A driver in the car next to yours yelled at you for seemingly no reason. Someone at the gym crankily made sure you knew they were annoyed at you for occupying the machine they wanted. A person in the supermarket didn’t return your smile; they instead threw shade at your friendliness. People appear especially thin-skinned…Read more »
Poor Self-Esteem? Try Self-Acceptance
The media and even science imply that healthy self-esteem is vital for our mental health. So, what do we do when we think we’re “meh” or not so great? Can we still live a fulfilling, contented life? As a professional mental health therapist for 15 years now and a 51-year-old human being, I unequivocally believe yes. I’d…Read more »
“Prevention” and “Good Housekeeping” Say Bye to BMI
An article published on June 1, 2022, stated, “Prevention and our sister publication Good Housekeeping have decided to no longer use Body Mass Index (BMI) in our discussions of health. If we determine that we must mention it in the context of our reporting on related subjects, we will point out its limitations.” I remember a loud “Yes!” escaped my…Read more »
How to Gently Change Your Procrastination Habit Into Choice
In my previous post, “Procrastination Can Be a Good Skill to Have,” I shared how putting things off often benefits people and that procrastination is not necessarily a “bad” trait. That said, a person who successfully procrastinates may someday land in a situation or environment where it gets in their way. For example, maybe putting things off…Read more »
Sophie Turner and Naomi Judd Spotlight Mental Health Truth
People like Sophie Turner and Naomi Judd appear to have it all: money, fame, influence, awards, and loving family members. Yet, as this month’s headlines revealed, both came down with mental illnesses. According to the press, both fought their health battles. Sophie is reportedly doing well and recovering (or recovered) from her eating disorder. Naomi tried…Read more »
Procrastination Can Be a Good Skill to Have
Procrastinating can be a positive thing to do. Yes, you read that correctly. People who do it and judge themselves poorly will benefit by looking at how procrastinating helps them. That said, those who don’t know how to do it might want to learn how, too. (Click for full article)
Dread Mother’s Day? Make It Better for You (and Mom)
Waiting tables was my steady gig throughout my teens and young adulthood, and I dreaded every Mother’s Day. I prided myself on making sure my tables had a positive experience. However, that was too often not possible on Mother’s Day. I recall the patterns. Families either got along great or acted cranky, tense, dismissive, demanding,…Read more »
Social Media Is Tanking People’s Body Image
Your social media may be baiting you to watch content that can exacerbate body dissatisfaction. That’s according to a new review by Harriger and colleagues in the Body Image journal (published early online, 2022, April 1). Body dissatisfaction contributes to various problems, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, eating and body image struggles, eating disorders, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. (Click for full article)
How Many People Eat in the Bathroom?
According to Study Finds,1 over a fifth of people admitted to eating while in the bathtub and 18 percent on the toilet. In the UK, 2,000 people were polled by OnePoll, and they revealed some of the strangest places they like to snack in private. Contrary to a lot of the press that’s been capitalizing on…Read more »
“We Need to Talk” Can Sabotage the Talk
If your end goal is feeling understood or growing closer together, you might want to avoid the phrase “we need to talk.” As a therapist and 50+-year-old, I’ve heard countless “we need to talk” stories. And unfortunately, I’ve seen too many of these well-intended moments go wrong. People wanted connection and to work through something but were…Read more »