Deep breathing is a foundational skill for most other relaxation exercises. And, for many people, it can be an effective coping skill on its own. Why is Deep Breathing Important? Many difficult emotions also have a body response that changes our breathing. Anxious worry or panic can cause fast, shallow breaths that make us feel…[Read More]
Mental Health
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise
What is Grounding? From a mental health perspective, grounding is the process of refocusing your attention on the present moment, your here-and-now reality. Grounding techniques, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise described below, can help to create space from distressing thoughts or emotions. Grounding is a self-soothing skill, that is, something you can do to…[Read More]
Psychiatry: More than Medication Management
If I asked you to create a scene in your mind of a session with a psychiatry provider (psychiatrist or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner), how would it look? Would the provider ask a few questions about your main mental health symptoms and write a prescription? Would the follow-up visits involve nothing more than asking…[Read More]
Can’t Sit Still: Is it ADHD or Something Else?
Do you feel so restless you can’t sit still? Do you constantly fidget or need to move around? Maybe you can’t enjoy quiet time or you are always “on the go.” Or perhaps you struggle to wait your turn or have had others call you “hyperactive. These are all possible symptoms of ADHD: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder….[Read More]
Can’t Concentrate: Is it ADHD or Something Else?
Have you found that you can’t concentrate at work or school? Does your mind wander or are you easily distracted? Maybe it takes so much effort to pay attention to the task in front of you. Or perhaps you constantly forget appointments, miss deadlines, or misplace important items. Focus is a problem. These are all…[Read More]
How to Forgive Yourself
Having close relationships with other people is beneficial for our emotional, mental, and even physical health. However, personal relationships can also involve hurt, pain, and betrayal. Sometimes we are on the receiving end of that pain because of something hurtful done by a friend, family member, or partner. Other times we are the ones who…[Read More]