Common Symptoms of Anxiety Everyone experiences anxiety as a part of the normal stresses and strains of life. But, many people have excessive anxiety that causes much distress and suffering. Sometimes the impact of anxiety is so subtle that it creeps up on you without your noticing it. Perhaps a headache or back muscle tension are due to chronic worry or inability to relax. Are you becoming more irritable because your anxious feelings won't go away? Do you have trouble finishing tasks or getting things done because of your anxieties or … [Read more...]
Dynamic Self-esteem
So what is Dynamic Self-esteem? Far too many people believe that “success” at a given task or set of tasks is judged only at the end, believing that if they are not perfect or if they didn’t win the prize or beat their opponent into the ground, or if they didn’t get asked to the dance, or if they don’t weigh a certain amount then they didn’t succeed and they aren’t any good. Let that sink in… If you don’t reach some level of perfection you aren’t any good. What a bunch of horse pucky! A crock of crap. It’s absurd on a couple levels. … [Read more...]
What if all your problems are just memories?
What if all your problems are just memories? When I first heard that question I’ll admit I was stumped. Thankfully I kept an open mind and I’m glad to tell you the question now makes sense, and it can become a powerful method for re-training ourselves to stay present and detached from past behavior patterns that can cause a lot of damage in all areas of our lives. Think of a problem that you used to believe you had (notice how we purposely phrase the question in the past tense). If you are having a hard time accepting that the problem is … [Read more...]
Finding Happiness Part 1
Happiness is largely under our control. It is, mostly, a battle to be waged and seldom a feeling to be awaited. To achieve a happier life, it is necessary to overcome some stumbling blocks, three of which are: 1. Comparisons With Others: Most of us compare ourselves with anyone we think is happier. 2. Images of Perfection: Most of us have images how life should be. The problem is that only rarely do our jobs, spouses and children live up to these imagined ideals. 3. “Missing Tile” Syndrome: One effective way of sabotaging happiness is to … [Read more...]
A Response to “What About Depression?”
Following the posting of my October 28, 2014 blog posting titled What About Depression?, I received the following response from a long-time friend. This is his personal journey. George, This is a topic that has always been important to me as I have experienced depression at different times during my life. At one stage it was so bad that I attempted suicide and required a stay at a hospital plus 6 months of therapy from a professional therapist. I was placed on 2 different medications during this period, an upper in the mornings and a downer … [Read more...]
What About Depression?
Like so many others, I have experienced depression. At times, my depression greatly interfered with my work, home, and social lives. And although I’ve always done a lot of writing it wasn’t a particularly therapeutic exercise. How could it be? My writing, like my approach to life, was often about how unfair life was… to other people. Yes, I wrote as though I was okay but was really concerned for those “others”. I did not want to appear to be the whiner I actually was inside my head. I later learned that this kind of behavior only serves to … [Read more...]