Is your relationship depleting you?
In a healthy relationship, you want to be a better version of yourself. Relationships help you learn how to share, think of someone else first, and build a future together. A mature relationship isn’t about finding your other half or “fixing” your past hurts. The only person who can “fix” you is you, and you do that by accepting where you’re at and making strides to change the behaviors holding you back. Your partner should believe in you and encourage you in your growth. But
Holiday Depression and How You Can Help
Holidays are usually a time for celebrating with family and friends and feeling connected with those closest to you, but that’s not true for anyone. For some the holidays expose raw, hurtful feelings and memories, such as painful childhood, bad relationships, or the loss of a loved one. Feelings of depression can happen anytime of the year, but the expectation and anxiety during the holidays may cause some to experience heightened loneliness. Acknowledging the specific areas
Back to School: Parents are key to teens’ overcoming negative thoughts
Teens have a lot on their minds as they head back to school. Will they have friends? Will they be successful in their academics? Are they safe in their school? Parents are no exception. How do I stay connected with my teen? How much time is enough time to give them? How can I help them achieve their goals? Will they be safe? There is nothing like parenting a teen – the emotional stress, their friends, the activities – and it seems impossible to keep up with it all, especially
Remaining Emotionally Sober When Life Becomes Difficult
It’s estimated that 30 million Americans beginning at age 12 are addicted to a vice that helps them silence or avoid specific feelings. Drugs, alcohol, screen time, gambling, food, and porn all help numb feelings they don’t know how to cope with. It’s also estimated that less than 15 percent get help from mental health professionals. Whether you’re overcoming a bad habit or an addiction, the physical sobriety is often easier than the emotional one. “Emotional sobriety” is get
When You Can't Let Go of a Loved One
When someone you love leaves your heart is broken. Taking care of your fragile self is so important. When someone we love leaves or walks out the door, our immediate reaction may be one of hysterics, deep sadness, relief, and sometimes, even jubilation. These feelings eventually dissipate and new feelings take their place. The feelings that replace the initial feelings are more intense and stored deep within our brain. Forget trying to distract yourself from these memories, b
The Men Left Behind After a Divorce
I want to thank all of the men who trusted me in their “brokenness.” At no other time was my perception of their strength so real. Their stories inspired this article, and it hopefully will go on to help others. -MJR Women still initiate most divorces in the United States. The reasons are varied, and it doesn’t really matter why it happened in the mind of the man who is left. If there are kids, the silence can be deafening because the kids usually go with the mom. Feelings of
A Parent’s Nightmare: School Shootings and How to Talk to Your Kids
The school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day has many parents anxious and afraid to send their child to school. The fiber of our community is affected with each school shooting, and there have already been two since the new year. How can we possibly reassure our children and help them feel safe in a world that can turn deadly in a minute? Mental health experts have been working around the clock to help parents through this most recent tragedy. No one has all of
6 Tips to Protect Your Relationship from Holiday Stress
The holidays are supposed to be joyful, bringing couples closer together. In reality, many couples become stressed or depressed during the holidays. Unresolved issues often carry into the new year, which is why January through March have the highest number of divorces. Due to Harvey, this year has been especially trying on relationships, leaving couples feeling stressed and overwhelmed emotionally and financially. However, having an action plan can help calm the stress of the
When it’s Time for a Digital Detox
You see it every day; everyone is too distracted to carry on a conversation, complete homework, or pay attention to the events right in front of them. We feel lost without our phones and if your phone breaks or becomes lost it creates instant panic. Parents don’t talk to their children on a stroll to the park; they’re on the phone. Couples don’t talk directly to each other over dinner without glancing at their phone or finishing an email they “need” to send. It may be more co
The Las Vegas Shooting: A Lesson for Compassion at Home
The massive shooting in Las Vegas has us all asking the same question: why? We wanted to believe it would never happen again after Newtown, Connecticut, but then the Orlando, Florida shooting happened. Rather than simply tuning out from what happened, I encourage you to talk to your children about it. How do we talk to our children when senseless, horrific killings happen? This is one of those situations that parents find so difficult. When random violence, it’s hard to imagi