- Fear means failure is a possibility.
Four Stories of Fear Motivating
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
3 Signs of Sharing Too Much with Your Child
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Parents often find themselves spending most their time with their children. Adult time is a rarity and most parents rejoice at the brief moments when they can have a conversation. Some parents feel they cannot make time to talk to another adult and end up pouring their hearts out to their children. Your child is not your friend, therapist, or sounding board. Continue reading
Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Pros and Cons
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The recent article about Shadow Mountain Behavioral Health shed a light on the dangers of inpatient facilities. Having worked at an inpatient hospital, I have the unique experience of knowing they are not all bad. The article written by Buzzfeed depicts Shadow Mountain as an unethical and unsafe place for patients. Continue reading
Five Signs of a Codependent Relationship
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Unfortunately, ignoring your own needs devalues your own life. Think about on an airplane, when they go over safety the flight attendant makes a point that if the oxygen masks drop and you have your child with you, put your mask on first so you can help your child. Otherwise, you will run out of oxygen and risk losing yourself and your child. This is analogous with taking care of your own mental, physical, and other needs. If you cannot take care of yourself, it is more difficult to care for another. Below are 5 signs you may be in a codependent relationship. Continue reading
Self-Harm: Benefits and Consequences
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- Types of self-harm.
Socially acceptable forms of self-harm include tattoos and piercings. There is an entire community that enjoys hanging from hooks and testing their body’s pain tolerance. What typically comes to mind when one hears self-harm nowadays is cutting. There are more ways to hurt yourself than cutting. Other types of self-harm include punching yourself, punching walls, bruising with objects, pricking with sharp objects, starving, binging, and substance abuse. Continue reading
Anxiety & Depression in LGBT Dating
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Mental health is a factor in any relationship. To have a healthy relationship, it is important to be aware of some of the pitfalls that can occur. This post is specifically for LGBT relationships but some concepts may be applicable to any dating couple. The LGBT community faces additional hardships in relationships due to the societal implications of being open about one’s sexual orientation. A concept which one day should not matter, in today’s dating world there are things to be discussed regarding anxiety and depression within an LGBT relationship. Continue reading
My First Year of Private Practice
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My first year of private practice has been an exciting journey. I have succeeded in some areas, failed in others, and had fun doing it all. Below are my experiences in seven different areas of developing my business. Today I have a giant office, a beautiful view of downtown Tulsa, financial stability, and work on my own schedule. Continue reading
3 Tips for Depression
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- Positive Self-talk
How we talk to ourselves has a huge impact on how we perceive the rest of the world. One common symptom of depression is being very negative in our heads. Imagine waking up in the morning and your first few thoughts include “ugh, I have to get up…I have to go to work…I hate my job…today is going to suck.” These are perceptions of your life. You might have your dream job, but when depression hits, the ability to get out of bed becomes the hardest thing you do all day. Continue reading
3 Ways Childhood Trauma Can Impact Adult Relationships
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The effects of trauma may continue into adult lives and relationships with others. Trauma survivors often have abandonment issues and do not believe anyone can really be trusted. People sometimes think of themselves as not being worthy of an intimate and compassionate relationship. These beliefs can have an impact on their adult relationships through the rest of their life. Conversely, by recognizing these cognitive distortions, healing can occur. Trauma survivors are not irreparably doomed by their past but they can be affected by their past in ways that may not be apparent. Continue reading
Three Tips: Keeping a Relationship Strong in an Untraditional Living Situation
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Whether it is a multigenerational home, a friend or other relative living in the home, many families have chosen untraditional living situations. The traditional family consists of two parents and their children. Becoming more commonplace is additional individuals in the home. The biggest factor that comes to mind for living this way is finances. Either one or both families under the same roof may benefit from additional contributions to household bills. Another reason may just be wanting to be close to loved ones you would normally see infrequently if living apart. My family is a good example, I live with my sister, her fiancé, and their son. Living with a third party may impact your relationship, but there are ways to keep your relationship thriving despite the decreased privacy and increased mouths to feed.
- Quality Time
Having another person living under the same roof may mean less one on one time with your partner. It is essential to carve out time for just the two of you where you can keep the romance of your relationship strong. By romance I do not mean just in the bedroom. Going to dinner, seeing a movie, and going for a walk can all be ways to maintain romance in a relationship. The extra person in the home may even be to your benefit if you have children and they are willing to babysit while you have quality time with your partner.
- Appreciation
The hustle and bustle of life can normally lead to forgetfulness in showing appreciation in any relationship. Living with another person or persons in the home can shift the focus of many families to logistics of everyday life. It is important to take the time to express to your partner that you are grateful for their acts of service, patience, and affirm your love for one another.
- Communication
The ability to express your thoughts and feelings to your partner is paramount for all relationships. Communication can oftentimes make or break a relationship. Picking your battles is a common phrase used to describe little conflicts in relationships. However, letting little things pile up can lead to resentments and fuel for future arguments. A good rule of thumb in arguing is if you argue for more than ten minutes then you are no longer discussing the original issue. Remaining calm in disagreements and using “I” statements can facilitate productive conversations.