Wisdom at the Vet
Yesterday I took my good girl Trixi to the vet because she has been limping for several weeks. This was my first visit to the veterinarian so Trixi and I were very anxious, because she is always an anxious doggy and so am I. While the doctor took Trixi out to assess her, I was […]
How to Change Your Brain
Routine and familiarity are the enemies of brain health. It is essential to challenge your brain with new experiences and new learning. If your daily habits and activities are done unthinkingly and with minimal effort, your brain is being degraded. Ways to Change Your Brain Make steady, measurable progress with new learning Count every little […]
Emotions: Are You Eating Them?
Emotional eating- what is it? If you eat for reasons other than hunger, it is certainly a cue. But emotional eating is more than that. It is sometimes known as stress eating because stress will trigger your eating, though happiness, sadness, anger and other emotions also trigger your eating. Emotional eating is an unhealthy relationship […]
Anxiety vs Worry
Anxiety and worry- we use these words interchangeably but they are not the same thing. The dictionary defines anxiety as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome” and worry as “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.” Similar, but not […]
Are You An Anxious Cat? Part 1
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues that make people decide to go to therapy. I personally am a pretty anxious person- according to my doctor, “You’re an anxious cat!” I have been anxious for as long as I can remember. According to his article Age of Onset: Earlier Than You Think […]
Happiness Hormones
Hormones. Synonymous with weight gain, hot flashes, puberty…. ugh! But hormones aren’t all bad. Happily, we have the Big 4- Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, and Endorphins! These famous hormones are known for their ability to help us bond, feel joy, experience pleasure and love. The Big 4 are essential to good mental health. (There are others […]
Sources of Well-Being
More positive emotions (higher frequency and intensity of positive moods and emotions, such as contentment, laughter and joy, in one’s daily life) Fewer negative emotions (lower frequency and intensity of negative moods and emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, and fear, in one’s daily life) Life satisfaction (a positive subjective evaluation of one’s life overall) Vitality (a positive subjective […]
What’s Your Coronavirus Routine?
Life has become so unpredictable in the face of coronavirus . . . or is it just too predictable, day after day? Establishing some routine helps you and your family find balance, gives you some structure, but can allow for flexibility. In the face of disruption and chaos, routine keeps you maintain some control. It […]
You Choose
Love yourself, you deserve it!
Ice Diving: To Help You Chill
Have you ever wondered why in the movies people splash cold water on their face? Me neither, but it turns out this has a purpose- stopping anxiety/panic attacks! Grabbing ice cubes or plunging your face in a sink full of icy cold water (also known as ice diving) works too. I would not suggest that […]
Got Anxiety? Thank a Caveman
A few years back, cave men and women lived in environments where they were snacks for large, fast predators (saber tooth tigers, alligators and pterodactyls, oh my!). The cave people who could quickly detect these threats and respond appropriately were more likely to survive and pass on their adaptive threat detection abilities to their cave […]
50 Ways to Keep Active This Winter
Fight the Winter Blues, Cabin Fever, Couch Potato Syndrome, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or just plain boredom. Stay active this winter–physically, socially, and mentally. Outdoor activities promote physical activity and get you in the sun–both are good for your mood. Social activities prevent the isolation that occurs when you just want to snuggle up in […]
