We are a society that loves to acquire. So when loss comes (as it inevitably will) we find ourselves generally ill-equipped to respond.
The Growing Parent: Trauma in the Media (Part 4)
Ultimately, the responsibility for appropriate communication lies on the shoulders of the adult. Being conscious not to color our language with a multitude of descriptions and information can go a long way when talking to our children
Lamenting a Loss
When loss occurred, the community took the time to surround those who had suffered and allowed them the emotional space to offer a cry of sorrow and grief. Often the community itself offered a cry of sorrow for a loss. This is far from our modern day thinking about grief.
Learning to Grieve Your Loss
By the age of forty, most people have experienced some form of loss at least fifteen times. The journey takes courage. Grief is not an easy path to negotiate and simply taking the next step forward is often fraught with overwhelming feelings. Is recovery from loss possible? Yes – although the definition of recovery may need some explanation.
Infertility: Hormones & Stress Management
If you’re struggling with infertility, you’ve no doubt heard that stress is a factor. You’ve probably also heard health care providers and other well-meaning people say “just relax,” which is about the least helpful thing someone can say to you when you’re struggling with managing the stress of trying to get pregnant, whether through natural means or infertility treatments. In our busy, achievement-minded culture, most people don’t realize the amount of chronic stress they endure and how it affects their physical body, particularly the hormonal system.
Being a Caregiver: Make Yourself a Priority
The role of caregiver is fraught with the demands of both time and energy, often when both commodities are at a high premium in one’s life. Many adults find themselves caring for parents and children simultaneously as well as juggling a work and home environment where added stressors multiply quickly. As in any demanding time of life, prioritizing what goes at the top of the list is very important. It may seem counterintuitive, but put your name at the top of the list.
Take Care of Yourself This Year
The New Year is a good time to think about how you will take care of yourself in 2016. We may be into February, but there’s still time to think about and make changes to how you’ll live this year.
The Growing Parent: Trauma in the Media (Part 1)
“With all the violence and natural disasters and other trauma in the media today, my children are constantly afraid. How can I talk to them about these things and help to ease some of their anxieties?”
The Challenges of Long-Term Illness
Navigating a long-term illness means journeying into the unfamiliar waters of change. These waters rise at a rapid pace, and finding one’s footing seems nearly impossible at times. You may find yourself feeling helpless amidst the rising tide. Change threatens every area of life. Your physical being is impacted as well as your emotional self. Multiple layers of change at a relentless pace can feel overwhelming.
Coping With Infertility During the Holidays
The holidays are a difficult time when you’re in the midst of dealing with infertility. Everywhere you turn, there are children and families enjoying Santa and gifts and celebrations. If you are longing to be a parent, your grief may be triggered as your inability to do so may become more pronounced. This complicates the grieving process that is already built into infertility and the treatment journey.