Anyone who has struggled with mental illness knows it's not easy. It can also be very difficult to talk about because of the stigma and shaming that can often come with it. Most people don't understand what can happen or how their loved ones really feel. That is unless they have experienced it themselves. This is one reason why so many try to hide their affliction and even completely turn away from everyone they love. Obviously, that is not the best course of action for relief and true help. Here are 4 important actions when mental illness strikes.

No woman enjoys that doubt in the back of her mind that her relationship is falling apart. Unfortunately, this happens a lot and doesn't always mean a breakup. You should know, though, staying in a relationship that isn’t right for you for way too long can be miserable and unproductive. Some women continue to work on their relationship because they believe their partner will change.When these women find out that they ultimately won't, they may feel like they wasted their time. It may be beneficial to know for sure if we are unhappy with who we chose early on in the relationship. This type of awareness helps to make good decisions that serve you at all stages. To get you thinking, here are 4 major signs that your relationship is in big trouble.

You’re a parent, spouse, friend, daughter, employee or even a business owner. Can you really wear all those hats successfully without succumbing to stress and neglect of important people and matters? There are some amazing women out there who somehow manage to do just that. I would be lying if I said that I was that woman all the time. Yes, I've failed at work and personal life balance and failed miserably. I also learned that hating myself for those times doesn't help. What does help is good old-fashioned knowing the problem, seeking options, and action to change it.

I've never met a woman who didn't need help from other people from time to time. That help often comes in the form of advice from the bestie or mom. The problem with taking advice all the time is that your best interest might not be winning out in the end. Opinions can be tainted with the personality and desires of the people giving them. It's important to make sure that you serve your needs and create happiness with the decisions you make. Here are 3 major things to consider when getting advice.

Running a business can get chaotic. Juggling so many different things at once for a long period of time can create stress and overwhelm. I've often found that much of what businesses do can either be automated or done easier with the right software and technology. Believe it or not, there is business software that creates profitability and efficiency. You and your staff will need to learn the software, of course. However, with some practice, it will make things run a bit more smoothly around the office.

There are different kinds of stress and everyone deals with it differently. For some, a little stress throughout the day is actually helpful, as it can push them to get results. But when stress takes over your life, makes you irritable or despondent all the time, you need to make some changes. Though your stress could be from any number of things, here are 4 reasons your job could be stressing you out.

If you've come to a point in your career where you feel restless and unfulfilled, it may be time to make some changes. Trust me, you are not alone. This may even be a little scary for you, especially if you're well into your middle years. However, you don't want to end up regretting your life. Instead, how about seeing what career shifts could make you happy and fit more closely with your dreams. There are so many opportunities out there for women who aren't afraid to work hard and even continue their education later in life. Here are 3 fulfilling career shifts for the midlife woman.

Food preparation is something that we will always need. Therefore, a career as a chef is one to consider if you want to enter a wide open job market. Fortunately, there are many ways a chef can earn a living. Typically, you think of restaurants, but there are also private chefs and those who work at other types of organizations and businesses. If you are considering getting into the food industry, here are a few things to consider before starting a career as a chef.

Unemployment falls every year and people are sticking with their careers for longer than they were in decades past. With technology and ease of access, there are fewer barriers to landing a great job than ever before. That said, you still have to do the work and put forth the effort to reach your career goals. Here are 3 savvy ways to maximize career potential in most industries.

There are a few easy things you can do yourself at home to help you stay healthier. They could not only save your life but with skyrocketing healthcare costs, these DIY health checks can save you a lot of money in the long run. Prevention is better than being surprised with a disease that could threaten your life and finances. I know women who wish they had done some simple at-home health checks.

Plenty of women are in positions that, up until recently, were chiefly occupied by men. However, women still have a long way to go to even out the playing field. It would help to get more women interested in careers that have been thought of as "man’s work." After all, if a woman can do the job, she can do the job. Period. Here are 5 "men's work" careers women thrive in.

Though handwritten cards, notes, and letters are a dying art, there are still times you should get that pen and paper out. One, in particular, is after your wedding. Even though you may have thanked everyone on that day, wedding etiquette says send that thank you card! Here are a few tips to help you send the best thank you cards after your wedding!

Whenever you expand your mind and open up to new opportunities, you are on your way to becoming an improved person. I'm not saying that something is wrong with you, me or the next woman. I'm saying that we all can grow, change, and develop as we see the need and have the desire. The fact is, when you improve your mind, you improve the world.

Looking for a new career and you have mad money management skills? The great news is just about every business utilizes money management to keep things running smoothly. This fact keeps things open for you. However, if you really want to delve deeply into the financial industry, below are four career options for the money-savvy woman.

If you've wanted to form some new friendships or even fall in love, you must first meet some new people. I know this may seem like a daunting thing to do, especially in the scary world we live in. However, approached with a plan, this fundamental activity of being social can be fun and safe. Here are my top 5 ways to meet new people.