Articles
Holistic Self-Care for Your Mental Health: Taking Care of Yourself Body, Soul, and Spirit
Self-care is often perceived as selfish. But it is essential for maintaining balance in life. The metaphor “put the oxygen mask on yourself first” is an example of prioritizing personal health to ensure you have enough energy to assist others, whether at home or work. Managing stress holistically and proactively is essential for people to avoid depression and anxiety, and also helps to take an offensive stance against the devil’s schemes. The Bible states that each of us is made up of three parts: a spirit, a soul, and a body. “Now may the God of peace make you holy in [...]
Why Does God Allow Suffering? A Christian Counselor’s Perspective
It’s been a hard month for many people, for many Christians. Our hearts have been heavy with senseless acts of violence. It makes you think about why people do the things they do. It also might make many question God. When you really look at it, you can break it down to not only mental health, but also good versus evil. A former pastor of the C.S. Lewis Institute wrote, “The Bible declares that evil is far worse than we realize. Evil is an invader, a parasite, a rot. It’s a malignant cancer that has spread, a rupture in the cosmic order. [...]
Is There a Connection Between Perfectionism and Anxiety?
Perfectionism can be defined as an unhealthy attempt to portray oneself as flawless. It’s characterized by having unrealistic standards and an overly critical evaluation of oneself. Perfectionism is often rooted in a fear of failure, being viewed as incompetent, or being judged harshly for shortcomings. Perfectionism is often fueled by anxiety or self-esteem issues, while the pursuit of excellence is fueled by a deep sense of satisfaction in one’s work. The life of a perfectionist is often marked by fear and extreme caution, lacking creativity, joy, and inspiration (Kelly, 2015). How does one become a perfectionist? Perfection is usually a self-esteem [...]
Dealing with Loneliness: How Christian Counseling Can Help
There are certain times of the year when it can be especially hard to deal with loneliness. Whether it’s approaching the holidays or a significant milestone in your life, like a birthday or graduation, it can be painful to be lonely. It’s at that time that most people yearn for a sense of connection with others, but it can prove elusive for a variety of reasons. We can all experience loneliness, and there are healthy ways for us to cope with it. Loneliness as a Painful Challenge Have you ever heard the statement that you can be sitting in a crowded [...]
Temper Tantrums or Anger? Anger Issues in Children
Most parents have experienced the dreaded temper tantrum. That moment when your young child does not get their way and suffers a meltdown, typically in a busy store or another public place. For first-time parents, this can be a shock. Your seemingly lovely child is throwing a fit – hitting, kicking, throwing things, and screaming at the top of their lungs. The good news is that tantrums tend to pass and lessen as the child grows and learns to control their feelings. But what if the frustrated child turns their anger inward, and their emotions seem uncontrollable? What if they do [...]
Can Anxiety and Depression Be Aggravated By Social Media and Texting?
When social media was born, it seemed harmless, as most babies do. Decorating a MySpace wall was basically an art form back in the day. You could let your creativity go wild with custom backgrounds and carefully chosen music. Glitter text added a little pizzazz, and GIFs ruled. “Tom,” one of the MySpace founders, seen smiling in his profile, wearing a white t-shirt, was automatically added to your friends list upon signing up. Social interaction beyond that was highly encouraged and even praised, as your profile would automatically display who your “Top 8” friends were. And the biggest stressor was trying [...]
4 Things Parents May Do that Perpetuate Emotional Trauma
Though most parents do their best to parent well, some may get it wrong sometimes. Even the best parent may treat a child in ways that cause damage unintentionally. If you have reached adulthood and begun to wonder why you struggle with a certain aspect of life, you might find some answers if you evaluate your relationship with your parents as a child. Some parent-child relationship dynamics don’t change in adulthood even when they should. There is a chance that your parents may be perpetuating emotional trauma without either of you realizing it. Hurt People Whilst parenthood is fulfilling in the [...]
Avoiding Toxic Positivity in Grief
The death of a loved one is a significant, emotional event. No matter how much someone might try to prepare for it, it still hits people hard. Death is a reality for us all, yet being able to process the death of a loved one is difficult. Though some close friends or family members mean well, their efforts to cheer a grieving person can at times cause more harm than good. It’s okay to be unsure of how to support a grieving friend, because nothing truly prepares us to deal with death and loss. There are times when we wish we [...]
Depression After a Breakup: How to Heal
Ending a relationship can be challenging. Life becomes different and sometimes difficult when a person experiences a break-up. There are times when a breakup can lead to depression. This may not always be the case, but the risk of depression is genuine. Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him for the help of His presence, my God. – Psalm 42:11, NASB The emotions that follow a breakup are natural. Long relationships that come to an end affect many areas of life. Finances, home life, social [...]