Depression Archives | Rice Psychology

Thanksgiving Doesn’t Have to be a Write-Off

on November 17, 2020 at 4:46 pm /

This week’s story isn’t just any story – it’s my story! I adore Thanksgiving. It may be my favorite holiday. It was my father’s holiday. With divorced parents, I loved traveling to Old Greenwich, Connecticut on Wednesdays after school to spend the fall weekend with my dad. He and his wife were the best feast-preparers, and we indulged in turkey, stuffing, and leftover sweet potatoes with extra marshmallows in little white ramekins all weekend long. Ever since my dad died, I’ve continued to celebrate this special day with family and friends of choice. However, this year, despite invitations, I’ve struggled with the...

Election Blues: What You Can do to Feel Better After November 3rd

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 2, 2020 at 6:04 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Election Day is almost here, and even though I voted early, I’m stressed about what’s to come. I’ll be relieved once the negative ads and heated debates finally end, but I’m seriously afraid of my candidate losing. I’ve been losing sleep at night and can’t focus during the day because of all the what-ifs that might happen after Election Day. Instead of feeling relief, I’m expecting that my anxiety is only going to get worse if my candidate loses. How can I get a better handle on my stress after...

What’s So Funny? Why Having a Hearty Laugh Can Help During These Times

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 19, 2020 at 10:59 am /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. With so much negativity going on this year, my mindset was in the red. Somehow, I’d turned into a pessimist who focused on the negative side of things almost exclusively. I was so tuned into seeing the negative things in everything. It got so bad that my therapist diagnosed me with anxiety and depression. During one session, we got to talking about turning things around and seeing the other side, the optimistic or positive side. So far, I’ve been doing great, and one thing that’s helped is laughing more. I’d...

How Depression, Anxiety, and Even ADHD Can Lead to Unhealthy Coping Habits

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 9, 2020 at 3:00 pm /

This week, I’m sharing my own true story. Here’s part one. When the pandemic hit and people started shopping because they thought it was the end of the world, I was a bit late to the party. I missed the memo about buying toilet paper and ended up ordering mine from Wish.com but found tons of delicious treats in all of the other middle aisles in the supermarket. Suddenly, I was back to my childhood eating habits and had my kitchen stocked with Oreos of all varieties, sugary cereals, cookie dough, cake and brownie mixes, pasta, the list goes on. And...

Teaching Your Children the Importance of Saving Their Money

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 17, 2020 at 10:57 am /

Consider the following example as it relates to this week’s topic. It’s a true story but the child’s name has been changed to protect his privacy. I’m so proud of my young son. A little over a year ago, Alexander and I had a discussion about the importance of earning and saving money. We set a financial goal for him to achieve, and I committed to match his earnings/savings and assist him with opening a bank account once that goal was reached. He worked hard by completing chores and saving money that he’d received for special occasions (birthdays, the tooth fairy,...

Living with and Learning More About Yourself

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 24, 2020 at 2:02 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Before the pandemic, I was able to handle just about anything my family threw at me: the usual wife/mommy duties of the day. Now, because we’ve been spending so much time together, my super mom/wife abilities seem to have vanished. I’m snapping more at the kids, finding my husband’s habits more bothersome, and seem to be constantly fighting the urge to lock myself in the bathroom for some peace and quiet. Last night, I sat down and thought about my actions and feelings toward my family over the last few...

Fine-Tuning Your Social Skills for Today’s World

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 19, 2020 at 2:01 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I moved to Tampa a few months ago for a great new career opportunity. Things have been good for the most part, but my shyness and tendency to feel terribly awkward around people I don’t know well has really been holding me back from getting to know my new coworkers. They seem like great people, but I always back out when they invite me to lunch or to get drinks on Fridays after work. I’m just so scared of saying the wrong thing and having them judge me. I really...

Getting Outside Again: The Benefits of the Outdoors for Your Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 24, 2020 at 2:32 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. When the stay-at-home order was first put in place, my family and I made the best of it. We were lucky enough to have our jobs switch to work-from-home, and my husband has taken responsibility for helping our kids with their online schoolwork. As the weeks went by, though, we all became incredibly lethargic from being inside all day. One day, we decided to spend an afternoon in the backyard away from our laptops, phones, and tablets. It felt great! I did some gardening, my husband did some yard work,...

The Benefits of Keeping a Four-Legged Friend Around During Home Isolation

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 17, 2020 at 3:25 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. The first couple of weeks of my city’s stay-at-home order were rough. I’m single with no kids, so my apartment was quieter than I could have ever imagined while working from home. It got so bad that I started feeling stressed and anxious from being cooped up all day. During a call with my sister, she suggested adopting a dog. She owns one, or actually tells me that her dog owns her, and says that there’s never a dull moment in her home. I went to my local animal shelter...

Lockdown Blues: COVID-19, Its Effects, And How It’s Being Processed

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 3, 2020 at 3:15 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. It’s been about six days since my boyfriend and I have been outside. The first couple of days were fine, fun even. We watched a few movies, played some games, and even had a few drinks. But things are definitely changing now. I’ve been on social media almost non-stop, reading about all the new cases, the deaths, the economy, and everything else related to the virus. I’m a puddle of anxiety, convinced I will be the next to get sick. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is on the complete...