One of the biggest challenges in treating bipolar disorder is actually accepting the diagnosis. Because, of course, if you don’t believe you have an illness, you won’t focus on managing it. Psychotherapist Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW, has run a group for individuals with bipolar disorder for over a decade.
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 4, 2018
As parents, there are lots of skills we need and want to teach our kids. Most of us focus on the basics, such as teaching our kids how to feed and dress themselves, how to tie their shoes, how to count, and read and write. After all, these are foundational
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger September 12, 2018
Bipolar disorder is a difficult illness. For Arden Tucker, an episode of depression can be especially debilitating. Like many who experience bipolar disorder, Tucker fears she won’t recapture the essence of who she really is, the person she was before the depression began. “My bipolar depression can feel insidious,” she
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger September 8, 2018
If you love what you do, it’s all-too easy for it to consume your identity—especially if your career is demanding and fast-paced. You find yourself checking email after hours, and thinking about work. All. The. Time. You find yourself falling asleep with a laptop in your bed. It’s also all-too
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger August 29, 2018
Parenting involves a lot of minutiae, and from sunup to sundown, the days can feel crammed. And amid all the details—changing diapers, potty-training, making meals, driving everywhere, helping with homework, doing bedtime—what can get lost is the bigger picture. Even if your kids are older and don’t need as much
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger August 25, 2018
You’re a sensitive person, and you’re not particularly proud of it. You’ve probably been told oh-so many times that you’re too sensitive and too emotional. You’re delicate and fragile, and you need to toughen up. You need to build thicker skin—or you’ll never survive in this world, or get anything done. Maybe
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger August 4, 2018
Picking wild blueberries on the hike before the whining started. “I’m tired. My feet hurt. I don’t want to walk anymore and it’s really hot. I need to stop and rest. Can you carry me? Why can’t you carry me?” In her defense, my 8 year old made it all
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Shared by Carla Naumburg, Ph.D, Contributing Blogger August 2, 2018
When your spouse has depression, you might be very worried, and feel utterly helpless. After all, depression is a stubborn, difficult illness. Your partner might seem detached or deeply sad. They might seem hopeless and have a hard time getting out of bed. They might be irritable with a swiftly
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger August 1, 2018
When someone outside of therapy learns that Panthea Saidipour is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, their first question is usually: “Are you analyzing me right now?” Saidipour jokingly responds they shouldn’t worry because she’s off the clock. But this question actually reveals a common concern clients have, whether they mention it aloud
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger July 29, 2018
We think of boundaries as keeping us away from our spouses, as creating distance, as thinning and weakening our bond. But boundaries—healthy boundaries—can actually strengthen our connection and bolster our relationship with our partner. For instance, when you set a boundary that creates space for both partners to focus on
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger July 13, 2018
Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 4, 2018
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