Life Counseling, Anxiety Therapy
Erica Warshawer
How to Know if You Suffer from Social Anxiety ...

You’ve probably heard of social anxiety. It’s a term used loosely at times when someone isn’t in the mood to socialize. However, not always being in the mood to socialize is normal. But true social anxiety is much more than that.

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of being judged by others, feeling highly self-conscious in social situations, and avoiding meeting new people. It’s also known as social phobia. Social anxiety disorder makes it hard to create meaningful connections with others. It can even make it hard for people to complete everyday tasks.

How to Know if You Suffer from Social Anxiety and What to Do About It
Life Counseling, Anxiety Therapy, Depression Therapy
Erica Warshawer
Reducing Your Mental Health Symptoms: How ...

Mindfulness has become a trendy word. Please do not mistake that for a negative. The concept of staying present is a fundamental form of self-care. In the realm of mental health, it has countless benefits for serious practitioners. Practicing mindfulness has been shown to help people struggling with conditions and issues like:

  • Anxiety

  • Chronic pain

  • Depression

  • Addiction

  • Suicidal ideation

More recently, mindfulness is making a difference for those dealing with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since trauma is something that gets you stuck in the past, this approach makes a whole lot of sense. Let’s learn more:

Reducing Your Mental Health Symptoms: How Mindfulness Can Make a Difference
Teletherapy
Erica Warshawer
Telehealth After the Pandemic? Why Online ...

Until last year, telehealth was mostly a niche approach to therapy. It was incredibly helpful for someone who was disabled or lived far from any therapist. Along came the pandemic and the need for teletherapy exploded. For a while, the only way a client could meet with their counselor was via video chat (or phone call).

Today, with nearly 17 months of experience under our belts, many Americans have discovered a preference for telehealth. The numbers below will help illustrate this trend. In other words, online options still make sense. In some ways, they are here to stay.

Telehealth After the Pandemic? Why Online Options May Still Make Sense
Anxiety Therapy
Erica Warshawer
How You Can Calm Anxiety in Five Simple Steps

If you’re one of the 40 million Americans living with an anxiety disorder, you already know it’s much more than feeling nervous. Everyone worries or panics from time to time. That’s normal. Anxiety is something that impairs your ability to function. It feels as if it’s out of your control.

From intense discomfort at social events to sleep-altering nightmares, anxiety disorders are a daunting reality. Among other things, they may have you dealing with sweaty palms, digestive issues, body trembling, or self-isolation. Whatever uncomfortable symptoms you face, they can be managed and calmed by committing to some basic self-help steps.

How You Can Calm Anxiety in Five Simple Steps
Depression Therapy, Life Counseling
Erica Warshawer
Strategies for Staying Emotionally Healthy ...

Anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of (first) marriages end in divorce. The odds are that you or someone close to you has had to endure this painful experience. Still, let’s be clear, in many cases, a divorce is a traumatic event. Your body, mind, and spirit will be severely challenged. That reality deserves care and attention.

Women, in particular, are at higher risk for depression. Why? They tend to handle the lion’s share of domestic duties and often have fewer financial options than men. For almost every person involved, especially if children are involved, divorce is a time of turmoil and drastic change. That’s why it’s so important to safeguard your well-being as this process plays out.

Strategies for Staying Emotionally Healthy During the Divorce Process

Life Counseling

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Managing Your New Normal: 6 Tips for Navigating Change Effectively

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Managing Your New Normal: 6 Tips for Navigating Change Effectively

Change is inevitable. It’s a normal part of everyone’s life. However, there will be times that require more change than usual. The past two years, for example, have introduced a wide range of “new normals.” If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the scope of it all, you’re certainly not alone.

With or without pandemic-related adjustments, you may need some tips and suggestions in the area of navigating change. Such skills are invaluable at the point of change and well into the future. After all, if a change is unavoidable, why not be better prepared? To follow, we’ll explore a few options for settling into your new normal.

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Dealing with the Emotions Plaguing My New Post-Pandemic, In-Person Life

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Dealing with the Emotions Plaguing My New Post-Pandemic, In-Person Life

It’s difficult to articulate just how bizarre the past two years have been. To say our lives were disrupted is quite an understatement. A veil of fear descended upon the planet and caused rifts and schisms we could never have imagined. People were divided in a wide variety of new and dangerous ways. And now, the veil is being lifted and it appears we’re just expected to return to “normal.”

If you’re experiencing an avalanche of emotions, you are not alone. You might be scared or angry or very, very confused. But rest assured, you can thrive in your new post-pandemic, in-person life.

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Grieve Your Own Way…Why the Stages of Grief are Just a Guide

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Grieve Your Own Way…Why the Stages of Grief are Just a Guide

The Stages of Grief are Just a Guide

One of the few open conversations you might have about grief may center around its stages. This concept helps give context to grief by externalizing and normalizing a shared and difficult process. However, while all humans experience stages of grief at some point in their lives, the process for each person is unique and does not follow a prescriptive pattern or order.

It’s important to remember though that grieving never stops. Rather, the loss is slowly integrated into our day to day lives. We live with the loss, experiencing peaks and valleys. Grief may pop up when you least expect it. Other times, like during a life milestone, we feel a renewed sense of bereavement knowing we would’ve shared this moment with the person we lost.

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Resilience in Children: Why Is It Essential? And How Can Parents Promote It?

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Resilience in Children: Why Is It Essential? And How Can Parents Promote It?

If you are the parent of a young child, then you’ve probably already heard of “resilience” or “grit” from articles or podcasts.

Resiliency is all about having the ability to cope when things are challenging.

Whether it’s facing the challenge of an upcoming school project or coping with a family tragedy, resiliency has proven to be invaluable for children.

But why is it essential, and how can parents promote resiliency?

Let’s explore the idea of grit more, and what you can do to teach it to your kids.

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Delayed Grief Reaction: Why You’re Okay One Minute But Not the Next

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Delayed Grief Reaction: Why You’re Okay One Minute But Not the Next

Grief is an inevitable and natural part of life. Everyone will experience it. However, everyone will experience it in their own way.

Grief is an unpredictable process, and that includes when it begins and how long it lasts. It has some standard stages but follows no blueprint. Grief can also sometimes be delayed.

You may undergo a painful loss, yet the waves of sorrow don’t seem to arrive — until they do. It may take weeks or months or even years. It may come and go. You may feel okay one minute and despondent the next.

How Life Coaching Works as a Guide Towards Your Resilience

How Life Coaching Works as a Guide Towards Your Resilience

Resiliency offers us the strength and power to get through life’s challenges. Indeed, it is key to being able to create a purpose in life.

The beautiful thing about learning to be resilient is that there isn’t just one way to get there. Instead, any number of life experiences can lead us toward resiliency. This concept carries over to life coaching. No matter what leads you to find a life coach, they can help you work within that area of your life to build resiliency that carries over to other areas.

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Can You Have Both Autism and ADHD?

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Can You Have Both Autism and ADHD?

Many are now of the mindset that ADHD should actually be categorized as a subset of autism. While that makes sense, it’s important to remember that—while similar—these are two different things happening in the brain.

Autism is characterized by difficulties with social interaction, trouble with communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior(s). While ADHD also has social and communication factors at play, it’s largely categorized by hyperactivity, impulse control issues, and trouble focusing.

But can you have both ADHD and autism at the same time?

Although some like to think of ADHD as a subset of autism, it is definitely possible for someone to have both conditions. Sometimes, the two can even be confused for one another, especially considering how many overlaps there are.

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Does an Age Gap Really Matter? What to Know

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Does an Age Gap Really Matter? What to Know

We see age gaps in adult relationships somewhat frequently. For instance, that silver fox actor has a new, younger wife. Often, age gaps between couples are met with suspicion. But why?

Experts believe the taboo nature of age gaps stems from peoples’ assumption that there is a power imbalance in these relationships. It’s believed that one party is reaping far more benefits than the other or that one party is being taken advantage of. Over time, this has become a sense of appropriateness instilled in our culture and passed down.

While an age gap presents its own unique hurdles in adult relationships, they are not automatically a bad thing, so long as both parties are genuinely interested in each other for the right reasons. Let’s look at some of these hurdles and how you can tell an age gap won’t be a problem.

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How to Know if You Suffer from Social Anxiety and What to Do About It

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How to Know if You Suffer from Social Anxiety and What to Do About It

You’ve probably heard of social anxiety. It’s a term used loosely at times when someone isn’t in the mood to socialize. However, not always being in the mood to socialize is normal. But true social anxiety is much more than that.

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of being judged by others, feeling highly self-conscious in social situations, and avoiding meeting new people. It’s also known as social phobia. Social anxiety disorder makes it hard to create meaningful connections with others. It can even make it hard for people to complete everyday tasks.

Is the Relationship Affected When She’s Smarter Than Him?

Is the Relationship Affected When She’s Smarter Than Him?

It is said that opposites attract. While opposites in romantic relationships can often be helpful, they can also pose a unique set of challenges for both partners.

Successful relationships are achieved through a delicate balance of each partner’s strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits. When the scale is tipped dramatically in one direction, the balance is lost. Many things, such as a strong personality or an overbearing characteristic, can tip the scale.

One factor that will often change the balance and lead to problems in a relationship? Differing intelligence levels.

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Reducing Your Mental Health Symptoms: How Mindfulness Can Make a Difference

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Reducing Your Mental Health Symptoms: How Mindfulness Can Make a Difference

Mindfulness has become a trendy word. Please do not mistake that for a negative. The concept of staying present is a fundamental form of self-care. In the realm of mental health, it has countless benefits for serious practitioners. Practicing mindfulness has been shown to help people struggling with conditions and issues like:

  • Anxiety

  • Chronic pain

  • Depression

  • Addiction

  • Suicidal ideation

More recently, mindfulness is making a difference for those dealing with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since trauma is something that gets you stuck in the past, this approach makes a whole lot of sense. Let’s learn more:

6 Simple Ways to Meet Your Needs and Your New Baby’s Too

6 Simple Ways to Meet Your Needs and Your New Baby’s Too

They may have invented the word “paradox” specifically for this scenario. Your dream has come true. You just had your first baby. Meanwhile… you’ve never felt more stressed or confused in your entire life. How in the world will you balance out all these highs and lows?

You have been tasked with a dual mission. Of course, your top priority is to meet the needs of your new baby. Yet somehow, you cannot and must not neglect your own needs. The goal is not perfection. You won’t always get in right. But, rest assured, you will find ways to make this work.

Time for a New Career or New Trade? 5 Tips for a Smooth Transition

Time for a New Career or New Trade? 5 Tips for a Smooth Transition

It’s not uncommon for someone to change jobs multiple times throughout their lives. Yet, changing careers completely is a different story. However, it’s more common than you might think.

Whether you’re unhappy with your trade or something else has sparked a passion, changing careers can be a good thing. You should be happy and fulfilled in whatever you choose to do. If your current industry isn’t providing you with fulfillment, it’s okay to take a leap. Give yourself permission to try something different.

Still, if you’re considering switching careers, there are a few things to keep in mind.

It can be scary, at first. So, making the transition as smooth as possible is important. With that, let’s cover a few tips for your transition, so you’ll feel confident in your decision and move forward in a new career you love.

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6 Simple Ways to Meet Your Needs and Your New Baby’s Too

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6 Simple Ways to Meet Your Needs and Your New Baby’s Too

They may have invented the word “paradox” specifically for this scenario. Your dream has come true. You just had your first baby. Meanwhile… you’ve never felt more stressed or confused in your entire life. How in the world will you balance out all these highs and lows?

You have been tasked with a dual mission. Of course, your top priority is to meet the needs of your new baby. Yet somehow, you cannot and must not neglect your own needs. The goal is not perfection. You won’t always get in right. But, rest assured, you will find ways to make this work.

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Strategies for Staying Emotionally Healthy During the Divorce Process

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Strategies for Staying Emotionally Healthy During the Divorce Process

Anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of (first) marriages end in divorce. The odds are that you or someone close to you has had to endure this painful experience. Still, let’s be clear, in many cases, a divorce is a traumatic event. Your body, mind, and spirit will be severely challenged. That reality deserves care and attention.

Women, in particular, are at higher risk for depression. Why? They tend to handle the lion’s share of domestic duties and often have fewer financial options than men. For almost every person involved, especially if children are involved, divorce is a time of turmoil and drastic change. That’s why it’s so important to safeguard your well-being as this process plays out.

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3 Tips to Mend a Breach of Trust in Your Marriage and Reconnect

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3 Tips to Mend a Breach of Trust in Your Marriage and Reconnect

Trust is not always an easy thing to build in a relationship. When you trust someone, you feel comfortable, safe, and secure in your individual life and relationship. Though it takes time to build this trust, the sense of security makes it all worthwhile. Because trust is such a delicate thing, it can be detrimental to a relationship when it’s broken. Many couples struggle to reestablish trust in their relationship once a breach occurs and ultimately choose to go their separate ways.

While a breach of trust can be difficult to work through, it doesn’t mean that your relationship is doomed. If you want to make your relationship work after a breach of trust, there are three keys to focus on to help reconnect and reestablish trust.

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Talking About Puberty: The Most Important Topics to Review with Your Child

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Talking About Puberty: The Most Important Topics to Review with Your Child

As with so many things, talking about puberty with your kids is essential to do ahead of time. It’s all too easy to put it off or avoid talking about it altogether.

But your kids are never too young for simple, age-appropriate discussions about their bodies. Like it or not, kids often begin hearing about sex from classmates in early elementary school.

Even if you feel awkward, introducing necessary physiological information when they’re toddlers and preschoolers builds a foundation for the future.

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Exploring These 3 Types of Emotional Burnout

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Exploring These 3 Types of Emotional Burnout

We’re often more tuned into bodily sensations than emotional cues. No one needs to tell you when you feel exhausted. You’ll probably take a break a sit down long before anyone comments. But emotional burnout is trickier. You can feel mentally worn out but not recognize yourself as such.

Burnout is often in response to factors at work, school, or in your personal life (or all three). Other elements at play could be related to your finances or physical health issues. When going through major life changes, you are especially at risk for emotional burnout in all its guises.

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What is “Financial Baggage”? And How Can a Financial Therapist Help?

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What is “Financial Baggage”? And How Can a Financial Therapist Help?

Money isn’t just about numbers. It can sometimes be all about emotions. A recent survey reported that 74 percent of respondents feel their debt has a negative impact on their mental health. Another study found a 300 percent increase in mental health problems among people who are in debt.

Money is a very personal issue. We each see it differently and we each hold different values towards our finances. What those values are may depend on, for example:

  • Cultural background

  • Upbringing

  • Educational level

  • Career choices

If our financial values do not match up with our current financial situation, it becomes a struggle. Most likely, no one has taught us how to cope with this struggle. This creates “financial baggage.”

What is “Financial Baggage”?

In a way, financial baggage exposes our relationship with money. In financial-based situations, we may feel certain emotions and/or memories rising to the surface. More generally, we may recognize patterns developing around economic issues. These patterns develop into what we call financial baggage and may include variations on themes like:

  • Spending as a form of self-soothing

  • Spending impulsively and spending money as soon as you get it

  • Hoarding money

  • Fixation and regret related to past financial decisions

  • Continuing to make the same decisions despite your regret

  • Ignoring bills

  • Relationship fights surround different money values

As you can plainly see, financial baggage can get us stuck in ever-repeating cycles. Also, of course, it can land us deep in debt without the skills needed to turn things around. Thankfully, we have the emerging field of financial therapy — a blend of economics and mental health.

What is a Financial Therapist?

We’re not talking about a financial advisor here. A financial therapist is not giving financial advice but rather, helping us discover why we make the money-based choice we do. After all, before we can create a new budget, we must create a new mindset.

Sessions with a financial therapist provide us with a safe space. While money topics may typically lead us into despair, anxiety, or denial, financial therapy helps us understand these reactions and emotions.

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What to Do If the Pandemic Brought Key Relationship Problems to Your Attention

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What to Do If the Pandemic Brought Key Relationship Problems to Your Attention

When the pandemic started, most of the focus was on the victims of the virus. Time passed and lockdowns ensued. We then talked more and more about other forms of fallout. From economic crises to political division, the collateral damage spread. Now, here we are, well over a year later.

Assessing the cost of Covid-related actions has expanded into the realm of our collective emotional health. More specifically, months of uncertainty put some major stress on all of our relationships. Many of us are realizing that the pandemic pressure we endured brought some deeper relationship issues bubbling to the surface.