Articles
Grieving the Unexpected: Coping with the Loss of a Child
From the earliest hint or news that we are adding to our families, we encounter a range of emotions. Whether we give birth or adopt, the process of preparing for a life and welcoming another family member grips us with joy, anticipation, hope, and uncertainty. We want to give our children the best of everything, and most of all, ourselves. We do all that we can to make their paths look a little different, and in many ways better, than the events and circumstances that contributed to our challenges. It is all normal to experience this as part of the [...]
How Do Different Attachment Styles Show Up in the World?
If you are currently sitting at your laptop or reading this on your phone, then you are likely asking yourself the following questions: “What is my attachment style?”, “How does my attachment style show up in the world?”, “What are the different attachment styles?”, or “Why is attachment important?” If that’s you, welcome. In the field of psychology, “” is widely understood as being “the emotional-relational bond created between a parent and child during the first few years of the child’s life.” This bond is characterized by and observed through proximity-seeking behavior from the child toward the parent, and from the [...]
Understanding Types of Adult ADHD Therapy
Most of the time ADHD is diagnosed in children, but there are instances where ADHD isn’t diagnosed until a person is an adult. As the person ages the symptoms can change and often add stress to daily life. Those diagnosed with ADHD as an adult frequently prefer to use therapy for treatment rather than medication. This treatment plan involves learning how to manage and cope with the symptoms of ADHD. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be [...]
A Back-to-School Routine for Your Child with Autism or ADHD
A back-to-school routine is helpful for all children, especially children with autism or ADHD. A routine will provide stability and peace. Children with autism or ADHD do not like to live a “go with the flow” lifestyle. Clear expectations and consistent routines help them remain calm, particularly when they need to adapt to something new. School brings a lot of routines, but it is also new and ever-changing. Summer break can throw a whole family into a different routine. That’s why a back-to-school routine for your child is essential. If your child has autism or ADHD, a back-to-school routine is essential. [...]
The Value Of Emotional Intelligence In Relationships
As beautiful as relationships can be, it takes a lot of work to sustain them and make them into spaces that are nurturing and flourishing. Relationships can be difficult, especially when our emotions are involved. Understanding our own emotions and the emotions of others is a valuable life skill and necessary for healthy relationships. At the heart of happy and thriving relationships lies one key attribute: emotional intelligence. But what exactly is emotional intelligence, and how can it make such a huge difference in our relationships? This article will attempt to answer these questions and offer practical ways to develop your [...]
How to Deal with Challenges in Your Relationship with God
In every relationship, there comes a time when things go a bit wonky and out of alignment. It doesn’t have to be anyone’s fault. Sometimes, people simply miss each other, whether because someone misspoke, because of fatigue and inattention, or because one or both of you are under stress and a little bit on edge. In those situations, you might be a little inconsiderate or miss cues you’d otherwise pick up on and respond to. A person’s relationship with God is similar, in many ways, to their relationship with other people. There is communication, there are intentions and expressed purposes and [...]
5 Ways to Regulate Your Emotions
Some people seem to drift through life with an even-keeled temper and an ability to meet every challenge with logic and calmness. Others have an emotional reaction to almost every event. In the space of one morning, they might go from brooding frustration to giddy joy and then burst into tears upon seeing a video of a kitten on the internet. Neither person is right or wrong, but the latter person might experience emotional exhaustion, also called emotional dysregulation. What is emotional dysregulation? When someone is emotionally regulated, they can experience a broad spectrum of emotions without dwelling on any one [...]
Building Boundaries When You Have an Anxious Attachment Style
People with an anxious attachment style often have a strong fear of abandonment. More than others, they crave support, appreciation, and attention. Their sensors are attuned to detect the slightest change in the dynamic of a relationship, and they kick into action when they sense something is off. They may become clingy, needy, and possessive if they sense any “coolness” or distance creeping into a relationship. This amounts to having limited or non-existent boundaries. Boundaries are a way to practice self-care by prioritizing one’s own needs and wants. The person with an anxious attachment style tends not to have or maintain [...]
Toxic Shame: What It Is and How to Overcome It
The term “toxic shame” was first coined in the 1960’s by American psychologist, Silvan Tomkins, to describe a chronic sense of worthlessness resulting from being repeatedly humiliated, shamed, and rejected. Difference between normal shame and toxic shame. Shame is a normal emotion that most people experience at one time or another in response to embarrassment over something they did that was foolish or wrong, or being humiliated in front of others. It may feel uncomfortable, even painful for a while, but it is only a temporary feeling that eventually goes away. Toxic shame, on the other hand, does not come and [...]