Are Irrational Fears Ruining Your Life?

Most of us have one or two fears that can be loosely described as irrational, such as of spiders and creepy crawlies, or of a visit to the dentist. However, some people are so fearful of certain things that it can interfere with their daily lives and cause them exceptional stress and anxiety. When this occurs, such fears are usually referred to as phobias; a fear of something that isn’t necessarily harmful, but which still has the ability to induce intense terror. Some more common examples of this are:

• Agoraphobia: a fear of open and enclosed spaces
• Acrophobia: a fear of heights
• Aerophobia: a fear of flying

It’s true that most phobias develop during childhood, but adults can develop them at any time, too.  

What is a normal fear in comparison to an irrational one?

Most of us are fearful in situations that pose a real threat to our health and safety, and our automatic ‘fight or flight’ response kicks in; this is perfectly normal. But when the threat is non-existent or exaggerated, our fear can usually be classed as irrational.

What are some of the signs and symptoms of irrational fears and phobias?

Some of the most common symptoms of a phobia range from mild feelings of apprehension and unease, to a full-blown panic attack that you can’t control. Some of the physical symptoms are listed below:

• A racing or thudding heartbeat
• Trouble breathing
• Pain in the chest or a sensation of tightness
• Shaking or trembling
• A churning sensation in your stomach
• Feeling nauseous or lightheaded
• Sweating

While below are some of the emotional symptoms of an irrational fear or phobia:

• A feeling of being overwhelmed by anxiety, panic or fear
• A strong feeling of needing to escape
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• The sensation that you’re going to die or faint
• Feeling as if you’re not present in your body

If you experience any of these symptoms due to a phobia, you might recognize the fact that what you’re feeling or thinking is irrational, but it may be beyond your ability to control your fears. The first step to being able to overcome your phobias, is to understand them, and a counselor or therapist can help you to do this.

Seeking professional help to treat a phobia

While self-help strategies can be enormously helpful for mild irrational fears, for phobias that are having a very real and negative impact on a person’s life these are often best combined with some form of talking therapy administered by a professional. If your phobia is triggering panic attacks and irrational behavior, then counseling can help you combat your fears and get back to feeling safe and at ease in the world around you.

Nobody deserves to live in fear, whether that fear is irrational or otherwise, and if phobias are ruining your life, help is out there.

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Is Childhood Bullying Still Affecting Your Mental Health?

While many of us have experienced being bullied as a child, to write this off as just a normal part of childhood may not give it the understanding it deserves, as studies have shown that many adults still experience the mental impact of having been bullied as a child. Some experts even go so far as to suggest that when it comes to mental health, bullying is potentially as harmful as child abuse.

Some mental health problems that adults experience later in life, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, may be relatively easy to recognize, while others may not be as easy to spot. Bouts of anger with no known cause or feeling inferior to others are just two examples.

It’s generally recognized by those involved in the mental health profession, that victims of childhood bullying often go on to experience symptoms of anxiety, compared to those who were not bullied, and often experience social anxiety; the risk of developing a personality disorder is also increased.  Depression is also another common consequence of childhood bullying, and if you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself and you have a history of being bullied, there may be a link between the two.

What about the more subtle symptoms of childhood bullying?

While someone suffering from severe anxiety or depression may see a counselor to help them cope with the present and deal with their past, for those suffering from some of the more subtle symptoms of childhood bullying, such as trust issues or low self-esteem, they may be less inclined to do so.

Bullying can also lead to other health problems, such as alcohol and drug abuse, social withdrawal and trust issues that hamper both an individual’s personal and professional life.

What can you do to help deal with past trauma and move forward?

If you begin to realize that sudden bouts of anger or low self-esteem may be attributed to being bullied as a child, then one of the best and most effective ways of dealing with this is through talking therapies. While some individuals who were bullied may feel that confronting those who bullied them might help them deal with the past, this is highly dependent upon whether the bully feels remorseful and apologizes; in some cases, a leopard doesn’t change its spots, even as it grows, and contacting the bully or bullies may do more harm than good. For that reason, it’s always best to seek professional help before taking matters into your hands.

What happened to you as a child doesn’t have to have a negative impact upon your mental health as an adult, and if you seek help now, you could begin learning how to make sense of the past, and put it firmly where it belongs; behind you.

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Are These 5 Emotional Responses Present in Your Relationship?

All couples will face tough and challenging situations together, but if the following responses are present in either party, then the stress of whatever challenge you’re both facing may be compounded: 

Sentences often start with ‘you’

When beginning a sentence with ‘you’ when talking to your partner – especially if what follows it is going to be negative – then your partner may instantly feel threatened. Instead, try to begin a response by talking about yourself or asking them about their feelings before making any assumptions or challenging them.

Listening with an open mind

Sometimes, you’re only hearing what you want to hear, or automatically picking out negatives in statements. In these cases, your partner may choose not to share things with you. Listening skills are vital for the success of any relationship, and you can try to master them to prevent future conflict.

Emotions run away with you

If you’re quick to get angry or defensive when your partner talks to you about something, or an incident occurs, the tone can instantly change from friendly to adversarial, and this is unlikely to bring out the best in anyone. Learn to communicate your emotions better or walk away for a few minutes until you’ve calmed down.

Staying silent when stressed

If a situation stresses you out for any reason, and you avoid talking about it with your partner through fear of upsetting or angering them, then the situation might deteriorate, and could lead to you feeling isolated and depressed. Learn to raise issues and confront stressful situations in a calm, peaceful way is imperative.

Trying to dominate and convince to get your way

If you want one thing, and your partner another, then simply arguing in the hope that you get your way is a recipe for resentment. Instead, try to find out and understand why your partner wants something different, and come to a peaceful compromise based on mutual understanding.

It’s clear from the above five responses that learning new skills is one of the quickest and most effective ways of having a relationship in which both parties feel equal and deserving of the others respect. However, learning new skills doesn’t come easily, and if you think you might need help with this, then you could try speaking to a professional counselor (either individually or together). Someone who isn’t personally connected to you or your partner, can give advice and guidance that is unbiased and honest, and many couples benefit hugely from seeking their help, and often go on to continue their therapeutic sessions to keep their relationship harmonious. 

Get More Information at: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com

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Do You Suffer From Panic Attacks & Need Help Stopping Them?

If you suffer from panic attacks, then you’ll know just how debilitating, frightening and upsetting they can be. Often coming on without warning, and sometimes preventing you from being able to function normally at work, socially or at home, it’s important that you try and understand your attacks and learn ways of interrupting them. If you need help stopping such attacks, or are unsure whether you are suffering from a true panic attack, the following information should prove helpful:

What is a panic attack and what does it feel like?

A panic attack is the sudden occurrence of an intense feeling of discomfort or fear and can last for several minutes before dissipating. Often mistaken for high-level anxiety or heart attack, a panic attack is usually associated with a set of much stronger, uncontrollable symptoms, such as heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, dizziness and even chills or overheating. Other symptoms may include, but are not limited to, a choking sensation, shortness of breath or feeling lightheaded. While they are commonly experienced when a person feels anxious, nervous or stressed, they can also occur when someone is feeling calm, relaxed and in control, and may appear alongside other psychological disorders.

What kind of treatment is available to help stop panic attacks?

As with any kind of disorder or illness, be it mental or physical, a trip to see a physician or mental health professional should be the first step. A physician will examine you to determine whether there may be an underlying health concern or medical issue that might be causing your symptoms, before diagnosing you. If you are already fairly confident this is a panic attack, or your physician diagnoses you with this, then visit a mental health professional and they will talk you through a range of treatment options that might help you cope with them better, and ultimately, stop them from occurring altogether. While some medical professionals may want you to take some medication, the best treatments are usually some form of therapy,Find a therapist or counselor that you feel comfortable with, and who can help you overcome the symptoms of your panic attacks and the fear associated with them.

Today, there are many therapists available all over the state or country, by practicing online, and you can chat with you via a video call, right from the comfort of your own home.

Panic attacks and panic disorders are no laughing matter, and if you’re finding that frequent attacks are preventing you from living your life as you want to, then you should seek help as soon as possible. Nobody should have to live with fear, and once you seek therapeutic help, you’ll learn how to banish your attacks and embrace a calmer, much happier way of life.

Learn More Here: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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Does Being An Introvert Mean That You’re Unwell?

Being uninterested in social gatherings and preferring to spend time alone does not have to mean that you are unwell. While some who are suffering from a mental illness may display such tendencies, for most, it simply means that they’re of an introverted disposition, for which no therapy or medication is necessary.

Are you an introvert?

If the thought of being around lots of people and/or spending time in a busy social setting fills you with dread, and if when you do so you’re left feeling mentally exhausted or upset afterwards, then you may be an introvert.

While this may have some negative connotations or leave you with a reputation among others as being an anti-social individual, it is not necessarily a negative trait and shouldn’t be thought of as such.

However, if you get to a point where you never want to leave the confines of your home, even for a short time, or refuse to interact with anybody other than your immediate family or perhaps a close friend, then you may be suffering from depression.

Introverts and depression

Research has shown that depression is more prevalent in introverts and is due in part to the isolated lifestyle that they tend to live. This doesn’t mean that if you’re an introvert, you must be depressed, but it’s important to look out for some of the signs that you may be struggling with your mental health.

Wanting to be alone most of the time can develop into an unhealthy desire to self-isolate, and without anyone to talk to about how you might be feeling, or to discuss some of the worries that you may have with, there is always the chance that your thoughts and feelings might spiral out of control and leave you in a dark and lonely place.

If you’re beginning to feel too lonely and isolated as an introvert and are struggling to cope with your mental health alone, then professional help might just help get you back to a happier, healthier way of life. The process (or even the thought) of seeking such help might be daunting, but it’s important to remember that good counselors will understand how you’re feeling and will know exactly how to put you at ease.

Some introverts may have better mental health

Some introverts find that while they don’t actively seek to be social, or prefer to be alone, they don’t turn their backs on the rest of the world entirely and may even be more in tune with their emotions as an individual. As introverts tend to be more observant and aware of what’s going on around them, their mental health and coping mechanisms may be more powerful, and they may find themselves to be far more self-aware than their extroverted counterparts.

Being an introvert can affect people in different ways, and while it’s true to say that some mental illnesses such as depression are found more often in such people, if you’re an introvert, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are mentally unwell. If you’re at all worried about your state of mind as an introvert, do seek advice from a mental health specialist.

Learn More Here

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Are You Suffering With A Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

It’s not always easy to know if your levels of anxiety are above what are considered to be normal. As most people get anxious from time to time, you may not consider yourself as having a problem that you should seek help for. The following information should help you to get a better understanding of generalized anxiety disorder, and whether it might be something that you should seek help for:

What is ‘generalized anxiety disorder’, or GAD?

When your worries and fears take over your mind and prevent you from functioning in everyday life, then you may have something a little more serious than anxiety alone. A common disorder, GAD causes the sufferer to worry incessantly, and be in a state of hyper nervousness and tension, most of the time.

While this is often confused with a phobia, the anxiety is GAD is unconnected to a specific thing and gives the individual an intense and general feeling of dread that taints everything they do. Making it hard for the sufferer to relax and unwind, they are continually worn out and often find themselves unable to cope with the demands of life.

Someone suffering with GAD will have identical worries to the average person, but the intensity of their anxiety is heightened, exaggerated and often relentless. The emotional symptoms of GAD may not be the same for every individual, but some of them include constant worrying, uncontrollable anxiety, thoughts about anxiety inducing things that you can’t shake, an inability to tolerate uncertainty and/or an intense and pervasive feeling of apprehension or dread. 

There may also be some behavioral symptoms of GAD which can include an inability to relax or unwind, difficulty concentrating or focusing on things, procrastinating due to feeling overwhelmed and/or avoiding situations that induce anxiety.

Physical symptoms of GAD may also be present and can range from feeling tense, edgy or restless all the time to insomnia and/or stomach problems such as nausea.

If you know someone who is in a constant state of anxiety, then you’ll doubtless know that there is precious little you can say or do to help relieve their fears, and if you’re the one who feels like this, then you may feel uncertain as to whether anyone can help you. However, you don’t need to feel helpless anymore. While it is true to say that you may not be able to help your friend or family member with their uncontrollable anxiety, a professional counselor can, and if you’re the one suffering from GAD, talking to a professional counselor could be the first step towards not only learning how to manage your fears and worries, but discovering how to take back control of your life.

Get the help you need at: heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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5 Of The Most Common Mental Health Misconceptions

There have always been certain misconceptions surrounding mental health, and while these may never disappear completely, in talking about them and shedding some light on the truth, we might help more people to realize when they should seek help, and enable others to be more understanding of those suffering with a mental health condition.

Here are 5 of the most common mental health misconceptions:

1. If you don’t feel mentally unwell today, you won’t have a problem tomorrow

While you may never have experienced a problem with your mental health before, life events and stresses can trigger a variety of emotional responses, and these can alter with time and age. Just because you can carry on with your life as normal today doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have an issue with your mental health at some time in the future. In fact, in any given year, 25% of the population has a diagnosable mental health condition.

2. Some people will never be affected by mental illness

Nobody is immune to mental illness, and even if you’re able to shape many aspects of your life, there is nothing you can do to control unpredictable stressors that may occur at any period in your life.

3. If you’re mentally strong, then you’ll remain mentally healthy

In fact, the two are worlds apart. In much the same way as a physically strong weightlifter is not immune to suffering with their physical health, someone who considers themselves to be mentally strong can just as easily suffer from a mental health condition. It is true that having mental strength can help prevent some mental illnesses, but it does not give you immunity. 

4. Medication is the only solution

While medication is sometimes prescribed by health professionals, it is often paired  with (or secondary to) other forms of therapy, such as counseling, to give patients a more rounded experience that is likely to help them feel better quicker, and for longer.

5. Treatment isn’t always successful

The data on mental health treatment shows just how effective it can be. There have been hundreds of studies and meta studies that show the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Of course, nothing works all the time, and there are factors affecting the outcome that are beyond the reach of health professionals, such as if a patient returns to an addictive behavior that inhibits their recovery. However, if you commit to getting better, and find a counselor that you trust and can work with, then there is no reason why your treatment shouldn’t work.

If any of the above common misconceptions are the reason why you haven’t sought help for a problem with your mental health, then hopefully you are now in a better position to assess your situation and take the necessary steps towards finding a treatment plan that will be most effective for you.

Learn more at: www.heartcenteredcounselors.com

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Are You Trapped In An Unhealthy Relationship?

Even when a relationship has begun to turn toxic (or was always toxic), ending things can be a big decision to make and a hard thing to do. You may still love your partner, despite knowing that being with them isn’t healthy for you.

If you’re feeling trapped in a relationship that no longer feels healthy, or have recently ended a toxic partnership, these tips may prove helpful:

Be aware that there is a problem

If you know that something isn’t right, but you’re searching for confirmation that your relationship is truly unhealthy, you could talk to a counselor to air your thoughts and get a professional perspective. Recognizing that there might be a problem, is the first, and perhaps most important, step.

Honor your grief

Ending a relationship, even if it was unhealthy, can be painful and upsetting, but it’s important that you embrace the way you’re feeling, rather than suppressing your emotions.

Think about what you may have learnt

Even if your relationship was toxic, the time you spent with your partner would have taught you many things, and most of these can be beneficial in helping you grow and pursue new relationships with new partners.

Distance yourself while you heal

You may be able to have a healthy, plutonic relationship with your ex-partner in the future, but be sure to allow ample time for you to be apart from each other before you move toward this.

Shift the focus back to you

Much of your time with your partner may have been devoted to pursuits that didn’t make you happy, or which shifted the focus to the toxicity between you both. Refocus on yourself and spend time pursuing things that make you feel good.

Be willing to forgive

You may be experiencing feelings of guilt about your unhealthy relationship, but if you’re going to move on with your life, practice being kind, understanding and forgiving with yourself.

Be truthful about the relationship

It’s not uncommon for one person to want to remain in a toxic relationship in the hope of being able to change the other person, but ask yourself if you can honestly do this, and whether this is how you should be spending your time?

Don’t shy away from seeking help

The challenges associated with ending a toxic relationship can be myriad, and most would benefit from some emotional support during this time. Talking to a qualified counselor can help you to process your thoughts and acknowledge your feelings, while giving you the tools with which to move on with your life in a positive, healthy way. 

Find help here: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/couples-marriage-counseling/

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Signs That Your Child May Be Mentally Unwell

While it might be more common to associate mental illnesses with older children, such as teenagers, the reality is that children of all ages can struggle with their mental health, and spotting the signs is not always straightforward. Below are a few clues that could show if your child is mentally unwell:

Frequent mood changes or mood swings

It’s arguable that all kids can be moody, and this may well be understandable given the challenges they face both mentally and physically, but if your child’s mood changes rapidly or their attitude alters dramatically, then it could be a sign that something more significant is going on.

Eating disorders

Pickiness or fussiness with food might be something that we expect to see in children, but if your child is suddenly refusing to eat, or is binging or overeating, then these could all be signs that your child is anxious, stressed about or something or suffering from depression.

If talking to your child about what you’ve noticed doesn’t satisfy your concerns, then make an appointment for them to see your local doctor or counselor and get professionally support.

Misuse of drugs or alcohol

While usually associated with older children, drug or alcohol misuse can occur at any age, and although in many cases it can be attested to an experimental phase of the growing up process, sometimes it can be caused by an issue with their mental health.  

Abnormal anxiety or paranoia

It’s perfectly normal, even expected, that kids may display some symptoms of anxiety, just as adults do, but if your child seems to be increasingly fearful of things without reason, then they may be grappling with generalized anxiety. This is a common indicator in adults and children of a mental health issue, and it’s best to seek professional help for your child if you spot any signs of this.

Poor grades at school or college

Your child may not always be top of the class, but if you notice that their grades are falling, then it could suggest that something is wrong, especially if the fall happens swiftly instead of gradually. Be alert and monitor things, and as with any potential issue with your child’s mental health, get them the support of a professional if you’re worried.

Physical or verbal abuse

A child may shout and scream or lash out at others from time to time, but if your child is becoming physically or verbally violent on a more frequent basis, then they may be struggling to deal with their emotions and suffering mentally as a result.

If your child conducts this behavior in response to a teacher, parent or other caregiver, then this could be a red flag that means your child needs professional help. Any increase in violent episodes or verbally abusive arguments should be closely monitored and never ignored or taken lightly.

Children can be complicated, that much is true, but writing any strange or upsetting behavior off as being just a phase, or a normal part of growing up, can mean that they don’t get the help they need, and that they go on to carry these issues into adulthood. If you’re seeing a sudden change in behavior, or a gradual downturn that worsens over time, talking to a professional counselor can be the key to a turnaround.

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Do You Find It Difficult To Open Up?

Would you like to be more open than you are now? Do you internalize many of your thoughts, feelings and emotions, and shy away from sharing anything with anyone, no matter how close you are to them? Perhaps the thought of being more open makes you feel vulnerable, frightened and anxious? If you never challenge this perception, you could be missing out on the wonderful way in which being more open can help to relieve the burden of an emotional load or give you an alternative viewpoint of a situation that was causing you mental anguish.

Why is it so hard to be more open?

Oftentimes, when we choose not to be open with someone, it’s because we’re worried about how they might respond to what we want to say, and what they might think of us, so we choose to be silent instead.

Why should you try to be more open with people you trust?

All that we’re doing in remaining silent, though, is denying the people that we’re closest to, the opportunity to know us better, and for who we really are. We’re telling ourselves and showing them, that we don’t fully accept ourselves, and this is a real loss.

Who should you try to be more open with?

There is often an element of risk when we share our inner thoughts and feelings with others, but you can usually make a reasoned judgement as to who you can and cannot trust. If you talk to a close friend or family member for example, the risk is greatly reduced, and if you talk to a professional counselor, confidentiality is part of the agreement that you enter into (and sign), so you can be certain that what you say to the counselor, will never leave the confines of those four walls.

Is there a wrong and a right time to be open?

Definitely! That said, we may get it wrong from time to time, and that’s just part of life, but usually it’s possible to judge when being open might have negative consequences for us. If you’re not used to being open and want to try it out, find a calm, safe environment to be in with your chosen recipient, and depending upon the nature of what you want to say, try to express yourself freely and allow the other person to react without stifling them.

You might want to try it out with a counselor first, and you can even talk to your counselor about the difficulties you’re experiencing with being more open.

Being more open is all about trying to make what you’re feeling on the inside match with what you’re showing on the outside. Internalizing your emotions can alienate you from others, while learning how to express them openly can have the opposite effect. To learn more about being open and begin developing more meaningful relationships with others, talk to a qualified, professional counselor today.

Learn more at: www.heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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Some Surprising Ways You Can Benefit From Counseling

Have you ever been told that therapy or counseling is just for people who think too much, or for those who don’t have the mental strength to cope with their emotions? Some people say these things because they’re fearful of talking to others about how they feel, while others may genuinely believe this to be true. In fact…

Should you try therapy?

Those who have tried counseling and reaped the rewards may well say that we should all try it at least once in our lifetime, and expert opinion is the same. There will be a time in all of our lives when we struggle to come to terms with the way we’re feeling, or find that we can’t stop thinking about something, and that it’s beginning to have a negative impact on our daily lives.

With statistics showing that depression alone is one of the leading causes of disability and disease globally, and that billions of dollars are lost in workplaces every year due to this, it benefits everyone if we all do our best to get help when we’re mentally unwell.

Here are just some of the ways that you might benefit from counseling:

The positive effects of therapy are often long lasting:

For many who turn to a counselor for help, they discover that not only are they better equipped to cope with their current state of mind or deal with what they’re experiencing right now, but that they have been given the tools to deal with trauma or stress that may occur in the future.

Your physical wellbeing gets counseled too:

Physical symptoms are often triggered or made worse by psychological trauma, and the worse the trauma, the worse the effects, until sometimes the individual is unable to function in their daily life and may even have to give up work. Studies have shown that engaging in talking therapies can help reduce physical issues, and in some cases, make them disappear altogether. 

You can avoid future breakdowns by dealing with your issues now:

Repressed emotions can be extremely debilitating over time, and when they’re not tackled and dealt with early on, they can come back with a vengeance, months or sometimes even years, later. Avoiding your feelings rarely has positive consequences, even if the thought of talking about them with someone is painful and scary, and some go on to have breakdowns due to an inability to process events and emotions, or find that they’re unable to maintain healthy relationships with others.

Deal with your emotional state now, and under the guidance of a professional, and you might be able to avoid future issues that could be far more damaging for you in the long term.

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Maintaining Your Mental Health As The Pandemic Continues

While some relaxations to the countrywide lockdown are now being introduced, many people are still battling through difficult and unusual times, and as a result, concerns over the mental health of our nation are mounting. 

If you’ve always struggled with your mental health and are finding that the pandemic has amplified your symptoms, or are facing new waves of anxiety or depression that you’ve never experienced before, there are ways that you can help yourself to stay balanced and rational as Covid-19 continues to disrupt our lives.

For each of the following suggestions, it may seem easier to give the advice, than to follow it, but as in all circumstances of our lives, we can only ever do our best, and provided that you try, you will have every reason to be proud of yourself and to look forward to a more enriching future.

Learn to center yourself

If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘center yourself’, it simply means to calm your emotions and slow your mind, something that is best achieved through simple breathing techniques, and when you’ve mastered it, you’ll feel alert but relaxed, and much better equipped to deal with anything that life throws at you. Talking to a qualified counselor or therapist about this can help you to better understand the techniques and teach you how to center yourself as and when you need to.

See the pandemic as something that will pass

It can also be helpful to see the pandemic as something that will eventually pass (which is of course, true), and to bring your gentleness to how the situation may be making you feel right now. Take opportunities to broaden your mind during this time and learn new things (in addition to watching TV show to unwind from time to time).

Set yourself realistic goals

With pressures on all of us from social media, friends, family and work colleagues to come out of this lockdown as better versions of ourselves, it can be difficult to recognize and come to terms with what we can realistically expect ourselves to achieve. Can we come out of this situation slimmer, speaking a new language and being able to bake a loaf of bread; perhaps more importantly, do we want to?

Find some goals that will make you feel fulfilled and be prepared to adjust the boundaries according to the situation. Social pressures can be intense and if you find them getting too much for you, take a break from social media, and re-join when you’re in a more grounded frame of mind.

Go easy on yourself

Remember that this journey is different for everyone, and that if you’re finding it hard during lockdown, you can bet your bottom dollar that others are too. Take the time to think about all your good points, all the things that people love about you, and know that these things will not have changed once the pandemic is over. Be kind to yourself and others and allow yourself the time to get used to what may be a new normal.

If you need to talk about any issues related to your mental health, please also remember that most good counselors are offering telehealth services, so the lockdown need not stand in the way of you getting the help you need.

Learn more at: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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Do You Need Help Dealing With The Past?

Things that may have happened in the past can pop back up and surprise you as a vivid memory, at any given time, whether it was something you were directly involved in, or whether you were merely an onlooker. The event may have been troubling, or it may have been enjoyable, and memories of it may make you happy, sad, fearful or angry.

Sometimes, an action or even just a word or phrase may be all it takes to transport you back to the past, but if the journey takes you back to a traumatic event or period in your life, and induces a series of negative emotions, then it might be telling you that you haven’t fully dealt with what happened, and it could even be standing between you and your ability to function fully in life.

Whatever happened to you in the past, you do have the strength, power and ability to move on with your life, you just might need to accept a little help to get there.

How to heal from past trauma:

Painful emotions or memories are often triggered by things such as an anniversary of the event, or by something happening that reminds you of past trauma. However, by following this advice, you can learn to move through:

Stay active – Exercise burns off adrenaline and encourages your body to release endorphins that can help you combat the state of fear and hyperarousal that a painful memory has caused.

Maintain relationships – a past trauma may have you feeling as if you want to hide away, but this is often harmful. Don’t shut friends and family out, instead, actively seek their company so that you’re not left alone to dwell on your pain and anxiety.

Look after yourself – this includes not only being kind to yourself but taking care of your physical health. Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of exercise and don’t scrimp on sleep. A healthy body can help you cope better with stress caused by past trauma.

Seek professional help – if past trauma is still affecting you, many years after it happened, you should consider seeking the help of a trained and qualified therapist. A counselor, for example, will help you find ways to combat your negative emotions and overcome the pain of past trauma, while learning how to live an active, happy and fulfilling life.

A traumatic past can have a very real impact upon your life today, but there is no reason to go through it alone. Talk to those you trust about how you’re feeling, or seek therapeutic assistance from a counselor to learn how to accept and heal from your past so that it doesn’t continue to have a negative effect upon the here and now.

Learn more here: www.heartcenteredcounselors.com

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/do-you-need-help-dealing-with-the-past/

How Children Become Emotionally Wounded

Parenthood can be tough, no matter who you are, where you come from or what your beliefs are, and there are no hard and fast rules for raising children to be emotionally healthy and happy. However, there are some ways that a parent or caregiver can accidentally cause emotional harm to their child, and here are some examples:

• Belittling or ignoring your child’s feelings

When your child is feeling sad, angry confused or afraid and you make fun of them in any way, or choose to ignore them, then you’re showing them that you believe their feelings are unjustified. This can cause them to suppress their emotions and encourage them not to be open about how they’re feeling.

• Having rules that are not consistent

Rules, boundaries and guidelines are needed by all children, no matter what their age, and if they’re not getting clear ones from you, then they’ll begin to set their own, often with negative consequences such as encouraging poor self-esteem or behavioral problems.

• Badmouthing the other parent

Your kids begin to understand what it is to love and care for someone else from you, but if they don’t see you showing any affection or concern for the significant other person (or persons) in your life, then they may grow up confused about what love and respect looks like. Constant arguments with your partner in front of your child, putting them down and even threatening divorce, are all actions that make your child anxious and unable to interpret what a healthy relationship is supposed to look like.

• Punishing your child for growing up

It’s inevitable that your child will one day grow up and want to fly the nest, and while this might be an unpleasant or frightening thought, it’s important that you don’t unintentionally punish them for doing what is natural to them: growing up.

• When your child is treated as an extension of you

If you’re showing your child that how well they perform at school, and how popular or physically attractive they are, is important to you because it makes you have a better social standing, this teaches them that their worth is based upon their performance and how they make you look. This can turn your child into a people pleaser, and to make them worry that they’re not good enough.

• Shielding your child from everything

Protecting your child from bad or uncomfortable things that might be happening, or from your emotions, may be instinctual, but it isn’t always in their best interests, since it can make them feel that they need to be protected from life instead of facing it.

Being a parent is tough, and sometimes, just talking about the challenges you might be facing with someone who doesn’t know you, your family or your circumstances, is not only therapeutic, but can help give you valuable emotional insight and enable you to enhance your parenting skills.

Learn More Here: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/child-teen-family-counseling/

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/how-children-become-emotionally-wounded/

The Link Between OCD’s And Eating Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety related disorder in which individuals experience repetitive thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviors that cause them to engage in ritualistic habits or compulsions. These repetitive habits are intended to help reduce feelings of apprehension, fear or worry, but the disorder can be incredibly debilitating when left untreated, and often exists alongside other disorders, such as substance abuse or anorexia. 

What are some of the signs that a person may have an OCD?

Typically, sufferers may experience intense fears related to the causing of harm to themselves or others, of being polluted by germs and bacteria, and of losing their possessions, and they often believe strongly that everything must be symmetrical. These are just a few of the most common indicators that someone may have an OCD, and while many are able to control their beliefs and fears, others struggle, and these symptoms can begin to take over their lives.

Typical patterns of behavior for someone with an OCD can include excessive washing of hands, unnecessary hoarding, repetitive habits such as tapping or counting, and an obsessive urge to rearrange and tidy things.

The link between OCD’s and other disorders:

Research has shown that having an OCD means you are more likely to suffer from another type of disorder, too, such as an eating disorder. Characterized by behaviors that are like those found in OCD sufferers, someone with an eating disorder often experiences compulsions to hoard food items, think obsessively about calories and food, and/or may display ritualistic tendencies such as cutting food symmetrically.

The two disorders can be closely intertwined by a constant desire to seek and obtain perfection.

What treatment should someone suffering from either, or both, disorders seek?

In many cases, the underlying issues that are causing both disorders are not rare, and once uncovered and treated, any related compulsive behaviors can be improved upon greatly. While medical intervention may be required, particularly if an eating disorder has caused nutritional deficiencies, many find talk therapies to be very helpful, and they learn strategies and techniques for coping with the emotions that cause them to behave in a compulsive manner.

As with anything that inhibits your ability to live life to its fullest, acknowledging that you have a problem and seeking swift help, often determines the speed and success of your rehabilitation. If you think you may have a compulsive disorder, or any disorder that is affecting your daily life, please don’t sweep it under the rug, and please don’t ever think that you’re beyond help. Talk to a mental health professional who can help you determine the right course of action for your needs, and don’t delay; the rest of your life is waiting just around the corner!

Learn More and Get the Help You Need Here: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/the-link-between-ocds-and-eating-disorders/

Have You Lost Someone During The Crisis And Need Help?

Covid-19 has changed our lives in ways many of us could never have imagined, and even mourning the loss of a loved one has been dramatically altered. With the virus causing more people to die who might otherwise have remained alive, friends and family members are struggling to comprehend the situation and deal with their grief.

Tragically, many victims of the virus are dying alone and without physical contact from loved ones due to physical distancing measures and strict hospital regulations regarding visitors, and this can be incredibly hard for friends and relatives to come to terms with.

Here are a few helpful tips if you, or someone you know, is finding it hard to deal with the grief of losing a loved one during the pandemic:

• Pick up the phone

Whether you’re calling a good friend or family member, or planning to talk to a counselor, make a list of who you plan to contact and when. Regular contact with loved ones will help you to feel better connected, and you could even make plans to call any vulnerable or isolated people that you know.

• The grieving process

Mourning the loss of someone you love is deeply important, and you simply might not be able to give the grieving process the time and attention it deserves under such conditions. However, allow yourself to grieve whenever it comes up, and reassure yourself that, once the crisis has eased, you’ll also pay your respects to that person’s memory in whatever way you choose.

• Seek professional help if you’re unable to cope with your bereavement

We all deal with grief in different ways but being able to talk to someone who will listen to how you’re feeling, can be immensely therapeutic. When someone dies, there is no shame in seeking help for yourself and in finding ways to deal with your own grief, and often, a healthcare professional who has been trained to deal with bereavement, is the best person to help you as you move through your loss.

While the pandemic has forced many healthcare facilities to close their doors to the public, many are offering tele-health services and can be reached by telephone, video link or email around the clock.

• Try not to harbor feelings of guilt

The death of a loved one, or even of an acquaintance, can often make us feel guilty that we didn’t do enough for them, or that we are alive, while they are not: survivor guilt. The latter feeling of guilt can be overwhelming and it can be hard to know how to get past it. If you find yourself struggling here, a bereavement counsellor or therapist can help you with this.

Death is a reality for all of us, but in these difficult times, it can be an even harder reality to come to terms with. Coping with grief and bereavement is a journey, but it isn’t one that you must make on your own, and while the pandemic rages on unabated, help is out there for you. 

Get Help Here >>> https://heartcenteredcounselors.com

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/have-you-lost-someone-during-the-crisis-and-need-help/

Emotional Support is Only a Phone Call Away!

Scared. Frustrated. Anxious. Pi**ed off?

These are common feelings right now. Take a listen to this podcast which includes Heart-Centered Counselor’s founder Carl Nassar talk about reaching out to experts who will listen and help you cope with all the emotions you’re experiencing.

#COVID19 #emotionalsupport @HealthDistrict @SummitStoneHlth @krfcfm

Below is a transcription of the podcast:

You’re listening to KRS C eighty eight point nine F.M. radio Fort Collins and this is community at work. I’m any little room.

This program is being recorded remotely by each person through a zoom interface. People are working from home that are associated with businesses that are not considered essential services. Larimer County government are cities non-profits and other agencies are all providing essential services throughout this corona virus pandemic. On this edition of community at work we talk about mental health. Our guests today are Kristin Cochran Ward director of mental health and substance use connections or the health district of northern Larimer County including the child adolescent young adult Connections program. Nassar president of heart centered counseling and Cindy Dodds chief clinical officer of sup at St.. We are going to get started with two other people who are both working with Larimer County government during this pandemic to facilitate bringing essential human services to our communities. The first is Nick Christensen at large appointee with Larimer County Behavioral Health Policy Council and voluntary advisor with the sheriff’s office high neck.

Thank you Danny and welcome to our speakers. I am glad we have mental health this is our topic today. We all have mental health just like physical but it can get overlooked even stigmatized and yet it’s important and necessary for all of us especially now we all have good days and some challenging ones and sometimes more severe. We don’t always get the help we need or even know how to do so. I know a men can be especially bad at getting help but to do so in my view the strength is not a weakness. We all work with others to get the job done and other areas mental health should be no different. I look forward to hearing from our speakers today on how not just men but everyone can best take care of their mental health especially during these stressful times. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Thanks Nick. And we’ve got Gordon Tibet out. And Gordon is a community volunteer and former CEO of United and Larimer County. Good morning Gordon.

Good morning Denny and thank you for putting this on you know to follow up on what Nick said. You know I spent a number of years in the military and then here in the community. And one thing I know for certain is that men do not want to ask for help. It just is not a normal response that most men particularly men in my age group 70 plus you know we’re just taught from the very beginning that we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and we man up. And in these critical times I think it’s essential that people take a real hard work particularly men and older men at the agency. And those just remarkable services that are provided by and represented by the speakers that we’re going to have today.

So thank you both Gordon and Nick both the very well put of course.

Let’s get started with Christian couple Gordon Ward director of mental health and substance use connections for the health district of northern Larimer County including the Child Adolescent and Young Adult Connections program. Good morning.

Best to the morning thank you for having me.

Tell me about the health district of northern Larimer County and your role in mental health right now.

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to talk about our program. We are the connections program we are here to provide assistance and resources to anybody in the community any Larimer County resident who finds themselves struggling struggling can look a lot different for a lot of different people.

We are hearing from the community that there is a great need for more support at this time. So the health district just a little information for those who might not know is funded by our property taxes. We’re also funded by grants and other smaller funding streams as well. But that gives us the ability to provide services to all residents without having to worry about what insurance you have or how you’re going to pay for this service. So a little bit of a unique Connections program serves all ages. We have our kayak team which have already introduced as the child and young adult Connections program and our adult team. So we serve the whole life. We’re here to help people identify what they’re struggling with and also connect them with the most appropriate resources in the community. We know when people are really overwhelmed or struggling that it’s a challenge to find those resources and maybe identify what’s best for you. So our team of licensed mental health professionals is here to answer your questions really help you figure out what is going on and what are the best resources we can help you get. And in some cases that might be our clinicians providing the services first as well.

So Christine you said that you were getting questions from the public. What kinds of questions or services are you hearing about the most from people.

You know we’re hearing such a variety of issues that people are struggling with of course anxiety is a big one. But the other things that we’re really hearing is how do you balance being a stay at home parent and educator and also having to work from home. How do you cope with the fear about a job loss and how are you going to pay your bills.

How are you going to support your family. How do you cope with the panic feeling that overwhelming anxiety of what happens if I get this illness. So we’re hearing just a lot of really life questions struggles that people are having that generally wouldn’t rise to this level in the community as far as oh if I get the flu or flu or you know people have have that general sense when they have an understanding of what’s going on. But I think people are really dealing with a lot of confusion and a lot of fear because unknown is so great at this time and there’s so much uncertainty how do people get your services.

Yes. So that’s a great question.

And everybody in the community can reach us by calling 9 7 0 2 2 1 5 5 5 1. What happens when you call that number is you will be connected with a licensed mental health professional so somebody who is really trained to be able to address whatever issue it is that you’re calling and about and many I’ll connect with that clinician and that person will help you. I’m really kind of identify where the struggle is what the issue is that you’re dealing with and then what’s the next best step. And that’s so often what we hear is people call into us and say I just don’t know what to do. So that’s our role is to really help a caller you figure out what it can to help you and how can we get you connected the most appropriate resource in the community based on what it is that you’re struggling with from the Larimer County fires and then floods.

The most important thing it seemed to people was just the thought of where do I start. Yes beginning. And so you’re saying that people 9 7 0 2 2 1 5 5 5 1 they’ll be connected with a mental health professional.

Exactly.

And then we can help figure out and I’m sorry I didn’t answer that other part of your question in my last answer here at seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. we’re offering all of our services over the phone or through telehealth. So if it is you know something that you really want to pursue where you can do some therapeutic services we do have the ability to do that over the phone or through telehealth wonderful and what your Web site christen our Web site is Health District dot org and then you would look for the Connections program on the health district. Dot org Web site.

Thank you. We’ll circle back with you towards the end of this interview.

Let’s hear from Karl Nassar next. He’s the president of heart centered counseling. Good morning.

Good morning. Thank you for having me.

Right. What. Well tell us a little bit about the services and Heart Center counseling for Pakistan. And what are you hearing about the most. Absolutely.

So it’s usually a heart center counseling is an organization that was set up to remove all the barriers to access mental health care. Now we have about 200 providers across the state many of whom are in Larimer and Weld County. And the the idea is that anyone can just reach out call us that our main number or find us online or get that information in just a moment and that we can get people seen quickly. Certainly within within seven days if not sooner and that we can get them in and try to make cost a non issue to being seen by taking all insurances Medicaid Medicare and all the private commercial insurances like Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield or United and get people seen regardless of age from the very young to the very old regardless of issue whether that’s something for the depression or anxiety spectrum or something something different and that and that basically by just reaching out to us we can get people set up quickly for this time either tell the therapy or tell us psychiatry so they can get the support they need quickly and easily and all the barriers that they might otherwise have to access and care are as best as possible moved out of the way and they can quickly and easily access care.

And along that line you know one of the biggest things that we’re seeing and that is that the data is telling us is that you know with people sheltered in place fewer people are reaching out for care until things build up to be a crisis.

You’re seeing a 10 fold increase in the use of crisis services and a decrease in the number of people calling for routine outpatient mental health care. And what that tells us is that people are trying to manage on their own until it builds up to a crisis point and then aren’t able to at that point reaching out for help. And our hope is that people reach out for help sooner than later. That would tell it therapy being directed home and that tell therapy is something you can access through a smartphone or tablet or a computer and as easy as click no link and if that doesn’t work we can still we can go back the old school telephone to make that connection you know that that it is very easy to access therapy and psychiatry services at this time the cost is low because insurances are ramping up their payments to support that. And we want we want to encourage people to reach out and not wait to get that help until they’re in a crisis mode that’s where they are our hope is that people will start to even sheltering in place recognize they can get the care and support they need sooner without having to let it build up and then reach out later when it’s when it’s harder.

You have a sense Carl of why people are doing that waiting till it becomes a crisis rather than calling earlier.

You know my hunch is twofold. One is everybody is a little bit overwhelmed in the transition.

There there there there stay at home teachers to their kids as I am to my 10 year old daughter.

They are working from home at the same time they’re trying to navigate their relationship with their spouses for example and in the midst of all that busyness what gets lost is care for ourselves. And so we sort of lose track of caring for ourselves our feelings get pushed down and then they come out sideways or they don’t come out until it’s a crisis. So you know we’re hoping that that people will be able to just find some moments to touch in with themselves be honest with themselves about how they’re feeling and and understand that if they have feelings that are building up whether that’s anger or sadness or anxiety that they can reach out for help. That mental health doesn’t mean you’re clinically depressed per say mental help can simply mean that you’re you’re struggling because there are losses right now or you’re scared about your future or your your. You’re finding yourself angry at being contained in your house and that those feelings are real and important and deserve expression. And you know one way to express those is to reach out to a counselor therapist and and talk about those so that there’s a healthy venue for those to be moved through and released so they don’t build up on the inside and come out sideways toward yourself toward your family or in a crisis scenario.

It’s great that you have talent therapy and tell us psychiatry and people can use phones computers. How do they get a hold of you to get started.

Yes. So they can they can call. Call us are our main number is 9 7 0 3 1 0 3 4 0 6. Or they can just go to our Web site which is heart centered counseling dot com spelled the way you would you would think it would be heart centered counseling dot com.

I’m so glad to hear what you said about insurance companies are ramping up knowing that this is something they have to be there for because it is very real.

Yeah they have. They have changed the regulations under federal guidance to allow for reimbursement for phone calls. If we can’t set up a secure video link that’s a typical. But during the during this crisis insurance companies state federal governments are working together to make sure that people can can get access to care in whatever way is available to them. So just know that technology does not need to be a barrier. You can use a phone you can get therapy or psychiatry support wonderful.

We’ll circle back with you. Carl thank you very much.

Our next guest is Cindy Dodds and Cindy is the chief clinical officer at Summit St.. Good morning Cindy.

Good morning. Danny thank you for having me. I am pleased to be able to talk about this important issue today tell us a little bit about summit stone end.

Not only the services you provide but what you’re seeing and what people are getting a whole new view about.

So summit Stone is a safety net provider.

We offer both mental health and substance use disorder counselling services across the full age continuum. So we work with young children and youth adolescents adults and older adults so that entire population through a whole variety of services that could be more on prevention and and then could progressed into intensive treatment like intensive outpatient services for mental health or substance use disorder. We have in response to that pandemic very much like connections and heart centered counselling. We’ve moved to a virtual environment. So we are now providing those services through a telehealth link video link. We also can do it by telephone. If for some reason technology becomes a challenge we have worked very hard though we can’t coach people through that technology so they’re able to take advantage and use that service. The other piece that we do is we operate a crisis our crisis services. So we operate a 24/7 seven days a week crisis line that people can call really to get support and to do some planning and so it could be a crisis and I think sometimes people think well I’m struggling but I’m not in crisis yet. And we would say really anybody that is struggling they could give us a call. We can help do an assessment for them come up with a plan for them. Broker services for them and then we also do an outreach call 20 24 hours later to make sure that that plan is working for them and a face on that call the situation is such that people are in crisis where they need even more than a telephone response. We have a mobile team that can go out and also provide services. And we’ve worked very hard through social distancing and technology such that we could potentially respond to a location drop off an iPad through social distancing and then conduct that session where we’re closer to the individual needing support. But doing that in a way that can be protective of everybody. We also have a crisis stabilization unit. So that is a place where people can come and adults can come up and stay up to five days to get some additional support wrapped around them and come up with a plan. Then as they transition back into the community all of our crisis services are offered regardless of ability to pay. So we very much want to be that resource and help to broker services either into some stone or to another provider that will best meet their needs. And I think some of the things that we’re seeing we’re really starting to see within requests for services folks that haven’t typically looked at. I’m reaching out and asking for care and really see that as a sign of strength. So we have had people that have been business professionals that are becoming overwhelmed with what they’re having to manage and looking to get resources in support and caring for themselves folks that have had to do layoffs and the impact of that and needing to make those decisions and how that has impacted their own mental health and or folks that have been laid off. So I think we’re really we started to see more people die as a result of covered are seeking care specific to that that could be short term care or it also could bridge in to longer term care that could be individual counseling psychiatry those types of services that very much want to be a place where people can access resources and we can help get them into care with us or into it into care with another treatment provider that would best meet their needs.

You know that’s interesting Sandy that you brought up the people who are in the business world who are worried about their workers and their businesses and laying off people and trying to hold it all together it’s a whole another layer of crisis and you have a 24/7 crisis line and it sounds like you have the telehealth or virtual or the phone ability as well.

Do you find that people hold off thinking that my crisis isn’t really that bad because every year there’s a lot worse going on. So mind is that important do you think that you mentioned something about encouraging people to call early when they feel that they might be going into crisis so that they don’t wait for too long.

Yeah absolutely. I think sometimes because this is a crisis line people will go I don’t rise to that level and really I think as we are looking at dealing with a pandemic we are.

I think as a as a nation as a world we’re really looking at a trauma response where I think that you know we live in that that place that can be a little bit like a fight flight or free survival mode. And so I think sometimes people get stuck with that and we would really like to encourage when you’re there when you’re struggling with do I need help do I not need help. What would be some of the structures I could put into place to help me deal with this situation. We would like to be on the front end of that and can help talk people through what they need help them create a plan and then also be that resource to follow up with that what 24 within 24 hours make a call back to them and say How is that going for you and what else do you need. So we very much would like to be part of the solution in helping people as they move through this which I think is we are now starting to look at what is the new normal and what is it going to be like as we move through this.

I think what will be a longer term situation for us thank you and what is again your phone number for people to get a hold of summit stone and your Web site.

We are a main telephone number is 9 7 0 4 9 4 forty two hundred and our website. This don’t help that org. I also mentioned within our Web site we have several.

We have a whole array assessment tools that people could just check in on anxiety depression alcohol use substance use. We also have a my strength app which really can. People can download for free. They can customize it. They can help with mindfulness meditation exercise all the things that would help support good overall well-being during this time.

OK. Two things that if anybody wants to jump in and address substance use.

Are you finding that’s a bigger problem than usual and domestic violence. I’ve been hearing that this is have been going up.

Would anyone like to address that if I could jump in for just a moment. This is girl with heart centered counseling. I just want you know I think that what we’re seeing you know we know that alcohol sales are very high right now. We know from a recent U.N. reported as well as many other reports the domestic violence is significantly on the rise. And what I think we’re seeing is we’re seeing people who are struggling to manage their emotions at this time and reverting back to ways in which they can try to self sued. For example with alcohol or when we’re not are not attending to feelings like their anger and having that come out sideways in the form of domestic violence and these are these are things they’re really hoping we can get ahead of by I think between the great work that some students are doing as Cindy was pointing out that the connections program is as Kristen was pointing out that we’re doing here at heart centered counseling. The hope is very much that together as a community we can encourage people to reach out and get care so that they’re not reverting into old coping styles but instead learning new ways to cope and using this as an opportunity to learn and grow and become who they can be and not defaulted into into old into old styles that haven’t been as meaningful or supportive as they could be.

Thank you Carl. Cindy would you like to weigh in on that.

Yes I would. So we have I think very much to to follow up with Carl is out we have actually started to see an uptick in our request in terms of people saying they are are struggling with substance use and looking to get some support and doing that.

So we’re we’re happy that we’re it’s really just been within the last week to 10 days starting to see an uptick in people reaching out and really would encourage people to think about those things that they’re doing to sell to which could be addiction. It could be gambling. So any of those alcohol use drugs gambling really those pieces to think about how they how they are looking at doing that and what are some ways that they could scale back around that and if they’re having difficult difficulty in scaling back with that reaching out for help thank you.

And Kristen we were touching on substance use issues and domestic violence issues.

Thoughts from you on that I just really want to echo everything that Karl and Cindy have said.

What we’re seeing an increase in substance use or any other of these coping skills that people are using is a reaction to the uncertainty and the stress and the chaos that people are experiencing at this point in time. So I hope the listeners are taking away with them that there are resources heart centered connections summit stone. We’re all here together in a partnership so that we can let people know that help and resources are available.

I have to say that our communities are very lucky to have all three of you onboard during this tumultuous time. Certainly Gordon would you like to say anything to close out the program on your end.

Well I’d just like to echo your sentiments. Our community is just very well served by these three wonderful organizations. I want to thank each one of them for what they’re doing.

Salute me How about you Nick.

Well just a quick heartfelt thank you to you Danny and Gordon and Kristen Carl and Cindy for your your expert advice and resources.

You know what one message that really resonates with me too is it sounds like it’s really best to be proactive and not wait for a crisis to develop a secret sauce just sooner rather than later. So thank you for that and all that you’re doing.

I think that’s a great takeaway. I heard that loud and clear too. Don’t let it get to a point where it’s you know really hard to manage go ahead and make those calls make those connections even if you’re early on you feel like you’re maybe not really in crisis but you don’t know these people can certainly help you figure that out and come up with a plan for you.

Let’s just go around one more time and everybody give their phone number Web site starting with you Kristen.

The number for connections is 9 7 0 2 2 1 5 5 5 1.

And our Web site is Health District dot org sending some sound health that main telephone number is 9 7 0 4 9 4 4 4 2 0 0 0. And our Web site is summit help dot org.

And Karl.

Yeah you can reach us here at Heart Centered Counseling at (970) 310-3406.

And you can find us online any time at heart centered counseling dot com.

OK thank you all so much for joining us this morning. We really appreciate it.

This is K R FC eighty eight point nine F.M. radio Fort Collins community work. I’m Denny look around. And have a safe day out now. Thank you very much.

The post Emotional Support is Only a Phone Call Away! appeared first on Heart-Centered Counselors.

source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/emotional-support-is-only-a-phone-call-away/

Recognizing The Signs That You Could Be Mentally Unwell

It’s rare that a mental illness manifests itself in an individual without warning, and while they themselves may notice some small, worrying changes to their behavior or feelings, it’s often those around the individual who begin to spot signs that all is not well. Sadly, when these small changes are not noticed or recognized for what they are and acted upon quickly enough (if at all), it’s harder to reduce the severity of the illness, and even harder to prevent it from developing.

Recognizing the signs of mental illness at an early stage is very important, and here are a few common symptoms that may indicate all is not well mentally with you, or someone you know:

• Changes in mood

This may involve rapid or dramatic alterations in emotions, or intensified feelings of sadness or anxiety

• Becoming withdrawn

Activities and social events once previously enjoyed, become less interesting and desirable

• Reduced performance

This can be anything from not performing so well at school, college, university, or work, to not being able to perform familiar tasks with ease

• Difficulty thinking

Concentrating may become harder, and problems with memory or logical thought may arise

• Sensitivity intensifies

Sights, sounds, smell and touch may become heightened causing an avoidance of over-stimulating situations.

• Apathy

The desire to participate in activities of any kind may be dramatically reduced

• Feelings of being disconnected

While often difficult to pinpoint, there may be a vague feeling or sensation of not being connected to yourself or your surroundings.

• Illogical thought processes

Beliefs about personal responsibility may become exaggerated and thought processes such as those experienced during childhood may manifest themselves in the form of ‘magical’ thinking.

• Feelings of nervousness (or even paranoia)

Suspicion of others begins to take hold, causing nervousness or even paranoia

• Behavior becomes odd

Strange and uncharacteristic behaviors may occur

If you’ve noticed any of these changes in yourself or someone you know, there is no need to panic, and it isn’t definitive proof that a mental illness is to blame. However, what is important is that you recognize and acknowledge the signs, and even if you don’t seek professional advice right away, continue to monitor the situation and act quickly should they worsen or show no signs of dissipating.

Should any of these signs begin interfering with the individual’s daily life and have a negative impact upon them and those around them, though, then please seek care to prevent any potential illnesses from taking hold and causing further physical or mental struggle. If you or anyone you know begins to talk about suicide, then there really is no other option but to seek professional help.

As with any illness, physical or mental, detecting the signs early on gives individuals the best chance at reaching a full recovery quickly, or being able to manage their symptoms so that their life isn’t negatively impacted. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of a mental illness, talking to a qualified counselor can help you determine your next course of action.

Emotional support—only a phone call away

Scared. Frustrated. Anxious. Pi**ed off. These are common feelings right now. Take a listen to this podcast which includes Heart-Centered Counselor’s founder Carl Nassar talk about reaching out to experts who will listen and help you cope with all the emotions you’re experiencing.

#COVID19 #emotionalsupport @HealthDistrict @SummitStoneHlth @krfcfm

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/recognizing-the-signs-that-you-could-be-mentally-unwell/

Managing Your Anger So It Doesn’t Affect Your Mental Health

A lot of things in life can make us angry, and feeling anger is perfectly natural. However, when that anger is poorly managed, it can quickly begin to have a negative impact upon both our physical, and mental health.

If you’re concerned that feelings of anger are becoming uncontrollable and your mental health is beginning to suffer, what can you do to help yourself?

Don’t ignore your anger; this will only ever make things worse:

Acknowledging that you’re angry, rather than trying to ignore or hide your feelings, will enable you to begin learning how to manage it; only when you accept your anger can you ever truly try to move forward.

Here are some important things to remember while trying to manage your anger:

• Manage it from a calm place:

When you are beginning to experience feelings of anger that you fear might escalate, try to remain as calm as you can possibly be. There are several popular and effective physical techniques to help reclaim calm, such as breathing exercises or doing a little light exercise, and some simple mental techniques, like trying to think about something completely unrelated. One tried and tested technique is perhaps the simplest: counting to ten with your eyes closed before you act out of your anger.

• Find the cause of your anger:

We don’t always know exactly what has made us feel angry, but it’s important to try and identify the target of the anger, to be able to make efforts to better manage our feelings. If we don’t know what we’re angry about, with who, or even why, it can make dealing with that anger so much harder.

One way of helping to identify the source or target of your anger, is to try expressing your feelings by writing them down in a journal. Or, by talking openly with a close friend, trusted family member or a trained therapist. The advantage of speaking to a therapist is that they are experts in helping people to recognize their emotional states and can professionally guide them through the steps that they can take to better manage them.

• Decide what technique will work best for you:

A therapist or counselor can talk to you about which anger management techniques might work best for you, or it may be a case of trying a few before finding the right one. One technique known as ‘cognitive reframing’, can help you to see things in a different light, and can even show you solutions to a problem that you might not even have thought about.

When trying to better manage your anger so that it doesn’t have a negative impact upon your mental health – whether you have an existing condition or not – it’s vital that you are honest about when, or if, you might need some extra help. It doesn’t have to be professional help (although that’s often the most reliable source), it can simply mean talking to a friend or partner, because anger issues are best resolved in relationship to others.

Learn more at heartcenteredcounselors.com

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/managing-your-anger-so-it-doesnt-affect-your-mental-health/

How To Help Yourself When There Is No One To Turn To

When you are at a loss as to how to continue with life as it is, or have an emotional problem that you don’t know how to solve, it can feel awful to go through it alone, and while you may think that you have nobody to turn to, there is always someone available to help, you just need to find them, or find the strength to be open with those who are already in your life.

Whether you have nobody in your life that you trust enough to confide in, or whether you feel as if there is no one to turn to, there are solutions for helping yourself:

Find a local or online support group (or therapy group):

These are available everywhere and are open to people of all ages and from all walks of life. Whatever you are going through, there will be a group of like-minded individuals eager to help you work through things, and while they may initially be a group of strangers, it can be immensely cathartic to talk to others who know nothing about you, and who are willing to accept you at face value.

They are often headed by a trained facilitator or mental health professional, and whether the group meets in person, or whether you link up with them online by video link, there will be a group that you can join and often, simply conducting a quick online search will throw up a wide selection.

Attend therapeutic counseling sessions:

While once (long ago) derided by many in society, counseling sessions now provide millions of people with the strength and will to live their lives to the fullest, free from anxiety and fear.

Instead of feeling shame in seeking help, those who do so should be applauded for taking positive steps to help themselves, and while talking therapies don’t suit everyone, they are widely thought of as being the most constructive forms of therapy for a wide range of mental health conditions.

Volunteer in your local community:

Feelings of low self-worth or sadness often dissipate when we discover that we have so much more to give to others than we may have thought possible. No matter how bad you may be feeling, there are always others who are struggling, and who may benefit from your help, and when we give selflessly to others, we can’t help but feel better. 

Love yourself first and foremost:

While this might sound like a corny old cliché, it has always been true and will remain so. Sometimes in life, even if we are surrounded by those who love and care for us, it means nothing if we don’t love ourselves and become our own, strongest support system.

Once you truly understand that you are worthy of love, and that you deserve it, you’ll find yourself being open with others in ways you never imagined possible. If this sounds like an alien concept to you, why not make an appointment with a professional counselor and let them guide you through what it means to truly love yourself, and how you can be your own biggest advocate and strongest support system?

Learn more about counseling and therapy options here: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/

The post How To Help Yourself When There Is No One To Turn To appeared first on Heart-Centered Counselors.

source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/how-to-help-yourself-when-there-is-no-one-to-turn-to/

Coping With Depression As An Introvert

Many of us think of introverts as being quiet, reserved and thoughtful people who keep themselves to themselves and prefer not to attend social events, and we may be right, but there is often more to an introvert than simply being the opposite of an extrovert.

The world-renowned psychologist, Carl Jung, first described introverts and extroverts back in the 1960’s and wrote that they could be distinguished from one another by how they regain energy. In his preliminary findings, he wrote that introverts prefer being in an environment that is not particularly stimulating and that they need ample time to recharge and recover from stimulants. Extroverts, on the other hand, gain fuel from being around others.

That said and many years on, we now know that these personality traits are not always easily defined, and that some introverts can have elements of extroversion in their personalities, and vice versa. While it’s true that both types of personality can experience problems with their mental health, it’s widely accepted and proven that introverts are more susceptible to depression than many other personality types.

Why could this be?

Many with introverted personalities prefer to spend time immersed in their own worlds, listening to their own inner thoughts and engaging with their own monologues that often take over their mind space. They also choose to speak out less often, and when they do, they choose their words very carefully. Thinking too much and speaking too little are common criticisms of introverts. Due to their restricted lack of communication with others, they may harbor a wide range of emotions that over time, become trapped and can torment them, sometimes having a hugely debilitating effect on their everyday lives.

Overthinking and a lack of social activity can combine to make the average introvert more prone to symptoms of depression than others, and when their thinking processes take over it can cause them to focus on their perceived faults or frailties, which can lead to a downturn in self-esteem.  Alongside this, they may begin experiencing feelings of guilt and even general despair, which when left untreated, can evoke a cycle of hopelessness that can make them feel depressed and alone. 

So, if you’re an introvert, what can you do to cope with depression?

Firstly, if you’re an introvert and suffering from depression, it’s important to remember that you can get over it, and you can tackle the reasons behind the illness safely, provided you seek help from a mental health professional.

In recognizing your own personality characteristics as an introvert, don’t push yourself to face your depression in any particular way. Instead, be honest with yourself and allow yourself to find your own ways of dealing with depression. And, please seek help from a professional therapist if you don’t find your symptoms easing, or if you’re worried that you’re beginning to feel worse.

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source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/coping-with-depression-as-an-introvert/