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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.
Read MoreSadly, many people are missing their dads even more as we approach Father’s Day. Perhaps, this is their first Father’s Day without their Dad or the umpteenth Father’s Day missing their Dad. Either way, the pain is very real and my heart aches for them. People can miss their Dad due to ongoing social distancing, death of their Dad, loss of a relationship with their Dad, or loss of who their Dad truly is and was due to Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia.
Read MoreWe need to discuss and address misuse. As I have said in previous blogs, perhaps my head was in the sand or perhaps I was being overly optimistic or even a combination of both, but I had hoped that substance use/misuse/abuse and dependence would have decreased with COVID-19. No such luck. I keep reading articles and hearing about how use of drugs and alcohol is up. Relapses are up as are overdoses. This is not just happening locally, but across the United States and in other countries too! It makes absolute sense though. As I have mentioned in previous blogs on addiction, people have never really had the goal to struggle with addition, rather use often begins when people seek ways to cope with stress, pain, and/or trauma.
Read MoreIt’s ok to be doing this quarantine thing in a messy way. It’s ok to be barely making it out of bed in the morning. It’s ok to be so scared to leave your house that you don’t. It’s ok to be doing the best you can and then wondering if that’s even good enough. Give yourself grace while we are all figuring this out. And tell yourself : it’s ok to not be ok.
Read MoreIf you are like me, you did not think we would be living the way we are now...social distancing, limited access to events and goods, wearing masks, and relying on technology online to communicate and interact with others. Perhaps, I have had “my head in the sand” as my late mother would always say about not wanting to face reality or the truth of a situation. However, there is no avoiding the truth of the COVID-19 Pandemic or the reality of it.
Read MoreThe Counseling Collective LLC
1987 State Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520 and 210 West Grant Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
CALL: (717) 723-8040
