Category: Isolation
The Good Therapy Blog
October 5th, 2011 |
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American families love their pets. “With over 77 million dogs and 93 million cats in the United States alone (62% of U.S. households own a pet, with spending exceeding $45 billion annually), it is clear that pets are both ubiquitous and important entities,” said Allen R. McConnell of Miami University and lead author of a study examining the psychological benefits of pet ownership. “Moreover, it is commonly assumed that pets can play a significant social role in people’s lives.” Often people are encouraged to get a pet after experiencing the death of a loved one. Older adults who... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Sherman Oaks Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
September 21st, 2011 |
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According to a new study led by Iris B. Mauss of the University of Denver, people who put a heavy value on happiness are lonelier than those who don’t. Until now, most research suggested that happiness has tremendous benefits on overall quality of life. “Indeed, growing evidence suggests that happy people have more friends, more occupational success, and live longer and healthier lives than do less-happy people,” said Mauss. “So what could be wrong with wanting to be happy?” She pointed out that people who place significant emphasis on achieving happiness may forget to interact with... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Staten Island Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
August 8th, 2011 |
My son’s best friend just graduated high school and will be heading off to college this weekend. The one year age difference has never made a difference to these two boys, who have been virtually inseparable for the last five years. But it will definitely impact both of their lives when school starts. When my son starts his senior year of high school and looks around the halls, he will see fewer familiar faces. His friend will begin college classes amidst a sea of strangers.... Read More
June 1st, 2011 |
After 6 years in the depths of anorexia, my eating disorder was a way of life. Starving had become my world. It was the way I dealt with anger, fear, hurt, frustration, disappointment, and every other even slightly uncomfortable feeling. I managed my weight to manage my life. Anorexia was my control, my way of communicating, and my way of avoiding, and it was the one thing I felt like I did really well. I was awesome at losing weight.
Of course, I lost a... Read More
May 30th, 2011 |
Being human means that we can experience serious bouts of depression, which can make life feel seriously out of balance. There is a sense that we have lost sight of our own vitality and purpose. Depression, however, does not mean that we are “sick,” as much as it means we may be coping with difficulties in such a way as to avoid feeling badly or dealing with problems. Often, in our attempt to not feel painful feelings, we avoid dealing with difficulties regarding our health, our relationships, our work, and our play. We avoid, withdraw, isolate, numb ourselves (through unhealthy behaviors),... Read More
April 20th, 2011 |
Did you know that according to Patrick Carnes, Sex Addiction Expert, he reports that relapse happens for most individuals who struggle with sex addiction in the second six months of recovery? Most individuals gain traction in recovery through counseling, support groups and establishing strong boundaries. It is very important that individuals who struggle with sex addiction stay proactive in their recovery and the journey to having healthy and satisfying relationships.
These are three effective ways to avoid relapse in a sexual addiction recovery program:
1. Be humble:
For many individuals... Read More
March 14th, 2011 |
“I’ve tried so many times and so many different ways, what is the point of trying anymore?” “I am too ashamed, what will others think if I admit this?” “Is there really a way to overcome this, it feels like too much?” These are just a few of the statements I repeatedly hear from individuals who struggle with sex addiction and truly believing that there is no hope, or at least it feels that way to them. Have you wondered if sex addiction is really an addiction? Well, consider these statistics:
- The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health conservatively estimates 3% - 5% of... Read More
February 16th, 2011 |
This is the fourth in a series of articles on the Scapegoat and how Voice Dialogue can help heal this ancient phenomenon that continues to occur within all human communities and within certain sensitive and susceptible individuals. The first two articles explored the Shadow, the phenomenon called projection, and the history of the Scapegoat in human communities. The third article begins the sorting and healing process through Voice Dialogue sessions with a composite client named Helen. See the first three articles here.
In... Read More
January 20th, 2011 |
Over 25 years of living in rural Alaska ("The Bush" - Aniak, Pt. Hope, Rampart, Seward, Kodiak) gave me a lot of insight into why alcohol problems occur there - and how to resolve them. Summers in Northern British Columbia, The Yukon, and Northwest Territories told me that the underlying problems cut across geography and, sometimes, cultures.
What did I learn about myself and about you?
First, we're not exactly normal folks to start with. After all, most of us came from somewhere else and, frankly, "normal" folks don't move to Alaska or the Canadian North. Even those of us born there, like my... Read More
January 5th, 2011 |
Some problems manifest themselves differently for women than for men. Alcoholism is one of them. While both genders can suffer equally from the ravages of this disorder, women often abuse alcohol for different reasons, metabolize alcohol differently, and suffer unique health consequences. Approximately one-third of alcoholics in the U.S. are women, and compared to men, those with the most severe dependence tend to develop more serious problems. Women alcoholics may be treated more harshly by our society, carry more shame about their behavior, and show a more rapid progression of the disorder... Read More
December 30th, 2010 |
Pet ownership can be an extremely positive force in the life of an elderly person, especially if that person lives alone. The companionship of an animal can be therapeutic: pets have been shown to reduce depression, anxiety and loneliness and promote healing and cognitive sharpness. Caring for that pet can provide meaning and daily structure. But for some, injury or illness makes it impossible to give the animal the care it needs, and many elderly people are forced to part with their beloved animals. Recognizing that these seniors could provide companionship to animals but needed help with... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Santa Rosa Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
December 29th, 2010 |
I often hear parents describe their life as being on House Arrest. This may appear harsh initially, but completely understandable when parenting children with attachment issues and special needs. The experiences that a “typical” family may be able to participate in become luxuries. Time and space become overcome by screaming, tantrums and embarrassing behavior issues. More often than not, the family feels as though no one else can care for the child because of their extreme needs and... Read More
December 29th, 2010 |
Loneliness can take many forms. For some, feelings of isolation, ineffectiveness, rejection, sadness or emptiness can cause depression and anxiety. Many times, those feelings are serious enough or persistent enough that the person decides to find a therapist to help turn their emotions around. For others, being in a romantic relationship heals or protects against many of those psychological sores. Others still throw themselves into hobbies. The activities themselves help in that they fill time, provide goals and benchmarks, and provide social opportunities with like-minded enthusiasts. But... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Mckinney Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
December 27th, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
On the whole, people assume that those around them lead happier lives than they themselves do. Dartmouth psychology fellow Alex Jordan noticed that his friends, when logging onto Facebook, became depressed about their own lives. Everyone else seemed to be happier, more successful, and more active. Jordan began to explore and research the differences between how we perceive others’ quality of life and how life actually feels to them. Time and time again, people rated others’ lives as higher... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist North Vancouver Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
