In a previous blog, we talked about the three fundamentals of emotional balance: eating, sleeping and moving. Of these three, sleep is often the trickiest. Just because you’ve made time for sleep doesn’t mean it will necessarily come — or come easily when it does. The need for sleep varies between individuals, but […]
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For Better Mental Health: Eat, Sleep, Move
If you talk to a therapist about anxiety or depressed mood, it’s likely they’ll point to three primary behaviors that can have a big impact: eating, sleeping and exercise. Lack of rest, poor nutrition and inactivity can feed depression and anxiety. And while there are certainly other factors that can also affect mood, these three […]
Do You Suffer From Anhedonia? What To Do When You Just Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything
When your mood is low, you may find that you’ve lost interest in activities or relationships that were once a staple part of your life and made you happy. In psychology, such loss of interest or pleasure in people and things that were previously enjoyed is known as anhedonia. Anhedonia can occur during normal […]
Repairing Misattunement is an Opportunity for Growth
Have you ever found yourself crosswise with someone — a friend, a co-worker, a significant other or even your therapist? Maybe you felt your relationship was suddenly out of balance? Of course you have. Everyone has. That “out of balance” feeling is called misattunement: A moment when we’re misunderstood, out of synch and confused […]
Sexual Myth-buster: Emily Nagoski’s Come as You Are
A lot of science has been done on female sexuality, but many people act on and are affected by damaging beliefs shaped by shopworn myths and stereotyped media portrayals. The book Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., has helped a number of my clients unwind that thinking. You might assume I recommend Nagoski’s […]
I Just Don’t Feel Like Being Around Anyone Right Now
“I just don’t feel like being around people. I want to sit at home and read or watch TV by myself. Is there something wrong with me? Am I okay?” This is a common question I hear from individuals dealing with difficult life events. My first response is, “Yes, you’re okay. That inclination can […]
Depressed, or Just Down?
Everyone gets the blues now and then, so how do you know when your low feelings are a passing inconvenience or a signal of something more troubling? We’ll talk about some of the warning signs to look for. But whether it turns out that you’re depressed — or just down — there are a […]
Take 5: How to De-stress, Recenter and Focus With Mindfulness
Ahead of a public speaking event, I found myself struggling with a bout of pregame nerves. But instead of panicking, I did something I often advise clients to do. I sat down and practiced breath mindfulness for five minutes, which calmed and centered me and helped me focus. In the end, the event went […]
What Really Matters to You? Find Out.
They call it the “daily grind” for a reason: Days flash by as you hustle to satisfy an unappreciative boss, overcommit to community fundraisers and attend social events to keep up “appearances.” We humans have a finite amount of time and energy. All too often we spend too much of it reacting to the demands […]
When Your Brain Lies to You
Our brain usually sizes up situations quickly and accurately — but not always. Sometimes, our brain gets it all wrong. When that happens, and we accept what it’s telling us without question, we can experience needless pain and suffering. For example, if I see a neighbor while I’m walking in the park, I act friendly […]