When people talk about expectations they often wrap it with a preceding description such as “high expectations” or “low expectations” or “no expectations” at all. It is interesting when you look at the traditional definition of what an expectation is and ponder how it fits for your life.
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March 8, 2014
by Christie Hunter
It is a day that you have worked toward for years - the day you send your child off to college. You have prepared for this moment their whole life, saving up for their education and teaching them the skills they will need to be a successful adult. Yet while your child is suddenly immersed in the wild chaos of college, your home is deafeningly quiet. How do you endure having an empty nest?
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Resilience is a protective factor in coping with normal adversities. But in situations where children (or adults) feel a loss of control – powerless to protect themselves or to get the protection they need – trauma may result.
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January 18, 2014
by Saranya Tracey, M.A.
Once you become aware of the issues behind your avoidance behavior or defensive mechanisms, like denial, obsession (e.g., isolating a thought), or displacing your anger onto another person or situation, you will be able to change your responses and gradually, anxiety will not be a problem.
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January 16, 2014
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
The traumatic stresses that are likely to affect teens are interpersonal acts of violence, aggression or threats. This may be date rape, dating violence, bullying, harassment by a peer or adults, coercion or threats of violence, psychological and emotional blackmail and others.
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December 28, 2013
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Learning to live with and manage a mental health condition is tough enough without the additional stress of denial and outright disbelief of family members.
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December 18, 2013
by Stephanie Byrne
Mania is something that can be a very productive state of mind when channeled in a positive direction. Some of the most creative minds of our time were diagnosable as bi-polars; Beethoven, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemmingway and Abraham Lincoln just to name a few (the list goes on).
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In a short time, we will be gathering around our families and loved ones, reflecting on the things for that which we are thankful. We'll be cherishing the gifts, blessings and happiness that may have come our way this year, paving the way for the holiday season. But what if you're not feeling quite so thankful this year? For many people, finding reasons to be grateful for the good in life may not be so easy, especially if there has been a lot of bad this year.
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When used effectively, this difficult concept actually brings the level of suffering we tend to experience when railing against reality, down to a level of pain that we can endure. It is difficult to function, change, move beyond a loss, or find some semblance of peace, without somehow accepting what is and where we are. Resistance to a painful reality often only increases our discomfort and can frequently lead to ways of coping that ultimately bring further suffering and pain.
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November 19, 2013
by Casey Truffo, LMFT
When going through a breakup with someone whom you have spent many years in a relationship, it can feel like you have no friends and nowhere to go. Many times this is because of the fact you probably spent all of your free time with this person who has chosen to no longer be in your life. If you are going through a divorce, it can be even worse because in addition to building your life around the person who just broke your heart, you may feel like a failure to the people you need most right now.
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