Recently I read an article by the CEO of Korn Ferry, Gary Burnison, about how to define grace. He sees it as the goodwill of people who help others. During the past year, and before, as we all struggled with the COVID epidemic, there were many examples of people who cared for others, helped them physically and lifted their spirits emotionally. Just think about the people who hung out of the windows of buildings in New York City and cheered for health care workers and first responders. Or the … [Read more...]
Sleep & Our Immune System
October 28, 2021 By
Because of the COVID pandemic, there is a lot of conversation about how strong people’s immune systems are, and who may be “immune-compromised.” While that is important, what a lot of people ignore even during more normal times is the relationship between sleep and immunity. One of the key elements in helping your immune system function well is sleep. Sleep is not just a way that we rest and heal emotionally from our day. It is also the time that our bodies produce white blood cells (T-cells) … [Read more...]
OCD and the Covid-19 Pandemic
September 28, 2021 By
People with OCD have unwanted recurring thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors. They are not just quirky or eccentric. They are suffering from a highly upsetting condition that triggers a great deal of anxiety and can be time-consuming in its behaviors. At the beginning of the pandemic, people with OCD often felt worse as they feared there were germs everywhere. Others found that their taboo thoughts about sexuality or religion increased. Those with rituals of counting or checking may … [Read more...]
The Importance of Feedback
August 10, 2021 By
Whether you are talking to a friend, dealing with family, or buying something in a store, feedback is important. If someone has done something nice for you, feedback is a positive reinforcement. If your expectations have been disappointed, sharing your feelings can help the other person do better in the future. Even as a psychologist, it is important to have feedback. I tell all of my new clients that if they are comfortable with me, we will set goals for therapy together. But if they are … [Read more...]
Stuck in My Anxiety
June 28, 2021 By
Many people are still struggling with the anxiety that began for them with the onset of the COVICD 19 pandemic. Even though the pandemic is under much better control, masks are no longer required everywhere, and people are returning to work in person, for some folks their anxiety is lingering like an unwanted guest. Like a COVID-induced PTSD. Like a cloak of worry that won’t go away. It is hard to get back in the swing of commuting, sitting in an office, and being around a lot of people? It … [Read more...]