Articles
What is the Source of Worry? Does Constant Worrying Mean Something is Wrong?
What is the source of worry? Does worrying constantly mean something is wrong? The human brain is immensely complex, making it difficult to understand and interpret all its unique functions. First, let’s consider the physiological and psychological aspects of worrying. Physiological Aspects of Worrying The brain has two primary systems that take in information and decipher it throughout the body. These systems are the peripheral and central nervous systems, but the central nervous system is responsible for receiving information that can potentially harm us. Environmental experiences (i.e., being startled, anxious, etc.) are first relayed through the thalamus to the hypothalamus of [...]
Stress Management Tips for the Working (and Stressed) Mom
Chronic stress can be a killer. Stress contributes to sleepless nights, depression, anxiety, weight gain or loss, mood swings, irritability, high blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. It can also result in physical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, and Type II diabetes. As a working mother, whether outside the home or remotely, most responsibilities, if not all, fall on your shoulders. You know what needs to be done, and you do it, but are you short-changing yourself? Are you stretched too thin? These stress management tips can help you balance the fine line between Supermom and the woman within. Stress [...]
Identifying 5 Most Common Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders we face today, with nearly 1 in 5 adults experiencing symptoms of anxiety in a year. We also see anxiety numbers being nearly twice as high in women as in men, but both experience anxiety at high levels (as shown in this breakdown by rehabseekers). Anxiety isn’t just rising in adults; it is rising in most segments of the population. There are many different factors for this in our modern world, including a better understanding of anxiety and how it presents itself across demographics. In this article, I want to explore [...]
9 Quick Ways to Deal with Depression and Anxiety
Do you suffer from depression, anxiety, and panic attacks? Do you feel that there is so much more to life than these emotions that make it hard to lift your head or leave the house? You were created for much more than experiencing anxiety and depression. God knew our hearts and minds would become downcast at times. We can reach out to Him and mental health professionals to help us in dealing with depression and anxiety. There are also lifestyle tweaks we can use to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety quickly. How to Deal with Depression and Anxiety Although [...]
Parenting Depressed Teens
If you’re looking for tips and advice on parenting depressed teens, this article is for you. It’s been said that men are from Mars and women are from Venus in their psychological differences and styles of communication. Sometimes it can be as accurate to say the same of teens and parents; the gap between a teen and their parents can feel like the width of a galaxy. The sweet, communicative child can turn into a brooding, distant stranger in a few short years. It often feels impossible to know what they’re going through. For the parent or caregiver, this decade can [...]
How Your Attachment Style Influences Your Relationships
Attachment theory is one of the most acknowledged psychological theories in the last fifty years (Shaver & Mikulincer, 2009). Bowlby, one of the theorists who developed this theory, believed that every person is born with an attachment behavioral system that is wired for survival. The goal of the attachment system is to attain protection and support from those around us in dangerous situations, and it is vital early in life because babies and young children are unable to defend themselves from danger (Shaver & Mikulincer, 2009). Yet, researchers believe that we do not grow out of our attachment style as we [...]
Coping with Grief: Grieving Together with Your Spouse
One of the things implied by being a couple is that you are present with and for each other in better or worse times. Life comes with many joys, but also many sorrows. Couples walk with each other in these seasons, ideally providing support and comfort. When grief visits a family, a couple stands together as they process their loss. Though two people may be in similar circumstances, they don’t necessarily experience them in the same ways. Each spouse may have different ways of grieving, the grief will hit them in different ways, and they will need to find ways to [...]
5 Ways Love Can Help Every Aspect of Your Health
On February 14 of each year, we celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. Although some people reject the idea of celebrating love on just one day a year, love can surprisingly have a profound effect on every aspect of our health. Studies have shown that happily married couples get more restful sleep and that love releases hormones that help people relax, increase their immune function, and help them ward off disease. Love is an essential part of a productive and well-lived life. Here are five ways to affect every aspect of your health. Physical As stated above, love profoundly affects a person’s [...]
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of June holds many significant meanings: the beginning of summer, Father’s Day, and men’s mental health awareness. As a male mental health counselor and as a man who has received counseling more than once, I’ll be the first to say, men, take that first step, trust in yourself, and invest in your healing. This article will focus on the important role men play in our society and how so many men are often impacted in ways that often lead to men feeling alone. What does it mean to be a man? Are there stronger or weaker examples of men? [...]