Shyness And Social Anxiety Category
Seen, Heard, and Understood
(From the Downtown Therapy blog. Check it out to see more)
I found myself on vacation recently. My partner and I went to France. It was equal parts charming and idyllic. It was also curiously stressful.
You see, in Toronto – at the best of times – when I go out I will inevitably have a selection of personalities to encounter: the barista making my americano, the TTC operator at the front of the streetcar, the person operating the cash register at the local grocery store. Ideally, in this sequence of events, even if I’m not consciously aware of it, I’ll be seen, heard, and understood.
These are three very important things to experience in day-to-day life: it feels good to be recognized, to be listened to, and to feel that the person on the other side of our dealings-with acknowledges our existence. Sadly, this doesn’t always come to be. The barista may get my order wrong, the TTC operator might be a bit gruff, the person operating the cash might...
ANXIOUS PARENTS/ ANXIOUS KIDS
Studies have revealed that anxious parents are seven times more likely to have anxious kids. Chances are that the combination of genes and environment... To read more, please visit http://blog.montrealarttherapy.com/?p=53
TESTING ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Studies have shown that anxiety, a common emotion among human beings, can have negative effects on school performance... To read more, please visit www.blog.montrealarttherapy.com
Do People Truly Ever Change?
(From the Downtown Therapy blog. Check it out to see more)
I bumped into an old acquaintance the other day. We had both worked for a rather chaotic company years earlier. The so-called “survivors” met for dinner once a year to catch-up and share stories of our time in that company. He asked why I couldn’t attend the most recent dinner. I guessed that, because I’d changed my email address a while back, the invitations were being sent to an account that was no longer in service.
When I asked him how it went, he shrugged and smiled. He said: “Oh, you know, (x) is still high-strung. (y) is still gloomy. (z) still acts like everyone’s Mom.”
“People don’t change.” he said, shaking his head. It felt like a definitive statement for him.
We parted ways and his words echoed with me. After all, what’s my purpose as a therapist if that statement were true? I believe in change: I’ve experienced it myself and have seen it s...
Modern Amazon #1
I think women are fascinating!! Now don't get me wrong I think that men are awesome and great people to have in our lives. For some women though men become their world, their universe, what they hang alll their dreams on. One of the things that I have noticed in my counseling though is the dynamics that we have as women and then the dynamic relationships we have with the women around us. So often I hear young women say, "I don't like girls-they are too much drama!" No! What happens is that the different relationships we have with women go sour. When you break up with your most recent partner who is there for you? You best friend? your sister? your grandma? It is so infrequently that we as women turn to men to help us and support us with our emotional needs.
I'm going to make a quick reference back to a book I read some time ago. It was Kelly Cutrone's book If You Have to Cry Go Outside: and other things your mother never told you. True there is some gritty parts of her book as well as...
Benefits of Group Therapy
How group therapy can help you improve with others:
Safety and comfort in commonality
Increased speed of healing breakthroughs
Support of othersInvolvement in positive change for others
Group counseling is a very powerful and effective way to engage in personal change. While some people are initially hesitant to share their struggles or concerns with a group of strangers, participants in group counseling soon understand that the group is intentionally set up so that all members of the group are accountable to being respectful and keeping all information confidential. This allows members to quickly become comfortable within the safety of the group, and therefore gain tremendous benefit from the support of not just a therapist but an entire group of people. Common benefits of group therapy include the speed with which breakthroughs and change can happen, the knowledge for each member that he/she is not alone in their struggles, the growth that comes from being able to receive support ...
Is it Emotional Eating or Atypical Depression?
You can feel great at time, even for long stretches, but then, often after a difficult encounter with someone, you feel sad or anxious. The sadness or anxiety is like background music, always there, though sometimes at a low level. Where most depressed people have insomnia, you LOVE sleep. Where most people with depression can't eat, you can't stop eating, especially carbs. And you struggle with your weight.
I call this "anxi-pression," or emotional eating. The clinical name for it is Atypical Depression. The full list of symptoms includes:
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness or feeling tearful
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
- Increased appetite
- Unintentional weight gain
- Increased desire to sleep
- Heavy, leaden feeling in the arms and legs
- Sensitivity to rejection or criticism that interferes with your social life or job
- Fear of rejection that leads to avoiding relationships
- Having depression that temporarily lifts with good news or positive events but returns la...
Scenes From Life
It is so nice to connect with people. I try to make connections with people every day. It's so easy to do if you just smile and if you are always 'yourself.' This means treating people as you'd want to be treated. It's easy, It's fun and it's effective!
Depression and Anxiety
DEPRESSION
What is depression? It is a common and sometimes serious mood disorder that can be quite intense. It affects and mind and the body at the same time. It may be associated with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that carry communications between nerve calls which control mood and other basic bodily functions, such as appetite and sleep. Other factors may also come into play, such as negative life experiences such as stress or loss, medical illnesses, and genetic factors.
What are the symptoms of depression? It can include the following: persistent sad or empty mood, loss of interest in usual activities, changes in appetite or weight, inability to sleep or oversleeping, restlessness or sluggishness, decreased energy or fatigue, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, feelings of guilt/hopelessness/, or worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide.
The extent of the problem: between 17 and 20 million Americans develop...
The 2 Most Common Mistakes Made by People with ADHD in Maintaining Friendships
Given our busy lives, it is no wonder that many of us have difficulty keeping up with friendships. But for individuals with ADHD, maintaining healthy friendships can be even a bigger struggle than for most. How does one balance the many demands that life puts upon us while keeping our vital connections to those people we truly value? The following article takes a look at 2 of the most common mistakes made by those with ADHD when it comes to maintaining these close friendships.
Many individuals with ADHD attract many friends due to their zany sense of humor, high energy, and creative fun loving nature. However, for many people with ADHD, maintaining good friendships over a sustained period of time may be difficult, due to a variety of reasons including boredom, poor time management, problems with memory and behaviors that may be interpreted as being selfish or unresponsive to other's needs. Out of all the difficulties one faces in maintaining good friendships, the 2 most common mistake...
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