Stress & Anxiety

How Learn to Live Delivers CBT: Part 6 Many times we hear "Don't even think about that!" This is to avoid a bad thing happening or feeling troubled. But we know thinking something does not make it happen. That is magical thinking.  In fact, the opposite is true. Thinking about what we fear can help us become unafraid. This is called imaginal exposure. With it, we think on purpose about things we worry about happening. Some people have used virtual reality to help imagine feared things. Research shows imagining bad outcomes can sometimes work as well as virtual reality.  We…

Going back to school can be stressful for parents. You have a lot to do, like buying supplies, clothes, and signing kids up for activities. Getting the schedule organized for the family can be hard too. Saying bye to the kids at the start of the school year can bring up many feelings, from excited to sad. It's important for parents to take care of themselves to lower stress for everyone during back to school. Here are some tips to help parents right now: Plan ahead: Start getting ready early to avoid last minute stress. Make checklists and prioritize tasks…

How Learn to Live Delivers CBT: Part 5 If you fall off the horse, you better get right back on that horse.  Why do they say that anyway? Have you ever actually fallen off a horse? I have many times. Sometimes it really hurts. But the reason to get back on that horse is because, once you start avoiding that horse, you risk a lifetime of continuing to fear the horse. I also like to say that if it's a little too scary to immediately get on that horse, you might want to at least try getting on a smaller…

The Journey of Infertility It is no secret that the journey to motherhood is hard. But what happens if you can’t get pregnant in the first place? Those who struggle with infertility must face this reality. Infertility is defined by the World Health organization (WHO) as not being able to become pregnant after 12 or more months of trying without using birth control.   Infertility sets you on a new journey. There is grief and sadness over not being able to get pregnant, and failed IVF treatments. There is frustration that you have been trying for many months. Anger that you…

Providing care and support to loved ones is a big job. And according to Institute on Aging, 75% of caregivers are women.   As people get older and experience declining health, the need for a caregiver increases. This work is hard and it’s usually unpaid. According to the AARP, about 41 million caregivers provide unpaid care in the United States. The burden of caring for an ill family member or friend can lead to the following:  Emotional stress.  Lost income.  Physical tiredness from providing daily care.  Feelings of loneliness and depression.  Adding Mental Health Support with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Apply the…

It’s hard to quit smoking, but it is one of the best things you can do for your health. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. It also causes a lot of health problems like lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. If you're ready to quit smoking, here are some steps you can take:  Set a quit date: Pick a date and commit to it. Use this date as motivation to prepare yourself mentally for the challenge. Take the time you need to make changes in your life that make it easier to quit.  Make a plan: Choose…