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Showing posts from March, 2007

Body Image Blues ~ Understanding the psychological factors that fuel personal insecurities

Have you ever wondered why some people never seem happy with themselves, or are constantly comparing themselves to others to see if they measure up? I sure have and to be honest, I've been in situations where I did it too! Depending on the situation, we all can feel a little insecure at times, so here's a strategy to help you study what is going on around you to figure out where you fit, and more importantly how to be at peace with who you already are, instead of spending too much time, energy or money pretending to be someone that you're not. Once people step back to see just how much personal insecurity actually steals away internal peace and confidence, they see that it's not usually as bad as they make it out to be. In fact, it can often be pretty funny because once we really get focused in on some element of our body image we often can twist it into a life or death drama as we try to do whatever it takes to fit in. Consider the silly scene in the film, "My Bes

Shame on You Written by: Deedra Hunter, LMHC

Early childhood trauma stamps us for life with a tattoo on our soul that spells the word “shame”. Even though it is hidden deep within the darkest corners of our being, the tattoo of shame marks us for life and many times keeps us from seeking the help we so desperately need to set ourselves free. Why is that? Children must receive from the people around them an abundance of love, care, understanding, and encouragement. All of this positive energy fills a child and enables him or her to learn self-love and the important ability to self-sooth. When all goes well the child grows into an adult whose life is filled with joy, purpose and loving others. However, when a child is deprived of these important necessary experiences because of trauma, life becomes a living hell. Simply put- if we do not receive love when we are young we do not learn to love ourselves which enables us, in later years, to risk being vulnerable enough to love others. To love is to experience joy. The primary

Strategies for Real Life Written by: Dwight Bain, LMHC

If you are interested in jump-starting your family on healthy lifestyle by making some nutrition and physical activity changes, here are a few strategies to get you started: · Recognize that you have more control than you might think. You can turn off the TV and video game. You can choose to get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the rest of the way, especially when you are with your kids. You can give your family more vegetables for dinner. · Think about the immediate benefits. If reducing future heart disease risk seems a bit abstract, focus on the good things that can happen right now. You won’t feel so full if you have a smaller portion or skip dessert. Going hiking with your teenager might lead a wonderful talk that neither of you anticipated. A fruit salad tastes great and looks beautiful. Dancing with your spouse is lots of fun and can give you a great workout. · Make small, easy changes over time. Suggesting that family members take a run together every day will p