Wendy struggled to get out of bed. She felt sad, was losing interest in her usual activities, could not concentrate, had no appetite and was feeling worthless. She knew she was in trouble. Yet, when I suggested she see someone to help her through this difficult time, she refused. At first, she was hesitant to tell me why. But the more…
What if you could predict which newlywed couples will remain married and which ones will divorce four to six years later? And what if you were right 90% of the time. Well…this is what marital researcher, Dr. Gottman claims. The work of John Gottman in the Love Lab at the University of Washington has informed the path to creating disaster…
When our sense of safety is rocked by loss, our lives change. The things we took for granted may no longer be the same. And with each change, we might experience grief. Grief is a powerful emotion that needs to be processed or we can become emotionally stuck. When you experience loss, identify it and begin the grieving process. During…
The holidays are over. The sky is cloudy and it’s dark when you wake up. You don’t want to get out of bed. You feel irritable, tired, unable to concentrate, want to eat, crave carbohydrates, and feel like being alone. It’s hard to get motivated. You just want to hibernate! Since this feeling come on seasonally, you wonder, “Why I am…
Are you going through a difficult time with a family member, a loved one, a co-worker or even a boss? Maybe you are on the brink of losing a relationship. Don’t give up hope. Instead, apply relationship first aid to revive an ailing relationship. Here are 6 ways to apply relationship first aid: Consider this question. Is the relationship…
It’s the end of the year. Most of us will take a few moments to evaluate 2023. Did we reach our goals? Did anything significant happen? How is our couple relationship? Is it boring, uninteresting, and feeling stale? Am I losing interest? Depending on your answer, maybe, it’s time to shake things up a bit, and put a little fun and excitement…
Do you have Christmas traditions? I hope so. This is the time of year to revive them or create new ones. Traditions are important and they connect us to history. Memories are kept alive and then passed down through the generations. Traditions bond us to one another and build community. They create positive moments and bring comfort…
Thanksgiving is primarily an eating holiday. The main activity is giving thanks around a feast of a meal. With all those desserts and side dishes, most of us overeat! And now Christmas is upon us, and we wonder, “How am I going to make it through the holiday season without gaining a few pounds?” Christmas is more than a one-time meal.…
I want to be informed, but listening to the news and angry people on social media can be depressing. Every day, problems are brought to our attention. No wonder we lose our joy. But we don’t want anything or anyone to steal our Christmas joy. Maybe you need a reset like I do. Think about how you can bring joy to the season. Here are a few…
It’s only the beginning of December and already people are talking about how stressed they are! Our reasons for stress are legitimate. There are family get togethers, cooking, baking, decorating, meal planning, parties, gifts to buy, financial strain, and more. The pace of life really picks up this time of year. The key to managing…
