The signs and symptoms of mental illness vary in intensity and from person to person, so it’s important to know what to look for. Here’s a list of signs and symptoms that typically point to the presence of a mental illness: Sleep changes Appetite changes Energy level fluctuations Social withdrawal Extreme mood swings Intrusive thoughts…
New Year, New You? Are Intentions Better Than Resolutions? Written By: Jessica Eiseman, MS, LPC-S, NCC, CCTP Doesn’t that saying “New Year, New you” just bother you? Like I wasn’t good enough last year, so I need a different me this year? It just has a certain negative tone to it with a lot of…
You are probably experiencing it now: December feels different than any other month. Why does December feel so hard? December is full of end-of-year reflections. We face constant messages about new year’s resolutions that ask us to evaluate our lives, identify shortcomings and disappointments, and create promises of change. We also reflect on how our…
This will be the third Christmas Eve without my father. This will be the third Christmas Eve where the halls won’t echo with poorly-sung Christmas songs. This will be the third year that we won’t have goofy dancing as we countdown to Christmas day. This will be the third Christmas Eve my dad won’t parade…
“Family of origin” is the technical term used for the family you grew up with or identify as the group of individuals who shaped your childhood on a day-to-day basis. Your family shaped how you view and interact with the world and the people in it. The older you get, the more you realize how…
I’ve been adopted by a 13 year old Tabby with no tail. She paws at the door every morning at 6:30 am, relentlessly scratching, until I bring her some nibbles that she only finds palatable, if softened with a bit of yogurt. Lest you think she has been abandoned, or ill cared for, her rightful…
“Mindfulness is the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally. And then I sometimes add, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness Defined Mindfulness is conscious living. It is having a nonjudgmental awareness of one’s internal and external experiences. Video Description: Jon Kabat-Zinn Defining Mindfulness Living…
A Therapist Tells All: The Things More of Us Struggle With than We Realize It is pretty surreal to me that I get to hear people share their innermost thoughts, feelings, insights, and fears all the time. It’s an honor and a privilege. It can also feel like a huge responsibility. Mostly it feels like…
“Trust the process,” they say. Even after being a therapist for over ten years now, I still question this at times. I think this is a difficult concept for a lot of people. Especially in the instant gratification era we are in. We want a quick fix and we want it NOW! While, I too, love my…
Last spring, my dad got pretty sick very quickly. It felt like one of those “rally ’round the family” moments, so I drove to Georgetown (outside of Austin) when I finished work on Thursday night. It was a contemplative, nighttime, three-hour drive, all by myself. I got there and spent two days with my brother…