Blog Archives
The new year provides the perfect opportunity to evaluate the health and well-being of not only yourself, but also your important relationships. How have you felt that your relationships have been this year? Are there areas for improvement? If you are in an intimate relationship, have you been a good partner? Have you helped to create a healthy relationship for you and your partner? This year, challenge yourself to adopt these three relationship resolutions focused on building…
No one wants to get a divorce, and it is an event no one expects to happen to him or her. Unfortunately, people change, things happen, and the decision to divorce must be made in some cases. However, divorce does not always have to be a horrible, drawn-out, hostile and expensive ordeal. Don’t get me wrong; divorce is ALWAYS hard, especially with children. But there are ways to go about it that can be less painful and…
When you have kids, the most difficult part of a divorce is often not the ending of the marital relationship, but the breakup of a family. It can be a tricky road to navigate when children are in the mix. You have probably heard that you should “stay together for the kids”- and this is actually not bad advice! While divorce may set parents free and make them happier, these benefits do not extend to children. Studies…
There are many reasons why people choose to get a pet- and to add to that list is something you might not expect- furry (or hairless!) friends can actually make us healthier. Research shows that having a pet can boost your mental and physical health- here’s how: They calm you down. Petting an animal actually physically reduces stress responses in people. According to the National Institute of Health, the stress hormone cortisol is reduced and heart rate…
With the holidays upon us, it is a time for much celebration and festivity. Parties and gatherings, although enjoyable, can fill one’s calendar quickly. What is meant to be a time of joyful get-togethers often ends up feeling overwhelming and chaotic. Financial strain, busy schedules, and dealing with complicated relationship dynamics during the holiday season can easily detract from the happiness this season can bring. With these mounting demands on your time and energy, it is important…
There are subtle ways that parents can make the mistake of parentifying their kids. This term means to reverse roles, causing the child to parent the adult. There are two forms of parentification: instrumental and emotional. Instrumental refers to the child actually doing physical tasks that a parent should do, such as taking care of younger siblings or even an adult relative, maintaining the household, or paying the bills. Emotional parentification happens when the child becomes the…
Oftentimes, psychological issues as opposed to medical problems cause erectile dysfunction. With the invention of Viagra it seems so easy to treat ED these days- just pop the blue pill and the problem is solved. It is much more difficult to think about addressing deeper psychological issues that can be causing ED, and certainly takes a lot more time- but can be a more fulfilling and permanent fix. There are many reasons you or your partner may…
Just about 7% of the adult American population is struggling with depression. This means that many of you have experienced this yourself or are in an intimate relationship with someone who has dealt with the challenges that depression brings. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and confused about your partner’s depression, and oftentimes, partners end up feeling frustrated about their inability to help their loved one to feel better. Although it is normal to feel worried…
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for support right now. You can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline any time by calling or texting 988. If you’re worried about your teen’s immediate safety, 988 is also for you. Few things are harder for a parent than realizing your child has been hurting themselves on purpose. It is frightening, it is confusing, and it can leave you feeling some mix of scared,…
The lonely elderly woman whose home is overrun with cats, the gentleman who cannot throw anything away, and the shopaholic who keeps buying despite rising debts, these are common images that come to mind when we think of hoarding. However, hoarding is far more complex than these stereotypes suggest. Behind closed doors, hoarding disorder is a relatively common mental health condition, affecting an estimated 2-5% of the U.S. population. Understanding what hoarding truly is can help individuals…