For some of us, happiness is not a given. We have to earn it. We have to work and struggle to prove we deserve it. Too many of us are working at it in an unhealthy way and wondering why our happiness is getting farther away instead of closer. The
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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 22, 2018
Anxiety is a completely normal physical response to protect ourself against a threat. It’s not ‘crazy’, ‘bitchy’, or controlling, and it is not a weakness to worry. There is a primitive part of the brain that’s geared toward driving our attention to threats. When it does, the body surges with
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 22, 2018
Henry had come to town to be with his father, who was in failing health. He thought he’d stay a week or two and then return home. However, his father began opening up and engaging in deeper talks, something Henry never had when he was younger. Henry was getting insight
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 22, 2018
Henry realized that he had not been in control all these years as he thought, he was just playing roles, wasting his life seeking approval. The game of tug-o-war was over, he was not going to pick up the rope and get dragged through the mud. Henry dropped the
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 22, 2018
My sister and me in Taos, New Mexico, circa 1984. Look how happy we are. I think it’s because we didn’t take the last run. Ahem. Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, which has got me thinking about my Dad. He gave me a lot of advice over the
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Shared by Carla Naumburg, Ph.D, Contributing Blogger June 14, 2018
When you have ADHD you can easily feel overwhelmed and paralyzed. You may have a hard time with everything from prioritizing tasks to completing projects to managing your time to organizing your home. You also procrastinate. You’re constantly running late. Planning makes you break out in hives (figuratively). You feel
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger June 2, 2018
Bipolar disorder is a difficult, complicated illness. And like any illness, it can naturally spill over into your relationship. As couples therapist Julia Nowland noted, “Bipolar disorder can be an emotional roller-coaster ride for the couple, with many ups and downs that mimic the disorder itself.” But this doesn’t mean
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger May 28, 2018
At least they have their fascinators on. So, we got that going for us, which is nice. I can’t stop thinking about the Royal Wedding. You bet your tushy we watched it. A friend came over with fascinators, homemade scones, and clotted cream. I broke a cardinal rule of parenting
Read More Shared by Carla Naumburg, Ph.D, Contributing Blogger May 23, 2018
In addition to therapy, medication can be an invaluable treatment for clinical depression. It may alleviate symptoms and literally save lives. Which is why having an array of medications to choose from is vital. Recently, in the U.S., three antidepressants were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger May 21, 2018
“Can we have some screen time?” I get this request from my daughters (ages 7 & 9) almost every afternoon. Sometimes I say yes, sometimes I say no. When I say no, sometimes my kids throw tantrums, but mostly they don’t. Mostly they find something else to do, sometimes on
Read More Shared by Carla Naumburg, Ph.D, Contributing Blogger May 11, 2018