The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Christine Hammond LMHC At first glance, Megan appeared to have ADHD. She couldn’t sit still, struggled to focus, was easily distracted, and frequently forgot things. She even convinced a doctor that she had ADHD and took some medication which only made matters worse, not better. Frustrated and confused, she became worried that she had a more severe mental disorder and thought she was losing her mind. One of the commonly overlooked areas in mental health is sleep disorders. A person can appear to have depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, thyroid problems, and chronic fatigue syndrome when actually they have a sleep disorder. This was true for Megan who actually had narcolepsy and not ADHD. When she took the stimulant medication, this made her sleep patterns worse resulting in an increase of her symptoms. To help sort through the possible sleep disorders, it is best to be evaluated by a sleep expert. Their analysis is far more thorough through use of a sleep study and...

By: Christine Hammond LMHC Have you ever wondered what a therapist is thinking about while you talk about your relationship woes? While I can’t speak for all therapists, I do look for specific factors that can determine the success or failure in any relationship. When an area is revealed, such as a pattern of lying, it needs to be therapeutically addressed or the relationship will suffer. Successful relationships identify these factors and eradicate them as soon as possible. This list is my compilation of the many ways a person can destroy their relationships. Use it not for your partner, but as a self-checklist to see if you are behaving improperly. Then pick one topic at a time and work to fix it.    ______1.              Pride: an unwillingness to admit being wrong or apologize for mistakes. ______2.             Stubbornness: needing to be ...

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC The release of names and emails hacked from the on-line cheater’s website Ashley Madison stirs up questions of fidelity even in the best of relationships. This is especially true in light of some high profile confessions. The website’s promise of anonymity has been comprised and what was done in secret is now being revealed. But before checking a partner’s email address on the hacked list, consider these things. 1.        Everyone is capable of making a mistake but not everyone does. No one is perfect. Having expectations of flawless living will only lead to disappointment. Committed healthy relationships demonstrate a willingness to admit errors, change behaviors, accept adjusted boundaries, and forgive. This is something both partners need to do. 2.        “ This above all: to thine own self be true.” (Polonius gives excellent advice to his son in Shakespeare’s Hamlet .) Before checking ...