Articles
Why Am I So Angry All the Time? Practical Tips to Overcome Anger
The Heart Angle It is important to discuss anger from a heartfelt perspective, although anger is not known for being a heartfelt emotion. When a person asks why they are so angry all the time, the root cause may not be known, so the question will only be partially answered. The root cause for a great deal of the anger that is experienced derives from issues or matters of the heart. There is a saying that says there is a thin line between love and hate. Indeed, it is so thin that at times their distance from one another is small. [...]
True Transformation: Rewiring the Brain with Healthy Thoughts
Have you ever thought, “I want transformation but don’t know how to achieve it”? Or “Why am I not experiencing lasting change?” Have you tried hard to make some changes in your life, but you still feel little to no progress? Or maybe you experienced some good changes, but they did not last long? What is the key to authentic and lasting transformation? The answer is in our thoughts. The Garden Image Let me explain with an image. Imagine your mental health is a large garden. The goal is to keep the garden flourishing with good plant life, which will represent [...]
Anger Management Strategies to Help You Control Your Anger
Anger is a powerful emotion that can derail your life if you allow it. Not only can unbridled anger cloud your judgment, but it can also rob you of your sense of peace while damaging relationships, sometimes irreparably. As troublesome as it is, we should remember that anger isn’t necessarily sinful or against God’s will for our lives. Scripture reminds us, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” (Ephesians 4:26, ESV) While anger isn’t necessarily sinful, the challenge that we all face is that anger can be difficult to manage. It’s way too [...]
Breaking Out of the Sleep Anxiety Spiral
Some people get to a certain age, and they realize that they have been exhausted for months or even years. Sleep loss affects an array of people, from teens in the middle of exams, new parents adjusting to the demands of an infant, or elderly people dealing with rapid changes in their lives. Some people are simply tired because events like these are demanding, but many people are tired because they have sleep anxiety. Sleep anxiety is not the same as insomnia; it is the things that cause insomnia. It is the fear you start to feel as bedtime nears, as you [...]
When to Seek PTSD Help So You Can Feel Better
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition affecting roughly 13 million people in the United States annually. The trauma disorder interferes with daily activities if left untreated, as well as disrupts relationships and responsibilities. Knowing when to seek help can enable you to work with a counselor to build a customized plan for managing symptoms of PTSD. Signs to Seek PTSD Help The symptoms of PTSD can cause mental distress and physical issues. Unfortunately, many people may be unaware that the anxiety they feel is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. People seek PTSD help after the following: Involved in a violent event, such [...]
The Emotional Toll of Resentment and the Impact of Godly Forgiveness
Bitterness from old wounds left unattended can creep in like a shadow, unexpected and quiet. It brawls with forgiveness, which is the key to emotional freedom. This freedom feels like it’s impossible to grasp as we try to let go of the bitterness in ourselves. We carry this bitterness in strained marriages or fractured friendships, and we hold on to something that seems to erode the soul. This inward discomfort of appearing strong but inwardly breaking results in a silent struggle. Christian counselors are familiar with this tension, and they can provide a faith-based approach to help focus on the pain [...]
Understanding the Types of BPD and Their Connection to Substance Abuse
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects how individuals experience themselves and relate to the world around them. Seeking relief from the emotional intensity that comes with BPD, individuals sometimes turn to substance abuse as a common coping mechanism. To understand why some people find themselves caught in patterns that they want to escape, we first have to understand the types of BPD and how they intersect with addiction. There is a relationship between these two struggles that goes beyond a simple cause-and-effect. It reflects deeper questions about identity, managing pain, and a human need for stability. The way BPD manifests can determine [...]
The Smile that Hides Repressed Anger
Sometimes anger can convince people that it’s not there. It doesn’t always come with a loud voice in a heated moment. It can roll in quietly, disguised as a tight jaw, sudden irritability, or a withdrawn spirit. Repressed anger is a deceptive emotion that many people carry. By the time it’s recognized, it’s been living under the surface for months, and it no longer feels like anger. It has been shaping decisions and relationships for months or even years in ways that are hard to trace back to the source. Scripture has clear guidelines on anger: In your anger do not [...]
Is It Possible for Kids to Control their Emotions? A Child Therapist Weighs In
Upon asking if it is possible for kids to control their emotions, it is equally important to ask whether it is reasonable to expect it. As a therapist who has worked with children five years old and older, I will answer yes to both questions. Yes, it is possible for kids to control their emotions. And yes, it is reasonable to expect a child five years old to be able to control their emotions. However, defining what that control means and looks like is key to understanding how it will look in operation and function in a child. Controlling emotions refers to [...]