Category: Mental Health
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Managing the Urge to Speak
Recently, I had a conversation with my friend and colleague Suzanne O’Connor about how our impulses can cause us problems. Often, we wish we could do a better job managing those impulses. I did some research on the nature of impulsivity and learned the following: According to Web MD: “Impulsivity is the tendency to act…
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The Body May Not Always Keep the Score
Over the last year or so, there have been articles, Instagram content and new books refuting the very popular book by Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score. It was required reading in our Applying Trauma Principles course and our participants consistently say it is valuable to them. Here’s some background information: Bessel…
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Have You Ever Been Betrayed? Part Two
In Part 1, I invited you to consider the definition of betrayal, why trust is so important in relationships, the psychological impact of betrayal, and how a loss of trust can impact an individual and their relationship with the one who betrayed them. I believe there is something comforting in having these reactions to betrayal…
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Have You Ever Been Betrayed? Part One
Have you ever been betrayed? I think most of us would answer yes to this question. Some of us have been betrayed by family members or friends. Sometimes we have been betrayed by our employer. Sometimes by our government. As usual, I did some research that I found helpful. I hope it is helpful to…
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Have You Ever Been Gaslighted?
Recently I watched the 1944 classic film Gaslight, described by Wikipedia as “the quintessential film that gave the term ‘gaslighting’ its name. Starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer, it follows Paula, a young woman whose husband manipulates her into doubting her sanity to conceal his criminal activities. The film is a psychological thriller that explores…
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Thoughts on “The Stories We Tell Ourselves”
For several weeks I have been updating a workshop I wrote over 10 years ago entitled “Exploring Family Legacies.” I came across a section that invites attendees to consider the stories they are telling themselves and the power these stories can have on them. I thought you might find the information interesting and helpful. A…
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Do You Know Someone Who is Cavalier?
Recently I was discussing something with a friend about an issue I was facing, and they did the equivalent of rolling their eyes as if to say, “What’s the big deal about this?” It wasn’t meant to be a mean statement and there was no intention of discounting me or what I was saying. It…
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Living in Fear-Filled Times – What We Need to Know About Fear
I think most everyone would agree that these are fear-filled times. It is hard to avoid the news, and every day seems to bring more frightening reports. I thought exploring the subject of fear might be helpful for all of us. Information can be a powerful tool to aid us in exploring the subject of…
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Do You Struggle with Cell Phone Addiction?
Recently I was in a waiting room after having a mammogram and observed everyone, women of all ages, staring at their cell phones. No one made eye contact with those in the room, not looking up to engage in even a moment of connection. As a new person came into the room within seconds, she…