Self-care can be defined as healthy lifestyle changes and stress management behaviors. The term was coined by medical and mental health professionals and became popular in the 1980’s. It involves choosing behaviors to aid in moderating emotional and physical stressors (Mienecke, 2010). It also means to self-soothe and calm our physical and emotional stress. The practice of self-care can involve....
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For most of us, meeting with misfortune and struggle is a part of life. In fact, surviving adversity is often viewed as beneficial and necessary. According to one Danish Proverb: “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man be perfected without trials.” When a person survives life’s difficulties and demonstrates the ability to withstand all of the stress that goes along with it, he or she is described as “resilient”. The Oxford Dictionary defines resilience as “The ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape.”
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December 9, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
All of us have heard the old saying that it's important for us to love ourselves. Many of us, however, don't adhere to that in any way that is helpful to us or the people around us. Why do we have to do this? Isn't it just good enough that we love other people well? What in the world does loving myself have to do with anything? What if I think that I'm an unlovable person? These are the types of questions that come up when this topic comes up.
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You have probably heard people say things like “be real” and “just be yourself”, and ‘stay true to yourself”. This is common advice given to children and adults alike. It should be simple, right? Just be who you are. But, there is much more to it than that, and it takes real courage and strength to be your genuine self.
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July 27, 2014
by Caleen Martin
How many of us have had a particularly nasty, stressful argument and within a day have an intense flare up leaving you in agony? Probably too many of us. Communication will make or break each and every relationship we have throughout our lives. So why aren't we taking it more seriously?
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June 18, 2014
by Caleen Martin
Why is it that we are so good at caring for others and so dysfunctional when it comes to caring for ourselves? Our culture has trained us to be givers, not takers. The problem is that being the proverbial 'good girl/boy' will literally rob us of our lives. We find that we never seem to have time for ourselves, our relationships become one-sided and we become more resentful towards others over time.
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June 14, 2014
by Caleen Martin
One of the most important parts of caring for yourself whether you are dealing with an illness or are healthy is to really love yourself. To accept yourself for exactly who you are with all of your flaws, your past mistakes, your challenges, your imperfections; this is the cornerstone to extreme self-care. When we can accept who we really are it naturally enhances our ability to speak up, be heard and communicate our needs in a loving and compassionate way.
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In support of Mental Health Awareness month, we are exploring ways to practice positive mental health habits in conjunction with Mental Health America’s recommendations. Good self care is fundamental to positive mental health. It is important to recognize that everyone can protect and improve their mental health by practicing good physical health habits. Self care is the practice of doing for ourselves that which we often do for others - meeting our physical, emotional, spiritual, financial and other needs.
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February 14, 2014
by Casey Truffo, LMFT
Alone time is therapeutic; however, if you wait to ask for some space until you get sick or completely exhausted, your marriage may suffer. Taking care of yourself (sometimes referred to as self-care) is necessary to your health and sanity, as well as to your relationships. Nobody wins if the individuals of a couple don't take care of themselves and fulfill their needs for alone time.
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For many people, the demands of the holidays are intense and overwhelming – just the logistics of shopping, decorating, baking, and entertaining. Find ways to identify stress, avoid overwhelm, and resolve the effects of stress this month.
FB- The pressure and demands of the holiday season can be overwhelming for some and a recipe for disaster. Sheryl Eldene MA gives us tips on avoiding the holiday stress and making a recipe for success instead.
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