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December 24, 2017
by Christie Hunter

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New Years Resolutions

December 24, 2017 16:17 by Christie Hunter  [About the Author]

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A New Year has arrived and with a New Year comes new hopes and dreams just bursting to be fulfilled. Losing weight, quitting smoking, and getting healthy are by far the most popular resolutions. And yet the attainability of a resolution has become virtually impossible to achieve for most people. Breaking down goals into pragmatic parts results in more successful outcomes. [More]

June 3, 2015
by Lee Kehoe, MS, LMHC, NCC

lovelocks

Paris Love Locks to Be Removed: A Loss of Love

June 3, 2015 09:35 by Lee Kehoe, MS, LMHC, NCC  [About the Author]

lovelocks
Paris' Pont des Arts bridge famous for its "love locks" is facing structural damage under the weight of so much love. The city of love's bridge has been a space for thousands around the world to mark their love with a lock, while then throwing the key into the River Seine. Throwing the key further symbolized the testament to love and commitment. Recently, the historical Pont des Arts bridge has been in danger of crumble as the heavy locks bare too much weight for the structure to hold. June of last year was the first scare as a five foot section of the bridge's rail collapsed from the weight of the locks. Now local protestors are showing their own love for the bridge as they ignite their "no love lock" campaign. Paris officials are listening, as the city plans to immediately remove over 45 tons of locks. It is ironic that a tradition that promoted love and commitment now puts a beloved landmark in danger of demise. What will the loss of such a culturally rooted tradition mean for the city of love and it's hundreds of thousands of tourists? [More]

May 24, 2014
by Christie Hunter

career change howto knowthe right timefor changing careers

Career Change- How to Know the Right Time for Changing Careers?

May 24, 2014 04:55 by Christie Hunter  [About the Author]

career change howto knowthe right timefor changing careers
One way to boost your productivity and improve the quality of your work is do what you like. If you are not comfortable with your job and despite all the facilities the nature of work is not doing for you, then it’s probably time for a career change (Smith, 2013)1. However, to change a career, it is important to have knowledge about the factors that influence career choice and know the right time for a career switch. Here is a quick look at some of the factors that will help job seekers make the right decision. [More]

January 24, 2014
by Casey Truffo, LMFT

coping withan empty nest

Coping With an Empty Nest

January 24, 2014 04:55 by Casey Truffo, LMFT  [About the Author]

coping withan empty nest
Whether your child has gone off to college, joined the military, or has just decided to move out and make a go of it, you are no doubt experiencing what is known as Empty Nest Syndrome. This time in your life is when your youngest child has left home (the nest) and now you are feeling alone, sad, guilty, empty, and useless. [More]

September 9, 2013
by Cindy Marie Hosszu

change

When Comfort Zone is Shattered

September 9, 2013 13:10 by Cindy Marie Hosszu  [About the Author]

change
Are You in the Zone? For some people, a change of plans, scenery, or life-style is exciting, and welcome. However, for many of us, change comes with some resistance or fear. Stepping out of our comfort zone requires delving into the unknown, risking failure, and being embarrassed. Change Can Be Bad for Your Health In the late 60’s, psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe examined the link between stressful events and illness. By examining the medical records of 5000 patients, and asking if they had experienced 43 of the most common life stress events, they found a link between the number and weight of stressful events and illness. The Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scales, or more commonly the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, lists 43 of the most common life change events that may cause illness, with a weight for stress listed in Life Change Units (LCU). The theory was tested throughout the 70’s and has become widely accepted. Of the 43 life events, the death of a spouse was the most stressful at 100 LCU’s, followed by divorce, marital separation, jail term, death of a close family member, personal injury or illness, marriage, fired from a job, marital reconciliation, retirement, change in health of family, pregnancy, sex difficulties, gain new family member, business readjustment, change in financial state, death of a close friend, trouble with in-laws, spouse begins or stops work, beginning or end of school, change in living conditions, revision of personal habits, trouble with boss, change in work hours, change in residence, change in schools, change in recreation, change in church activities, change in social activities, change in sleeping habits, change in eating habits, vacation, Christmas, and minor violations of the law. The shortfall of the rating scale is that it does not include major stresses that can occur such as violence or abuse in the home. It also does not account for everyday stress such as traffic, interactions with strangers, etc. Another thing to consider is that different life events have differing effects on individuals. One person’s stress may be another person’s fun. It does, however, give an idea of the amount of stress that certain life events can have on an individual in a year, to determine if stress could cause future illness. Additional studies confirm that when stress is measured holistically, the damage it can cause to health is significant. [i] How We Deal with Change Changes in our lives cause a loss of routine, or normalcy. For some people, in some situations, this loss requires a grieving process. The most commonly acknowledged Kubler-Ross Model of Grief states that there are five observed stages we normally go through when we face significant changes to our life. These categories will vary in time, and consistency. We may experience them in different order, and go back and forth from one to the next, or skip one completely. Denial is the first stage in the model. Upon significant change, we lack information, and have fear of the unknown or failure. We think things such as, “this can’t be happening to me.” At this stage, we may act as though nothing is wrong or our actions may show life as usual. Anger is the next stage. In this stage, we blame things or people outside ourselves, or ask “why is this happening to me?” The bargaining stage is when we get actively involved in the situation. We look for a way out of the situation, or for solutions to the situation. We look for a way to take things back to normal. Depression sets in when we realize that we cannot change the situation. Acceptance finally occurs when we have come to terms with the situation, and can be hopeful that we can change, or can move forward and face the outcome. The new change becomes exciting. Although these were observations by Kubler-Ross of patients that were dying, and what they went through in that process, many have used this model as a tool to understand the process of grieving. Each person will go through changes and grief differently based on their own circumstances. The point to the observations is that we tend to deal with significant changes in many of the same ways as others, and that the way we respond is often normal. Getting help Research has found that the best healing success comes in the form of emotional coping strategies gained through a therapist, and that avoidance is the worst thing for healing.[ii] In order to reduce the risk of illness and make the transitions in our lives go more smoothly, counseling can be integrated into the healing process. A therapist can help identify what risk may be associated with the stress of change, how much and how long we have been under stress, and if we are at risk of health problems. For more about traumatic stress, read this. [i] Stress and Health: Major Findings and Policy Implications Peggy A. Thoits Journal of Health and Social Behavior Vol. 51, Extra Issue: What Do We Know? Key Findings from 50 Years of Medical Sociology (2010), pp. S41-S53 Published by: American Sociological Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20798315 [ii] Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (p. 66). New York, NY: Springer Pub. Co.