My mother and father were both victims of childhood neglect and abuse growing up. Their unhealed maltreatment carried over to how they parented my siblings and me. My father would whip my mother, my siblings and me with his belt if we did not obey him. He would also yell, call us demeaning names, and…
My brother unexpectedly died 11 months ago from two blood clots in his lungs. He was only 56 years old. It has been an incredibly difficult loss for me, because of how close we were. I have been through several losses over the years, but losing my brother has been the most heartbreaking. I continue…
Did you know that depression affects more than 16 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability worldwide? Most people have experienced depressive symptoms several times throughout their life, especially if they are going through a loss, or a significant disappointment in life. If your symptoms of depression last more than a year it…
A necessary component to developing healthy emotions and having meaningful relationships is to know that we are unconditionally loved. Many of us look to others to feel loved, because many of us believe other human beings will validate for us that we are loveable.
Is it hard for you to let go of past experiences that have caused you emotional pain? As human beings, we all experience some emotional suffering throughout our lives. Emotional suffering can be caused by rejection, ostracism, verbal degradation, abuse, neglect, betrayal, abandonment, or unfair treatment. Research shows that emotional pain has the ability to…
Anxiety has become the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting more than 40 million adults. The symptoms that anxiety creates in the mind and body include: Excessive worry, apprehension, uncertainty or expectation Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank Fatigue due to unsatisfying sleep (difficulty falling…
Addiction is a significant problem for Americans. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 24.6 million Americans used illicit drugs in 2013 and one in ten were dependent on alcohol. Approximately 65% of those who did not struggle with an addiction, were negatively affected by a family member’s addiction. Addiction is a chronic brain…
I remember eight years ago driving to Rocky Point Mexico with seven girls in my SUV to celebrate our friend’s 30th birthday. We were having a conversation about how many men we had sex with. One of the girls said, “Six,” another one said, “15.” One girl shouted out, “130!” I said, “Wow! Really?” At…
Do you ever talk with people who tell you they have a goal to lose weight, get a different job, stop drinking so much, be a better spouse, or a more attentive parent but they don’t ever reach their goal? Although desire is a prerequisite to reaching goals, more is required to attain results. As…
Do you have trouble making friends, or maintaining fulfilling relationships? If so, it may be because you are emotionally unhealthy. Most people are emotionally unhealthy because they try to avoid or control their feelings, rather than accept and express them in healthy, assertive ways. If you grew up in a home with parents or caretakers…