Just as important as getting a regular physical checkup, we need to know the status of our mental health to be sure we’re on the right track. But we first need to know what we’re looking for. What exactly is mental health anyway? Mentalhealth.gov defines mental health as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It…
If you’ve been in the workforce much time at all, I’m sure you’ve noticed varied types of behavior from other employees. Some of this is simply due to individual personality traits. But other times, behavior may signal something deeper, such as a mental health issue. The conduct of co-workers is learned over time—after watching them…
Are you late almost everywhere you go? Do you see yourself coming and going? If so, you may be missing restful margins in your life. Margins are considered boundaries of protection for our souls against the craziness of society’s fast pace. Many of us are racing through a lifestyle where busyness and exhaustion are considered status…
What is it like in January where you live? For most of my life, I’ve resided in locations where the first few months of the year are rather bleak. The temperatures are cold. The streets become slushy. And the sky is draped with a curtain of gray. Although typical for January weather, it makes “wintertime…
Taking short glances back in life are one thing, but remaining in past occurrences—often filled with discontentment and sorrow—can become detrimental to one’s future outlook.” Regretful points to ponder Regrets leave us feeling stuck—or heartsick—over the past. I know I’m in regret when I consistently think, It shouldn’t have been this way! Regrets might be about my…
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting isolation have resulted in a heightened sense of anxiety among all age groups in our population, especially those sixty years of age and older. Anxiety is a symptom of distress. Beyond feeling stressed, anxiety is the more persistent behavior of worrying and feeling fearful as articulated in a statement…
Every child goes through various stages in life when they explore, grow, and develop into who they are supposed to be. During this time, children are learning about themselves—their likes and dislikes—as well as their hopes and fears. But what if you begin seeing your child’s personality change to where her fears outweigh her hopes?…
Are you someone known for nitpicking details before others are “allowed” to see the end product? Do you cringe when you think your product (birthday cake, office or home decor, presentation at work, etc..) is not absolutely perfect? If so, you may be suffering from perfectionistic tendencies. What exactly is perfectionism? Perfectionism is a common…
The strange and scary sensations overwhelmed me. It felt as though I had no ability to control my composure. One time, the perceptions were so strong that I headed to my doctor’s office for fear that I was having a heart attack! These symptoms, as I later learned, were the result of having panic attacks.…
Last year brought many changes as a result of the pandemic that altered life as we knew it. Now, many children are experiencing anxiety and parents are wondering what to do. Anxiety in children can look very different depending on the child and his age. Younger children often seem irritable and have meltdowns or tantrums. They…