There were days I could barely get off the couch.
I struggled to shower, and if my dog Hero had not needed a walk I might never have stepped outside. Hero’s tail, thumping against the door, became the metronome that kept me moving when nothing else would.
That low season framed my conversation with Clarena Tobon, Executive Director of NAMI Central Texas, on the Rock Solid podcast. Clarena spends her days turning private battles like mine into public support through three clear pillars.
NAMI’s three pillars
- Support — free peer led groups for individuals and families
- Education — practical training for police, teachers, parents, and workplaces
- Advocacy — sustained pressure on lawmakers to strengthen mental health policy
Most people reach NAMI after a breakdown. Clarena’s mission is to shift that moment forward so help arrives while the camel still carries the straw. It’s more than ok to talk about these things.
One bite at a time
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” That line from I Think I Swallowed An Elephant explains how massive problems become manageable.
- Name the weight. Admit the stress, sadness, or isolation.
- Take the first bite. Register for a NAMI class or start one honest conversation.
- Stack tiny wins. Micro actions beat heroic bursts.
- Measure inputs. Track controllable habits like nights of quality sleep or trips outside with the dog.
Big goals freeze us only while they stay vague. Once sliced, they shrink.
Words create worlds
My darkest stretch began to lift when I changed the story I told myself. Say “I am stuck” and the couch wins. Say “I can take one more step” and momentum appears. Clarena’s work gives families the language and the community to rewrite those inner scripts long before crisis strikes.
Try this tonight
NAMI distributes bilingual dinner table cards that spark gentle talk. Borrow the idea.
- “What felt hard today?”
- “When did you feel proud?”
Tiny questions open doors wider than any lecture ever could.
For resources or to volunteer, visit namicentraltx.org. Help should never be an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. With one clear story and one determined dog, we can move the guardrail to the top.
