Blog
-
How to Recognize and Treat a Panic Attack
Out of the blue, you feel anxious. Your breathing quickens, your heart races, you begin to sweat, you feel faint. You feel like you are dying and don’t know why. This is a description of a panic attack, and not only can the symptoms be debilitating, they can be self-perpetuating. Your intense reaction to the…
-
The Benefits of Relaxation Yoga
In my blog posts, I have focused on integrative, mind-body solutions to a variety of issues. The enormous mainstream popularity of yoga, in its many forms, is in part because of the increased awareness in our society of the mind/body/soul connection. Although there are many forms and “schools” of yoga, we want to focus specifically…
-
Recovery from PTSD
The Mayo Clinic defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. This sort of trauma may not necessarily produce PTSD. In some situations, the person heals appropriately with self-care and time. It’s when the symptoms do not abate, or…
-
The Power of Somatic Psychotherapy
Somatic Psychology has been defined as the study of the mind/body interface, the relationship between our physical matter and our energy, the interaction of our body structures with our thoughts and actions. * The word Soma comes from Greek meaning “living body.” There are many forms of somatic psychotherapies. These forms of therapy address how…
-
Black and White? or Shades of Gray?
It is common in our Western culture to get caught up in dualistic thinking: black or white, right or wrong, you or me. We take a position that is in opposition with another position–and then feel “right and justified” in our position and go into judgment about those on the “other side” of our polarity.…
-
It Takes As Long As It Takes
Our culture seems to be speeding up, creating an “instant world.” We’re given the message that technology, information, food, transportation, communication all must be FAST. Although the world around us may be moving more quickly, our human bodies and souls are not instant. The role of communication in our society has changed from actively listening…
-
Habits and Mindfulness
We all have behaviors we seek to change that affect our daily lives – mind, body and soul. Often the best way to combat the uncomfortable situation to which we feel captive is to face it head on with our true feelings. Mindfulness practice asks us to acknowledge and accept an undesirable behavior, a habit…
-
Learn to Eat Intuitively
The relationship between mood and food is complex and interactive, and has been extensively studied and examined for decades. Your mood can influence what and when you eat, however the converse is also true – what and when you eat influences how you feel. One key is to be attentive to the body’s cues without…
-
Relationships and Self-Love
17th century poet John Donne is credited with the phrase “no man is an island.” Even the most self-reliant of us is affected by family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, even pets. In our modern age, this phrase rings more true as we consider the effect of the media on our moods and emotions. Let’s revisit Joe,…
-
Emotions and Self-Love
We can go through life with gratitude or with bitterness, with joy or with anxiety, with hope or with despair. The way we feel inside won’t change our external circumstances, but it can alter our perception of them and how we experience them. When we are aware and present, we can alter our emotions. Consider…
-
The Shadow Self
I have blogged about self-love and what seems opposite to it – shame. Shame is a component of our shadow-self. When we are conscious of what our shame is about, it is not be considered shadow> (It is not hidden in darkness). However, when we are unaware of how and why we feel shame, then…
-
Shame and Shadows
There is an unfortunate saying in our culture that is often used to punish or discipline children: “Shame on you!” Rather than shame ON you, it would be more accurately worded shame IN you. Shame is a shadow, a hint of darkness, of secrets. It is the feeling of inadequacy and worthlessness, brought on by…