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Holiday Jobs – Coping with Anxiety January 15th, 2012

Family and friends, enormous feasts, glittery decorations, and long-standing traditions are what the holidays are all about. For most people, this is a time of excitement, fun, and celebration. However, for a person with anxiety, the holidays can bring fear and stress. It can be difficult to engage in social activities that often pervade the holiday season. School socials, office parties, and family dinners may bring on extensive expectations with family, friends, and colleagues. Trying to fit in and assimilate into these festivities may seem like more work than play. If playing feels more like working, why not use that… READ MORE ›

Parenting with a Purpose is Step One January 15th, 2012

It is hard to deny that parenting is probably among the most challenging tasks we can face in our adult lives.  Parents usually have the right intentions and we all want what is best for our kids, but how does this translate into actions?  When it comes to our children, unfortunately our decision-making usually goes through our hearts not our heads, feelings often trumping reason.  Even if we do think about what the right parenting decision is, at the end of the day we often still succumb to making emotion-driven judgments.  Why? Because as parents, in a funny way, we… READ MORE ›

Self-Help: Even If You Were Born This Way, Do You Have To Stay Stuck This Way? January 9th, 2012

Lady Gaga’s anthemic hit song “Born this Way” understandably struck an empowering chord with many people who feel different, misunderstood, shunted off to the side, have disabilities, or express themselves with non-conventional ideas or lifestyles.  From the standpoint of increasing feelings of self-worth and raising consciousness, this is to be applauded.  And of course there are attributes of self, sexual orientation, and lifestyle choices that no one should feel invalidated about or be pressured to change. But if used to justify dysfunction, slothfulness, or not becoming actively engaged in helping oneself, then the “born this way” slogan is being subverted.… READ MORE ›

Think Positively About Waiting August 9th, 2011

Do you have trouble waiting? Why? If you were delayed a few minutes or even a few hours, what’s the worst that could happen? Would you or a loved one die? Would you miss your opportunity of a lifetime? If this is the case, it makes sense if you are in a hurry. But if not, studies have shown that feeling time pressured and getting angry is likely detrimental to your health. Instead, try a different approach. Think about waiting not as wasted time but as precious moments. If you are waiting without any companions, so much the better. Savor… READ MORE ›

For Those With OCD, It’s Hard To Do Nothing July 11th, 2011

People with OCD find it unusually hard to rest or relax.  So little time: so many worries. Having to clean, check, arrange, or save things keeps them very, very busy.  Even when they look like they aren’t doing anything, they often are.  They might be making mental lists, reviewing conversations for mistakes, planning out their next activity in exacting detail, or engaging in another kind of mental ritual. Ask someone with OCD to try sitting still.  Almost immediately, they will report that their bodies feel like moving in some way.  It could be clenching or unclenching their hands, pushing their… READ MORE ›

Congratulations, You Won But You Can’t Tell Anybody July 12th, 2010

This is true.  A boy I know who attends a private grade school was informed that he had been given end-of-the-school-year awards in both academic and character categories.  However, the caveat was that he would forfeit these awards if any of his classmates found out.  The reason- the administration did not want any of the other children to feel bad about not receiving recognition. Is this policy wise or misguided?  My vote is for misguided.  Misguided in the same way that unwarranted grade inflation and “everyone gets a trophy” policies are in  academic settings and children’s sports leagues that send… READ MORE ›