It seems that finding a great therapist is kind of like searching for a needle in a haystack. This decision is intensely personal and the fit has to be just right or it doesn’t work. It’s kind of like buying a pair of shoes. Just because I wear a size 8 doesn’t mean that every size 8 shoe is going to feel good to my foot. Often, I have to try on several pair of shoes to find one that really fits. The same is true with finding a therapist. What makes finding the “just right” therapist so hard?
Read MoreWhen Someone You Love Has PTSD
Watching someone you love suffer with PTSD is deeply sad and painful. It can make you feel powerless, confused, and frustrated with your loved one and with yourself. You want so much to help yet it seems like everything you do or say is wrong somehow. All of this is extremely tough on any relationship. PTSD, like any other mental health issue, can cause an ever-widening wedge between two people that may not be repairable.
Read MoreCaught in a Bad Romance?
Most of us remember Lady Gaga’s ginormous hit, “Bad Romance”, which came out in 2009. In it, she so eloquently described what’s it’s like to be in an unhealthy or toxic relationship with another person, feeling torn between feeling like you can’t live with them or without them. It can be a frightening and confusing place to be.
Read More5 Signs of Hidden Depression
Most people are well aware of the more obvious signs of depression like crying or feeling sad all or most of the time. While some experience depression in this way, a lot of people with depression don’t necessarily feel sad and don’t cry. Instead, they might have “hidden” depression. With this kind of depression, symptoms tend to be much more subtle and less severe but persistent over a longer period of time. They’re easier to miss, at least at first.
Read MoreCan Adverse Childhood Experiences Predict PTSD?
Most people have heard of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People who have it often feel intense fear, panic attacks, and have sudden, explosive fits of anger. They find themselves avoiding crowds, loud noises, or situations that remind them of the traumatic experience. Many have terrifying nightmares and flashbacks. All of these are some common signs of PTSD.
Read MoreWho Cares About Self-Care?
Let’s get real about self-care for a minute. The truth is we don’t value self-care in our culture. In fact, we’re often called “selfish” or “lazy” when we do things to take care of ourselves. Maybe we even call ourselves those names. During a divorce or other especially stressful time, taking care of yourself is likely not even on your radar. It might be something you’ve never actually done.
Read More5 Tips for Managing Stress and Reducing Anxiety
Researchers have been studying the effects of major life events for decades, most notably Holmes and Rahe, who developed the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale in 1967. Their research looked at the connection between certain life events and illness. They found that the more major life events a person experienced, the higher their risk of experiencing serious illness. On this scale, death of a spouse was the most stressful life event, going through a divorce was second, and marital separation was third.
Read More7 Sleep Hacks to Help Your Depression
One of the most common symptoms of depression is change in sleep patterns. For some people with depression, this means sleeping too much. For most with depression, it means sleeping too little. Many people with depression have a lot of trouble falling asleep because they’re replaying events over and over in their head. It’s almost like a movie that they can’t turn off.
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