Dealing with Stress During the Pandemic

On this episode of Harford County Living with Rich Bennett, coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union studios,  Rich is joined by Paige Mullhausen of Our Village Wellness Center.

Rich and Paige discuss the pandemic and ways to cope with the stress caused by it. Millions of people are suffering from depression, anxiety and other issues during these tough times, but we can get through it together.

Sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union

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Transcription after intro:

Richard Bennett 0:00
like to welcome everybody to Harford County living with Richard Bennett. Today. God, I think this is the third or fourth, third, third episode. I had this Yeah, I’m having this young lady on, and I’m gonna have her on several more times because she finally agreed to co host some a podcast with me. And before the podcast, we started talking about different ideas. So we’re gonna be, you’re gonna be hearing her a lot. But I have Paige mol house and back on the podcast with me. And we’re gonna be talking about dealing with stress during this pandemic. Because some of the people I’ve had on lately that we’ve really it’s all about stress. But we’ve talked about, I guess, stress does cause that we’ve talked about depression, anxiety, how COVID is making that go higher for a lot of people, which is sad. Yep. But Paige, peach, tell everybody the name of your business again.

Paige Mullhausen 1:01
Ah, well, first, thanks for having me again, my

Richard Bennett 1:03
pleasure.

Paige Mullhausen 1:05
Um, I am from, um,

Richard Bennett 1:09
you forgot

already.

Paige Mullhausen 1:15
I’m from our village Wellness Center. It’s an outreach program, where, you know, we pull people together to help you live your best life? And what is that for you? Because we are all different individuals, you know, and we are here for a short period of time, you know, life is short, and we want to live our best life, and what does that look like for you. And that’s kind of like, where my focus is, whether that, you know, falls under that umbrella of depression, and anxiety. You know, it’s stress, being a mom, balancing work and running your kids, you know, now homeschooling more or less, now it’s homeschool. So because of this pandemic, you know, we definitely are more on arise and it is harder to reach people are people trying to get the help that they need. So, you know, our village Wellness Center is is just is constantly trying to outreach and get to the people and somehow let them know that we’re here. Right, and you’re not alone. And sometimes just hearing that and with a virtual hug is is a big first step for someone and, you know,

Richard Bennett 2:31
how’s it been going? so far? We’ve been keeping busy.

Paige Mullhausen 2:34
Um, yeah, I am, you know, I am also a mom, you know, so I have my daughter at home. Um, and, you know, working, I kind of took a pause, because I had to watch my own self right now. And I had to figure out, you know, this new normal. Um, so, it’s funny, because this is such a passion of mine. When I do kind of get caught up in my own life, it’s this nag of, I need to go check in with everybody else, you know, how is everybody else running? And I’m so fortunate that I am in a circle of people that want to help as well like yourself, you know, that can I can make that phone call and say, okay, we need to get another event going. Right. You know, whatever. That may be a no, I’m unfortunate in that regard.

Richard Bennett 3:21
That’s good, though.

Paige Mullhausen 3:22
Mm hmm. Yeah.

Richard Bennett 3:23
I was gonna say cuz I seen on Facebook, it seems like you’ve been doing more interviews and everything, too.

Paige Mullhausen 3:29
Yes. I imagine. Yeah, Instagram Live, um, which has been a phenomenal way to outreach. Or I have a panel of psychiatrists that focus on wedding xiety. And depression looks like to help people to be able to identify it. Because sometimes people are just running around, and they don’t understand what that feeling they’ve got in their gut and why they’re not sleeping, or their hair is falling out, or, you know, they just don’t feel like themselves and kind of offer that advice. Well, guess what, you know, you do have some anxiety. And this is what can help. You know, I also had my dear friend, Adam, who came and talked about what it was like for him to come out and let people know that he is gay. And that was amazing. We got great feedback on this good of just, you know, letting people know that this was, this is his story. We all have our own story, but this was his story. And what that looked like for him that that was amazing. So I try to find people at some way even if it’s two listeners or you know, 20 listeners that somewhere if one person hears

Richard Bennett 4:37
it, it makes a difference. That’s it then you you did your job.

Paige Mullhausen 4:43
Yeah. Yeah. And the

Richard Bennett 4:44
good thing is if that well, now Instagram Live, where can people go back a year later or what? ever watch it again?

Paige Mullhausen 4:52
Yes. Saved, okay, good recorded where they can. But I’ll just, you know, or you just I keep Having the same guests kind of come on and kind of chat and ask questions. And so that’s been, that’s been neat. Um, my events obviously have slowed down. But we are getting ready to do another event where we are reaching out to the sisterhood of women. And we’re actually going to do a happy hour virtually. And my panel again is Julie, who is a psychiatrist, who I’ve had, who I just spoke about, she was with me on Instagram Live. And Kristen Wilson, who is a wellness advisor like myself, but is writing a book. And it’s gonna be a three of us, and we’re inviting women to come join us. It does come with a bottle of wine or a cup of tea. You will get a goodie bag actually on your front step. with cheese and crackers and why.

Wait a minute.

Richard Bennett 5:49
Yes to the happy hour.

Paige Mullhausen 5:51
Yeah. So with a bottle of wine.

Yeah, well, you know, women it’s hour by hour can be extended. But yeah. So it’s, it’s, you know, when you purchase your ticket or $20, you’ll get a goodie bag at your door that will have they’ll have your choice of red wine, white wine, or a cup of tea. It’ll come with cheese and crackers, and a journal and some other extra goodies. So when we have our happy hour, you have your goodies for you,

Richard Bennett 6:23
but you don’t want cheese and crackers with tea.

Paige Mullhausen 6:26
Now let’s go. I know you know what, that is a good idea. And you know, it sounds funny coming out of your mouth. Yes, yes.

Richard Bennett 6:36
I love tea.

Paige Mullhausen 6:39
No, but this this the crackers with the tea. We got it. We got to work on that. But um, yeah, so

Richard Bennett 6:46
I know what I didn’t

Paige Mullhausen 6:49
know, no, no, the pairing of cheese and crackers and tea. But you know, but anyway, you’ll get what you need to join us for some girl time and we’re going to talk about topics and issues and allow the people to come You know, virtually and ask questions or share stories and, you know, sometimes take part. Well, you can we won’t we won’t, you know? You can?

Richard Bennett 7:15
That’s a great idea, though.

Paige Mullhausen 7:16
Yeah, it’s just ways to, you know, just constantly try to reach out and, and check in on each other. I think that’s really important. Because, you know, of COVID we’re really kept indoors and not a lot of people are going out even though you know, I will admit I am. But um, it’s just you know that checking in?

Richard Bennett 7:38
I have to admit I haven’t. Not now, I had been out hiking and stuff haven’t been to a restaurant or bar. I think the one time when my daughter graduated, we went to a restaurant. Of course I was we sat outside but I haven’t been to bar restaurant yet. Now my neighbors and I will we will get together outside we have ADD cookouts and all that and you know do it that way. That’s what we’ve always done till

Paige Mullhausen 8:10
Yeah. What that’s good is kind of keeping normal normalcy in your life to which you know is

Richard Bennett 8:15
you have to have because otherwise, you know you you’re gonna see your stress level go up. Um, you gotta keep on. God. What’s your closest neighbor a mile away?

Paige Mullhausen 8:29
Yeah, actually, I

am pretty fortunate. I do have people across the street.

Richard Bennett 8:32
Are you okay?

Paige Mullhausen 8:33
Yeah, I’m super close with okay.

Richard Bennett 8:35
Yeah, like because I’m going to call to sack so are my neighbors are all right, close. And we’re always out there talking, even if it’s yelling across the street from one another. Yeah, we always end up you know, in the driveway together anyways, but either grill and drinking or something. But it does make a difference to help to talk, especially your elderly neighbors to because they’re, I would think they’re going through it even worse.

Paige Mullhausen 9:02
Yeah. You know, they,

Richard Bennett 9:04
they have a lot of concerns, especially they have kids and grandkids. I know I talk my next door neighbors, I think they’re in their 70s. And I’m constantly talking to them. Chicken on them and had a laugh because somebody said, Well, you know, their political views are different than mine. I don’t care about politics. I’m gonna talk politics with them. Yeah, I mean, they’re my neighbors. Yeah, I love them. They’re, they’re awesome. They’re great people. Yeah. And I just want to make sure that everything’s fine with

Paige Mullhausen 9:33
that’s good. And we all need to be be doing that. And that’s the thing in my opinion with COVID you know, it’s certain things you don’t talk about. Yeah, sometimes certain people you don’t talk about politics or religion and sometimes COVID falls into that too, you know, beginning to you know, it’s it’s it’s where you’re comfortable. Yeah, and and that’s just where it needs to lie. And if an event is going on, and you’re not comfortable with it, you know, don’t don’t go do yeah, just Don’t go, you know, and you got to do what’s best for you. Yeah, you know, my, my hope in this pandemic is, it’s given people the opportunity to reflect on themselves. Mm hmm, I get super sad when I, I hear people say, when is this year going to be over? Or, you know, this, this has been such a horrible year. And you’ll hear that a lot. You hear me? You hear it, you know, in conversations. And it makes me sad, because yes, this experience has been awful. And if anybody knows anybody that got super sick from COVID, or know somebody that passed away from COVID, Oh, my gosh, my heart goes out to you. But my hope is that we’ve had time to kind of reflect, yeah, we’ve had time to figure out what’s going on in your own life. You know, a lot of times we talk about anxiety and depression, or just not, even if you don’t have that, and just, you’re not happy with your life, in general, you don’t have there doesn’t have to be a mental illness to to not be happy, right? But you take that time, and you kind of reflect and see, you know, why is that, you know, we, you know, we all were born a certain way, and we have experienced our own life lessons to get to where they are today. And, you know, whether it’s, you know, death or divorce, or a bad relationship, or, you know, any kind of issues that kind of defines who you are, yeah, now, and, you know, for me personally, to live my best life, I had to reflect on you know, and it forced me to look on those relationships and have to, you know, deal and know, even for me, you know, I’ve reached out for help to help me get over a certain situation. So I could live my best life. And that’s kind of where I hope people have taken their time to kind of reflect and figure out what’s gonna make them happy, let’s just not waste this whole COVID year and just say, it was miserable, right, let’s, let’s take advantage of this time, you know, it’s kind of like life boot camp. You know, it’s forced you to, to live at home, it’s forced you to spend time with your family. And I really hope that was a great experience for some maybe not, you know, but for most, you know, I think it could have been, but it kind of it kind of forced you to slow life down again. And hopefully it did some self care.

Richard Bennett 12:33
I think, and I did a podcast on this actually was just me, I didn’t have anybody I was talking to. Too many people are looking at all the negative things with COVID. And what I would look at is all the positive things that came out of it, that are coming out of it still businesses, you know, out, they’ve had to change some of their years, all of them had to change their models on what they do. Look at restaurants, who ever thought that a restaurant would be able to do carry up beer or even deliver it, you know, alcohol.

The

The other thing with, and I talked about this is when the restaurants first closed, there was one particular bartender and I cannot remember his name of where he worked at. He started talking, taking advantage of it, because a lot of people were concerned about the bartenders and waiters, because a lot of them made it offer tips. So this guy started doing videos online, and but he was charging like a fee. So I guess he was doing it through zoom, to teach people how to make mixed drinks. And then when the bar started opening up, he would do like a special mixed drink of the day. If you could have the option of ordering that drink, or you could order it and also get a one on one video, chat with him on how to make it.

Paige Mullhausen 14:03
How cool is that? Yeah. So thinking out of the box. Yeah, you have to Yeah, when you think out of the box, I think it kind of, you know a guy, it’s living. I keep saying it’s living your best COVID life, you know, I mean, let’s, you know, but I think thinking positively and seeing the blessings in your life, sometimes that’s a learned behavior. Yeah, you know, you have to really kind of train yourself to to think to think that way and it may start first thing in the morning, your feet, you know, touch the floor and you kind of have to, I’ve got a busy day. You know, you may not be looking forward to a day but maybe you can think about how lucky you are to have this busy day. You know, and and, you know, my mom tells me all the time, I don’t know how you do what you do. And you know she’s, you know, always concerned that I’ve got too much on my plate, you know, but I feel very blessed that I do this and I actually a couple couple months ago through 360 center court at a new jersey, I had a professional personality test taken. And in my personality test, that is who I am is staying busy. So if I ever took my mom’s advice and backed off on some of the things I enjoy to do, I probably wouldn’t be living my best life. Right? That’s just my makeup of you know who I am. So, you know, hopefully people are finding out, you know, what makes them happy? Yeah. Is it to add more or take more away? You know, is it the people in your life? You know, I’ve, you know, you know, just

Richard Bennett 15:38
you gotta surround yourself with positive.

Paige Mullhausen 15:41
I can’t, that it can’t agree with you more on that. And I also feel like that is key. It is so key, again, learn behavior. Mm hmm. You know, especially when you grew up in Harford County, you know, I, you know, especially my air our school, you know, I graduated 192 you know, that was easy to make a circle of friends, you know, they, they don’t, you know, now it’s, it’s not like that anymore. But, you know, you kind of create this friendship. And as far as I got, my circle gets tighter and tighter. And yeah, I’ll be friends with anybody in anybody’s welcome in my circle, as soon as you show that red flag of some kind of toxic or something, it’s like, you know, I’m not ashamed to, you

know, sometimes, yeah, or just

or just continue to be kind, but you’re not beginning with Frankel’s right. I might not be, you know, that, you know, that, that kind of thing. But I think you need to find your circle. And if it’s one person, or, you know, a group of 10, you know, it doesn’t doesn’t matter, but you need people in your life that you enjoy to be around. And it does take a lot of work to recognize whether it’s a family member, that’s the hardest one, this is this is toxic. And somehow I need to get that person out of my life, and maybe just see him around the holidays, you know, or maybe not, right, you know, it takes a lot of work to figure out who and what is creating your life, to not live your best life. And sometimes, we have to go seek help for that. Yeah. And that’s what’s so amazing. And, you know, that’s where, you know, part of my outreaches is to offer these people that can help you see that and give you advice on, you know, how to live your best life, or how to very, politely get rid of that person or that situation out. Because, you know, like I said earlier, this is a short time that we’re here. And don’t don’t put space in, in your life that isn’t allowing you to have a good day. You know, it’s just it’s really not worth it.

Richard Bennett 17:55
You never know if tomorrow will be here.

Paige Mullhausen 17:57
You do and that is terrifying, because it is like when you really sit and you really think about that. It helps put that perspective or what happens tomorrow, you find a lump. Yeah, you know, or turn like we don’t, we shouldn’t have to get really sick. No, we shouldn’t have to get cancer or, or what have you to make us realize how precious life is. Let’s, let’s realize this when when we’re feeling good, and we’re feeling healthy and why why can’t we do that? What’s going on in our society, or our personal breakdown? Where we can’t feel that self worth to say, I don’t deserve this, I don’t deserve the life I’m living in. I don’t deserve you to be in, you know, are I? Right? Like, I don’t deserve how to allow somebody to come in and rent space in my life and just make it toxic. Yeah, like, why why do we wait until something terrible happens? You know, and, and hopefully COVID is given that some of that insight to someone to realize that, you know, and hopefully if you are going through something in your life where you need help or guidance, you reach out and you go get it? Mm hmm. Because we all we all need help. I mean, bye, bye. Nobody’s perfect. No. And and I’ll be the first to admit there has been times i’ve i’ve had people in my life where I needed advice. Yeah, I needed advice to say, you know, how do I handle this situation? And seeing a psychiatrist or a counselor or what have you? Oh, my gosh, everybody should do it. You know, because sometimes they just say one thing to you. That is that aha moment of like, I got it. I’m good. You know, thank you.

Richard Bennett 19:46
Oh, and the other thing is, too, and I spoke with this with somebody else on one of my other podcasts. A lot of times people are going through problems. They have a hard time talking to anybody in their family or their friends. They just, I don’t know, it’s like they’re I don’t know why. But if that’s the case, talk to a stranger if you have to, if you can’t, if you don’t want to go to a psychiatrist, because some people are, you know, they have the old, they have the old philosophies like, I don’t want to see a shrink or whatever. I

know, we need to change that we do. Yeah. But talk to a stranger If yes, you know, I was

talking to a gentleman the other day, former military, and he served in Iraq. And he was working at a store. I’m not gonna mention names, but is, as always, I mean, it just dealing with people. Sometimes it’s just he. And he said, it wasn’t this bad over and around. So he so you served? I said, Yes. I thanked him. And he saw my eyes. And no, thank you. I said, and I told him about this podcast, I want to start talking to other veterans and active military because, yeah, sometimes they can’t open up to other people. He said, I’m in. He said that he said, I’ve been trying to find somebody I can talk to. And I found talking to other veterans, it is easier.

Paige Mullhausen 21:11
Yeah.

Richard Bennett 21:12
And that’s true, I think anybody, because let’s face it, you don’t have to be a veteran or military to have PTSD. Yep, no, or to have or to go through stress.

Paige Mullhausen 21:21
And that is what is so excellent about kind of where we are right now in life is that we are putting a lot more light into mental health disorders. And PTSD is another one that’s really like, I’m excited in the sense that we’re understanding more about PTSD. And along with PTSD, you know, there can become other mental illnesses. Because of that. And I’m excited about that. Because I feel like if we can get people a diagnosis, then you can figure out how to, again, live your best life. Yeah, okay, you’ve got PTSD, what do we need to do? You know, what looks for you, you know, and just to kind of comment on, you know, not understanding, you know, people and, you know, why us not understanding why, you know, people are this the way that they are, you know, it can it can trigger back from when they were three years. Yeah, you know, it can trigger, you know, you know, from, you know, oh my gosh, we can make a list of them a million things that could have gone wrong in somebody’s life, anywhere between that birth to 21 years, you know, and, and that sets you for the rest of your life, for other relationships for how you handle such life situations. And, you know, so that that’s the thing about, you know, us kind of being more passionate for people, because we don’t know, I mean, you meet somebody, and you can see that person’s kind of sad, but it might have been something happen when they were five years old, you know, like, we, we don’t know, what somebody is going through, and maybe, you know, they’re still their adult life, and they’re still dealing with something that took place when they’re a child. And now let’s define them, who they are. And, um, I have a lot of great books, I have read a lot. I am always up to learning more. And if anybody needs a good book, reach out to me, I’ve got some is

Richard Bennett 23:31
better than watching TV. Yeah.

Paige Mullhausen 23:35
Well, it’s just, you know, it’s sometimes, you know, if you don’t want to go see a counselor, or go talk to somebody a good book, there’s a lot of them out there that can give you that perspective. One book that I’m going through right now is kind of being part of the disconnect. And you can also find this on on YouTube on podcasts. Okay. Her name, I’m drawing a blank, but if you reach out to me, I promise I will get it for you. But she’s part of WTF, what the Freud

nominal the same way.

And what she has done is she has broken down your life on where you are as a child, right? And how that kind of defines you as an adult. And because of some of the disconnect that some people have had, because of their mother or their father, you know, it’s it kind of gives you some understanding of why you are the adult you are and the reason why I was reading this book is it’s helping me to understand other people. I want to get that, you know, and and it breaks my heart. When I hear people kind of complain about how somebody is like, that’s a terrible mother.

Richard Bennett 24:50
Yes. Well,

Paige Mullhausen 24:52
you know what, I know we’re looking at this person for whatever they’ve done. We’re looking at this person, like they’re a terrible person, but you know what this victim to something. Yes,

Richard Bennett 25:01
it could look at the good things about that person.

Paige Mullhausen 25:04
Exactly. But you know, that person was was broken. And let’s say was that mother say her mother abused her? Well, you know what, that mother was also a victim. You know, like, like that person were not born to be mean or evil, or we’re not born this way. We, it’s made that way. Yeah. And even though that person’s terrible, and maybe because I have had to do the same thing, cuz that person is so toxic, I feel sorry for you, but you can’t be in my life. My hope is that that person will then go get help, right? That person needs help to understand

Unknown Speaker 25:40
they get help, if they do, you’re gonna welcome them, welcome them back into your life,

Paige Mullhausen 25:45
you know, and it is and that’s, that’s the thing with me, I’m very protective of my life, because I know what kind of person I am. And I easily love and I love hard, but I hurt hard to Yeah, and I know me now that if you can’t be kind, anybody can be my life. But for me, you just got to be kind. And unfortunately, they’re not time people in my life that I had to turn my back up. And I gotta tell you, soon as you start doing that, that becomes addicting. I am so addicted to the good people that are in my life. And I feel great about not allowing those people that have hurt me. Don’t you dare hurt by friends or family, mama bear comes on. But when I’m saying that, that feeling becomes addictive, and my hope is that we can help people to get to that place where you are protective. But we got a but what am I trying to say? So you know, we, those people that we have to get out of our life? It’s sad, you know, and I’ll send them love, and I hope they get help, but they’re all victims. Something Yeah. And those people, we we need to help them even more, you know, my kids have been, you know, a part of Christian groups or, you know, one of my events, I’ll hear people say, Oh, don’t let them Don’t let them here. And my, no, they need to be here. Yeah, we need to surround them with good people. And you know, that it makes a

difference. It does a big difference, and

also understanding where you are in life. And I can see the cover of this book.

Richard Bennett 27:24
Ah, um,

Paige Mullhausen 27:26
but I think,

nope, I don’t, I can’t remember. But my point is, is that, you know, you know, I’m dealing with a loss, and I know, you we’ve discussed for are dealing with

Richard Bennett 27:43
you maybe open up a bad thing?

Paige Mullhausen 27:45
No, you know, but you know, dealing with certain things in your life, if you don’t take care of the root of the problem. Hmm, the next thing that comes along, that’s very similar to the root of the problem will magnify that issue. And you may not even understand why you’re reacting or feeling that way. But if you really look down within yourself, it’s like, oh, it’s because of this, right? Always God take care of those root of those problems. So going back to hoping, hoping people in COVID is reflecting. Sometimes don’t just think of what’s going on today and your issues today, go go back. Yeah, go back into your life and start, you know, trying to reflect on those things that really hurt you. And hopefully, that will kind of help your heart and help. Any kind of issues that you know, that has brought on.

Richard Bennett 28:46
Have you been seeing a lot of or heard from a lot of people that are going through a lot of stress now because of COVID. Yeah, I wouldn’t say it’s because of COVID. It’s who knows what it’s because of? Well,

Paige Mullhausen 28:58
I think for me, I feel like I haven’t been one of the ones that have been staying in, you know, right. I’m still kind of getting out, talking with people still meeting with women.

Richard Bennett 29:12
But you’re given that I mean, they have the option not to

Paige Mullhausen 29:14
Absolutely. Yeah, so within that, and because of my job I have, I run a preschool and nursery school. So I’m with a lot of moms. But the one thing I think, for me is, obviously I love to talk, but I love to listen, I love to listen to people. Yeah, and the one common thing I am constantly hearing right now are the moms that are trying to balancing their work. kids at home, you know, um, especially if they have a special needs child. Yeah, you know, like, it’s all those are trying to balance this new normal and keep their job, you know, and that’s kind of I think, for me what I’m hearing The most at the moment is more of the moms right are trying to the balance. I mean, they’re not getting their break. And sometimes a break for a mom is getting in their car, you drive

while you’re

driving back, and it gives them that time before they got to go pick up their child or meet them at home or, or what have you, they’re not getting that break. No, um, and the one thing I’ve been really proud of, with the moms that I have talked to is they’re recognizing their stress. And I think I am finally hearing moms talk about how they’re not enjoying being a mom right now. You know, or, you know, they they are overwhelmed, or they’re not happy, or they you know, and the moment a mom opens up to me, and says, Oh, this is not going okay with me, I immediately applaud them, right? Because there was a time in life where it was the keeping up with the Joneses. And you always had to look good and be part of the PTA and room mom and you know, just kind of act like you got your life all together. And there is something that has definitely happened over the last couple years. But definitely right now with COVID. Is moms are talking like that right now.

Yeah. Which is

probably the best thing you could do is to be like today sucked. Like kids are driving me crazy.

Richard Bennett 31:26
To most of these moms, when’s the last time they were home with the kids for that long? Yeah. When they gave birth to them?

Paige Mullhausen 31:33
Yeah. Yep.

Richard Bennett 31:34
I mean, it’s a big difference. Now these some of these kids are two three years old teens. Yep. Yeah, yeah.

Paige Mullhausen 31:42
And I’ve been I’ve been working with moms for over 20 years. And I’ve definitely seen this movement, you know, kind of take place. And I love it. I love the moms that say they’re one and done, you know, when you thought you had to have you know, 234 and the white picket fence, and, and that’s not the case anymore. And I love the fact that females are getting real. And same, I’m stressed. Right, you know, um, I think that’s, that’s excellent. And that’s one, you know, reason for, you know, our happy hours to make sure we keep that Sisterhood of women, you know, together and keep talking. My concern, are those women that aren’t talking? Yeah, I don’t have someone to talk to. Or, you know, just that those are the moms that that really

Richard Bennett 32:31
love them don’t know who to reach out to?

Paige Mullhausen 32:33
Yeah. And it scares me, you know, and how do you get to them? Um, you know, just keeping your eyes out. And hopefully they’re listening to this today and

Richard Bennett 32:42
listening and hopefully people that they do talk to notice something different and get a hold of somebody else. If you something I want to bring up and I didn’t I never heard of this. I have a young lady that actually is, she writes for Harford County living now her name is Julia Chang. first article she wrote was about sad. Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Paige Mullhausen 33:08
Oh, wow. That’s a real thing. Yes.

Richard Bennett 33:10
I never heard of it. And I said something my

wife. She’s like, yeah, I’ve heard of that. And it’s the changes, see the seasons, will can put people under stress.

Paige Mullhausen 33:22
conditions to be true.

Richard Bennett 33:23
I’ve never heard of that. Yeah,

Paige Mullhausen 33:24
I’ve never heard it diagnosed. But this is what I’m talking about. This is what’s so cool. And we’ve always

Richard Bennett 33:29
had an end winner. That’s what scares me. I think COVID still being around. Yeah.

Paige Mullhausen 33:33
Yeah, that’s Yeah. And that’s where people you know, they read I say people because, you know, I don’t want to discriminate in any way because depression and sadness and all that it’s men, women, children, you know, it’s it’s, it’s everybody, it’s across the board. And animals. Yeah. 100% Oh, no. And And the thing is, is like, How awesome is it? when winter comes? The cop turns you start feeling depressed. Somebody might not even realize it’s because of the weather change. Yeah,

Richard Bennett 34:04
yeah, that’s

what blew me away.

Paige Mullhausen 34:07
Oh, I I have friends that feel that way. And but the fact that there’s like a quote unquote, diagnosis to it, you know, hopefully that person be like, I have that. Yeah. So you know, the seasons getting ready to change. So this is what I enjoy to get to do. Maybe I need to start doing it more now. In the winter, you know, now that the winter’s coming, let’s start, you know, so maybe that can hopefully help give an understanding to who you are. But also to make you realize you got you got to get going on things. So you’re not allowing that depression or sadness take over.

Richard Bennett 34:42
For those people that are going through a lot of stress now, the Warren COVID what kind of tips can you offer to? I don’t know, I don’t want to help relieve the stress. I mean, we all have different ideas. I know When you and I’ve talked about this because there’s I like reading books, there’s certain things I do more podcasts. And actually, I’m actually getting stuff done at the house, except for my studio for some reason. I still have not been able to frame that and drywall that yet.

Paige Mullhausen 35:20
It’s still the cement blocks.

Richard Bennett 35:21
They’re still the cement blocks, the bathroom is drywall now.

Paige Mullhausen 35:26
You’re gonna do your podcast in the bathroom that was

Richard Bennett 35:29
Yay,

well, it’s a new toilet it would become now. Well, there you go again. You know, it’s funny, because when we started this, I wanted to do the Godzilla thing and move my lips with no words coming out. Because the latest podcast two podcasts we did the delay. Delay was, Oh, where are we going? Oh, tips for people to

deal with stress.

Paige Mullhausen 35:57
I think you just gave one you know, and, and Oh, do stuff around the house. Yes, he started cleaning out my basement. But um, now I you know, everybody again, is different. And everybody, you know, comes from a different place of what’s going on in their life. So I feel like some of the best tips you can is is reflect, think about, what do you enjoy to do? Yeah, let’s let’s do that more. If you feel like there’s a reason why you can’t do the things you enjoy more, ask yourself, why is it because there’s too many kids in the house? Yeah, I guarantee a lot of women are be like, I wish I could read. But I can’t find the time to read because I’ve got kids at home now. You know, um, maybe you can start a little group with, you know, other moms. And some moms can take the kids one day and gives you a day to, you know, get some stuff, whether it’s done around the house, or read or go get your nails done, they’re open now, you know, like, I think a lot of this is self reflection on what makes you happy. And and I feel like so many moms know the answer to this, but don’t take the time to do it. Because of XYZ, right? Well, we got to figure out how to get x, y, z, in a situation where you can take care of yourself, because especially for moms, you’re number one. And if you fall apart, your family is gonna fall apart. And that’s true. Kids are watching, you know, you’re you’re CEO of your home, like you got to take care of yourself, and you really have to fight to figure out how to do that. Yeah. Um, for other people that aren’t moms or kids have grown up and moved out of the house or, or what have you, or dads or whatever, you know, it’s, it’s, again, it’s it’s self reflection on what what do you like to do? You know? Or are you noticing you’re not sleeping at night, your your mind is constantly racing, you’re more sad than you are happy. You know, it’s, it’s those warning signs that say, I need some help

Richard Bennett 38:11
release,

Paige Mullhausen 38:12
you can actually just go to your regular doctor, you know, you can go and make an appointment and talk to your doctor about how you’ve been feeling, they will give you a piece of paper that you actually can take a test. It’s just as written, yes. No, you know about how you feel, being too tired, you know, being wired, you know, what have you. And from that paper, your doctor can then talk to you about what’s going on in your life. You don’t have to, you know, Google counselors, yeah, you trust if you’re not comfortable with that, which we have to change that, you know, but you can just go to your regular doctor, and they can help you. I mean, you got to get help you, you know, and, you know, and Google is a powerful thing. You know, if you are noticing that, you know, you’re running a conversation, constantly in your head of a disagreement that you’re planning to have, you know, that may exist sometime in your life or, you know, you’re you’re not sleeping or, you know, you’re constantly eating and you’re not hungry or not eating, when you should be eating, you know, those are all warning signs. Um, so it’s hard to give advice of like what to do because I could say, well go do yoga, even though I don’t do yoga or

Richard Bennett 39:29
whatever, and everybody’s different.

Paige Mullhausen 39:31
That’s it. That’s the thing. And and we can share what we do. But God look within yourself,

Richard Bennett 39:36
actually, what do you do? What do I do? What do you do this? I feel like filler podcasts. I’m not the only one.

Paige Mullhausen 39:45
No, no, I wouldn’t cheat on you. Now, I feel like it’s surrounding myself with good healthy people. And in talking about this or my events, you know, sometimes I think I do my events for myself. You No it because I’m connecting with people and, and I bring a psychiatrist in and, you know, we’re all constantly trying to at least I am living my best life. I do. You know, when I’m not feeling great I do, I’ll get a book and I’ll only read about what I’m going through, right? Um, my things, of course, are my kids, you know, I want to be with my kids, I want to be with my husband, you know, you find those things right now because of COVID. And I’ve got a 10th grader and I know they need to hang out. You know, we’re putting a firepit in right now. You know, and I want to get one of those movie screens. That makes me feel good. Yeah. So, you know, for me, it’s, you know, that glass of wine at night, you know, or, you know, a lot hanging out with my girlfriends. They’re huge girlfriends. I am very blessed to have a group of girls that I have known my entire life. We’re celebrating over 40 years of friendship. I’m super blessed.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai