If you’re often overwhelmed by worry, you’ve probably looked into steps you can take to relieve your anxiety, and you might have come across something known as “stress baking.” Does baking really help reduce anxious thoughts? For many people, it does! Here are a few reasons why baking can be a great stress reliever:Baking forces you to focus on step-by-step...[ read more ]
Co-parenting can present obstacles at any time of the year, but it tends to be especially difficult on birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. Here are a few tips for how to approach your next big event:Decide on a schedule ahead of time. Chances are good that your co-parenting schedule will already be laid out in your custody agreement. If...[ read more ]
Parenting challenges don’t stop just because your child has become an adult. Below are some of the most common challenges that parents face once their child reaches adulthood (ages 22+):Differences in opinion – Even though your child is now an adult, they’ll always be your baby, and you may feel like you should continue sharing your opinion about all aspects...[ read more ]
Have you limited your communication and interactions with a family member, or stopped them entirely? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by Psychology Today, over 25% of the U.S. population is currently estranged from a family member, and more than 43% have experienced family estrangement at some point during their lives.In many cases, estrangement is necessary, such...[ read more ]
Claustrophobia causes someone to intensely fear confined spaces (for example, airplanes, caves, elevators, MRI machines, and tunnels). In some cases, even thinking about being in an enclosed space can produce symptoms. The fear associated with claustrophobia can be so extreme that it interferes with a person’s ability to work, attend school, and participate in other routine activities. Many people with...[ read more ]
You may have heard about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but what about post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED)? PTED is a condition that produces chronic feelings of bitterness and resentment after someone experiences a negative life event (for example, being bullied, assaulted, or fired from a job).PTED may be more likely to occur if the person worked hard to achieve their goals...[ read more ]
You’ve probably heard of “self-care Sunday,” a recent trend that involves devoting one day a week to nourishing your mind and body. Whether you want to start practicing self-care on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays—or every day—good for you! Depending on the practices you adopt, self-care can boost your mental and emotional health, enhance your physical health, strengthen your relationships, and improve...[ read more ]
Addiction can take many forms—for example, people can become addicted to smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using drugs, gambling, and shopping. But regardless of the type of addiction in question, many members of the mental health community use the “four Cs” to determine whether someone is an addict: compulsion, craving, control, and consequences.1. CompulsionAs someone becomes addicted to something—whether it be...[ read more ]
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that focuses on identifying inaccurate or negative thinking, viewing difficult situations more clearly, and responding to those situations more effectively. CBT can be administered on an individual basis or in a group setting, and in some cases, it may be combined with another form of treatment (for example, medication). When...[ read more ]
Do you tend to start feeling unhappy around the same time each year? If so, you might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that the American Psychiatric Association estimates affects about 5% of U.S. adults. Below, we explore what causes SAD and describe the symptoms that it often produces.What Causes SAD?Researchers are still working to determine exactly...[ read more ]
