My sole purpose when I originally began blogging was to give myself an outlet for emotions that I had little to no control over.  As I have progressed in my depression and anxiety treatment, my reasons for blogging have evolved.  At this time, not only is it my platform for venting and sharing what is going on in my head, it has also become my personal soapbox – a tool of sorts – in my efforts to bring more awareness to mental health issues/mental illnesses and suicide prevention.

Recently, I went through a period of reflection about Sugar Filled Emotions and what direction I would like to take in.  Several things came to mind. Among those ideas that popped into my head were ones that I believe would not only be beneficial to me personally, and to Sugar Filled Emotions, I feel strongly that they have the potential to benefit the Mental Health Community.  At this time I am very excited and pleased to announce several new features that are coming to Sugar Filled Emotions.

Starting one week from today, Sugar Filled Emotions will begin highlighting one Mental Health Blogger each week.  When I began thinking about adding this feature I knew I wanted to do something a little different than having a different Guest Blogger once a week.  The following is an outline of what you will be seeing from the Mental Health Blogger of the Week.

• Monday – The blogger of the week has two options, 1. answer a few interview questions, with a link back to their blog  or 2. to write a guest post for me to post on my blog, with a link back to their blog.
• Tuesday – The blogger of the week provides me with a list of their favorite mental health sources – they will be used for Tuesday’s post – again with a link back to their blog.
• Wednesday – Blogger of the week provides me a list of their favorite sources of inspiration, could be blogs, could be websites, newspapers, books, bible, they choose – they will be used for Wednesday’s post –  as always with a link back to their site.
• Thursday – The blogger of the week provides me with a link to their personal favorite blog post.  Something they either did in the recent past or long ago. This will be used for Thursday’s post and there will be a link back to their blog.
• Friday – strictly optional –  Does the blogger of the week have an easy meal that they like to prepare when they are having a bad mental health day, or just a bad day in general?  Or something so easy to prepare that even their husband and/or children could manage it?  Again this is optional, and there will be a link back to their site.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about Mental Health Blogger of the Week, or if you are interested in being highlighted as a Mental Health Blogger of the Week please contact me using this Contact Form.

The next thing you may notice new at Sugar Filled Emotions will be the photographs.  As a new blogger, I thought nothing about using images I found around the internet. I always did my best to make sure what I was using did not violate any copy right laws, and I believe I have been successful at that.  However, as I have matured as a blogger and have become more protective of my own content, I began to feel that what I was doing was wrong.  In an effort to remedy that, I have decided that for the most part – unless it is a specific mental health campaign – I will be using photographs taken by my personal photographer.  Her name is Anna Mashburn, and she just happens to be my 14 year old daughter.  Anna is very excited by her role as my personal photographer, and I am looking forward to seeing what creative photographs she takes.

I am currently working on creating either a video chat that will be available to everyone, one day a week, or weekly call in radio broadcast.  I like both choices. Even people without a web cam or microphone will be able to participate in the video chat – there is a chat box for them to type in.  I need to do some more research about the call in radio show.  Once I do that I will make a decision on which option I choose.

If you have any experience with either option, let me know.  I would love to hear what others have to say.

If you look to the left of Sugar Filled Emotions you will see a tabbed side bar. One of the tabs says Call Me. You are more than welcome to use that option to call me – toll free – from anywhere in the United States and Canada.

I am available if you just need a friendly voice to talk to, or a person willing to listen to you vent. The only cost to you will be my occasional unsolicited advice.

Please feel free to leave a message if I do not pick up when you call.

I am looking forward to hearing from YOU.