It's been longer than I would like since my last blog entry. I apologize for this, life got pretty busy for me. In thinking of what I could write about today, I was reminded of how often we hear some sort of criticism in our lives--constructive or the other kind--and how tough of a time … Continue reading Three simple steps for dealing with criticism
What to do when you worry too much, part 2
There are lots of techniques out there to control and manage our anxiety and worry. I'll list three more that have been shown to help you to relax, and/or function effectively in spite of your anxiety. Progressive Muscle Relaxation Some of you have heard of this before. This is a technique developed by Dr. Edmund … Continue reading What to do when you worry too much, part 2
What to do when you worry too much, Part I
It happens to all of us: life gets stressful sometimes. Many of my clients will tell me their mind "won't shut down" or it keeps "going in circles." This can interfere with our work, with our sleep, and can leave us feeling either keyed up or exhausted a lot of the time. Sometimes distracting ourselves … Continue reading What to do when you worry too much, Part I
4 Steps for Beating the Winter Blues
To most of us in the Northern Hemisphere, October is the time of year when the days are getting shorter, the nights longer, and the weather colder. For many of us those cloudy, chilly days are more than just an inconvenience or a reminder to winterize our house. Like Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder … Continue reading 4 Steps for Beating the Winter Blues
How to choose good self-help resources, pt 3
“In recent years, more Americans will seek mental health information from the Internet or attend a self-help group than will consult all mental health professionals combined. Self-help is, frankly, big business. According to recent market research, Americans spend an estimated $10 billion a year on self-improvement products!” I'm writing the same quote on all three … Continue reading How to choose good self-help resources, pt 3
How to choose good self-help resources, pt 2
"In recent years, more Americans will seek mental health information from the Internet or attend a self-help group than will consult all mental health professionals combined. Self-help is, frankly, big business. According to recent market research, Americans spend an estimated $10 billion a year on self-improvement products!" That's how I started my last post. Today … Continue reading How to choose good self-help resources, pt 2
How to choose good self-help resources
In recent years, more Americans will seek mental health information from the Internet or attend a self-help group than will consult all mental health professionals combined. Self-help is, frankly, big business. According to recent market research, Americans spend an estimated $10 billion a year on self-improvement products! While it is big business, it's not always … Continue reading How to choose good self-help resources
Breathing Skills for Panic Attacks, part 3
Here we are in part three! Hopefully by now you'll have been practicing regularly, and have an increased ability to breathe correctly in a way that can be applied during periods of anxiety or panic. Now that you're able to breathe at a slower rate, it's time to practice in a variety of places, not … Continue reading Breathing Skills for Panic Attacks, part 3
Breathing Skills for Panic Attacks, part 2
Last time I discussed a basic breathing skill. Let me ask some questions of you: Did you feel like you were getting the air down toward your stomach? This is what diaphragm breathing feels like Are you getting symptoms of anxiety when you practice? If you do, it's probably due to breathing a little fast … Continue reading Breathing Skills for Panic Attacks, part 2
Breathing skills for panic attacks, part 1
As I've noted before, panic attacks can be pretty awful. What most people don't know (or don't believe) is that panic attacks are not actually harmful. This is why the first stage of counseling or therapy is focused on education about what panic attacks are, what can cause them, what they do and what they … Continue reading Breathing skills for panic attacks, part 1
Jason Chastain, psychotherapist 