Blog entries http://www.maryjorapini.com Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:38:44 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/what-causes-poor-body-image-for-teens.html <p>We want our kids to grow up liking themselves, the way they look, and what they contribute to their lives as well as the lives of others. Recently, I was involved in a show on FOX 26 which featured a woman who has the largest breasts in South America. What possessed this woman to keep going to the size of double &ldquo;Ks,&rdquo; on her way to &ldquo;Ms?&rdquo; She told us she became addicted to the process, that the breasts began to make her feel beautiful, which is something she had never fRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:08:12 +0100 empowering girls body image http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/moms-learning-to-say-no-may-save-your-life.html <p>Moms are the backbone of our families, and if they are unable to stop their own anger and unable to say no, they risk a heightened risk of hypertension, diabetes, and raising children with a lowered sense of self. How does this happen? Moms who don't take time out for meditation, relaxation, and simple pampering routines become stressed with schedules, worries, and their relationships, which manifest in their health. These same moms forget the importance of exercise and begin to gain weight. Read More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:32:39 +0100 self-improvement Loving Yourself Family http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/fifteen-things-to-tell-your-teenager-before-they-close-their-eyes-to-sleep.html <p>Having a teenager is one of the most challenging times in a parent's marriage as well as their life. It is scary, frustrating, and chaotic. It is a time of letting go, enforcing rules, strengthening boundaries and also nurturing. Teens may appear to be fighting against us at times, rebelling from our rules, pointing out our inadequacies, and telling us &ldquo;how out of it we are.&rdquo; However, they also still love and need us. They need their mom and dad to stay strong and enforce the ruleRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:49:19 +0100 relationships Family http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/hurt-people-hurt-people.html <p>I watched a movie titled &ldquo;Greenberg&rdquo; and in it was one of my favorite lines, &ldquo;Hurt people hurt people.&rdquo; The actress who played Florence in the movie said it to the actor she loved, Robert Greenberg. Robert struggled with OCD, was neurotic, jaded, and a 40-year-old guy. He had recently gotten out of a mental hospital, and was house sitting for his brother and family while they went to Vietnam on summer vacation. Robert's inability to live in the real world and his fear Read More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:46:40 +0100 relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/want-a-healthy-relationship-begin-by-being-true-to-yourself.html <p>Most of us know the importance of being honest with our partner and being able to discuss emotional concerns in an open manner. But now there is proof that behaving this way leads to higher quality relationships, as well as overall happiness. A research study from Ohio State University, led by Amy Brunell, confirmed that people who are able to see themselves clearly and objectively, while acting in ways that are consistent with their beliefs and interacting honestly and truthfully with othersRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:06:17 +0100 relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/womens-cheating-may-reflect-a-leak-in-their-vase.html <p>Cheating is destructive in any relationship. Men and women both cheat for varied reasons. Women seldom cheat for the physical reasons and almost always cheat due to emotional attachments. This makes sense as women are emotional beings. Most sex, as well as intimacy, happens in our minds long before it happens to us physically. We play all sorts of &ldquo;scenarios&rdquo; in our head of how making love to this person would be, and we entertain words we want to hear as well. Women look for diffRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 21 Jun 2010 07:00:00 +0100 special topic relationships Loving Yourself http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/a-mans-need-for-intimacy-is-stronger-than-his-need-for-sex.html <p>Women have a concept of men wanting only one thing&hellip;SEX. It appears this way. We see it on TV and hear about it on the radio. We read about it in magazines, books, and on the Internet. It's true, and to deny it would be silly. However, there is more to it than just sex. I know because I counsel and listen to men every day. In fact many of my patients are men, and they have taught me things, which I hope to pass on to you (it is important to remember this is NOT every man, just as it is Read More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:01:50 +0100 relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/do-you-see-insecurity-or-confidence-looking-into-the-mirror.html <p>I have a friend who constantly looks at herself in any and all mirrors. She is not conceited or even what I would call vain. In fact, this friend is one of my most beautiful friends but she doesn't see that in the mirror. She complains constantly of growing older, getting more saggy skin, and how she would like to have a surgeon give her a body lift and face lift. One day when she was looking at her reflection as we sat down to lunch I hinted that maybe she should quit her obsession with lookRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:08:35 +0100 self-improvement Loving Yourself body image http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/2010-womens-health-symposium-in-prime-living-magazine.html <p>I had a great time speaking at this fabulous event.&nbsp; It was so much fun to see so many empowered women!&nbsp; Prime Living Magazine posted some great photos from the event on their Facebook page.&nbsp; Enjoy!</p> Mary Jo Rapini Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:00:58 +0100 special topic http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/turning-off-an-emotional-affair-before-it-gets-physical.html <p>Emotional affairs (EAs) are sneaky and it is common to find out you are in one without really understanding when and how it happened. Facebook, instant messaging, texting, and tweeting have opened doors for emotional affairs to storm in and have also built the walls necessary to keep it secret. These are two of the absolutes for an emotional affair to exist. EAs begin innocently enough. They take place at work, school, happy hours, and coffee hours, almost anywhere whenever two lonely people Read More... Mary Jo Rapini Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:40:06 +0100 relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/punishing-someone-you-love-only-punishes-yourself.html <p>The War of the Roses was a movie about angry couples who tried to punish each other with extreme and devious plots. I see a simplified version almost every day when counseling couples. We all get angry at our partner from time to time, and wish we could punish them in some way that would eliminate their annoying or hurtful behavior. The problem with punishing someone is it cannot be done rashly and is not wise to do when you are angry and upset. Punishment is most effective when it is a naturRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 24 May 2010 22:19:24 +0100 relationships Loving Yourself http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/hooking-up-in-hopes-that-it-will-turn-into-a-real-romance.html <p>College used to be a time when dating was rampant. But now, 60% of all college students are female and 40 % are male. There doesn't seem to be enough males to go around. Women have given in to what everyone else is doing. That is, hooking up. A hook up is when you go out, meet someone and have sex just for one night. No strings attached, sex is casual and knowing them or their name is not necessary. In fact, the majority of hook ups are done under the influence of alcohol, so it is likely thaRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 17 May 2010 23:55:11 +0100 relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/addicted-to-porn-its-a-family-affair.html <p>A recent study reported that every 39 seconds a new pornographic video is being made. There are 1.5 billion pornographic Internet downloads a month. Between the years 2005 and 2006 the pornography business increased by almost one billion dollars. It is well into the billions now. Addiction to Internet pornography is a growing problem in the U.S and almost everywhere in the world due to the ever increasing ease of being on the Internet and the large amount of porn sights available. Each year tRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 10 May 2010 21:48:34 +0100 Addictions http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/the-wizard-behind-the-curtain-is-a-moma-teens-make-your-moms-feel-special-on-mothera-s-day.html <p>This Mother's Day, along with the flowers, candy, brunches, and sweet cards, it may be wise to sit back and recognize the woman you call Mom. In the Wizard of Oz, the great wizard was an old man behind a curtain pulling levers to make the great Oz look magnificent. In most of our lives, the one behind the curtain pulling levers to make everything look great or feel great (including us) is our mom. She has been there since our birth providing for us, guiding us and trying to do everything withRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Wed, 05 May 2010 07:00:00 +0100 special topic relationships Family http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/i-am-a-reflection-of-my-mothers-light.html <p>I was the sixth child to whom my mother gave birth. Her first words when she saw me were, &ldquo;Each one gets sweeter.&rdquo; It may have been the Oxytocin (the feel good hormone) but I don't think so. It couldn't have been the labor drugs affecting her thoughts, because she gave birth totally naturally to all nine of her children. I believe it was my mother's true feelings at the time. She looked at me as a blessing she had received from a Divine Creator who had given her a gift. My mother Read More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 03 May 2010 22:10:44 +0100 special topic relationships Family http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/a-mother-under-the-influence-baby-blues-and-postpartum-depression.html <p>A family was struck with a tragedy in Houston this past week. A mother who had been depressed for some time killed her two month old baby. The details are complicated and will have to be sorted out for the next two weeks, but the baby is dead and mom is in jail without bail. A family lost a son, grandson, and brother. Although it is not known exactly what type of depression the mother suffered after the birth of her baby (postpartum depression or postpartum depression and psychosis), she did Read More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:00:37 +0100 special topic Family http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/blended-families-blending-tolerance-and-patience.html <p>When you find that special someone after a sad, bitter divorce or the death of a spouse you may think of blending your family with joy and high expectations. Your enthusiasm may not spill over onto your new children. They may feel left out and uncertain about the changes that are going to occur. Chances are high they may also still be wishing you and their mom or dad could work it out. They may feel guilt and anger about your happiness. Before you take this next step, remember these three tipRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:58:41 +0100 Family http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/married-to-a-control-freak-a-twisted-relationship.html <p>Back in 1973, an important incident happened in Stockholm, Sweden. It is now known as the &ldquo;Stockholm Syndrome,&rdquo; and it helped people in my field understand why people who live with a controller stay with them (even if they are victimized), and even protect them. The incident began when robbers broke into a bank and strapped explosives on their captives' backs. The captives began to worry about the bank robber's safety. When the cops came to rescue, the captives became upset when tRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:45:12 +0100 relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/video-blog-staying-together-after-infidelity.html <p>I wanted to try something a little different, and have created a video blog entry.&nbsp; I hope to do more of these soon!&nbsp;</p><br/><p>The topic of this video is Tips for Staying Together After Infidelity.</p><br/><p>&nbsp;</p><br/><p><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></p> Mary Jo Rapini Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:06:45 +0100 special topic relationships http://www.maryjorapini.com/my-blog/regrets-are-common-after-a-breakup.html <p>Oh how you sparkle, and oh how you shine.<br />That flush on your cheeks is more than the wine.<br />And he must do something that I didn't do.<br />Whatever he's doing, it looks good on you. [Chorus:]<br />You look so good in love.<br />You want him, that's easy to see.<br />You look so good in love.<br />And I wish you still wanted me<br />-George Strait-<br /><br />It happens all the time. We break up with the love of our life or they break up with us. Sometimes we know it's coming. We plaRead More... Mary Jo Rapini Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:39:07 +0100 relationships