Co-Dependency Workbook Exercise 3
If you are reading this article, then you probably have completed your list of troubled relationships. I hope you are patting yourself on the back for having done this. I am sure it was painful to take an honest look at your current relationships. Generally, in codependent relationships there is some pain and emotional abuse. They tend to be rather lopsided, with you doing most if not all of the giving. When you realize this, you may get angry and feel as though others are using you. You may wonder why this is. It is because when they meet you, they sense that you are a caretaker who will want... Read More
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s obvious that the heart is a very important part of the body to monitor, but many people may not realize there is also a connection between good heart health and good mental health.
While the most commonly noted ways to prevent heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic website, include exercising consistently, not smoking or using tobacco, eating healthy, and keeping fit, the American Heart Association website states there is a strong connection between heart... 
Television shows from the 1950s and ‘60s rarely showed married couples in the same bedroom. When they did, they were usually in separate beds. Today, it is assumed that most spouses share not only a bedroom, but also a bed. However, in a recent 
All too often, a lingering impact of traumatic experiences—particularly ongoing/frequent traumatic events in childhood—is that energy levels become compromised; meaning that you simply do not have enough energy to tackle certain tasks. Not only do you not have enough energy, but often times the traumatic experiences also prevented you from being taught how to manage your energy levels—everything from recognizing when you are running low to knowing how to build your energy reservoir, as well as stamina.
Before looking further at this issue depth, take a quick moment and think about all... 
While spring conjures up beautiful images of tulips, crocuses, and daffodils, it is also a yearly reminder to clean one's abode. Historically, when people turned to herbs for most of their medicinal needs, spring was associated with rejuvenating the liver by taking the milk thistle for a couple of weeks, or simply adding dandelion greens to a daily salad. Psychologically, it is an opportunity to do an interior sweep of one's cranium. I'm talking about all those repetitive thoughts that create feelings and catalyze behaviors, some desirable, and some not so welcome.
If you feel stagnant from... 
As humans, we are wired to be connected. We are an interdependent species, which means we cannot survive alone. This is why relationships are such an important part of our lives and crucial to our well-being. This is also why dysfunctional relationships can take a toll on our self-esteem and quality of life. When was the last time you really took the time to examine your relationships? To do so, ask yourself the following questions:
How important is this relationship in my life?
How much trust do I have in this person?
How much do I invest in this relationship?
How much does this person invest... 
“Kevin” is 51 and was recently treated for colon cancer. His leave of absence at work is almost over. As his return looms closer, he is increasingly anxious. He’s not feeling 100% yet. He still tires fairly easily and has been taking naps every afternoon. He’s not sure he can concentrate fully for extended periods of time. On top of his concerns about his abilities, there is the question about how much he has to tell people about why he has been gone. Does everyone need to know every detail?
Returning to work is a common source of stress for people coping with cancer. It’s important... 
Caregivers are individuals who are responsible for the physical well-being of a family member. Caregivers in general are more likely to experience increased 
“Guess what?” your best couple friends ask when you’ve just sat down at an elegant restaurant. “We have an announcement. Guess who’s not having wine?” You and your partner are jolted. You just found out an hour ago that your third in vitro fertility treatment didn’t pan out, and you didn’t even know your friends were trying.
You and your partner have a quick, furtive look. Your throat is dry, and a tear slides out before you can will it to stop. “Great news,” your husband says.
You can’t think of anything you can say aloud. You know you can’t say what you’re feeling:... 
While vacationing in Rincon, a beautiful beach town in Puerto Rico, I fell into a seven-foot hole. There were no streetlights in the tiny village and I was out in the dark night… The fall, the pain, and being stuck in a remote place traumatized me; I was left in a cast for 7 months with a severely shattered heel. Having no choice in the matter, the time I spent recovering left me feeling trapped in my body. But, eventually, I began to listen to what it was saying.
Previously, I wrote about my challenge with cancer and how the experience of a healer aligning my energy helped me transform what... 
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
-Dalai Lama
In life we encounter many different experiences. Some are joyful and uplifting, and others are painful and challenging. When we encounter joy, there is a yearning to have it last forever, but when there’s pain our first reaction is to avoid, ignore, or push it away. When we react to joy or pain with any form of resistance (i.e., clinging to joy, avoiding, pushing away, or ignoring pain) we suffer. What helps us walk through our suffering and the suffering of others is to become aware... 
Are you a doormat? You are reading this, which is a good indication that you think you may be!
Are you constantly giving to others while rarely receiving anything in return?
Do people consistently take advantage of you?
Do you say yes when you really want to say no?
Do you over commit to your own detriment? Do you take responsibility for other people’s problems?
Do the people in your life expect you to solve their problems?
If you have answered yes to these questions, you are in danger of being a doormat.
When we struggle with being assertive, food often becomes a powerful coping... 
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
-Woody Allen
No matter who you are, things will happen to throw you off kilter. Life intrudes on inner peace with an uncanny regularity. It may be your boss, spouse, children, house, parents, finances, health, or even a freaky weather event, but life has its own trajectory, and no one can know what new challenge awaits.
Luckily, there are many ways to regain equilibrium. Trial and error, plumbing your depths to see what really works for you, and discerning the differences between various situations that trigger your sympathetic nervous... 
Maintaining proper medical treatment and adhering to a specialized protocol is essential for people who live with AIDS/HIV (PLWH). According to many studies, barely half of individuals diagnosed with 
