susanh – Stop Stress & Anxiety

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Mental Fitness: Outwitting the Inner Critic

susanhNovember 8, 2013 13 Views

Have you ever wondered why you can be so determined to do something and then fail so miserably? We’ve all experienced it. Perhaps you’ve been trying to lose 20 pounds for the last five years (unsuccessfully) or you have been wanting to change a particular habit. So you sincerely make up your mind to do it. Yet, every time, you self-sabotage and wind up quitting far short of success. Well, there are certainly a lot of reasons that contribute to …

1 min read

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Food for Thought

susanhNovember 8, 2013 15 Views

I was reminded recently that contrast is everything and too much of anything breeds contempt at worst and complacency at best. At the risk of sounding very old fashion, doing without is one of the best ways to reinvigorate our appreciation for just about anything. The problem is that most Americans have far too many luxuries (items beyond basic needs) compared to …

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Lost: Ode to All Veterans

susanhNovember 8, 2013 14 Views

As part of my clinical internship, I worked with veterans. I was overwhelmed at the intensity of pain and suffering that these men and women endured as part of their service to our country, both during their tours of duty and for month, years, and for some, during their entire lifetimes following discharge. I was so moved and touched by their struggles that the following piece …

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How Do I Find Happiness: Avoiding the Human “Race”

susanhNovember 6, 2012 16 Views

How do I find happiness? Good question. I think a lot of folks would like a solid answer to this question. There are so many different aspects to happiness that I think we can more easily define unhappiness than happiness. But for today, let’s think more about contentment, which is just one aspect of what I think of as a happy state of existence. So, if…

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How Do I Get Out of This Depression: Don’t Let Anyone Tell You That You Can’t

susanhNovember 6, 2012 16 Views

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xcZTtlGweQ The Pursuit of Happyness is a great movie. It reminds us what we already know…that life can be hard and truly is hard for a lot of people. It is a good depiction of why and how people can get mired down with life, wondering how do I get out of this depression now? But I particularly love the message that we must never, never, never give up on our dreams. Too many times in life, we let people tell…

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How Do I Change Me: Change Can Be Hard…But the Promise Land Awaits

susanhNovember 6, 2012 14 Views

I often hear very frustrated people ask, “How do I change me?“ The best answer: slowly… No one should ever forget that change is hard. Giving up the familiar in favor of the unknown is probably one of the greatest feats that humans ever perform. But what is often overlooked is that …

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What Are Eating Disorders: The Fate of Self-Esteem

susanhNovember 6, 2012 15 Views

Melissa H. Smith, PhD Dr. Smith commented in an Ezine article: “During a session with a client who has long suffered with an eating disorder I was discussing what it would be like if she could feel positive about herself. I was shocked with the response she gave me. Instead of reporting a desire to feel better about herself, this client laughed at me and retorted, ‘Self-esteem is laughable to me. I hope to be rid of the disturbing behaviors of the eating disorder, but I know it’s asking too much to like myself…

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How Do I Get Out of This Depression: Take the Optimist Creed

susanhNovember 6, 2012 13 Views

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hIIT_wGUqc This is a nice little video with a great message: taking an optimistic approach to life can change your thoughts, beliefs and emotions. This is turn can lead to amazing changes in your life. But what is optimism? To be an optimist, you have to learn to expect the best outcome…even in difficult circumstances. It is to enthusiastically embrace hope and drag it along with …

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Why Gratitude: Because It Boosts Your Immune System!

susanhNovember 6, 2012 16 Views

Ahhhh…thank you Why gratitude? Did you know that spending as little as five minutes being grateful or focusing on someone that you love can boost your immune system for the rest of the day? Conversely, spending five minutes in an angry state can lower the immune response for the rest of the day? Our thoughts and emotions are very powerful agents in our body. We need to learn to use…

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How Could I Change My Life: By Ignoring the Chatter

susanhNovember 6, 2012 15 Views

Oh God…Oh God…I just thought we could be friends It is so interesting to me how our mind is such a major battlefield. And I’m sure you all know what I mean: the relentless chatter that goes on in our heads all the time. It wouldn’t be so bad if the chatter pronounced good upon us…but no, the chatter is primarily negative for most people. Like, “That was stupid – why did you do that?” or “You’ll never be able…

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Quotes of Note: Why a Challenge is Not Just a Challenge

susanhNovember 6, 2012 15 Views

To joy in the dance, even when the dance has forever changed… Do you suffer with low frustration tolerance, meaning that things “get under your skin” easily and quickly? Then you may benefit from this thought from American historian and musician, Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942): “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” So, if you find yourself frustrated to the point of breaking, remember that every life challenge presented to …

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What Are Eating Disorders: Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Eating Disorders

susanhNovember 6, 2012 15 Views

Melissa H. Smith, PhD Does low self-esteem put someone at risk for the development of an eating disorder? This is a good question and Dr. Melissa Smith addresses this issue. Here is an excerpt from her article: (Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7300502) “Anyone working with women with disordered eating recognizes that self-esteem is intricately connected, however just how the two are related is not entirely well-defined. Inevitably, any discussion of eating …

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How Do I Change Me: Developing an Open Heart

susanhNovember 6, 2012 13 Views

She won't notice if I just take this one… I meet a lot of unhappy people. People who are frustrated with their own behavior and keep asking the question, “How do I change me?” It is one thing to recognize you need to change something, but another thing entirely to make it through the process of change. Although there are many keys involved in the change process, I want to focus…

1 min read