Author Archives: EMDRTherapyAndMentalHealth

Is EMDR Right for You? 5 Signs You Could Benefit from This Powerful Therapy

Is EMDR Right for You? 5 Signs You Could Benefit from This Powerful Therapy

Trauma can leave deep scars on our lives, impacting our mental and emotional well-being long after the event itself. While the journey towards healing is unique to each individual, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy has emerged as a powerful tool for many survivors to process traumatic memories and reclaim their lives.

But how do you know if EMDR is the right approach for you? Here are 5 key signs that might indicate you could significantly benefit from this innovative therapy:

1. You Struggle with Persistent Symptoms of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common consequence of trauma, characterized by intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional dysregulation. If you find yourself constantly reliving the traumatic event, experiencing intense emotional distress, and avoiding situations that trigger these memories, EMDR can be a highly effective way to address the core of these symptoms.

2. You Experience Anxiety or Depression Linked to Trauma

Trauma often leads to the development of anxiety and depression. You might find yourself constantly worried, struggling to cope with daily tasks, or experiencing feelings of hopelessness and despair. EMDR therapy can help you identify the underlying traumatic experiences contributing to these symptoms and reprocess them in a way that reduces their emotional impact.

3. You Have Difficulty Managing Difficult Emotions

Trauma can make it challenging to manage strong emotions like anger, fear, and sadness. You might find yourself easily overwhelmed, struggling to express your feelings in a healthy way, or resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms. EMDR helps you process these emotions associated with the traumatic memory, leading to a more balanced emotional state.

4. You Have Negative Beliefs About Yourself or the World Stemming from Trauma

Trauma can often lead to the development of negative self-beliefs, such as “I’m not good enough” or “The world is a dangerous place.” These beliefs can significantly impact your self-esteem and relationships. EMDR therapy can help you challenge these negative thought patterns and develop a more positive and empowering sense of self.

5. You’re Open to Exploring New Approaches to Healing

EMDR therapy is a unique and effective approach to healing, but it might not be the right fit for everyone. It requires an openness to exploring the emotional landscape of trauma and a willingness to engage in the therapeutic process. If you’re ready to try a new approach and actively participate in your healing journey, EMDR could be a transformative experience.

Remember: While these signs can indicate potential benefits from EMDR, it’s crucial to consult with a qualified EMDR therapist to determine if this approach is the best fit for your specific needs and circumstances. A therapist can conduct a comprehensive assessment and guide you towards the most suitable path for your healing journey.

EMDR therapy offers a powerful tool for individuals seeking to heal from the effects of trauma. By recognizing the signs that might point towards its potential benefits, you can take a significant step towards reclaiming your life and emotional well-being.

Resources

EMDR therapy - Rewire_your_brain_from_ptsd_trauma

EMDR therapy – Rewire your brain.

Here are some resources that can be helpful for individuals considering EMDR therapy:

EMDR International Association (EMDRIA):

  • Website: https://www.emdria.org/
  • This is the leading organization for EMDR therapy, offering a wealth of information about the therapy, including:
    • What is EMDR therapy?
    • How does EMDR work?
    • Conditions treated with EMDR
    • Finding an EMDR therapist
    • Client brochures (adult and child versions)
    • Online resources for therapists

Other helpful resources:

  • The National Center for PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
    • Provides information and resources related to PTSD and trauma, including information on various treatment options like EMDR.
  • The Jed Foundation: https://www.jedfoundation.org/
    • Offers resources and support specifically for mental health issues in teens and young adults, including information on trauma and treatment options.
  • The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
    • Provides confidential support and resources for survivors of sexual assault, including information on trauma recovery.
  • The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
    • Offers crisis intervention and support for child abuse victims and their families.

It’s important to remember that these resources are for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are considering EMDR therapy, it’s crucial to consult with a qualified mental health professional to determine if this approach is right for you and to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Originally posted 2024-05-02 16:38:53.

A Lot Of Great Advice On Personal Development

An enormous step is admitting to yourself that there is a need for improvement. Follow these handy tips for ideas to get you started on the self-improvement path.

Seek out other like-minded individuals. This will help you to maintain a positive focus in your own life.

Always carry a way to write down thoughts you may have. Carry some kind of paper with you at all times. Just write down what their idea or thought is and then develop it more when you have the time and are feeling creative.

Your core principles are important, and your actions should reflect them. Each individual has beliefs that he or she follows all the time. Following these beliefs will help your sense of self-esteem. It gives your life meaning and a solid structure to build around. This practice also promotes consistency, which is a great trait to have.

Give others compliments. Instead, show kindness and compassion for others and you will see how much better you will feel about yourself.

Compose a pep talk for yourself. On a postcard, write down all of your best qualities. Keep this card with you, and read through it when you feel your confidence flagging. Better yet, videotape yourself reading it aloud and view the video frequently. Is there a benefit?

Make sure you treat all people with respect, no matter who they are, how powerful they are or what benefits you can obtain from them. The treatment you show them is not a reflection of their character but of yours.

Bad Habits

Do you consume more alcohol than you should? Do you smoke cigarettes or do anything else that is harmful to your body? You should treat your body as if it is a temple. Eliminating bad habits is important if you wish to improve your life. Look at your life, and decide if you have any bad habits that you need to work on getting rid of.

When trying to handle depression, focus on your diet and increase your complex carbohydrates. A lack of complex carbs can lead to a shortage of serotonin, a significant factor in depression. Complex carbs that you can easily eat to raise these levels include whole grains, nuts, raw vegetables and more.

If you are falling sort and not meeting goals, step back and look at your issues. Look for stories of other people who have successfully achieved goals similar to your own, then compare your approaches. This could illuminate a problem with the feasibility of your goals, your technique for achieving such goals, or even simply not allowing the time necessary to complete them.

Healthy Lifestyle

Becoming healthier will help immensely during personal development. A healthy lifestyle often results in feeling better, which contributes to a more positive frame of mind. A healthy lifestyle can increase your general health so that you save time and the expense of frequent doctor visits. Make it a goal to make healthy choices.

Make a decision about where you want to go in life and stick with it. You will never create the life you desire by simply fantasizing about it. You need to create and implement a plan of action in order to realize your desires.

Overreacting to a situation will cause you unnecessary stress. Learn how to deal with your stress, and always analyze a situation carefully. Don’t go crazy just because of a mistake you made because you will get through it. Prioritize your achievements over your failures.

Keep looking for new challenges you are interested in. When you face a challenge, you can find more possibilities in life. You can learn new skills and gain knowledge. You can set the bar for something that no one had ever accomplished. Try to think of innovative accomplishments, rather than following in everyone else’s tracks.

When developing a plan for personal improvements, include the values that are most important in your life. If you always endeavor to do your best, you’ll never be disappointed in yourself.

Write down your goals to help you grow on the inside. For instance, if one of your goals is to gain confidence, include that in your list. Come up with a list of things you could try to achieve these goals. Afterwards, you can try to make these things happen. When you tackle it methodically, you give yourself a better chance at succeeding.

Don’t get cocky. Compared to the immense universe we are really very small. Remember to learn from other people and keep in mind that you don’t know everything. You’ll be open to more opportunities if you know this. Having an open mind to new situations will show you how much more there is to know.

Improve your life by taking on the habits that have brought success to others. Don’t start with many of the habits, just a few, and practice until they are a part of your everyday life. People say that it takes 21 days for a habit to stick, so have confidence in yourself and keep working on it.

If you are trying to improve yourself, a setback from a failure can seem incredibly demeaning. Failure though, is one of our greatest teachers. Failure is a good place to start when choosing something you want to improve. In this way, each failure needs to be something that you feel good about, because you are learning more about your true self.

The goals you set out for your self improvement program need to be measurable and specific. Realistic and specific goals allow you to create a better plan to achieve those goals. By breaking down large goals into more manageable ones, you will be more likely to achieve them.

Give these tips a try and make note of any change in your feelings or thoughts. Give yourself a break.

Sometimes, the incident that occurred in our past tends to hold us back in our everyday life. Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to boost your personal development by forgetting your traumatic past.

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Originally posted 2021-03-28 22:56:43.

Make The Most Out Of Your Life With These Useful Personal Development Tips

Personal development – How about taking a few minutes of your time in order to learn simple steps on improving the rest of your life? If you pay attention to what we have to say, that is what this article can do for you. Read the tips and tricks that we have provided for you so that you can start to reach your true potential.

Try to make the most out the time you are working. Some say there is a trick that involves taking frequent breaks throughout the workday. If you designate a time to relax, then you will be more willing to buckle down and focus during work periods.

When building a personal development plan, it is important to consider your personal values. Trying to change yourself in ways that are not in line with your values, is not a good idea. Instead of this, you should focus your energy on the things that you want to develop that also go along with your own values. This is the way to make permanent, positive changes in your life.

Write yourself a pep talk. List the things that you love about yourself on a postcard. Keep it handy, and when you need a little motivation, read it. Better yet, videotape yourself reading it aloud and view the video frequently. Are you wondering why you should do this?

Instead of boasting about trophies, awards, and medals, try asking others about their achievements. You will then find out things that others have done to accomplish their goals, and you will get some insight.

Whereas trying to fix your problems yourself is always a great idea, sometimes you might have to seek out professional help. While self-help books can be helpful, a therapist can propose targeted, customized advice to help you achieve your goals. There are many times when talking with another person about a stressful situation is the most effective route to relaxation. Books can’t interact with people the way a trained psychiatrist is able to.

Ask yourself whether excessive drinking is a major contributing factor in your life. Do you make a habit of smoking or engaging in other harmful vices? Your body should be treated with the respect it deserves. Eliminating bad habits is essential if you want to improve your life. Look at your lifestyle and what kind of habits you can eliminate.

Complex Carbohydrates

If you are battling depression, it may be helpful to adjust your diet by increasing your intake of complex carbohydrates. If you don’t get enough complex carbs, you will be low on serotonin. Increase your consumption of fresh fruits, raw vegetables, nuts, brown rice, assorted beans and whole grains to have a diet that is enriched in complex carbohydrates.

One way to overcome anxiety is to go see a movie with a friend or family member. This gets you out into a social setting but does not require you to socialize to the point where you are uncomfortable. It will help you get used to the social scene.

You can learn to effectively handle your emotions, even during difficult situations. If you can learn how to stay cool during high-stress situations, you are likely to gain the confidence that you need to conquer just about anything in your daily life. Take the time to reflect on the situation, breathe deeply and relax.

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is only the beginning of your self-improvement plan. Being healthy correlates directly to feeling good. You’ll be able to think more clearly when you are healthy, and even save money since you will require less medical care. Make a healthy lifestyle one of your high-priority self-improvement goals.

Figure out your goals in life, and go after them. If you lay around all day wishing your life was better but not doing anything to make it better, it will never happen. Fulfill your dreams and make what you desire a reality.

Be nice to your body to better your self-improvement. For example, if you’re hungry or thirsty, you need to fix this problem as soon as possible. Doing so will enable your body to function efficiently down the road. However, if you don’t pay attention to your body’s needs, then it will not give you its best in the years ahead.

Always remember as you work on developing yourself that you deserve to be better and that it will benefit you more than anyone else. You must realize that doing your best is what you deserve. When all is said and done, you will be satisfied that you have given your best effort, and you will regret nothing.

The information provided should give you or someone you love some good information to get you started. The long-term benefits you can derive from putting this advice to work for you can be most impressive. With commitment and motivation, adapt these tips to your personal situation – then expect to see the results affect you in a positive way.

Sometimes, the incident that occurred in our past tends to hold us back in our everyday life.

Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to boost your personal development by forgetting your traumatic past.

Originally posted 2021-03-28 10:46:17.

Self Improvement: Tips And Tricks For A Better You

man meditating on a tree log
Photo by Maik Kleinert on Pexels.com

Starting a self improvement plan is the hardest part. With the complexities involved with the self, it is hard to know how and where to begin. The information provided here was developed to help you by defining some basic tasks that will move you towards meeting your personal development desires. Here, you’ll find several ideas that you can employ to set yourself up for success.

Unfortunately, stress is quite a killjoy to a person’s state of happiness and joy. Stress in the mind hurts us both mentally and physically across our body. If we want to think clearly and strive for our goals with neat, calm purpose, we must eliminate the stress in our minds. Schedule some time every day simply to unwind. Just sit back, let your mind go blank, and think about what’s important to you. This peaceful mental relaxation will refresh your mind, and improve your inner self.

Always make your own decisions, so you do not miss any opportunities that life is providing you. You should not fear making decisions even if you do not feel as sure about it as you would like to be. When you make the right decisions, you will increase self improvement. Even when you make a bad decision, you can learn valuable lessons from your experience. Think of your bad decisions as possibilities you have eliminated.

Be ready to take down any ideas you may have, no matter what the setting is. Start out by carrying a small notepad whenever you go out. This way, you will always be in a position to write down your thoughts and these can then be implemented at a later time when you have more freedom to act on them.

Know what your core beliefs are and live by them. Everyone has a set of beliefs that is integral to their identity. When your core principles are well-thought-out and defensible, acting in accordance with them will improve your self esteem. This will also help you develop consistency.

One approach to personal development is to view yourself as one who has not yet learned all there is to know. As you acknowledge that you are small and insignificant in this universe, the more that you realize your lack of knowledge. You will make dramatic progress in your self improvement once you accept that you still have a lot to learn and become eager to experience all the new things you can.

Personal Development

If you want to get more from your personal development then take care of your physical self. Keep your brain sharp and body energetic by getting enough sleep, exercise, and having a healthy diet. This will allow you to pursue your self improvement goals more wholeheartedly. A healthy body makes it easier to concentrate on personal development, even though it may be a challenge.

Individuals who are dealing with severe problems may benefit from regular therapy. Books can be very helpful to help you understand your problems, but they tend to lack the insight and knowledge which a therapist can give you. Sometimes, talk therapy can help you discover a breakthrough. Books cannot have a dialog with you to discuss any questions or concerns you might have, the way a therapist or psychiatrist can.

You should always treat others with respect, regardless of their relationship to you or your goals. The way you behave around others is highly indicative of your own character.

You can learn how to handle difficult problems without over-reacting. Learning ways to maintain your composure when stressed will help boost your self-esteem, and help you triumph under any circumstance. Take some time during your day to stop and take breaths.

Determine the things that are vital to you, and be sure to focus on these things. Your life will be more peaceful, satisfying, and happy if you can stop obsessing over negative or meaningless things and concentrate your energy on what you really care about.

Try to get more organized. An uncluttered home promotes a sense of calm and gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Doing this will also relieve you of the stress you felt when things were disorderly. When everything is organized, there tends to be a calm feeling.

As you can see, personal development is simpler than it looks. By breaking your self improvement process into small, manageable goals, you’ll find yourself closer to your goals by the end of every day. You’ll be able to practice what you’re seeking to adopt as habit, and you’ll increase your own morale to continue. These tips are only a springboard, it’s up to you to build a better life.

Sometimes, the incident that occurred in our past tends to hold us back in our everyday life. Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to boost your personal development by forgetting your traumatic past.

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Originally posted 2021-03-27 23:47:22.

PTSD Treatment and Management

Cognitive-Behavioral-TherapyPTSD treatment and management – Many warriors prefer to keep silent about their feelings to themselves than talking to anyone, not even the therapist, but the truth of the matter is that you have to talk before you can get the treatment you need, and deserve.
Today, there are good treatments available for PTSD.  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. It appears to be the most effective type of counseling for PTSD. The VA is providing two forms of cognitive behavioral therapy to Veterans with PTSD: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy.  To learn more about these types of therapy, see the official VA fact sheets listed on the treatment page.

There is also a similar kind of therapy called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that is used for PTSD.  Medications have also been shown to be effective.  A type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used for depression, is effective for PTSD. More information can be found at the VA treatment page.  There are different types of cognitive behavioral therapy.

PTSD Treatment And Management – Types of cognitive behavioral therapy

Watch The Videos Below to Learn and Determine Your Best Treatment Option(s)

 

 

 

In cognitive therapy, your therapist helps you understand and change how you think about your trauma and its aftermath.  Your goal is to understand how certain thoughts about your trauma cause you stress and make your symptoms worse. Once you understand the fundamentals of your problem, you can definitely tackle it with full force.  The work of your therapist, by using cognitive therapy is to help you identify thoughts about the world and yourself that are making you feel afraid or upset.  With the help of your therapist, you will learn to replace these thoughts with more accurate and less distressing thoughts. You will also learn ways to cope with feelings such as anger, guilt, and fear.

In exposure therapy, your goal is to have less fear about your memories. It is based on the idea that people learn to fear thoughts, feelings, and situations that remind them of a past traumatic event.  All you have to do is talk about your trauma repeatedly with a therapist, you’ll learn to get control of your thoughts and feelings about any kind of trauma you might have encountered that is causing you the pain and discomfort. You’ll learn that you do not have to be afraid of your memories. This may be hard at first. It might seem strange to think about stressful things on purpose. But you’ll feel less overwhelmed over time.

Group therapy

Talking to other people with similar trauma experience is also a great way of staying sane with your past experience.  Sharing your story with others could help you feel more comfortable talking about your trauma. This can help you cope with your symptoms, memories, and other parts of your life and can bring a great positive change to your life.  Sharing with the group also can help you build self-confidence and trust. You’ll learn to focus on your present life, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the past.  Group therapy assists you in building relationships with others who understand what you’ve been through.  This will boost your confidence because you know you are not alone.  You will learn to deal with emotions like shame, guilt, anger, rage, and fear.

Family therapy

When a member of the family has PTSD, it can affect your whole family.  Your kids or your partner may not understand why you get angry sometimes, or why you’re under so much stress.  They may feel scared, guilty, or even angry about your condition.

Family therapy is a type of counseling that involves your whole family. A therapist helps you and your family to communicate, maintain good relationships, and cope with tough emotions. Your family can learn more about PTSD and how it is treated.

Another form of treatment of PTSD is EMDR.

According to the VA PTSD Website; Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another type of therapy for PTSD and like other kinds of counseling, it is said to help change how you react and accept memories of your trauma.  Maybe you experienced trauma as a civilian, or as a soldier serving in combat zones, it is said to help relieve and/or treat the trauma.  The process involves thinking of or talking about your memories, while you’ll focus on other stimuli like eye movements, hand taps, and sounds.  Your therapist may use his or her hand as a movement focus point near your face, and you’ll follow this movement with your eyes.  Other equipment could also be used to replace the hand movement. See article about EMDR equipment here.  Experts are still learning how EMDR works.  Studies have shown that it may help you have fewer PTSD symptoms but research also suggests that the eye movements are not a necessary part of the treatment.

Medication

Chemicals in your brain affect the way you feel. For example, when you have depression you may not have enough of a chemical called serotonin. SSRIs raise the level of serotonin in your brain.  Medication is also very effective depending on what your doctor prescribes for you.  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant medicine which could help you feel less sad and worried.  They appear to be helpful, and for some people, they are very effective. SSRIs include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (such as Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).  There are other medications that have been used with some success.  All you have to do now is talk to your doctor about which medications are right for you.

 

 

Credits

Photos by:  http://www.freud-sigmund.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy.jpg

For more information on PTSD treatment and management, visit http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/gen-treatment.asp

 

Originally posted 2021-03-27 22:29:46.

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD

People who suffer from extreme and ongoing trauma, neglect, abuse, and even physical and emotional trauma can develop complex PTSD, an often complicated condition that surpasses traditional post-traumatic stress disorder. Complex PTSD does not have a single cause or trigger; it can affect the sufferer in a variety of ways, depending on the severity of the trauma and the severity of its consequences on the sufferer.

Many individuals with complex PTSD report having a hard time adjusting to their normal lives. They may become depressed, anxious, or withdrawn, and they may feel as if they are doomed to repeat the trauma again. They may also find themselves unable to make friends and participate in many of their usual activities because they are always in a state of panic and discomfort.

Because complex PTSD can develop over time and in combination with other traumas, it may be difficult to identify the trigger. A patient may experience physical or emotional trauma, but not have PTSD. A victim may have physical trauma but not PTSD. In fact, some of the symptoms of complex PTSD include extreme pain or fear, flashbacks of the trauma, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, restlessness, and an overwhelming fear of being harmed again.

Unfortunately, there is no single treatment or “cure” for complex PTSD. The treatment options available are typically geared towards relieving the symptoms, helping victims manage the trauma, or preventing it from developing any further.

One treatment option for those suffering from PTSD is to help them cope with the trauma by providing cognitive and/or behavioral therapy in order to work through the trauma and prevent it from recurring. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in many cases of Complex PTSD and works by teaching victims, how to avoid triggering their flashbacks by avoiding the triggers. This therapy helps sufferers to think differently about their trauma and teaches them how to deal with fear of triggering flashbacks.

Another treatment option for victims of complex PTSD is a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy works by educating sufferers how to think positively about their trauma and help them learn to recognize the negative thoughts, fears, and worries that come to mind during a trauma. Medication, usually used as an adjunct to psychotherapy, is used to treat the symptoms of Complex PTSD, such as depression, anxiety, hyperventilation, insomnia, and panic attacks, as well as other anxiety disorders.

The key to successful treatment for Complex PTSD is to understand the causes and impact of the trauma and to begin with. Once the causes of the trauma have been identified, the therapist will work with the sufferer to determine the best course of treatment. The treatment may include exposure to the trauma, psychotherapy, medication, therapy or psychotherapy, or a combination of all three.

Regardless, of which type of treatment you choose, it is important to remember that treatment for Complex PTSD is a lifelong commitment, not something that can be done overnight. Seek professional help and therapy for Complex PTSD so that you can get the help you need to overcome this complex condition and to help you cope with your feelings and emotions.

The symptoms of PTSD can be very intense and may make it difficult to think logically. If you are experiencing them, seek out help for Complex PTSD today.

If you or someone you love is coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), please seek help immediately. There are some powerful treatments available that can help you overcome your symptoms. These treatments will not only help you cope with the symptoms, but they will also teach you how to become more comfortable in new situations. If you have been diagnosed with PTSD, seek help now for the future so you can enjoy your life.

You are not alone in suffering from PTSD. Many people who suffer from this disorder do not receive any help, because there is not one recognized treatment for this disorder.

Please do your research and find out what is available today, and get the help you need now to overcome the symptoms of PTSD. Find out what types of treatment are available, and ask your doctor for more information.

Sometimes, the incident that occurred in your past tends to hold you back in your everyday life. Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to your regular therapy.

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Resources

Stress – Wikipedia.org

How to Deal With Stress- WikiHow

PTSD: National Center for PTSD – EMDR for Military

EMDR Therapy: What You Need to Know – Healthline.com

Originally posted 2021-03-27 10:25:46.

Manage Stress Levels And Start Relaxing With These Tips

Learning how to effectively manage daily stress in your life can be an uphill struggle. You need to learn as much as you can about stress if you are planning on dealing with it appropriately. The tips in this article will help you find ways to reduce the amount of stress you experience and live a better life.

Focus on reducing the level of stress in your everyday life. You can cause severe problems like heart disease, insomnia, muscle aches, and depression if you are stressed. You could avoid this stress by getting enough rest, and you will also be less likely to develop one of these ailments.

Prepare for tomorrow in any little way that you can today, and you will be surprised by the immediate reduction of stress when you wake up! Everything during a day can add to a bunch of stress, so preparing lunch or clothes tonight can put you ahead tomorrow so that you can have a little less stress tomorrow.

One way to reduce your stress levels is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. If you don’t take the time to stay on top of your health, you’ll find yourself stressed out and possibly sick down the road. Make regular appointments for check-ups and screening so that you can stay less stressed and healthy.

Stop clenching your jaw and consciously relax it. Stress seems to manifest itself in some regions of our bodies, and the jaw is a primary target. When your overwhelming feelings are beginning to take over, brush the index finger against the jaw, clench, then breathe in, and when you release the breath, release your jaw at the same time. This should make you feel better.

Single out your primary sources of tension, and find ways to minimize or eliminate your exposure to it. Stay far away from the things that may be causing undue stress in your life. You do not need to worry about other people’s drama. The fewer things you have in your life that stress you out, the better your quality of life will be.

Remember that alcohol is a depressant and is never good for stress relief. Although it’s fine to enjoy a couple of drinks with your friends from time to time, drinking beer or other alcoholic beverages every single night as a means of unwinding is detrimental for several reasons. Regular alcohol consumption can become a habit that leads to addiction and alcoholism.

If you hear a funny joke or have a pleasant experience, be sure to write it down. In addition to having fun by writing in a journal, it will help you focus on the positive events of life.

Backup Plan

To minimize the amount of stress you feel, think in advance about what could go wrong in any given situation. Keep a spare key someplace safe, have a backup plan for a babysitter, and keep a meal at work. If you always have a backup plan in place, you won’t be stressed when your original plans fail.

If you want to relieve stress, consider participating in crafts projects. Painting, sculpting, drawing, writing, carving, or anything else creative, lets the mind indulge itself for a while free of deadlines and finances.

An excellent method of calming down when you have a stressful day is to do a particular act for another person. It can be a simple task, like picking flowers or giving candy. Concentrating on others is an excellent distraction from stress, and seeing your loved ones’ happiness can give your mood a much needed boost on a stressful day.

Learning to forgive other people will help you to reduce stress in your life. Dwelling over the wrongs, others have done to you will only serve to increase anxiety and irritability on an ongoing basis.

Smiling is an easy and straightforward way to reduce your stress. If you are feeling tense, smiling may make you feel the way you look; relaxed, and calm. So smile every now and then and notice how much your mood improves. Smiling amid a stressful period can really help you relax and unwind.

Cut down on the caffeine that you consume each day. Coffee can affect hormones such as adrenaline and dopamine to increase stress levels when you drink too much. If you replace your coffee with drinking green tea, it will get rid of stress and not improve it.

Try just letting go of your stress. Surprisingly, some people resist change even when it could prove beneficial in reducing the effects of stress. As you start to realize that you are not allowing yourself to de-stress, you can begin to change what is causing you to feel this way. Learning that you control your own life can help you improve what you need to, and eliminate any stressful behaviors.

Your body doesn’t function properly if you don’t get enough sleep. Without enough sleep, you cannot think clearly nor manage stress effectively. If you want to stay alert throughout your day and keep your body running at full potential, you should get all your sleep.

Step away from the source of stress. Think about things that calm you and confirm your abilities incorrectly handling any situation. Doing this will allow you to succeed in removing yourself from this situation.

One technique you should consider using to lower your stress is shutting your eyes, and turning on relaxing music. Tension can be relieved by relaxing the senses. Playing music softly can be a great way to nurture your mind and your soul. As you listen to it with your eyes shut, your mind will wander to a more pleasant state. This technique can be most helpful in managing your stress levels and can be practiced just about anywhere.

As stated previously, reducing your stress is dependent on how much education you can absorb and apply. Knowing how to reduce stress is half the battle to making it more manageable.

Sometimes, the incident that occurred in your past tends to hold you back in your everyday life. Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to your regular therapy to boost your personal development.

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Resources About EMDR Therapy

Anxiety EMDR Therapist

EMDR Therapist Directory

EMDR Therapist

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Originally posted 2021-03-26 22:10:44.

Manage Your Stress For A Happier Life

Stress can be a very debilitating mental condition. High sstress evels can be debilitating. Decide to stand up to stress and read this article, which will offer you some tips on handling your stress, and becoming more relaxed.

How to Control Your Stress

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You should control your stress levels as much as possible. Too much stress is the cause of numerous health problems like stroke, heart attacks, hypertension, ulcers, depression, insomnia, obesity, and aches and pains. You can reduce stress and health issues by getting enough sleep every night.

Relax your jaw and try to quit grinding your teeth. When you are under a heavy load of stress, your whole body feels it, but it’s especially felt in your jaw. When you notice yourself becoming overly stressed, use your index finger to press against your jaw. Next, clench your jaw, inhale deeply and exhale deeply to release your jaw. This exercise will help you to relieve tension and stop clenching your jaw.

 

Find out what are the major causes of your life’s stress, then figure out how to decrease them as much as you can, or completely get rid of them altogether. If you have friends who constantly add drama and stress to your life, consider a way you can distance yourself from those relationships. Eliminating as many sources of stress as possible can dramatically improve both your attitude and your health.

The earthy hobby of gardening is a great stress reliever. Stressed out homeowners should easily be able to develop a garden for their yard.

Hobbies and video games can be relaxing, but if they are causing frustration then it is time to go on to a new activity or rest. It is important to keep in mind that you are trying to clear your thoughts and not replace your stress with powerful frustration.

Video games are a wonderful form of reducing stress. Games make you focus on strategy, which reduces the energy available for stress and worry. Playing alone or with friends can be a definite mood booster.

If you have a special someone, go out on romantic outings regularly. This date will give you an opportunity to focus on your relationship without focusing on things which stress you.

Be wary of any body parts that tense up whenever you feel stressed. Common sources of clenching are teeth, fingers, shoulders, and lower back muscles. Once you locate the points where you direct your stress, make an extra effort to stretch those body parts to dissipate that stress. This will enable you to relax a little and lower your stress level.

Before you take action when you are under stress, take the time to breathe first. Take a moment by yourself to count out ten deep breaths before trying to tackle the issue at hand. Although this is a simple strategy, it may make a world of difference in the way you react to unfavorable conditions.

Reduce anxiety and stress by deciding to be honest, no matter what. Studies show that small lies can create a lot of guilt and make many people anxious about being caught.

Take a break and do some breathing exercises. A deep breath can be quite calming when you feel anxiety or stress start to build up. Research has even shown that it can reduce these feelings if you make deep breathing a habit.

Enjoying a citrusy snack can help to ease your nerves while you are out and about. Also, Vitamin C combats stress-induced sicknesses, like a cold or cough.

One overlooked but effective method to combat stress is to simply smile more. When you smile, your emotional center or limbic system is stimulated. Smiling, therefore, will stimulate your brain, calm you down and make you happy.

Sit down to a snack! Foods rich in carbohydrates produce serotonin in your brain, which makes you feel happier. Try a whole grain option such as a bagel or pasta if you’re looking for healthy ways to boost your serotonin.

Create plans for yourself. By having a clear goal, you will be able to focus less on your stress when it comes up. If you like music, plan to go to a concert, or if you like movies, plan on seeing one.

Organizing your life is a great stress reliever. A lot of stress comes from forgetting something or from losing something, which causes frustration. The organization will bring structure to your life, and make you feel like you are in control. Once you start becoming more organized, you will quickly find your stress levels dropping.

A great stress reliever is focusing on an image that soothes the eyes and mind. Images of flowers, the ocean, waterfalls, or mountains can help to relax your mind, making stressful situations feel more tolerable. If you don’t have pictures, use your imagination to visualize a beautiful scenario. If you can imagine yourself in a peaceful setting, you will feel much less stress.

Stress causes millions of dollars in lost productivity in all sectors of the economy. The only motivation that stress provides is the motivation to give up. This article should have provided you with new knowledge on how you can best deal with your stress.

Sometimes, the incident that occurred in your past tends to hold you back in your everyday life. Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to your regular therapy to boost your personal development.

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Originally posted 2021-03-26 10:04:40.

Anxiety Treatment: Therapy that Combats Stress

Anxiety Treatment: Therapy that Combats Stress.  Almost all cases of anxiety disorders, such as phobias, post-traumatic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and others can be treated through behavioral therapy and through medication.

anxiety_disorder_and_treatmentThe common mental therapy treatment options for people suffering from anxiety disorders are cognitive behavioral therapy, stress relieving or relaxation therapy, exercise, and group therapy. Even though the methods of anxiety treatment may be different, all the above-mentioned treatments rely on one underlying principle: i.e. to induce strength and resilience in the individual to be able to face any unpleasant life situation and to face the sources of stress, imaginary or real, with fortitude. If anxiety interferes with daily activities, a person may need treatment with medicines (such as antidepressants or antianxiety medications) and/or professional counseling.

Anxiety disorders are a type of mental illness characterized by severe anxiety that interferes with a person’s life. Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear, uneasiness, or concern that something bad is about to happen.

Anxiety disorders include:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder, which involves several months of ongoing physical symptoms that occur along with anxiety.
  • Panic disorders, which involve repeated episodes of sudden fear and feelings of danger or impending doom, along with physical symptoms.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder, which involves frequent, repeated thoughts leading to repeated or persistent behavior (such as excessive hand-washing).
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder, which involves reliving a traumatic event (such as a war experience or rape) and feelings of numbness and disinterest in daily activities.

These disorders can be treated with medicines and/or counseling. (VA Health Library)

Anxiety Treatment

One of the most popular anxiety treatment options for anxiety disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy, is based on the principle that our emotions influence our behavior. So, for an individual to function effectively, it is essential that he should think positively and harbor constructive thoughts. The therapist helps the individual to recognize the thoughts and the beliefs that are unpleasant to the individual and strengthens him by devising a strategy to face the situations and thoughts that are unpleasant and fear to provoke for him. The cognitive behavioral therapy includes lessons on slow breathing, relaxation techniques and education about anxiety, as well.

Relaxation therapy, another popular means of anxiety treatment, educates the individual about various relaxation techniques that help him to release the muscular and the psychological tension that he experiences every time he faces an undesirable situation. The relaxation techniques could include exercises on slow breathing, isometric relaxation, meditation, visualization, and self-hypnosis. The individual should practice these relaxation techniques on a regular basis and especially when he feels that he may experience an anxiety attack soon, due to the increase in the anxiety level triggered by some unpleasant source.

Mental health therapies are always a better option than prescription medicines because of the side effects that are often associated with the use of prescription drugs. Also, prescription drugs do not alter the behavior of the individual or help him face the unpleasant situations but only provide relief from the anxiety and stress on a short-term basis. On the other hand, behavioral therapies like the ones mentioned above have been proven to be effective, non-drug induced anxiety treatment to combat anxiety that is also recommended by the doctors themselves.

Resources

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Originally posted 2021-03-25 21:59:13.

Relaxation Therapy

Relaxation therapy really had its birth in the 1970’s. While it was around before then, it was during the general renaissance of psychotherapy, the relaxation therapy also got its foothold in popular culture. Relaxation therapy is the use of muscle relaxation to treat somatic problems, the most common of which being high anxiety. Relaxation therapy has also been found very effective in the use of tension headaches and moderately effective in the treatment of migraine headaches.

relaxation_therapyWhile relaxation therapy is most commonly used in the treatment of psychopathologies, such as panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), it has been found just effective in the treatment and control of common anxiety issues. These issues include all types of performance anxiety and well as many types of social phobias. Relaxation therapy is also commonly found used in conjunction or as a part of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

All of this is said to show that while often overlooked in the world of psychotherapies, relaxation therapy has great benefits and truly belongs along the side of many of the other popular therapies out there today.

The method of relaxation therapies varies greatly. One of the most commonly used is known as biofeedback. Essentially, one follows a list of instructions that run through the entire body, tensing and relaxing each muscle in turn. Not only does this assist in the somatic aspect of relaxation, but it also assists in the mental aspect of stress and relaxation. By consciously focusing on one’s different body parts, and the tensing and relaxing thereof, the mind becomes free of the daily stresses and worries that cloud and inhibit its functioning.

Another common method is that of controlled breathing. It involves deep breathing and is often coupled with the utterance of some type of mantra on the exhale. The great thing about breathing therapy is its functionality; it can be done almost anywhere and in very little time. In conclusion, relaxation therapy, while not often talked about, is a very effective way to treat many of life’s problems, the most common of which being high anxiety.

Stress Relief: Relaxation

Stress is a physical and emotional response to overwhelming responsibilities, events, and changes. Focusing the mind helps provide stress relief. Taking 5 to 10 minutes to practice relaxation each day helps you feel more refreshed. The following exercises can be done almost anywhere. Try one or more until you find what works best for you.

Calm Your Mind

Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Then try the following:

  • Sit comfortably. Take off your shoes. Turn off distractions like your cell phone or pager. Take a few deep breaths.
  • Focus your mind on one peaceful thought, image, or word. You can repeat a saying, a word, a poem, or a prayer. Hold these thoughts for 5 minutes.
  • When other thoughts enter your mind, relax and refocus by reminding yourself that this is a time to rest and relax and that you will address your worries later. Go back to your peaceful thought. Let the distracting thoughts fall away.
  • When you’re done, stand up slowly and stretch your arms over your head. With practice, this exercise can help you feel restored.

Calm Your Body

With practice, you can use mental cues to help your body relax.

  • Sit comfortably and clear your mind. A few deep breaths will help.
  • Mentally focus on your left hand and repeat to yourself, “My left-hand feels warm and still.” Keep doing this until your hand does feel warmer and more still.
  • Repeat the exercise using your right hand. Then focus on your arms, legs, and feet until your whole body feels relaxed.
  • When you’re done, stand up slowly and stretch your arms overhead.

Relaxation Therapy Through Visualization

Visualization is like taking a mental vacation. It frees your mind while keeping your body in a calm state. To get started, picture yourself feeling warm and relaxed. Choose a peaceful setting that appeals to you and fill in the details. If you imagine a tropical beach, listen to the waves on the shore. Feel the sun on your face. Dig your toes in the sand. By using the power of your mind, you can take a soothing break when you need to.

Article from the VA National Library.  For more information visit VA.GOV

Originally posted 2021-03-25 09:55:15.