Do you know anyone who would say they are not stressed? I can honestly say I do not know any one person who does not have stress in at least one life area. Stress can be good when it helps us finish a project, master a new skill or rescue someone in danger. But prolonged […]
Do you live with someone struggling with a mental illness? Are you a caregiver for an aging parent or seriously ill spouse? Do you have an active relationship with a close friend battling depression? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are caring for someone with special needs and are a “caregiver,” […]
I have a dear friend who lost her husband a few years ago. She is a single mom now with two young boys. I remember wanting to convey to her that I would be there for her, no matter what. I came across this story that conveyed beautifully what I wanted her to know.
A long time ago I attended a training on “knowing when your container is full.” I know the title sounds funny, but what I learned by doing one simple exercise during that training has stuck with me years since.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could reduce stress in your life? Well, you can. The first step to reducing stress is identifying your stressors. This part of stress reduction is fairly easy. Most people can readily rattle off what is causing the most stress in their lives—marital conflict, sickness, financial hardship, strained relationships, work […]
I could write a novella about drama I have personally experienced during past holiday seasons. I am definitely still learning how to prevent and diffuse interpersonal conflict, especially during the holiday season, but here are some things I have discovered.
Last month I wrote about damage control and managing conflict. I have found that many of my clients (and friends) have to deal with more interpersonal conflict and damage control than usual during the holiday season. This is because the holidays are a time when we are expected to spend time with family members. And, […]
In the practical blog on conflict I offered some simple steps to dealing with conflict. Now I want to talk about how I (and I think most people) handle conflict.
Anxiety. Worry. Nervousness. Concern. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 28.8% of Americans experience anxiety annually, in some form (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, etc.). Surprisingly, the average age of onset for anxiety is eleven. It is hard to believe that children as young as eleven (and younger) […]
We therapists (or at least some in my circle) talk about how the “universe” sends you certain types of clients at certain times in your life. For whatever reason, over the years, the “universe” has sent me many, many people with PTSD.
