Research suggests that having a sense of purpose is more important than socializing when it comes to making you feel less lonely.
The Greatest Gift this Christmas
Does Your View of Time Affect Your Parenting?
7 Signs of a Narcissistic Parent
11 Factors That Raise the Risk for Addiction
The dopamine surge and activation of the brain’s reward centers that result from an addictive substance or behavior can, with continued use, create cravings, the loss of control, and the compulsion to continue use despite consequences. One way to avoid the cycle of addiction is to be aware of what makes you vulnerable to it.
Helping Our Sons Be Masculine - “The Hero’s Journey”
Unleashing the Power of the Female Brain
Who Am I?
Walk & Talk Therapy
Walk/talk therapy improves emotion regulation and the ability to cope with life transitions or feeling stuck. It reduces anxiety, anger, stress, depression, and both ruminative and intrusive thoughts. A recent research study found that 71% of people who engage in a nature walk felt an almost immediate decrease in depressive-related symptoms and an increase in feeling relaxed and grounded in the moment. Clarity of thinking helps synthesize new pathways of thinking that stem from thought-stopping and a sense of centering. Author Mary Davis says it best, “A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
6 Ways to Prevent Digital Obsession
The 1% Rule
Goal-setting is something most of us do on a regular basis. It’s what motivates us to push ourselves into improvement or advancement. We set out with high hopes, great intentionality, and visions of success. Thoughts center on when and then as if the two are 100% guaranteed…when I do this (whatever “this” is), then I’ll be that (whatever “that” is). “Pie in the sky” attitude.
Revitalize with Ease
In our offices and among ourselves at Spanish River Counseling Center, there is a reverberating message heard, unlike any time I can recall. There are many variations, but the overriding theme is “I’m exhausted, I’m tired, I never feel rested and/or recovered from the stresses I have faced.” Even the suggestion of a recent article that springtime is all about growth could trigger the weary. However, most of us do carry a desire to grow, at least somewhere deep down inside.
Delight in Your Child Today
Emotions, Feelings, and Moods, Oh My
Emotions, feelings, and moods are words that we use in everyday life without pausing to wonder if they are different or interchangeable. Is there really a difference between an emotion or feeling, and isn’t a mood just how you feel? We use phrases and questions such as: ‘How are you feeling? What are you feeling? You seem emotional. Wow, you are in a mood. You are in a good mood - a bad mood. How did that feel? Were you emotional?’ That’s a lot of questions and statements
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Perception
Interestingly, perception flows two ways, meaning we take it in and give it out. In other words, it includes how we see something/someone and how someone sees us. Worthy of note, there is no right or wrong perception. Perception comes from our own unique life experiences and what we bring to the table. This means that no two people have the perfectly exact same experiences and consequential responses.
Is it Really All in My Head? - Part IV
When you have anxious thoughts, they trigger symptoms of anxiety that also can be managed. What is anxiety, and how can I manage the symptoms I experience as I manage my thoughts or ANTs? Anxiety – is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, restlessness, etc. Your Sympathetic nervous system is activated - sympathetic activation causes an increased heart rate, the force of contraction, and the rate of conduction, allowing for increased cardiac output to supply the body with oxygenated blood. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. Which of the following experiences occur when you’re feeling anxious? Read through the list and check any that apply to you…
Is it Really All in My Head? - Part III
Our thoughts are often based on our personal opinion and experiences and not necessarily grounded in fact. There is also a negative bias to our thoughts when we are low or anxious. This can lead to us jumping to conclusions or thinking the worst about situations without any evidence of these thoughts being true. When challenging negative thoughts, we need to practice collecting evidence to see how accurate the thoughts really are. Factual evidence is much stronger than opinion, as there isn’t any element of doubt.
Is it Really All in my Head? - Part II
Many people have recurring negative and/or intrusive thoughts which get stuck in their heads. These thoughts can contribute to promoting anxiety. When we have positive thoughts, they cause a positive response, but negative thoughts cause a negative response. These thoughts can be automatic, and unless you think about your thoughts, they; “they just happen.” But even if your thoughts just happen, they are not necessarily correct or true.
Is it Really All in My Head? - Part I
So many people today have negative thoughts or ways of thinking, which in the counselor’s office, we refer to them as cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are thought patterns that cause people to view reality in inaccurate — usually negative ways. In short, they’re habitual errors in thinking. When you’re experiencing a cognitive distortion, the way you interpret events is usually negatively biased. Most people experience cognitive distortions from time to time. But if they’re reinforced often enough, they can increase anxiety, deepen depression, cause relationship difficulties, and lead to a host of other complications