case you didn't know...

September is Su***de Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized topic. We use this month to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by su***de.

08/20/2024

An Oldie, and Goodie...(IMHO)...

The Deeper Your Roots, The Sweeter Your Fruit*

Roots and fruit…..one of my favorite life philosophies. I believe we are all very similar to trees in a metaphorical sense. We all have our “fruit,” which are our results. These results are based on the behaviors or actions we take that, in turn, create your results. We have feelings and emotions, which are like the branches that carry the fruit and also feed the fruit. It is our emotions (e-motion = “energy in motion”) that motivate us (or not) into action. We have thoughts which are carried through the trunk of the tree. Our thoughts trigger or activate our emotions. And then we all have our roots, which are our belief systems. Whatever it is that we believe in, our “roots” are what feed the entirety of our being: our thoughts, our emotions, and our behaviors, and likewise predict our outcomes and results. Therefore, what we believe will most impact our whole being and all our results.

There’s an old saying, “Whatever you can’t see is more powerful than what you can see.” If you do not believe this, think about electricity: You cannot see it, but that does not mean that it does not have power. Furthermore, try to go a couple of months without paying your electric bill because you cannot see what you are paying for, and you will find that your power company will not have any interest in your rationalizations.

This roots and fruit model is the ultimate example of what you cannot see being more potent than what you can see. You cannot see the root system of a tree, nor can you outwardly see your belief system. Your belief system is “buried,” and until you consciously evaluate and inventory it, you will have no idea what is driving your life from the inside.

Remember: Your beliefs affect your thoughts, your feelings, your behaviors, and actions, and in the end, all your results. If you don’t like your results, it’s time to get a shovel and start digging at those old roots to find out where this is all coming from.

I have found that four primary beliefs will empower or sabotage your success. They are as follows:

I have to perform at a certain level, or else I am a failure.
VS.
I always do my best, and I accept every outcome with gratitude.

If people don’t like me, accept me, or approve of me, I feel like a reject.
VS.
I attract and connect with all the people that I need who will accept me as I am.

If I fail, I am unworthy of success, abundance, prosperity, and love.
VS.
I accept my failures and mis-takes as experiments, and everyone validates
my ongoing commitment to living my life entirely.

I can’t change….This is the way I’ve been, this is the way I am, and this is
the way I will always be.
VS.
I am an agent of change, and I live in the possibility of newness every
moment of my life.

If you trace back any undesirable behavior or result, you will find one (or more) of these four beliefs at the root of it. Once you have identified it, you will then have a conscious awareness of what has been driving you, and you can make a conscious choice whether to allow it or not. You can then “bombard” yourself with your desired beliefs.

We all take in information visually, audibly, kinesthetically, and spiritually. Use all these information input portals to fill yourself with your desired beliefs. Write down your desired beliefs on an index card every day. Repeat them out loud in front of a mirror. Call and leave yourself a message with these beliefs in the message. Say them as mantras as you run, bike, workout, or rollerblade. Visualize yourself living out your desired beliefs in a meditation. Pray a prayer of affirmation, acknowledging that God, however you think of God, is already instilling these beliefs into your root system and surrounding you with the Golden Light of Love and Protection that keeps these desired beliefs locked in your belief system.

Before you know it, you will be believing your desired beliefs. And that will give you more positive thoughts and emotions, creating your desired behaviors and results.

Remember: If you want sweet fruit, take very good care of your roots!

© 2004 Ken Donaldson, Kenilee, Inc.

* In a conversation with my good friend, coach extraordinaire, and all-around very cool person, Deborah Roth, she came up with this exact phrase, so I have to give her the credit. Visit her very cool websites at www.SpiritedLiving.com and www.SpiritedWomen.net .

08/15/2024

Cause she's ( Holly Donaldson ) just SO good at all of these things...

"It's Time to Review Life Insurance..."

https://www.hollydonaldsonfinancialplanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/What-Issues-Should-I-Consider-When-Reviewing-My-Existing-Life-Insurance-Policy-2024.pdf