Rice Psychology Team Archives | Page 2 of 26

9/11: Managing Your Emotions 19 Years Later

on September 9, 2020 at 1:28 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I always feel uneasy around the anniversary of 9/11. I wasn’t there and don’t know anyone who was, but the many videos and images of that awful day make me extremely depressed. This is sometimes amplified because I know so many are grieving their lost loved ones, and those who were there and are still dealing with the events of that day makes me emotional. Since 9/11, I’ve been terrified to fly and refuse to enter tall buildings. It all makes me very anxious. How can I work through these...

Weathering the Storm: How You Can Ease Your Storm-Related Anxiety

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 1, 2020 at 2:48 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Back in college, I was in a serious car accident during a heavy rainstorm. I was driving as safely as I could, but I still wrecked after hitting some water which caused my car to hydroplane out of control. I lost consciousness and was awakened by first responders some time later. It took a few weeks to mostly physically heal from the aches, pains, and cuts, but mentally, I still haven’t recovered. It’s been several years, but every time it rains, I become anxious. I have trouble breathing and I’m...

Voting: A Simple Step That Can Help Your Mental Health

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 24, 2020 at 10:33 am /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. 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...

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 Kai Zhuang Shum

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...

Understanding Restlessness and What You Can do to Overcome It

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 10, 2020 at 9:26 am /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. It seems like every day there’s a new warning or disastrous event happening in the world. I try to limit my time on social media, stay away from the news, and think happy thoughts, but I’m always worried about something. Between COVID-19 continuing to spread, constant protests, political news, and my daily responsibilities, I have trouble thinking about anything else! And it seems to hit me hardest when I go to bed. No matter what I try, I just can’t sleep. I’ve tried reading and watching TV to take my...

Sometimes it Isn’t the Horse or the Saddle, It’s the Rider

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 3, 2020 at 12:17 pm /

How often do you overlook the role you might be playing in a problem and assume that, if you tweak something caused by someone or something else, poof, no more problem? The Situation In the past when I rode my horse, I was often lopsided. I literally leaned off to one side. It isn’t an ideal way to ride. And even though I’m an experienced rider, sometimes steering and getting my horse to go (walk, trot, canter) was met with major resistance. So, what did I do to fix the problem? Well, I started by getting a new saddle, but even with...