With the heightened anxiety of late, people are manifesting all sorts of coping skills, some of which are self-destructive. A couple I've seen more than once are trichotillomania, which is also known as hair-pulling disorder, and excoriation, which involves picking at one's skin, blemishes or scabs. Together, I'll refer to these as pulling and picking (P&P) disorders. Why do people do these … [Read more...]
Inflammation
July 19, 2020 by
There's a lot of buzz about inflammation these days. It has been linked to all manner of physical maladies, including everything from allergies to autoimmune illnesses to cancer. Put simply, inflammation is part of the body's immune response to harmful things, such as toxins, cell damage and various microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. Inflammation, in turn, can be a catalyst for the … [Read more...]
Up-Level Your Covid-19 Anxiety Management Game
April 27, 2020 by
Last time, we discussed anxiety management via creating greater control in your life by using scheduling. If that's working for you, skip this video. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take an honest look at your schedule and see what's really necessary in a given day. Let other things go. It's ok. If you're struggling to stick with your schedule, it's time to up-level your anxiety management game: … [Read more...]
Controlling Quarantine Anxiety
April 18, 2020 by
To watch a quick video of the article below, click here. Anxiety is a reaction to a perception of a loss of control. Read that again. The antidote for anxiety, then, is control. I want you to look at life as a continuum with acceptance on one end and change on the other. Some things we can’t do anything about and have to just accept. Other things, we can do something about, make a change in … [Read more...]
COVID-19 and Anxiety
March 23, 2020 by
Check out this live I did with Pastor Mark Grochocki, another therapist, about psychological coping during the coronavirus outbreak. You'll hear specific coping skills for anxiety and answers to real-time questions submitted by viewers. You'll also hear the story of the silliness my 11 y.o. son is engaging in to keep things light during quarantine. (Note: No toilet paper was wasted in the making … [Read more...]
ATAQ: How can I be so blessed and depressed at the same time?
April 26, 2018 by
Many times I’ve heard people say that they feel so blessed in their lives and so fortunate, yet they feel depressed and they don’t know why. Some of them feel guilty about it, and others are just confused. Well, I have news for you: Gratitude and depression are NOT mutually exclusive. How can this be true? First, consider genetics: Just like our parents can pass on their eye color or skin tone or … [Read more...]
