Our world moves so quickly and can pull us in many different directions at once. Work, school, family, kids, friends, hobbies, and so on. It can be difficult to find time to slow down and for many, adequate sleep is one of the first things to suffer.
Read MoreAfter a traumatic or anxiety-inducing experience, some people notice an increase in thoughts such as “it’s all my fault,” “I can’t trust anyone” or “everywhere I go is unsafe.” After trauma, your brain can hyperfocus on the negative as a way to keep you safe from future danger.
It is working so hard to keep you safe that it doesn’t mind if it puts you down in the process.
While you may appreciate your brain’s commitment to safety, repetitive negative thoughts can take a toll on your mental health. In fact, one of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder is “persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world” (that explanation is taken from the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual that counselors use). Trauma survivors might feel like they have negative self-talk on repeat in their brain with no idea how to hit the power button or turn down the volume.
Read MoreIf you’re anything like me, colder weather and shorter days mean a number of things are changing:
1. Getting out of bed in the dark? Yeah, that feels like running a marathon.
2. Lunch looks more like pork mac and cheese than a grilled chicken salad with almonds, goat cheese and fruit.
3. Doing the dishes when you get home from work is infinitely less appealing than putting your feet up and watching holiday-themed movies.
We get out of healthier habits and slip into hibernation mode. Our bodies aren’t as well-nourished because the foods that seem more appetizing have higher levels of fat and sugar. We are lounging more and moving less. All of these factors lead us to feeling sluggish, less emotionally stable, and generally yucky!
Self-care to the rescue! I am here to tell you there are ways to boost comfort and contentment without sacrificing true care for your mind and body. Here we go.
Read MoreThis blog marks the first in a series of releasing tension in the body. What if your body’s stress was also tied to your deepest feelings? Negative emotions can manifest as physical stress, tightness, or pain in our bodies. Developing physical symptoms caused by emotions is called somatization. Some examples of somatization include: feeling chest pain throughout a heartbreak or suffering a headache when under stress. The state of our physical body can give us a lot of information about our entire being (mind, body, spirit). Attending to the psychological causes is as important as addressing the physical symptoms in our bodies.
Read MoreThe original concept of “codependent” came from wives of the alcoholics who started Alcoholic Anonymous, Bill Wilson and “Dr. Bob.” The men would have AA meetings in people’s houses and the wives would sit in the kitchen and talk over coffee and dessert. As they exchanged stories about their experiences, they realized they all had done similar things in an effort to protect their husband from consequences of their alcoholism.
Read MoreOffering mental health counseling for adolescents and adults near Lancaster, PA
The Counseling Collective LLC
1987 State Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520 and 210 West Grant Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
CALL or TEXT US: (717) 723-8040 FAX: (717) 900-9660
A diverse team of mental health experts who collaborate with you to overcome the challenges in life
