… or is it? Like most of you, I’ve been spending a lot of time at home watching tv since there are only so many entertainment options during wintertime in the middle of a pandemic. One of my favorite shows that I’ve discovered during quarantine is Ted Lasso – I highly recommend it if you haven’t watched. It is heart-warming and ...READ MORE »
I’m not going to silver-line it: a lot of things are awful right now, and a lot of things we might look forward to at this time of year – holiday parties, gathering with family and friends, going out to restaurants for celebrations, taking winter vacations – are all cancelled. This pandemic has given us all sorts of problems and ...READ MORE »
… and we will be okay! I have been counseling clients lately with increasing anxiety and despair as we head into the winter and also another wave of the pandemic. Fears of a lockdown, dread of isolation, overwhelm about homeschooling while working from home and fewer social supports, and valid health concerns abound. When I say “we will be okay,” I don’t mean ...READ MORE »
Anxiety. Everyone is feeling it during the pandemic. Anxiety about the virus, anxiety about going places and not knowing how safe it is due to the virus, anxiety about the economy, anxiety about paying rent or medical bills when finances have been impacted by the virus, anxiety about sending kids back to school, anxiety about dating during the pandemic, anxiety ...READ MORE »
A friend of mine posted an article about the newest challenge we are facing as businesses start reopening this summer. The author referred to “decision fatigue,” and as someone who always has had a tough time making decisions to begin with, this really resonated with me. I reflected on my weekend in light of this article; tensions were high in ...READ MORE »
Recently, I shared a video on growing positive emotions and focusing on experiences of joy and gratitude during this difficult time. A friend of mine thanked me for posting, then asked, “but what do I do with all of the negative feelings I’m having?” While we all have to use distractions, compartmentalizing, and a positive attitude to maintain stability right ...READ MORE »
Many of my clients are asking me some version of the same question: Why can’t I get anything done right now? In spite of having more free time at home, they are totally lacking motivation to do work. Others want to get work done, or spend time on hobbies or reading, but are finding they can’t focus at all because ...READ MORE »
Finding motivation, planning steps to complete an assignment, organizing your work, initiating work, sustaining focus, metacognition (awareness of your thoughts), managing your time, shifting between activities, controlling impulses – these are all examples of “Executive Functioning Skills.” These skills are essential skills for anyone to get through school, work, and activities of daily life – personal hygiene, maintaining relationships, regulating ...READ MORE »
The past month has been a particularly stressful time for everyone. We are all managing the stress of the pandemic in its many forms:: grief and loss, uncertainty, fear, financial stress, dread, anxiety, anger, sadness, frustration… While some of us are spared the health or financial impact of this crisis, none of us can escape the stress of living through ...READ MORE »
I wrote this post this past week while traveling abroad (thankfully not to a high-risk country). I received word from home regularly about the fear that is spreading regarding COVID-19. As a therapist specializing in treating anxiety, I realize I will be returning home to some very scared clients, in addition to worried friends and family. In the past few ...READ MORE »