Many people feel uncomfortable when they are meeting new people for the first time. Fear of saying the wrong thing and not being liked, looking weird or dumb, fear of not “fitting in”. Some people just may notice it briefly and then begin conversations in a seemingly effortless way. It looks so natural and easy for them, and they look...[ read more ]
In grief, there are moments when the pain is so deep and intense words fall short. There is no way to articulate adequately the physical and mental anguish pulsing through your body and brain. You try and tell someone what you are going through but it is only a feeble representation of what the experience is like. It is frustrating…you...[ read more ]
This is a take-away concept from many anxiety specialists, and from professional and personal experience, it is a game-changer. The issue arises with believing the idea that all of our thoughts are real and truthful when, actually, they are not. It makes sense when you look at the brain and the way it has developed over time. As a human...[ read more ]
Those of us who run anxious can tell you point blank common bodily sensations experienced (rapid heartbeat, restlessness, difficulty sitting still), thoughts (worry, recurrent thoughts of doom, difficulty concentrating or focusing on a task) but may be hesitant to talk about the frequency of avoidance and/or checking behaviors that go along with the territory. What are avoidance and checking behaviors?...[ read more ]
As individual as grief is, there are some common questions I hear often pertaining to behavior having to do with the grieving person. People have come to me questioning their crying, whether they should cry more or less, some feeling guilt over not crying at all. There is a question if it is OK to laugh or have enjoyable moments,...[ read more ]
Some of us go through the grief process and have this idea that we are going to be feeling better, different, or “back to normal” after a certain period of time. This timeline is conceived from different places. Family, friends, even the Diagnostic Manuel of Mental Disorders throw out timelines that really mess with us. “People say I should be...[ read more ]
Nothing like a job change to bring on stress, anxiety and grief. Whether it was your choice or a decision by management to “go in a different direction,” a flood of thoughts and emotions go through your head. If it was you who quit, you may feel the rushed responsibility to complete work so that the ball doesn’t get dropped...[ read more ]
Break up, divorce, or dissolving a relationship is really tough mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. It is the death of a former relationship, and like the actual death of a loved one, produces symptoms of grief. Sleep disturbances, whether it be in the form of insomnia or wanting to just sleep most of the time, loss of energy/fatigue, loss of...[ read more ]
Worry comes in all shapes and sizes and from different sources, but a common one is worry over one’s health symptoms. Recently fueled by Covid-19, there is a great deal of awareness on physical conditions and now you find yourself conducting internet searches on symptoms. What you may find can turn out to be quite alarming and ignite anxiety. Let’s...[ read more ]
“He died a year ago today…it’s been five years now since the death of… 22 years ago my sweetheart passed…” These time markers- a year, 2 years, 10, 30 years etc. are hard. We go through the day-to-day life without the person, dealing with the grief, having some fair or even good days and some rough, but somehow the day...[ read more ]
