Family vacations often start with high hopes. You imagine relaxing poolside, exploring new places, or creating joyful memories that last a lifetime. But for many parents, the reality is something very different: stressful mornings, sibling squabbles in the backseat, and the feeling that everyone’s nerves are fraying by day two. If you’ve ever returned from…
Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. It can range from mild, fleeting worries to severe, debilitating fear. The physiological response to anxiety involves the “fight or flight” system, releasing adrenaline that prepares the body to respond to threats. This can lead to symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, and rapid breathing. Many…
Sometimes stress or panic hits us the most inconvenient times. You could be at work, at school, or running errands and all of the sudden become overwhelmed. If this is something that happens to you, it could be helpful to keep some quick fixes for this in your back pocket to provide you with stress…
“Drama”, the catch-all phrase that is often used to describe an overreaction to stress, disagreements, negativity and other sometimes frustrating life events. Many people believe it is avoidable and unnecessary, even dramatic people feel this way, when on the wrong side of it. However, stress is a constant in life. Some situations will naturally cause…
How often do you find yourself stuck between two options (or more) wavering for days, weeks, or months to determine the ideal choice? If so, you are not alone as research has shown that there are many people in today’s society struggling with this on a daily basis. It is important to note that it…
One thing that is inevitable in life is that we will face change. Whether its going away to college, moving to a new state, ending a relationship, or getting a new job, you must learn to acclimate to your new set of circumstances. Dealing with change can be a struggle, but creating a strategy to…
One of life’s harsher truths is that there are many aspects of life that fall outside of our locus of control. Although we each have the power to make choices that influence the outcomes of certain circumstances, our environments can throw twists into life that can leave us feeling vulnerable. During stressful times, we may…
Let’s face it, there is no unconditional love quite like that of a pet. Their loving eyes, playful nature and cuddle ability is hard to match! The emotional benefits of pets are tremendous and extend beyond mental wellness to improved physical health. There is ample research supporting the various advantages of owning a loving animal….
When is worry more than just that? Worry is a part of life. Worrying about miscommunication in a relationship, worrying about a task that needs to be completed, or worrying about health issues. Many people wonder if their worries are simply that– worries, or if they are indicative of something more, such as an anxiety…
How I love to think about the beach. Whether it is in the middle of a Colorado winter, or the middle of the summer, I find great peace thinking of the rolling waves, gentle breezes, salty aroma, and warm sand of a beach. Many therapists refer to this as a safe place, but I…