Love is a battlefield…who do you want standing next to you for this fight called life? If you are in the dating game, a little self-reflection can go a long way. Here are five things to consider as you search for a new relationship.
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According to the Beatles, money can’t buy you love. Per some old proverb, money also can’t buy happiness. The downside is money can cause a lot of stress and negatively impact many aspects of life. It’s intertwined into so many parts of our health and well-being that it isn’t something to brush off.
These days, with inflation and uncertainty, financial management is more important than ever. How a person relates to money can significantly impact their mental health.
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Parents spend 18 years raising their children, from infants to young adults. While 18 years seems like a long time, it feels as though it has flown by for many parents. Now your children are ready to spread their wings and soar. They are going away to college. Maybe they are moving into a place of their own and starting a career. A major shift in life, as you know it, is occurring. Transitioning from an active parent role to more of a supporting force in their life is 100% normal. It’s exactly what you wish for your children—to grow up and lead a successful life. That doesn’t mean it won’t come with a sense of loss, sadness, and anxiety.
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Do you find that your relationships are always short-lived? Are you always finding faults in your partners? Always giving up at the first opportunity? You could fear commitment, or being in a long-term relationship.
Commitment is a term we use for a broad spectrum here. Commitment may not just be about marriage or relationships. It can also be about dedicating time and effort to something, such as a job, a hobby, a goal, or if you are thinking ahead about your future.
Fear of commitment involves demonstrating fear, or unwillingness to commit to anything long term. This is mostly about relationships. You could be wary of making long-term plans with your partner such as having children, or meeting their family, as this can make you uncomfortable, or try to avoid it as much as possible.
So, why do we fear commitment, and what are the signs that you fear committing?
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Adulting is hard! Read that one more time. Adulting is hard. When children transition to young adults, many of the comforts and supports that are so familiar begin to disappear. The expectation of being independent can be overwhelming in today’s world. There is no shame in saying that being a grown-up can be scary sometimes.
What should seem like an exciting time is often viewed with nervousness, uncertainty, and fear. Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Roughly 30% of young adults struggle with a mental health disorder. Around 40% go untreated. Anxiety about being a grown-up isn’t as uncommon as it may seem. Times have changed, and with that evolution came more stressors and pressures.
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Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions today. It is estimated that one in fifteen adults is likely to experience depression or depressive episodes during their lifetime.
Depression is a very complex mental health disorder that can be very difficult to experience. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, and you may experience depression for months or even years at a time.
Due to the severity of this condition can have, you may be concerned about being at risk of depression. With that in mind, let’s consider the causes, symptoms, and what you can do to reduce the risk of experience long-term negative effects from depression.
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You just had a baby! Your little bundle of joy has finally arrived, and now you are entering this new chapter. It should be the time of your life. Yet here you are, feeling the baby blues.
Yes, a new baby can indeed be exciting, rewarding, and show you a love and connection like you have never had before. It is also hard and stressful. Life as you knew it has drastically changed. Society doesn’t often highlight the difficult parts of parenting, yet it is a common reality most new parents face.
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If you’ve had a miscarriage, you are not alone. Roughly 15-20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage. While that number puts it into a more common perspective, it does not make the topic any easier. Getting through this time can be tough. Following a miscarriage, not only are you grieving the loss of your baby, but also the idea of who that baby would grow into. You are mourning the loss of a member of the family that never had the chance to be.
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When many people think of ADHD, the popular thought process jumps right into medication. It definitely has a time and place for this disorder, but it is not always for everyone. Regardless of your stance on medication, there are other interventions to address your child’s focus and concentration.
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Does your child have ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. This is when your mind is going in a whole bunch of different directions leading to impulsiveness and poor concentration. A lot of challenges come with having this condition when it comes to school work, your career, and maintaining relationships.
With a mental health condition so common, you may be wondering where it comes from. Could it be genetics? Your child’s environment? Both? There are a number of different factors that can lead your child to develop ADHD. But like all mental health conditions, it does not mean it is the end of the world for your child, as there is always hope for treatment.
Here are a variety of reasons why your child could have ADHD.
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Have you been experiencing any trauma symptoms while struggling with a chronic illness? Your life changes drastically after a cancer diagnosis, suffering a stroke, or any other disease. It can feel like torture going through a number of tests, chemotherapy, radiation, or surgeries. There are other ways that a chronic illness has a toll on your life, like if you had to stop working because of it, treatment finances, or being surrounded by people who do not understand what you are going through. All of these heavy impacts might leave you traumatized.
According to the National Library of Medicine, about 12-25% of those who survive a life-threatening condition will develop PTSD. It can be very traumatic to see your body giving up on you and having to fight harder than anyone else. By learning more about chronic illness-induced trauma, you will know it is serious enough that you need to manage it.
Here are five things you need to know about chronic illness-induced trauma.
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Did you experience panic and anxiety when you first discovered that you had a chronic illness? One minute, it felt like you were in picture-perfect health. The next minute, you find out you have a chronic illness that will come with its own set of challenges. It can bring you a lot of anxiety living with the fact that this illness will stay with you for the rest of your life.
A long-term condition can make you feel vulnerable. You could be dealing with more pain than anyone else on a usual basis, have to adjust to new limitations, or deal with constant feelings of frustration. Remember that many people are going through a chronic illness feeling the same way as you. Your chronic illness will not feel like the enemy by learning more about it and living with a new mindset every day.
Here are ways to cope with anxiety when you have a chronic illness.
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Have you been concerned about your partner’s depression but have no idea how to help? It is natural for you to be scared. You never want to feel like there is something you could have done to help your partner. Your partner could have moments where they do not want to eat, have trouble sleeping, get irritable, and have lots of sad moments. You could also be scared that these depressive thoughts could eventually lead to suicide.
Millions of people suffer from depression every year. Show your partner that they are not alone in their low moods. Let your partner know they can come to you for anything, and you are always there to listen. When your partner is ready, the two of you can talk about seeking professional treatment.
Here are six ways to help your partner deal with depression.Have you been concerned about your partner’s depression but have no idea how to help? It is natural for you to be scared. You never want to feel like there is something you could have done to help your partner. Your partner could have moments where they do not want to eat, have trouble sleeping, get irritable, and have lots of sad moments. You could also be scared that these depressive thoughts could eventually lead to suicide.
Millions of people suffer from depression every year. Show your partner that they are not alone in their low moods. Let your partner know they can come to you for anything, and you are always there to listen. When your partner is ready, the two of you can talk about seeking professional treatment.
Here are six ways to help your partner deal with depression.
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Have you been experiencing a fast heart rate, sweating, trembling, and intense worries on a daily basis? There is a good chance that you have anxiety. If you want to find out for sure, you can receive a proper diagnosis from a mental health specialist. You might first be given a psychological evaluation where you talk about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Once you talk about the symptoms you have been going through, a therapist will see if your symptoms fit in with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Once you receive an anxiety diagnosis, there is no reason to add this news to your list of worries. All this means is that your worries tend to engulf your mind more than they should. Luckily, there are a variety of options for you to choose from when it comes to treating anxiety. It is all about finding ways to control your anxiety so you can get control of your life back.
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Do you notice yourself getting very gloomy during the very sunny days? You could be feeling depressed for most of the day, have low energy levels, and lose interest in your favorite activities. These classic symptoms of depression could result from reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
SAD is when you experience depression during winter when the weather gets cold and there is less sunlight. However, some people experience reverse SAD, when you experience depression four or five months a year when the weather is warm. Despite the sunlight and longer days, some people find it affects their mood negatively. If you are dealing with the summer blues, here are six ways to help you through the summer months.
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Anxiety is a mental health condition where you experience persistent worries daily. It seems like these worries are never-ending, where they interfere with your day and even your sleep. But have you experienced physical manifestations as a result of your anxiety? This is when your anxiety is no longer just mental but tells yourself and everyone else you know when you are anxious.
You may experience tics like a spasm in your arms, eyes, legs, or throat muscle when you are anxious. It could be a few days before these symptoms disappear. This is merely your body going into survival mode when you feel threatened. These anxiety tics can be hard to hide from others. If others point them out or you notice these tics, it is important to go into treatment for anxiety to gain more control over your life.
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Have you been a long-time sufferer of chronic pain? Maybe your back has been hurting you for a long time, or you have arthritis in your hands. If someone has recommended mindfulness to treat your pain, you may be under the impression that person thinks your pain is all in your head. The truth is that the mind and the body have a powerful connection.
Fighting pain is exhausting, but awareness and, perhaps, even acceptance can ease tension. Mindfulness helps you be more present. When you are anxious, everything you are feeling intensifies. You can quiet those challenging thoughts through meditative exercises that focus on the present moment.
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Avoid insisting that your spouse fulfill your expectations or remain the "same person" you married. Commit to sharing your growth and new perspectives. Give each other the best chance possible to stay connected and emotionally available throughout the course of your marriage.
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Whether you are watching the news or videos on social media, past trauma can be triggered. Without support, unresolved trauma may not heal easily. To help you cope, consider these strategies.
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If you find yourself in a dysfunctional relationship after a dysfunctional relationship, you may feel that you always end up in frustrating, unfulfilling, or even toxic situations. Why do you do this to yourself over and over?
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