You’ve heard phrases like “you are what you eat” or “feel good from the inside out.” These phrases imply a connection between your gut and your overall sense of well-being. But is any of that rooted in fact? Can your gut activity influence your mental status? Can it change how you feel beyond a physical level? As it turns out, yes, it can.
When most people carry in groceries, they apply a certain strategy to it. Carry the heavy stuff first, then finish with the light stuff. Once everything’s inside, you’re done for a couple weeks until you have to shop again. High-five! Carrying in groceries is similar to acute pain caused by injury or disease that heals over a short period of time. Chronic pain is different. It looks like carrying in groceries every day without much of an option to choose a lighter load over a heavy one. You don’t even get the satisfaction of fresh food after exerting so much energy. Instead, you feel constantly drained with no reward. Even worse, no one can see the bags you’re carrying. They’re invisible weights stuck to you—the reason you need an accessible parking spot. (Despite judgy glances of pain-free people around you.) Just because your struggle isn’t visible does not mean you deserve no accommodations or help. Living with constant pain, dealing with others’ judgment, and feeling like you’re missing out on life can cause anxiety symptoms to spike. The added stress can irritate physical pain, and the cycle continues. Let’s talk about anxiety, chronic pain, and how to cope with it.
Childhood is a time of innocence. It is a time of playfulness and carefree attitudes. As a child, your main goals are to have fun, make memories, and lay the groundwork for who you’ll become later in life. There shouldn’t be a care or worry in your world during those formative years. Unfortunately, life sometimes has other plans. When you experience trauma at a young age, it isn’t something that can be brushed under the rug and forgotten about. If that trauma goes unprocessed or unmanaged, there could be lasting effects that begin to appear later in the adult years. Here are some of the common ways trauma can present itself.
In the realm of mental health and therapy, practitioners often find themselves at the crossroads of compassion and ethics, facing complex and sensitive situations that require careful consideration and decision-making. These moments, commonly referred to as ethical dilemmas, stem from a variety of situations and are not unique to the field of therapy. Nonetheless, they are particularly significant in a profession dedicated to helping individuals navigate the intricacies of their emotional and psychological well-being.
Depression is an extremely common but serious mental health disorder. While it’s completely normal to experience feelings of sadness and fatigue from time to time, if you notice that these feelings persist for longer than two weeks, it’s a good indicator that depression may be at play. If you suspect that you or a loved one is struggling with depression, it’s important to seek support. If you’re not quite ready to make a call and set up an appointment with a therapist just yet, there are lifestyle changes that you can make to try to reduce or limit some of the signs and symptoms you may be experiencing. Here are four practical tips for dealing with depression.
While sensitivity can manifest in various ways, two terms that frequently come up are “Highly Sensitive Person” (HSP) and “Autism Spectrum Disorder” (ASD). These two conditions, while distinct, share some common traits that can sometimes lead to confusion as to how they are different. Let’s explore.
Trauma isn’t easy. You know that it takes time to heal, to overcome, and to move forward again. But trauma isn’t just a battle that you’re fighting in your own head. It affects your body, too. Trauma is not just a figment of the mind; it is a narrative written deep within the very cells of our body. While we try to move on mentally, our bodies have their own way of keeping score. Often, trauma manifests itself in physical sensations, patterns of tension, or even chronic illnesses that can seem inexplicable. From the subtle tightening in your chest to chronic pain or fatigue, your body communicates distress signals long after the traumatic event has passed. Let’s learn more about some of the common ways you can feel trauma in your body.
At least 20 percent of children are raised by a parent struggling with substance abuse. In more than half of those cases, they are children of alcoholics. Life is uncertain and unpredictable. It can also be frightening and violent. This, of course, can lead to trauma and typically has a long-term impact. Emotional needs are not met. Succeeding at school can feel impossible. You are neglected while being forced to take steps to keep your home life a secret. Clearly, substance abuse affects far more than the person struggling with addiction. And the outcomes can linger well into adulthood.
You’ve known for a while that you’ve been struggling with anxiety. At first, you may not have wanted to admit it to yourself. But you can’t ignore the signs and symptoms you’ve been experiencing anymore. A lot of people go to therapy or take medication for anxiety, but that may not feel like something you’re interested in or ready to try — and that’s okay. Luckily, there are many different treatment options for anxiety, and medication isn’t the only combatant. Let’s learn more about effective natural solutions for reducing anxiety.
You speak about the benefits of therapy day in and day out. As a therapist, sure, it’s your job, but you’ve also seen it work for your own clients. You have several clients that have seen and experienced the benefits firsthand. You have new clients that are slowly opening up and starting to see the benefits as well. Being a therapist isn’t an easy job. Sure, it’s a rewarding one, but no two days look exactly the same. Some days are easier than others. Some clients experience breakthroughs while others experience breakdowns. You’d be lying to yourself if you didn’t admit feeling the same way from time to time. Let’s learn more about the benefits of therapy for therapists. Here are 4 key benefits of therapy for therapists.
