Professional Wellness Counseling, PLLC.
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It’s almost time for thanksgiving. Are you ready for the same old thanksgiving? Maybe you’re a member of one of those families that don’t struggle, have no black sheep, and never raise their voices. Then there’s the rest of us. Wouldn’t you like this thanksgiving to be the best thanksgiving ever? Well, it can be. […]
It’s almost time for thanksgiving. Are you ready for the same old thanksgiving? Maybe you’re a member of one of those families that don’t struggle, have no black sheep, and never raise their voices. Then there’s the rest of us. Wouldn’t you like this thanksgiving to be the best thanksgiving ever? Well, it can be. Here are some suggestions on how.
In such a contentious election year, people are more divided than ever before. Talking politics is something many are not thankful for. Therefore, agreeing to steer clear of politics might be in everyone’s best interest.
For some, Thanksgiving is synonymous with overeating. This is not a good thing. Eat smaller portions. Save some for later. Don’t overdo it.
Perhaps this is the motto of a healthy person. As Americans, we’ve been trained to supersize. However, maybe in regards to Thanksgiving, less is more. Go small. Less food. Less people. More wellness. Living simply is one of the keys to wellness for some people.
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy family. Admittedly, not everyone’s family is enjoyable. Some families are great. Others, not so much. Look for areas of common ground. Find and focus on those. Leave the rest.
Set healthy boundaries. Know when to say no. No to unwanted interactions, No to politics(yes, again). No to contentious conversations. Conversely, say yes to self-care.
A football or basketball team sometimes needs a time out to regroup. Sometimes we do too. And timeouts are not just for children. Take a time out if there is conflict and withdraw and take a break. Time outs are good if there are unwanted interactions or situations. You can use a timeout to be by yourself or do some solitary activity to redirect yourself.
For this to be the best thanksgiving ever, you have to do things in a different way. Click here for an article on developing habits of thanksgiving.
If you asked any of us a year ago what would life be like in 2020, it’s doubtful anyone would have guessed we’d be going through a global pandemic, replete with lockdowns and self-quarantining. At the beginning of the year, some families might have thought of being forced to stay home from work and school […]
If you asked any of us a year ago what would life be like in 2020, it’s doubtful anyone would have guessed we’d be going through a global pandemic, replete with lockdowns and self-quarantining. At the beginning of the year, some families might have thought of being forced to stay home from work and school would be a fun little vacation. But as the weeks and months have passed, we’ve all learned this has been anything but fun. Therefore, the family impact of COVID-19 has been dramatic.
But how is COVID affecting families? Well, it affects parents and kids and spouses a little differently.
Kids haven’t enjoyed the time off nearly as much as we all initially thought. Disruption to normal routines caused many teens and adolescents to feel anxiety. Add to this being away from their friends, and many young people are also feeling depressed.
Summer vacation for many this year wasn’t as fun as normal. Travel has been next to impossible for some families in certain states. Cancellations of sports events occurred. Boredom has set in for many kids, which has led to a lot of acting out and showing mood swings.
The pandemic has also negatively impacted those youths already suffering from a mental health issue. An example of this is those on the autism spectrum. For many of these kids, a disruption of routine combined with the cancellation of speech therapy sessions has stalled their progress and caused anxiety.
With some schools opening and some only offering online classes, life is still not back to normal and many kids are simply not able to deal with this crisis any longer.
Parents have, without question, been hit hard by the pandemic. With forced school closures, many parents have had to learn how to home school while also learn how to get used to the “new normal” of working from home.
As if that wasn’t enough, parents have also had to become mental health therapists, helping their children navigate through the fear, anxiety, and depression they are experiencing.
Quarantining and self-isolation have definitely impacted our familial and romantic relationships. When you are locked in a house with your family, things get chaotic and, well, everyone gets on each other’s nerves. Now forced to live on top of one another, and enduring financial hardships, worrying about health, and educating and organizing the children—just going grocery shopping can add a layer of stress.
Many couples may already have relationship issues under the surface. These couples may find the sudden and intense stress has brought these issues to the surface. This can be a turning point for many relationships. They may ask themselves “will this current crisis bring us closer or finally drive us apart?”
Without question, we are all living under an intense amount of stress. This stress is affecting us all in different ways. If you and your family aren’t able to handle the stress any longer, it’s important that you reach out and get some help from a family counselor. Most therapists are offering telehealth services, which means you can get the benefits of therapy right over the internet. IN conclusion, there are options for those struggling with the family impact of COVID-19.
If you’d like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me. I’d be more than happy to discuss how I may be able to help. To contact me click here.
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