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Supporting Children and Teens with Germaphobia During Cold and Flu Season
As the cold and flu season rolls in, many children and teens are grappling with heightened anxiety about germs and illness. While it’s completely normal for kids to worry about catching a cold or the flu, some may experience a level of fear or obsession about germs that goes beyond the occasional sniffle. This fear, often known as “germaphobia,” can create significant distress and impact daily life, particularly when kids begin avoiding social situations, school, or even touching everyday objects due to fears of contamination.
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Navigating the New Political Climate: Embracing Differing Opinions with Respect and Positivity
In today's increasingly polarized political climate, engaging with differing opinions has become a delicate art. With social media amplifying divisive rhetoric and ideologies becoming more entrenched, finding ways to engage in productive conversations is essential for both personal growth and fostering a healthier society. This blog explores how to deal with differing opinions positively, emphasizing respect, empathy, and active listening.
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Helping Your College Student Navigate Stress During Finals Week
Finals week can be one of the most stressful times for college students. Between the pressure of exams, final projects, and the constant worry about grades, it's easy for students to feel overwhelmed. As a parent, you may not be able to take the exams for them, but you can provide critical support.
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The Benefits of Green and Blue Spaces for Overall Wellbeing
Within the last decade, there has been an increase of research on the role of green and blue spaces for individual’s overall wellbeing, and for the reducing of depression and anxiety symptoms.
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Understanding and Supporting Children with Emetophobia: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Emetophobia, the intense fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit, can significantly impact a child's quality of life. Though less frequently discussed compared to other anxieties, this phobia is not uncommon and can lead to severe distress. Understanding this condition and knowing how to provide effective support can make a crucial difference in a child's well-being.
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Helping Anxious Children Prepare for a New School Year
As summer winds down and a new school year approaches, many parents face the challenge of helping their anxious children transition smoothly back into the school routine. For children with anxiety, this transition can be particularly daunting, but with the right strategies, parents can make a significant difference.
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Coping with the Loss of a Beloved Animal Companion
Coping with the loss of an animal is a personal and emotional journey, and while the process is different for everyone, there are some universal strategies that can help one navigate through the grief.
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Navigating the Summertime Blues: Self-Care Tips as Summer Comes to an End
As summer winds down and the days start to shorten, many people experience a shift in mood that can be described as the "summertime blues." This phenomenon often occurs when the excitement of summer wanes and the transition to fall begins.
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Be Kind...To Yourself!
Google kindness and you will find a plethora of quotes from the greats such as Maya Angelou, Mark Twain and many other recognizable names. My guess is that when you read quotes such as these, or words of wisdom from the Bible, you are thinking about the kindness you would like to show to others.
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Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships and Marriages
Boundaries are the invisible lines that define what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a relationship. They serve as guidelines that protect each partner’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being (Russo, Ollier-Malaterre, Kossek, & Ohana, 2018).
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Mental Health and the Middle of Summer: Preparing Children and Adolescents for the New School Year
Summer is a time typically associated with relaxation and freedom, yet it can also be a period of stress, especially as the school year approaches. The contrast between the leisurely pace of summer and the demands of school can sometimes lead to anxiety or reluctance among children and adolescents (Miller, 2021).
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Breaking Unhealthy Thought Patterns
In this article we will focus on ten common unhelpful thinking styles/cognitive distortions. While reading, notice if any of these thinking patterns seem familiar to your line of thinking.
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Raising Awareness for Mental Health
Mental health awareness has become increasingly important as more people recognize the significant impact mental well-being has on overall health and quality of life. Despite this growing recognition, there remains a substantial stigma surrounding mental health issues, making it crucial to find effective ways to raise awareness, promote understanding, and encourage support.
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Unraveling Stories: The Power of Narrative Family Therapy
The family environment plays a crucial part in shaping our experiences, beliefs, behaviors, and overall well-being thereby impacting our contributions to others and society. A family’s values, beliefs, traditions, memories, and cultural heritage shape the legacy that families contribute to each generation.
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Ensuring Long-Term Stability: Preventing Relapse from Psychosis
Whether you or someone you know has experienced psychosis, preventing relapse is crucial for long-term stability and well-being. Here, we explore effective strategies supported by research to help ensure a lack of relapse from psychosis.
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What to Expect After Psychosis: Reintegrating into Day-to-Day Life
Experiencing psychosis can be a profoundly disruptive experience, impacting both individuals and their support networks. After the acute phase subsides, navigating the journey back to everyday life requires patience, support, and a structured approach.
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Overcoming Stigma and Promoting Mental Health Awareness
Stigma around mental health often stems from misinformation, stereotypes, and fear. It manifests in various forms, including public stigma (societal attitudes and discrimination), self-stigma (internalized negative beliefs), and institutional stigma (policies that disadvantage individuals with mental health issues). These stigmas can lead to isolation, reduced opportunities, and reluctance to seek help.
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Summer: The Longest Days of the Year = Less Sleep
You’ve probably heard of “the lazy days of summer”…but, are they really? Sure, there are no school schedules to keep, homework is a thing of the past, vacations abound, but with these fun activities you may find yourself staying up later to enjoy the longer days and rising with the first rays of light as the birds sing outside your window.