The holiday season, with its festive cheer and gatherings, often leaves us with cherished memories and a sense of joy. However, as the decorations come down and routine sets in, many people find themselves grappling with what is commonly known as the post-holiday blues. This phenomenon is characterized by a dip in mood, energy, and motivation after the holiday festivities come to an end.
Read MoreMany of us have had direct feedback or subtle feedback from doctors that the chronic pain we’ve experienced is “all in your head.” We are left feeling shame and helplessness. So, is it true? Is chronic pain “all in your head”? YES and NO. Chronic pain is a complex condition that can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. The pain in your body is real AND you process pain in your brain. So it is in your head, but that’s not the whole story.
Read MoreEmotional eating most often occurs to escape a negative feeling OR to create a less negative or more positive feeling. And it works. Which is why we continue to do it.
We can “emotional eat” to avoid feeling angst. “Emotional eating” distracts us from the angst that arises in a pause. During a pause like the COVID-19 situation, we may remember that our life is meant to be lived more fully, more freely than we are living it. However, when we feel that uncomfortable angst bubbling to the surface, instead of asking the angst why it has appeared, we focus on “controlling” the eating. That seems less scary.
Let’s get real about overwhelm. It’s a real thing. It happens. We’ve all been there. That feeling of having so much to do but not having a clue where to start. You want to scream or cry or run away while doing both.
I've been helping my clients who feel overwhelmed for many years. It happens when little things accumulate over time. That overwhelmed feeling can happen when a few big things, often unexpected things, happen. Helping people deal with overwhelm comes easily to me, but following my own strategies is a bit more challenging.
Read MoreOverwhelm. Sometimes we feel it occasionally around the holidays, near work deadlines, etc. Other times it seems to be as omnipresent as summer humidity in the south (I've spent some time in the south this summer and....wowza).
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