Quieting Your Inner Critic

    One may think that all eyes are on us when we’re out and about. We may hear an acquaintance say “Look at what she’s wearing today!” Comments like this may be normal but, ultimately, we are our own worst critic and it is vital that we not take it to heart. Recently I read an article in the New York Times titled Learn to Quiet Your Inner Critic by Christina Caron and in today’s day and age it couldn’t be more relevant.     Inner criticism stems from our constant want, not need, to be … [Read more...]

Understanding Postpartum Depression (PPD)

For most women, bringing home their new baby is one of the happiest days of their lives.  But research shows that about one in eight new mothers struggle with postpartum depression and that the statistic climbed as high as one in three during the COVID pandemic.  The mood swings that most new moms experience usually subside within the first month after giving birth, but for mothers with postpartum depression negative emotions and trouble bonding with the baby can go on for a long … [Read more...]

Helping Adults Cultivate Healthy Friendships

A recent article in the Washington Post by Ana Homayoun (https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../skills-friendship.../) laid out some rules to help parents encourage their children to develop good relationships with their peers. As I read it, I realized that the guidelines she laid out could also apply to adults. Why, you might ask, am I concerned about adults making friends? After all, don’t we already have them? Well, just like with children for whom making friends is a developmental task, as we … [Read more...]

Mindful Eating

You have gotten thru the holidays and have determined that you will not get on the scale. You know that your jeans are tight and that is enough to cause you to beat yourself up! This happens every year at the end of December and you also know that making a New Year’s resolution to go on a diet is the wrong thing to do, because it is just one more factor that pressures you to lose weight and eat healthily. And it will not work! The other day, I was going through my emails and didn’t even … [Read more...]

Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? For most of us, that is no surprise at this time of year. From Halloween thru Thanksgiving, and then on to the commercial overload of holiday parties and shopping, I hear more about the stresses of the holidays than the joy of them. People feel the need to entertain, plan vacations, buy gifts, cook, and bake, and on top of that – see family! But if you are at your wit's end, and can’t even see that last item on your “to-do” list, try some of the … [Read more...]