psychologist
Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC For the first time ever, the word Corona means more than a refreshing beer with a lime, that we can drink while bonding and connecting with others. This global pandemic leaves our world in fear of what the future holds. It’s natural for this uncomfortable time of isolation and “social distancing” to feel weird for us, because our brains are wired for connection, not distance. During these trying times, there’s never been…
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The definition of cabin fever according to The Miriam-Webster Dictionary is “extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time.” Cabin fever is something we can experience during a particularly bad snow storm, during a hospital stay, or due to social distancing during this recent COVID-19 outbreak. The good news is, there are many mentally-stimulating activities we can do to help treat our cabin fever during this time. Turn…
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Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC It’s normal to have difficulty sleeping during this unprecedented time of transition and uncertainty. COVID-19 evokes emotions such as fear and anxiety, which clearly have a drastic affect upon our sleep quality and rapid eye movement (REM) cycle. Lately, I have passed along the following suggestions to my clients about how to take better care of yourself by positively influencing your sleep schedule. Take Time to Wind Down I recommend establishing a…
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Megan Mulroy, LPC Self-isolation and working from home has given me more time to check in on friends and family, which has been great. I’ve been checking in on my cousin, Maria, because she is currently in her last year of her master’s program at Grand Valley State University. She is getting a degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology. Epidemiology is basically the study and analysis of diseases. Maria has been one of our…
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Megan Mulroy, LPC Within the past month, colleges and universities across America have been forced to move to online learning platforms due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This brings a number of unparalleled challenges for college students. Graduation ceremonies have already been cancelled, and some are planning on having a virtual ceremony. Student’s licensing exams have been postponed, and students needing internship hours for graduation are left scrambling for ways to get creative to meet their requirements.…
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Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC I know I’m not the only one who is quarreling with quarantine and disappointed and shocked at how 2020 has turned out thus far. Watching people arguing in the grocery store about toilet paper is something I never expected to see. We’ve all been pushed out of our comfort zones – routines have been interrupted, plans completely destroyed and the whole world feels like it’s turned upside down. We continue to hear…
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Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Feeling anxiety related to coronavirus, also known as COVID-19? Well, it’s safe to say that you’re not alone! There are so many things to be anxious about – catching the virus itself, adjusting to a new routine during quarantine, financial burdens, school closures, cancelled events, and many other things floating around on the media. Anxiety related to this virus has seemingly crossed the line. In order to mitigate your anxiety during this…
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Uncertainty can be scary and can often increase symptoms of anxiety and stress. The end of this COVID-19 pandemic is not yet in sight, and I have been hearing from a lot of friends, family, and clients that their levels of stress and anxiety have been significantly higher since Chicago went on lockdown. It appears as though people are hoping to find answers to when life will go back to their day to day normal and tend…
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Maintaining effective communication within a relationship can be a challenging task, yet when individuals within a relationship are able to express their needs and wants appropriately, the relationship is much more likely to flourish and prosper. Expressing our desires to our loved-ones, however, can sometimes be difficult due to extraneous factors such as our fear of rejection, disapproval, or embarrassment for wanting something. Marsha M. Linehan, the founder of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and professor of Psychology…
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It is often a terrible gut-wrenching feeling when you start suspecting your significant other might be cheating on you. Maybe there was an unexplained situation that put you on high alert or possibly a comment from him/her/them or a friend that made you start suspecting. Whatever the situation might be, it is often discouraging, saddening, and isolating. Here are some suggestions to try and navigate the situation. Consider what you are feeling. You are the expert of…
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