4 Ways To Support A Loved One

4 Ways To Support A Loved One

Many of us have loved ones who are struggling right now.  They might be struggling with the quarantine, with losing their job, with anxiety about getting sick with COVID-19, or even with school starting back up.  We obviously care for our loved ones, and want the best for them.  But, sometimes we feel completely helpless to help them.  And, even with our best intentions, we might say something that doesn’t actually help or that makes things worse. Saying things like “Why are you so depressed? You have so much going for you?” is like saying to someone has asthma “Why can’t you breathe? There is so much air.” We are often well meaning, but our “help” can fall short.

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Therapeutic Qualities of Our Pets

Therapeutic Qualities of Our Pets

Research shows how petting an animal can lower the heart rate, reduce symptoms of anxiety, and reduce symptoms of depression.  Of course, our emotional state and mental health have a direct correlation to our physical health.  Thus, when we relax by cuddling and petting our fur babies, our emotional state improves which leads to health improvements.  

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The Art of Being Alone

The Art of Being Alone

Do you find that you surround yourself with others simply to pass the time, or doing things you don’t enjoy just to have something to do?  In today’s hyperconnected world, people are often never alone so that when it does happen, they have no idea how to cope with that fact and are quite unhappy in their own company.  And now, dealing with COVID and the a stay at home order, many of us find ourselves alone since we can’t leave our houses much anymore.

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5 Things We Can Learn From Our Pets

5 Things We Can Learn From Our Pets

As many of you know from my previous blogs, I am a HUGE animal lover-especially cats!  Ok, saying that I love cats is a major understatement, but you still get my point.  Have you ever just sat and observed animals for a while?  I have and it is one of my favorite things to do.  In fact, I have learned so much from just observing my pets and the animals that live outside such as the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks to name just a few.  Of course, I think part of the reason that they grace my presence is that I supply them with food and fresh water daily, but who wouldn’t stick around when provided with endless food and water!?!?   I have spent hours watching animals in their daily activities and as humorous as they are and as much fun as I get from watching them, I truly believe that we can certainly learn so much from them as well as enjoying their antics.  

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5 Tips On Adjusting Your Expectations Of Yourself

Wow, isn’t this a new world we are all trying to navigate!  Covid-19 has quickly changed so much of our lives. Suddenly, many of us are working from home, with our kids at home too, without our typical supports and outlets.  Our kids have school work to do, while we are trying to do work, and we are trying to keep it all together running smoothly without going out in public too much.  We are all suffering from various forms of grief: kids who are missing their friends, plays, and proms, weddings postponed, baby showers cancelled, funerals postponed.  In the midst of all of this juggling and cancelled events, we are all living with the reality that our world has changed, and with that might come fear or anxiety related to all this uncertainty.  Change is hard for us all, let alone change in nearly every aspect of our lives!

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