Year End Reflections……
Now that the calendar page has turned to December, have you taken the time to stop and reflect on 2011 and what is has brought or taken from you? For some, it has brought blessings and new beginnings. Yet, for others, this has been a difficult year; full of struggles, disappointments, and heartbreaks. For some [...]
The Best Gift of All
If you could give yourself one gift, but a gift you cannot purchase in a store, or find in a catalog, or shop for on line, what would you select?
It happens to be a gift everyone possesses, if they chose to look within.
And, that is the gift of being kind and considerate to yourself.
If you can withhold unrealistic self-criticism, negativity, or judgmental thoughts, and instead find a way to be more supportive, reassuring, and empathic, you will have given yourself an incredible present.
It is the kind of gift that provides comfort and inner security during times of need.
Developing self-acceptance is invaluable for peace of mind and truly becomes a present that keeps on giving…..
Till next time
Dr Andrea Corn
www.DrAndreaCorn.com
http://www.facebook.com/DrAndreaCorn
Holiday Blues
If you find yourself dreading the upcoming holiday season and wishing to escape the flurry of social activities, family gatherings, or gift giving perhaps you’ve feeling the holiday blues. Why do some adults experience this melancholy frame of mind that tempers holiday joy is as complicated as the many lives it affects. What is known is that this general malaise is of far less intensity and duration than seasonal affective disorder or a depressive disorder, both clinically diagnosable mood disorders. Although this blah feeling is less debilitating, this down in the dumps feeling is hard to shake.
Some adults find themselves in a downward spiral because reminiscing about the past brings more sadness than joy. Others become saddened over the absence of cherished family traditions. Many South Floridians are separated down here from loved ones or are alone as a result of divorce, illness, or other personal losses. Recent economic conditions have brought additional restrictions to where opening one’s home, one’s heart, or one’s wallet becomes a heavy and unwelcome burden.
Truth be told, the holiday blues are not just defined by one’s external reality. Frequently, this condition is related to what’s happening inside the recesses of one’s mind.
It may be hard to believe one’s thinking could also be a culprit. Notwithstanding medical, financial, or relationship problems, if more time is spent brooding about the past, rehashing old injustices or worrying about what has yet come to pass, then one’s thoughts perpetuate their own misery.
You can give yourself a wonderful gift, and that is the gift of peace of mind. But, you must be willing to change your outlook. Yes, it takes mental discipline, but with practice and perseverance, you can gain greater mental and emotional self-control.
If you are saying humbug to yourself reading this, chances are, your negative thinking is stronger than you realize. It is scary to leave behind what’s familiar. As much as one hates to suffer, it is sometimes harder to risk trying something new. Changing deeply ingrained patterns and ways of thinking requires conscious effort, but it is possible to do.
Despite whatever circumstances exist in your life, and no matter your age, you have the potential to lift the dark clouds and dispel the blues that permeates your being. This article can only point you in the direction to be more aware of what’s going on inside of you rather than dismiss or ignore all those cues. Otherwise, they will remain pent up inside and continue to fester.
This holiday season can you learn to be your own best friend and accept yourself with less criticism and fewer unrealistic expectations? If you can be your own source of comfort and support, then you are well on your way to lifting the holiday blues.
Here are a few other tips to help more joy into your life.
1) Appreciate what makes you unique. Identify your personal assets (i.e., a good problem solver or listener).
2) Give yourself a gift: It could be kindness, forgiveness, or perhaps patience.
3) Get busy. Activity is a wonderful way to forget your own problems and get out of your head. Consider volunteering.
4) Gifts can come from the heart. Not all gifts must be store bought. Share a favorite recipe or send an email sharing a memorable family story.
5) Appreciate your surroundings. Take a walk on the beach, or by a park. Reconnect with nature.
6) Choose friends who make you laugh and feel good.
7) Fulfill a realistic dream.
Yet, if none of these suggestions lift your spirits, please, consult with your medical doctor as your symptoms requires further attention.
SLEEPLESSNESS?
Are there nights where you just can’t get a good night sleep? Do you find yourself drifting off to sleep; but then, several hours later you are wide awake hours before your alarm is set to go off.
If your mind is restless, wandering, or wrestling with various thoughts, it is hard to shut out all of that interference.
Hopefully, such sleepless nights are infrequent. But, when they occur, your good night’s sleep has gone out the (proverbial) window.
What are the reasons? Well, they could vary widely between something personal, professional, financial, or even health related.
You could be consumed about something related to yourself, a family member, co-worker, friend, or simply a story heard on TV, radio, or the internet.
Whatever the problem may be, a spectrum of emotions will be connected to your thoughts.
For some, these sleepless nights revolve around a future event.
For others, it may have more to do with the past or past relationships. Some individuals become consumed with worry and doubt; others experience pent-up anger and frustration; while others still find themselves full of sadness and melancholy feelings.
But, whatever is going on inside of you, the inability to resolve it through thinking can be unsettling.
In addition, all the emotions that have been tugging at your head and heart sometimes spill over and end up affecting your waking hours.
If that’s the case, then reaching out for help may be the best thing you can do. Sometimes it is very difficult to unravel the problem or see an available solution.
In that case, perhaps it is time to consider scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional. After all, a therapist is trained to listen with objectivity and clarity, as well as to be attuned to what is being spoken on many different levels.
By that I mean, it is not just the words, or the content expressed; as much listening to what is shared by one’s facial expressions, voice tone, and body language.
Often times, these subtle changes are outside someone’s awareness. As your emotional and mental knot is untangled. your peace of mind should return as well as a good night sleep.
In that case, why not sleep on it and see how this feels in the morning…
Till next time
Dr Andrea Corn
www.DrAndreaCorn.com
http:www.facebook.comDrAndreaCorn
Can we keep our peace of mind amidst the current financial uncertainty?
An open letter:
I’d like to begin by expressing my thanks to those of you who read my blogs. Perhaps some of you have been wondering why there hasn’t been a posting in quite a while. The reason for the absence is that I only write when I am inspired or motivated as the one common denominator is I must feel passionate about the topic in order to share my views.
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Over the last few weeks, much of our attention has been directed to our nation’s economic woes. There has been quite a lot of troubling news this month, from worrying about the country’s unresolved debt crisis, to Standard and Poor’s lowering of the nation’s AAA credit rating, its impact on the stock market, prompting concerns about our nation’s economic health.
With so much financial volatility going on, psychologically it’s has felt like we’ve been on an emotional roller coaster, without knowing how much longer until the ride is over.
The question such uncertainty raises, is how best can we keep our peace of mind amidst the current financial uncertainty?
Here are a few thoughts to consider:
It’s probably impossible to ignore or dismiss the bad news emanating from the TV, radio, or Internet. But, each of us can decide what to filter out as well as what to attend to in order to take some control not feel overwhelmed.
Fortunately, we possess the ability to use our mind constructively.
Although it is beyond any one person’s ability to fix our nation’s financial mess, it is possible to learn how to gain greater mental and emotional stability. Developing this skill requires practice, diligence, but often some therapy if you want longstanding benefits.
Many of you have the intellect and determination to attempt it on your own. Certainly, there are a wealth of self-help books and resources to turn to. However, it is extremely difficult to acquire the level of objectivity, emotional detachment, and insight without the help of a professionally trained psychologist or psychotherapist.
Over time, therapy hopefully will enable you to experience greater self-awareness and understanding. The benefits can even include feelings of liberation and joy as particular obstacles are removed. Being in a safe and supportive environment, offers the opportunity to listen to your internal dialogue and develop coping skills to alleviate anxiety, stress, and worry.
Entering therapy is not about eliminating worrisome, frightening or unhappy thoughts or feelings. Rather, it teaches you how to cope with whatever is happening in your life as well what’s happening in the world. Facing the unknown and handling the unexpected is important since that is something we all confront in our daily lives.
Dr Andrea Corn
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