“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (Death: The […]
Since I do not have OCD, it is difficult for me to imagine what it must be like to live with the extreme anxiety OCD fosters. Nevertheless, even though I do not live with obsessions and compulsions that interfere with my daily life, I do from time to time have feelings of anxiety.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)? For me, it is hand washing. I also think of people repeatedly checking their homes before leaving to make sure all the windows and doors are locked, the coffee pot is off, etc. Let’s just say I once had a […]
I have never had what you would call an “anger problem.” However, during graduate school to become a licensed mental health counselor, I discovered two main things about myself and anger. The first is related to forgiveness and the second involves stress and daily life.
Christmas dinner and you are the host. Here is what you are thinking as your guests arrive. You must remember not to offer your best friend’s mother a glass of wine because she is a recovering alcoholic. You must remember not to talk to your grandfather about his failing health because last year when you […]
Stores set out Halloween merchandise as soon as the back-to-school displays come down. And immediately after that shelves are stocked with Christmas items. In fact, in a store near my house, they put the Halloween and Christmas stuff up simultaneously, side by side. We are made aware of the holiday season between October and January […]
I have been in many romantic relationships throughout my lifetime, some of them even long term. I have been heartbroken and I have experienced conflict in relationships. BUT, I have never been divorced. When it came time for me to write this piece I did not want to write something trite on a subject I […]
If you are or have ever been married, think back to your wedding day. Picture the moment right before the ceremony began. Whether you were waiting at the alter or getting ready to walk down the aisle, you probably were not thinking, “I am not in this for the long haul. I am just gonna […]
Buying supplies, clothes shopping, meeting the teacher, setting up carpools and finding after school care are just some of the things parents have to do before school starts. The back to school season can raise parents’ stress levels for many reasons.
One definition of stress is, “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation” (Merriam-Webster). Stress can be good (planning a wedding) or bad (losing a loved one), but stress of any kind is hard on the mind, body and spirit.
