Recently I met with a young man, a professional in a scientific field, who was concerned that his shyness and introversion were hurting him in his profession. Even in a field where hard data is analyzed and replicated, he felt that his personality or ”nature”, as he described it, was hurting him. He preferred to listen and observe in meetings rather than fight for air time to speak. He was not the first one to propose ideas or champion his own projects. As a result, he got negative … [Read more...]
Can You Bounce Back? (Part 2)
May 10, 2016 By
What are some other things that can add to our ability to bounce back? 1. Go into difficult situations as prepared as possible. Think about what can go wrong and try to have a plan for how to deal with it. 2. Be prepared to stick it out. No matter how difficult things get, if you commit for the long haul, you will be less likely to want to quit. T. This is referred to as having “grit.” 3. See some of the positive aspects of stress instead of the things that are hard about it. It can be … [Read more...]
Discover Your Passion and Improve Your Mental Health
August 20, 2014 By
What role does passion play in our lives? It’s a question I’ve given much thought to lately. I recently had the pleasure of meeting a professional book reviewer and writer at a dinner with friends. It was wonderful to sit and talk with someone who shared my love for reading, and our conversation reminded me of the importance of having a passion and how it brings great meaning to our lives. A passion is something you want to dig into more deeply. It doesn’t matter if the passion … [Read more...]
Practical Tips for Beating Winter Depression
January 6, 2014 By
New Jersey’s winter weather may have us in its grips and, for some people, the darker days hold on strong with symptoms of depression. Diagnosed by clinical psychologists and psychiatrists as Major Depressive Disorder with seasonal pattern, this form of depression is often referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The usual characteristics of SAD include depression, social withdrawal, lethargy, hopelessness, and lack of interest in normal activities. You may also experience difficulty … [Read more...]
Cognitive Therapy: Taking Control of Your Negative Thoughts and Feelings
September 18, 2013 By
Maybe a few of these situations sound familiar? Does bad luck creep into your life often? Do you find it hard to shake off a passing comment from a friend? Do you frequently anticipate aggravating conversations with coworkers? Are you physically tired due to a lack of sleep from feeling depressed and anxious? Do you overreact when your child misbehaves? Your frustrations and feelings of sadness, anger, and anxiousness may seem uncontrollable, but did you know that you could learn tools … [Read more...]