Here we are in a new year! It’s a time for reflecting on the past year and thinking about what you’d like to accomplish in the coming months. I suggest every couple not only make individual resolutions but specifically relationship resolutions. Relationships so often go malnourished due to everyday stressors that life brings. Unhealthy communication patterns, unresolved issues, or a lack of quality time in a relationship can quickly have a negative emotional impact on each individual. Symptoms may include depression, anxiety, irritability, withdrawal, changes in weight and sleep habits. It’s important to make each other a priority to maintain a healthy, nourished relationship.
The New Year Experience
There’s something invigorating about the New Year. Many of us have this sense of a “clean slate,” the turning of a page, a new opportunity, fresh air. Whether you set a New Year’s resolution (like 45% of Americans) or not, I think most of us would agree many times there is some sort of a relief when one year comes to a close and a new year begins.
Anxiety
Anxiety issues come in several forms and can truly affect one’s life. Anxiety is highly treatable through psychotherapy that includes behavior and thought changes, medication, or both. Some of the anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Phobias (Social Anxiety Disorder), and there are more.
The Importance of Creating Holiday Traditions with Your Stepfamily
The holidays can be time when feelings of loss, differing expectations, and parental loyalty binds can all become heightened. However, the holidays can also be used to create traditions that promote cohesion and strength within a stepfamily.
What Not to Do During the Holidays!
Even though the Christmas carols praised the winter as “the most wonderful time of the year”, the truth is that the holidays can be beyond stressful! It is the time of year of parties, over-commitment, sugar-rushes, family conflict, and a departure from the regular daily routine. All of these can add up to a pretty hectic time of year.
The Holidays: Managing Your Expectations
The holidays tend to come with a lot of extra hype, performance pressure, and expectations. One tool that can help family members enjoy vacations, holidays, and special events is setting realistic expectations ahead of time. Here are a few questions that can help guide that conversation.
Holiday Traditions
Every family has traditions. From the way a family passes out presents, what the family eats on holiday mornings, or even celebrating a religious tradition, these traditions flow through our holidays. As children grow, move out of the house and even start their own core families, deciding which traditions to take from generation to generation is up to the children.
Whole-hearted Parenting
Parents have one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs, in raising their children. Often, parents protect their children from failing and this strategy can hurt, more than help, our next generation. Children will fail, it’s in their nature.
Four Steps for Choosing your “YES”es! and Embracing “NO!” During the Holidays
Saying “no” during the holidays seems fairly counter-intuitive, but it’s a very wise strategy for actually ENJOYING the season. Have a hard time saying, “No”? Here’s a guide for advance-planning and list-making that may give you the focus and momentum you need to change your approach.
Helicopter Parenting: Part 2
Now that you know what helicopter parenting is, it’s time to discuss the consequences and how this parenting style might affect your child. I am also going to give you some tips on how to adjust your parenting style so that your child might avoid these consequences.