Is this a scenario you can relate to?: You sit down in front of the television or computer with a bag of chips or pint of ice cream intending to eat only one serving, but before you even know what’s happened the entire bag or pint is gone. And you have no real recollection of tasting or even enjoying it. You seem...[ read more ]
Millions of people deal with stress and anxiety on a daily basis. Whether it’s a result of phobias, depressions, or post-traumatic stress, anxiety can take a toll on our mind and health. If you deal with anxiety you most likely have looked into ways you can help calm your emotional roller coaster. Perhaps you’ve even tried some self-help techniques in...[ read more ]
Mindfulness is essentially just a fancy word for awareness. Mindful exercises are not confined to those who are deeply invested in meditation. Keep reading for some surprisingly perfect times to practice being mindful during everyday activities. Upon hearing the word “mindfulness,” one may conjure up images of meditation stools, burning candles, and bare feet on yoga mats. The word may...[ read more ]
If you’re someone who spends most of the night tossing and turning and checking the time on the clock, you’re definitely not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, close to 20% of Americans suffer from some kind of sleep disorder. That’s a lot of people walking around cranky and groggy! Symptoms of Insomnia People troubled by insomnia experience...[ read more ]
The statistics on teen suicide are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year, an average of 8% of American teens will attempt suicide. This makes suicide the second leading cause of death for kids aged 10 to 24. In fact, it is believed that more teenagers die from suicide than from cancer, pneumonia, birth defects, AIDS, influenza and heart...[ read more ]
Have you ever stayed up all night stressing about something that never ended up happening? Maybe you’ve assumed that someone doesn’t like you, only to find out they’d like to be your friend. Or, does it seem like everyone else has their lives together except for you? These are examples of thinking mistakes. Unfortunately, no one is immune to them,...[ read more ]
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans reported having an unmet mental health need (MHA, 2018). So, why aren’t more people getting help? Mental Health America states that the largest obstacles American's face to obtaining mental health services are finances, education and awareness, and social stigma. (See the facts, stats, and data on Mental Health America's website. Although these barriers exist for...[ read more ]
When you think about trauma, incidents such as violent assaults or terrible car accidents may come to mind. But there many other, more subtle forms of trauma that can negatively affect our lives and hinder our relationships. Less noticeable emotional trauma is often overlooked and minimized. We may be expected to “get over” certain emotional pains, which can lead to...[ read more ]
Pets seem to have the ability to calm us, center us, and just make us feel all around better about being on the planet. Recently, many mental health benefits of having a pet have been discovered. Here are some reasons to dote on your furry friend: Petting Reduces Stress Your pet may love when you pet them, but it turns...[ read more ]
In the therapy world, we teach clients to use their five senses to reduce anxiety and relax. We recommend finding items from each of your five senses to create your own space to Zen out. If you don’t have space to dedicate, a box or bin of these items that you can access will do as well. Creating your space...[ read more ]
