Sometimes Condolences Can Hurt, More Than Help.
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Unsolicited Advice
Perhaps surprisingly, unsolicited advice can actually harm a relationship rather than strengthen it.
The “Problem” With “Happiness”
Eric Hoffer, the social writer and philosopher, once said "the search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness." Similarly, John Stuart Mill, the British philosopher and social theorist said, "ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so."
Recent Research in the Field of Mental Health (October 2011):
Some adversity in life may improve mental health and well-being by strengthening resiliency, a new study asserts.
Recent Research in the Field of Mental Health:
Secondhand smoke may place individuals at greater risk for mental health problems, new research asserts.
Defensiveness – II
"Stop being so defensive!" is a phrase known to have begun or to have escalated many a battle between people in a relationship. The person told to stop being defensive usually responds by stating that he or she is not being defensive. The accuser then uses that response as evidence to prove his point and an argument ensues. The issue that was the subject of the exchange gets lost in the anger-storm and not reopened for some time, if ever.
Handling Rather Than Avoiding
I often hear clients expressing concern about an event or a situation of some kind for which they are experiencing something known as anticipatory anxiety. This is a heightened sense of worry and vigilance about some dreaded event or experience that the anxious individual fears might overwhelm him, sometimes known as the "what-will-happen-next" fear.
Chronic Couples Conflict – Causes & Cures
When most couples call me for a couples therapy consultation, they have reached a point where the severity of their ongoing conflict has reached the danger zone. Some couples seek help when the early signs of trouble begin to develop. Others wait…and wait, either hoping that their difficulties will resolve themselves or that they will find a way to address their problems independent of professional help. Some couples, it seems, have chosen to consult a therapist as the "option of last resort" prior to initiating divorce proceedings.
Unemployment Catch-22
During the course of the country's economic crisis, countless numbers of people have lost their jobs. Many, fortunately, were able to become reemployed quickly and often in jobs comparable to their previous positions. There have been many, however, who have remained unemployed for months or even years. Some of them have expressed fears such as "I wonder if I am still employable," or "I'm afraid I may never work in my field again!" Sometimes continued unemployment leads to self-doubt – or worse, negative beliefs – that may have never been there before, e.g. "I wonder if I'm really not as good at my job as I thought," or "maybe I'm really lousy in interviews," or "perhaps I'm just not a desirable person."
Water and Mental Well-Being
We do not generally think of water consumption as necessarily having anything to do with mental well-being, however if we fully understand the active interplay between mind and body, our appreciation for the importance of maintaining good hydration as a health and mental health issue deepens.
