In today's fast-paced world, anxiety has become an increasingly common issue, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. The ADAA reports that over 30% of US adults met criteria for an anxiety or depressive disorder in 2023. That doesn’t count all of the people who won’t seek help.
Read MoreI’ve been in the entrepreneurial space for over a decade now, and I’ve noticed a pattern. But before I begin, I want to note that the information I have gathered here is from newsletters and social media posts publicly available (and I try not to spend too much time on social media!). I do not know these people personally and as always, there is more to the story than what is posted or shared publicly. So with that caveat…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreYou ask your health care provider a question about your health.
They answer, “It depends.”
Is it time to find a new provider or thank this one for their honesty?
The answer…”It depends.”
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.
We are all surrounded by an inundated with information about COVID-19 also known as the coronavirus. There is a collective anxiety about what to do and what will happen.
Anxiety develops from fear and a perceived lack of control. Anxiety is designed to get our body and mind to pay attention when a threat is perceived. One way to handle the anxiety when it comes up is to thank it for doing its job, because indeed you are paying attention! And then, tell the anxiety that you are choosing to perceive the situation differently.
Read MoreThe holidays and the winter weather can bring low mood. The disease model of health says that this low mood is called “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” I think of it as our body and mind’s response to the conditions. Let’s think about the qualities of this time of year:
Cold weather
Dark mornings
Dark evenings
Short days
Less Vitamin D
Access to fresh produce might be less available (i.e.. farmers markets are non-existent or limited)
It seems so simple. Too simple? Give thanks. Okay, now what?
The truth is (and the research shows) that taking a moment to note and to FEEL gratitude can have powerful effects on your health and well-being.
Thanksgiving is a natural time to give thanks. It's also a natural time to be with our family. Let's be real. Sometimes being with family can be challenging. I'm not suggesting that you ignore that fact or that you pretend to enjoy hearing the story of Aunt Edna's hip replacement surgery for the 15th time. What I'm suggesting is that…
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