MENTAL HEALTH IN THE HEART OF MAUN

Almost all of us carry some form of guilt inside: a guilt that is not always visible, that we do not always talk about, but that sometimes returns when we are alone and makes us ask ourselves, “What if I had done something differently?” Today, we are going to talk about that silent guilt, not to judge ourselves even more, but to look at it with more humanity. What Is Guilt? Guilt is that inner feeling that we have done something wrong, failed in some way, caused harm, or not done enough. At its core, guilt contains a form of anger turned against ourselves: the person not only feels pain about what happened, but also accuses, reproaches, and punishes themselves internally. That is why guilt can become so damaging. When it becomes intense or persistent, it can make a person feel that they do not deserve peace, love, rest, or a new opportunity. In some cases, that inner punishment can become so strong that the person begins to hurt themselves emotionally, neglect themselves, or even harm ...

💔 The death of a loved one is one of the hardest experiences a human being can face. At first, everything seems to fall apart — the routine, the dreams, the sense of self, even faith. Yet, as time passes, many people discover something unexpected: from pain, a new kind of wisdom can emerge. Widowhood teaches, through a silent language, what love, loss, and hope share in common: that everything changes, yet true love never disappears — it transforms into memory, into strength, and into a deeper understanding of life. 🌧 Lessons from the Love That Was To love deeply leaves traces that never fade. Even when the person is gone, love continues to teach. It reminds us that the time we shared was sacred — that small daily gestures, a glance, a caress, a kind word, were in fact the foundations of happiness. Love teaches that nothing is guaranteed, and that what truly matters are not the grand moments, but the quiet acts of presence and tenderness. And when one has truly loved, the...

Interview with Dr. Arturo José Sánchez Hernández On the completion of his book:  “ Widowhood:Pain, Transformation, and Hope " 🌿 1. Initial Motivation —What inspired you to write about widowhood? This book was born out of encounters with men and women who were going through one of life’s deepest sorrows — the loss of a partner. Throughout my professional practice, I have witnessed interrupted love stories, difficult silences, and journeys of reconstruction that deserved to be told with respect. I also understand that path on a personal level. Having experienced widowhood myself allowed me to see others’ suffering with new eyes — not from theory, but from the empathy that only comes through lived experience. —What led you to turn that understanding into a book? I felt the need to offer a calm and compassionate guide — a voice that could accompany without imposing, that could explain without diminishing the depth of human feeling. I wanted people in grief to find a space wh...

🌿 When someone loses their spouse, their inner world falls apart—but so does their outer world. Suddenly, friends, neighbors, and even close relatives seem unsure of how to act. Some avoid the topic altogether; others try to cheer them up too quickly; and some, with the best of intentions, say things that unintentionally hurt. There’s no manual on how to comfort a grieving person, but anyone who’s lost someone can clearly sense one thing: the discomfort of others. That uneasy feeling when people don’t know what to say, how to look at you, or how to approach you. And in the middle of that discomfort, the widow or widower may end up feeling even more alone. 🌧 When Silence Becomes Distance After a loss, many people withdraw out of fear of “saying the wrong thing.” That distance, though well-intentioned, still hurts. The silence of others can feel like abandonment—right at the moment when companionship is most needed. Sometimes the grieving person stops being invited to gathe...

🌿 On the path of grief, pain doesn’t always come only from the loss itself. Sometimes it also arises from what was left unresolved — a word left unsaid, an argument that never found closure, or a goodbye that didn’t happen the way we hoped. In those moments, the heart suffers not only from absence but also from the weight of resentment, guilt, or regret. Forgiveness —whether toward another or oneself— doesn’t erase what happened, but it releases the emotional energy that keeps us tied to the past. Forgiveness doesn’t change the story, but it changes how we carry it within us. 🌧 When Pain and Resentment Overlap After a loss, it’s common to feel mixed emotions. Love, sadness, anger, and guilt can coexist in the same heart. Maybe there were unresolved wounds, misunderstandings, or distances that were never bridged. Grief then becomes heavier, as memories blend with reproach or the haunting thought of “I could have done more.” Resentment acts like a stone in the path—it may s...

🌿 When a serious illness enters a couple’s life, grief begins long before physical death. Every relapse, every change in the voice or the gaze, every medical visit marks a slow process of farewell — one that wears down both the ill partner and the one who loves and cares for them. This process is known as anticipatory grief : a period when the heart starts preparing for the inevitable while the mind still resists believing it. You cry in advance, fear the end, give thanks for every extra day, and live suspended between hope and goodbye. Yet, although this anticipation may soften the shock of loss, it does not erase the pain. When the final moment arrives, the loss feels just as deep — because while the mind can anticipate death, the soul never learns to accept absence. 🌧 When Grief Begins Before the Farewell Anticipatory grief often appears when illness changes the rhythm and meaning of the relationship. The healthy partner becomes caregiver, protector, companion. Conversa...

💔 Sexual abuse is a devastating experience that leaves deep emotional scars. As friends, we can play a crucial role in the healing process of a survivor. Today, I want to share what I learned from supporting a friend who experienced sexual abuse and how friendship can become a refuge during such difficult times. 🤝💙 🛑 First: Listen without judgment One of the greatest gifts you can offer a friend who has experienced abuse is your ability to listen without judgment . Allow them to express their emotions, fears, and frustrations. It’s not always about offering solutions, but about being a constant, reliable presence. 🙏👂 🌱 Be patient: Healing takes time Understanding that the healing process has no set timeline is essential. Some wounds take time to heal, and there will be good days and more difficult ones. Patience and understanding are key to being a good support. 💪⏳ 🌟 Avoid minimizing what happened It is crucial never to minimize the experience of abuse or make comments that...