A few nights before I was supposed to give a group presentation on a topic, I was informed that I would, in fact, be giving the presentation by myself. I began feeling nervous and felt a sense of impending doom. I imagined myself failing and making a fool of myself. Every time I sat down … Continue Reading
“Psychosomatic” is a loaded word. Many interpret it as “not real” or associate it with being a hypochondriac. In reality, “psycho” simply refers to the mental side of the equation and “somatic” refers to the body. Put it together and you have mind-body pain. In other words… pain. This is a massive subject, but let’s … Continue Reading
The healing of our most painful experiences often needs to happen in small parts. Part 1 of this article talked about understanding, and potentially using, our difficult emotions. This discussion is about the consequences of unresolved emotions and how to transform them to bring us closer to wholeness and optimal health. We previously mentioned how … Continue Reading
Burnout. Compassion fatigue. Chronic work stress. Vicarious trauma. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Demoralization. Moral distress. Moral injury. Moral compromise. These are all less stigmatizing terms than Adjustment Disorder with depression and/or anxiety. BURNOUT: 1) Exhaustion 2) Mental/emotional detachment from our jobs which have become less rewarding 3) Poorer work performance; “This isn’t me”. 4) … Continue Reading
Innate joy is a radical act in a society that was founded upon the pursuit of happiness. Thomas Jefferson envisioned a fair society where everyone had the chance to star in their own rags to riches story. Jefferson’s vision was imprinted in the Declaration of independence – that Americans shall have the right to life, … Continue Reading
Through my experiences as a mental health professional and as a person who lives with chronic depression, it has come to my attention that many people don’t know how to provide comfort or respond appropriately in times of need. Instead of listening to what’s being said & taking the time necessary to digest it, reflect … Continue Reading
Your professor pays you many compliments, offers a research position and invites you to stay with them after hours to work… Your counselor is overly complimentary about your attractiveness and offers to help you work on your marriage without the presence of your partner while complaining about their own marriage. Your boss/preceptor invites you to … Continue Reading
“When you know yourselves, then you will be known…“ As a kid, I was never the fastest runner. I was an okay athlete though, sometimes able to out-maneuver the more physically-gifted kids on the block, and occasionally out-compete those who hadn’t yet found their confidence or strength. There seemed to be a relentless drive in … Continue Reading
Pleasure. How tricky has our relationship to this basic human drive become? Wikipedia defines pleasure as “…a broad class of mental states that humans and other animals experience as positive, enjoyable, or worth seeking.” Merriam-Webster offers a simpler perspective: “A state of gratification.” Since time immemorial, people have largely misunderstood this primal drive, especially its … Continue Reading
