Although it is my belief that therapy should be a mandatory requirement for all school-age children and their parents, I am readily aware that this could be an idealistic belief. Like adults, children can greatly benefit from having an objective and empathic listener to help mentor and provide them with direction. Most children face problems… Read more »
Feeling anxious or having episodes of anxiety can be very overwhelming and debilitating; yet struggling with daily anxiety is a common issue for many people. Fortunately, there are many simple, natural approaches to reducing anxiety. One of the simplest – and a necessary fundamental treatment – is a healthy diet as dietary choices can either… Read more »
The holiday season is supposed to be a joyous and fun-filled time surrounded by beloved family and friends who gather to reminisce, catch up the last year’s events and pass on childhood traditions that are held dear. This is the idealistic view held by many, yet there are many people who wish they could sleep… Read more »
It was once thought that the term “post-traumatic stress” (PTS) was reserved exclusively for military personnel and veterans. More and more often, however, we are hearing the term used for many others— from women and children, to our friends and acquaintances. PTS not only occurs on the battlefield, but also in our communities and homes.… Read more »
We all know the holiday season can be very stressful, particularly on parents of young children. Even the youngest children can feel the strains of the season. The Growing Healthy Minds initiative, part of First 5 Riverside’s commitment to the county’s youngest children and their families, offers help with resources, support and services to promote… Read more »
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism as it is generally termed, is a group of complex brain disorders in development with various severity levels and conditions. The Centers for Disease Control reported that 1 in 68 children have some form of Autism.1 This is a 10-fold increase over 40 years ago. This skyrocketing statistic has… Read more »
Being a teen can be challenging, especially when you consider outside influences such as magazine covers and the desire to fit in with peers. Building on the success of a program she taught at the University of British Columbia, local yoga instructor Susan Alexander has developed a workshop for teens and tweens to address issues… Read more »
Last November I had the privilege of working on Homeward Bound, a national fundraising telethon presented by Haven from the Storm Foundation that supports military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury. Programs and organizations like these are vital, as the incidence of PTSD among our military veterans is truly alarming. Recent… Read more »
Mariel Hemingway knows balance. The Academy Award-nominated actress continues to pursue her career, while also succeeding as a health activist and author, eco-enthusiast, executive producer, and a loving mother of two grown daughters. Getting to the “best place in her life” took hard work and much conscious thought. She is an inspiration to many and… Read more »
One of life’s most devastating traumas is finding out that one’s partner has had an affair. It is probably the most painful and hurtful experience one can go through in a marriage or committed relationship. The one person you placed your trust in above all others, and whose love on which you relied, has destroyed… Read more »
We know that stress can be detrimental to adult health, but what about children? Significant research now suggests that American children are indeed experiencing stress at new levels: suicides among adolescents have quadrupled since the 1950s; only 36 percent of 7th graders agreed with the statement “I am happy with my life“; and in the… Read more »
For many, the holiday season is full of cheer and memorable experiences. However, for others, the holiday season can bring stress and anxiety due to financial and social obligations, or the memories from years gone by. Many seniors are adversely affected by the rituals of the holiday season. It may be something as simple as… Read more »
When the audience at CVEP’s recent small business gathering were asked, “how many of you can identify stress?” only 5% raised their hand. It quickly became apparent that the first step in managing stress is being able to identify it. “Our cars tell us when the gas is low, but people aren’t born with dashboards,”… Read more »
The holidays are over, and this time of year can be very difficult for those who are experiencing loss-the loss of friends, family members, pets and even physical health. They may be experiencing an emotional rollercoaster with feelings of sadness, loneliness, emptiness and anxiety. Grief is a normal, highly personal response to loss. Some may… Read more »
When you think of summer, what comes to mind? Vacations and getaways… hiking in the mountains…or enjoying a relaxing day by the pool? For many, these are common summer time activities. But for some individuals — especially seniors 65 and older — summer in the desert can be a very isolated time that triggers a… Read more »
Today, we live in a world where stress erodes every facet of our lives. When stress becomes chronic, we are susceptible to a myriad of stress-related disorders, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), migraines, sleep disorders, depression, and chronic pain.[sup]1[/sup] In some cases, these illnesses can… Read more »
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. While everyone around you is busy .. celebrating the holidays, you can’t wait for them to be over. Here are a few recommendations to help ease the pain: Don’t expect that you’ll have the same amount of… Read more »
The power of the breath and its central role in health and longevity was something that the ancient Taoists verified more than 2,500 years ago. Now, centuries later, we know that breathing plays a very powerful role in energizing and detoxifying the body, and reducing the levels of pernicious, destructive stress. In our normal, everyday… Read more »
A book review by Nancy Laytham-Jorgensen Dr. Martin Seligman’s Authentic Happiness Do you believe that happiness is something that just “happens” to you? That something good needs to happen to you, to make you happy? Dr. Martin Seligman’s book, Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology, to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment, provides evidence… Read more »
Whether or not you are a veteran, if you are dealing with a traumatic event that threatened your life and are experiencing intrusive memories propelling your mind back to that event (flashbacks), you are probably suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By definition, PTSD is a condition involving an impairment of the stress response,… Read more »
