Have you ever felt like life was just too hard? Worried that you can’t take the pressure, stress and anxiety anymore? Sometimes the stressors of life – whether situational or ongoing and dire –can be significant prompters to seek professional counseling. Having dreams, a vision and motivation for your life is an excellent pursuit. Yet, ...
Have you ever had a really dreadful day, and then craved escape in a big bowl of brussels sprouts? No? Our emotions have a huge impact on our food choices – choices that often do not include healthy foods, like vegetables, but comfort foods instead. Chocolate is calming. Ice cream is comforting. And fried chicken ...
Spring has officially sprung. This means saying goodbye to early sunsets and hello to blooming flowers and chirping birds. For many, spring is when we clean out the clutter that’s accumulated over the long, cold winter months. While this can involve a weekend of chasing dust bunnies, clearing out cobwebs and washing windows, there are ...
Advertisements are filling the mail, decorations are mounting in the stores and the time for planning the events of the season is here. But thoughts of all these activities can bring more stress than pleasure if we lose perspective and allow anxiety to take over. If the holidays are becoming more stressful than joyful, you ...
Stress is a normal reaction to abnormal situations. We are now living in a new day and time in American society – an uncertain time where stress is common and can be perceived as uncontrollable. It is nearly impossible to go through one day without hearing alarming information on the news about national security concerns, ...
Suicide accounted for nearly 45,000 lives lost in 2016, and the numbers are rising in nearly every state across the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies report that one out of two people know someone who has died from suicide. And for every one person who has died from suicide, another ...
Tragedies happen in our world every day, and many of these tragedies can affect us deeply. The startling realities we witness through pervasive news reports on television and the internet can cause “secondary trauma.” Secondary trauma is the negative and sometimes debilitating emotional response we experience when affected by the losses of others. Exposure to ...
It’s May, Mental Health Month, and the weather is finally turning nice. It might seem like a good time for spring cleaning – but not for your windows or your closet. You may have cobwebs and dust bunnies hiding in places you don’t even know about and they may be affecting your mental health. Centerstone ...
When we see traumatic events in the news, it is normal to possibly feel vulnerable and upset. Whether someone is directly affected by an event or experiences secondhand exposure, acknowledging feelings about these occurrences is important for one’s mental health. The unpredictable nature of events like these is all the more unsettling. To best prepare ...
May is Mental Health Month, designed to raise awareness of mental health conditions and to improve wellness for all. One in five Americans has a treatable mental illness, and we all experience stress. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports two-thirds of visits to family physicians are due to stress-related symptoms. Clearly, we must consider ...
The sights and sounds of the holidays are all around us. It started before our Halloween candy had even been devoured. Turkeys, trees, candles, and lights have popped up everywhere you look and will be with us through the start of the New Year. It can very be easy to get caught up in the ...
The suicide rate in the United States has increased 24 percent since 1999 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report details that the rate has tripled among girls 10 to 14 years old and is up 43 percent among men 45 to 64 years old. To combat these hard numbers, our ...
In many ways our world is more connected than ever before, with social media venues of all kinds providing real-time access around the clock. However, even with all that connection and communication, suicide rates remain at alarming levels, proving that sensitivity to, and awareness of, warning signs is critical in providing lifesaving interventions. It’s not ...
May is Mental Health Month. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 1 in 5 adults in America experiences mental illness each year. Further, a recent Harris Poll showed 90 percent of Americans now value mental and physical health equally. As awareness increases and stigma decreases, in the pursuit of mental wellness we should ...
Imagine a gift that can increase self esteem, reduce stress, and can be given to anybody. Imagine a gift that can lift spirits, enliven inspiration, and even ignite passions. This ideal gift is not found by shopping online, or at the mall, or within the catalogues mounting in your mailbox. It is not something that ...
Addiction is a complicated problem. It is diverse in its causes and its costs. If describing a person with an addiction was to be simplified, it might be “the intense desire and action of continuing certain behaviors despite the negative consequences.” An addiction controls your life, your thoughts and your choices. It is a compulsion that robs you of healthy options for coping with life challenges. ...
We all know how the guilt we carry in our lives can feel like a weight around our neck, slowing us down and keeping us from moving forward. Guilt causes stress and stress causes all kinds of physical illness. But imagine a gift that can increase self-esteem, reduce stress and can be given to anybody. ...
With the soaring fuel prices, job layoffs and a struggling economy, managing money for most families today is a challenge. But there are steps you can take to make the most of your valuable resources. Here are six steps to consider: Realize your relationship with money Money is as much about emotion as it is ...
Loss is a part of all our lives. At some time we will likely experience the death of a loved one, a shattered relationship or the debilitating effects of illness. How we cope with these significant tragedies is crucial in determining how we will survive, grow and eventually recover. As the table below reveals, there ...
Anger is a normal human emotion that can range from slight irritation to strong rage. With all the stress, pressures and worries of today, there are many things and many people out there to set you off, drive you crazy or push your buttons. How anger is expressed is key to maintaining healthy relationships and ...
Are your moods unpredictable, uncontrollable or consistently disproportionate to a situation? You may be experiencing excessive emotional distress due to unmanaged moods. The many challenges of today’s society seem to provoke mood swings for many people, which can debilitate relationships, careers and even physical health. Mood swings are characterized by a drastic change in emotion ...
Many hard working adults are noticing that good jobs seem to be going, going, gone – including their own. According to the U.S. Labor Department, 2008 was the worst year for lost jobs in more than six decades. If you or someone you know has been affected by this startling statistic, here are six suggestions ...
Do you notice ANTs every time you go in your kitchen? Or do you seem to have more ANTs in your car or at the office? I’m not talking about the tiny social insects that tend to show up at every picnic or can be found in your teenager’s bedroom. I am referring to the ...
Have you lost something recently? Can you recall the last time you laughed, played or actually escaped from daily boredom and really enjoyed your life? Do you plan activities that bring you joy and laughter and bring delight with your family or friends? You may have lost sight of one particular priority – the priority to have fun in your life! ...
Are you feeling overwhelmed, tired, anxious or frustrated? Everyone encounters stressful circumstances most every day. Stress is a natural reaction of your mind and body to external demands. The good news is that stress can also provide an invitation to improve your life and recognizing stress is an opportunity for individual growth and positive change. ...
Holidays are a time to enjoy traditions, family, friends and connectedness. However, we often let our behaviors prevent us from making the most of a special season. The likely result may be regret, resentment or simply tons of stress on us and our families. Here are five examples of holiday hazards, with tips to minimize ...
Life can be difficult and uncertain, especially when faced with the prospect of change. Although change is often the key that will positively alter the path of our lives, we shy away from it for fear of leaving behind our comfort zones and entering into the unknown. This fear robs us of our freedom to ...
These days everyone is really busy, but always remember there is more to life than the daily grind. You may have responsibilities to your family, your work, your children’s activities or your community. All these are competing for your valuable attention. Sometimes we let our schedule run our lives and railroad our priorities, as opposed ...
Sometimes we come to forks in the road that call for us to make difficult or perhaps drastic decisions. Our goals change, and we have varied priorities in different phases of our lives. These decisions can impact all areas of our lives, including the lives of those around us. I’m not talking about the dilemma ...
Do you lead a life of constant anxiety, fear of failure and obsess over every little bitty mistake? If so, you may be a perfectionist. Perfectionism is a very unhealthy way of living, masked as the pursuit of being a great achiever and always wishing to reach the ideal. Let’s look at some signs of ...
What are you thinking of putting off until tomorrow? What projects have you started but can’t seem to finish? What task on your to-do list keeps rolling over from week to week? Procrastination may be one of your biggest energy drainers, yet we think it somehow serves a purpose to make life a little more ...
If you’re ready to get rid of your gloomy mood and pessimism, this article is for you! It’s time to let go of misery and reduce your stress. Here are five ways to stress less, not more: Don’t track your faults Keeping a full inventory of all your faults keeps your stress level high. Don’t ...
As the anniversary of the 2010 May flood approaches, many survivors may report a return of distressing emotions. The anniversary reaction can bring several days or even weeks of anxiety, fear, nightmares, depression or flashbacks. Not all survivors or witnesses of a traumatic event experience an anniversary reaction, but for those who do, it is ...
Challenge and change are a fact of life. How do you deal with unexpected or stressful times? Resiliency is the emotional strength that helps you recover quickly and thoroughly from change and bounce back after any adversity. It is a skill that can be applied to any area of life. The following are seven main ...
