“Should” Thoughts: Doing More Harm Than Good for Your Mental Health

on October 27, 2020 at 5:26 PM /

I’ve always had a bad habit of telling myself that I should be doing this and shouldn't be doing that. I apply it to everything: work, family, friends, you name it. These thoughts haven’t cured me of my misdeeds and don’t seem to motivate me at all. For example, I ate way too much junk food last week while telling myself that I should’ve been eating healthier instead. This morning when I looked in the mirror, I regretted it all. I was really disappointed in the choices I made and felt lousy. This dialogue I continue to have with myself...

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...

Away for College: Easing Your Worries About Your Child Amid COVID-19

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 25, 2020 at 4:54 PM /

Parenting

Last week, my husband and I dropped our oldest son off at college. After 18 years of having him at home, he’ll pretty much be on his own and it worries me. This pandemic is causing me to conjure up worst-case scenarios about his health. Some of his classes are in-person, and let’s face it, kids haven’t been the best at social distancing. It doesn’t help that I keep seeing news stories of colleges having COVID-19 outbreaks. I’m scared he’ll get sick. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times since he left, and each time, he ensures me that...

Voting: A Simple Step That Can Help Your Mental Health

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 24, 2020 at 10:33 AM /

Politics can be a very stressful topic. With so much negativity, accusations, and misinformation on the news and social media, it’s no wonder that people get burnt out and just want to tune it all out! Pair this with everything else going on in the world and it’s almost too much to handle. However, I got out to cast my vote in the latest runoff election and can say that this made me feel a little more in control. I felt I did my part in helping make our world a better place. It lifted my spirits and gave me...

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,...

In It Together: How You Can Help a Significant Other with Their Mental Health

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 6, 2020 at 7:09 PM /

My boyfriend suffers from depression and ADHD. Some days are really good; however, others can be tough, not just for him, but for me, too. I thought that since I’d taken a few psychology classes in college and read about some specifics related to depression online, I was prepared and could handle whatever his situation threw our way. I was so wrong! Not only are his mental health challenges causing major issues between us, but I’m worried it’s affecting my own mental health as well. I want to help him and our relationship, but I don’t even know where to...

Parenting in the Time of COVID-19: Talking to Your Kids About the New School Year

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 31, 2020 at 11:43 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Last week, we learned that our child will be attending school in August. I processed the information and heard the new guidelines his school would be implementing, but I’m extremely worried and nervous for him. Are they going to be able to keep him safe? Will my third-grader wear his mask all day and stay six feet away from his friends? As I’ve grown quite negative about the situation, I’ve also grown nervous that he’s picked up on my bad attitude. He used to be so excited about going back...

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...

Embracing First Times: What You Can do to Make New Experiences Easier

By Rice Psychology Group

on July 17, 2020 at 3:05 PM /

It can be especially challenging to navigate new experiences in the middle of a pandemic. It seems like we just can’t plan fast enough to keep up the pace when major changes are happening in the world. Over the past few months, I experienced more first times than I can count, and let me tell you, they were hard! I recently came across a podcast and blog by Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, where she shared how hard it is to be new at things. In the blog, she writes that “showing up and pushing...