Psychology Blog, Behavior Blog, Counseling Blog - Page 3 of 34

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...

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

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 27, 2020 at 5:26 PM /

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

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...

What a Nonverbal Learning Disorder is and Why it Shouldn’t be Ignored

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 2, 2020 at 9:32 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. While I enjoy speaking to others in social settings, understanding what they’re saying is sometimes difficult. I tend to overanalyze every little thing someone says to me and sometimes take things way too literally. It’s become overwhelming as I’ve gotten older. I’ll soon be undergoing some cognitive testing, but I’m incredibly nervous. My family and therapist are extremely supportive and are guiding me through this whole thing. My mind is racing about what the diagnosis will be. It’s becoming mainstream to hear celebrities opening up about their mental health struggles. Comedian...

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

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

9/11: Managing Your Emotions

By Dr. Wendy Rice

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...