Articles
How to Cultivate Healthier Relationships Through Effective Listening
Therese and Steven are a young couple that’s been happily married for three and a half years, but the past six months have been quite difficult. Therese’s job has steadily required more from her, especially as her company had to downsize during the pandemic and they aren’t able to hire new people just yet. She’s often home quite late, and leaves early to get her day started. When she’s home, she feels tired and finds it hard to go out and have fun like she and Steven used to. Steven is in graduate school, and his studies consume much of his [...]
10 Bible Passages to Encourage Your Marriage
Marriage is one of God’s best gifts. Marriage can also be one of the most complicated relationships in which you will participate. Committing yourself to one person for a lifetime, for better or for worse, takes work. It requires daily, hourly, ongoing perseverance. Obviously, marriage needs love, and words and actions to fill the well of love you have for one another. It takes prayer, deep breaths and excessive patience, and communication skills that you’ll likely have to develop and practice. Marriage requires investments of time and fun, creativity and acts of service, planning, and spontaneity. Bible passages about marriage. When [...]
What Depression Feels Like and How to Cope
Depression comes in many forms. It can be caused by brain circuitry, an imbalance of brain chemicals, trauma, uncontrollable life events, genetics, or family history. What depression feels like is a persistent sadness that envelops you and alters your thoughts and emotions. It leaves you fatigued and often isolated. Depression is diagnosed by professionals using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 5th Edition from the American Psychiatric Association. A licensed mental health care provider reviews assessments, symptoms, length, and quantity of depressive episodes to make a diagnosis and suggest treatment. Below is a list of several common depression [...]
Recognizing Signs of Anxiety
Anxiety can feel like a vice, gripping you at the most inconvenient times. One moment, you are fine, and the next, you can barely catch your breath. Anxiety can cause long-term detrimental effects physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can affect your relationships and your work life. Recognizing the signs of anxiety and getting help when needed can make the difference between being stuck in an invisible prison of fear and stepping out into the life God created for you. Signs of anxiety. If you have ever felt the overwhelming sensation of anxiety, then you know it can be smothering. Anxiety not [...]
How Growing Closer to Christ Leads to Self-Improvement
Some Christians mistakenly believe that to pursue self-improvement is to glorify the self instead of God. However, this is not true, as chasing after Jesus will cause you to adopt His characteristics, becoming more like Him as you seek after Him. The only way to nurture a relationship with Jesus Christ is to draw closer to Him through studying the Bible, praise, worship, and prayer. The benefits of growing closer to Christ take self-improvement to a whole new level. What is a personal relationship with Christ? Do you have a best friend? Do you have someone closer to you than a [...]
How Body Insecurity Affects Mental Health
Body insecurity can have a powerful impact on mental health. We may be aware of the brain-body connection, but we may have a harder time grasping the concept that how we think about our bodies influences how we feel about ourselves, and our self-worth. Body insecurity erodes confidence. We take fewer chances for good opportunities. We can feel as if everyone is talking about us and pointing out our flaws. These intrusive thoughts can affect our mental health, but there are ways to overcome body insecurity. How body insecurity affects mental health. Our emotions are tightly wound around our thoughts. When [...]
Different Types of Attachment and Their Effect on Relationships
How things begin makes a huge difference in what happens after. If your first meeting with someone is unpleasant, that may mean that your relationship is marked by that negative interaction and may never recover. However, an inauspicious beginning doesn’t automatically mean that the ending is already written. After all, things change, and predicted outcomes can be averted. This all relates to attachment and how a person engages in relationships with others. Just because you have a particular attachment style in your relationships does not mean it cannot be changed for the better. Before getting ahead of ourselves, it’s important to [...]
Why Do We Look to Jesus When We Are Anxious and Depressed?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3 Why look to Christ? Hebrews 12 encourages [...]
When Forgiveness Is Hard: Survivors of Abuse and Trauma
You are sitting in your counselor's office. After weeks or months of tears and work you are well on your way to healing from your traumatic past. You have learned to identify triggers and work through panic attacks and anxiety. You are healing. It feels so good. Then comes the question, “Are you ready to forgive them?” All the work, all the healing comes down to this moment and you sit there, wondering how to answer. What forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is many things. It is a loving, humble choice that often comes with great relief, but there are some things [...]