The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

 By: Dwight Bain, LMHC, NCC This feels like the longest year in history ... not in calendar days, which are still the same. Nope. 2020 has felt longer because of so much pandemic related stress. Working from home, social isolation with every concert and sporting event shut down, lay-offs, recession, students trying to manage school exams via zoom, conflict over the election, managing face masks to go outside, and now the reality that COVID 19 will not magically go away when vaccines are available in 2021. Coronavirus has changed the way most American's function, and ruining for some what would traditionally be a happy holiday season. USA Today newspaper captured this in a recent snapshot poll that asked, “Which best fits your holiday emotional state?” Stressed – 27% Depressed – 24% Relaxed – 18% Joyful – 31% The majority of people are overwhelmed by negative emotions and have missed the joy. What can be done to help people feeling anxious and overloaded with so many...

 By: Brian Murray, LMHC Family time during the holidays can be a fun and special time for the family. Relationships can bring joy, but they can also be difficult. For the family who experiences someone who is narcissistic, or some other kind of manipulator this time can be especially difficult.   Narcissism, also known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder, is a mental health disorder that is very difficult for family members to be around. Their self-centered, arrogant, and haughty attitudes can make other family members withdraw or feel compelled to challenge the negativity. This often results in arguments and disruption of family cohesion. This often plays right into the narcissist’s personality as they often create confusion and chaos to feel like they are in control. The reason for this is due to an internal lack of self-esteem. People who are confident with themselves don’t have this need to stir up other people’s emotions. This dramatic swirling of emotions, confusion...

  By: Megan Brewer, LMHC As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many anticipate a very different kind of holiday season this year. It has felt to me like we have all been on a progressive journey of discerning what the next season will be like, and, along the way, we have been adopting a new kind of acceptance in each season. This has been the journey of my family as we waited and reevaluated each month, trying to decide if it was safe to spend the holidays together. When we first started discussing the potential risks of traveling, it was difficult to arrive at a decision to not see each other as we had in years past. It took months of us talking it through and settling into the reality that the wisest decision for us was to forgo our usual holiday time together and stay home. The decision took time for me to accept, but once I did, it opened new opportunities to creatively celebrate in ways I had not previously thought about. Now, that doesn’t mean our family stopped longing ...