It’s no secret that teens have been hit hard by the Country’s prolonged shutdown.
Just as their biology is pulling them out into the world, a virus has shut them in.
To my surprise, giggles met me as I came into the living room from my home office a few weeks ago. Hearing my middle school daughters laugh during online classes is rare, and it made me immediately curious. Then I realized the giggles weren’t because of class. They were on a 10-minute break and tuned in to one of the many, many, humorous videos produced by their favorite K-pop boyband, BTS — a worldwide sensation, in case you haven’t heard.
They might’ve been watching the band’s handsome young men dressed in funny costumes while performing one of their awesomely crisp dances, or perhaps seeing these same artistic athletes eagerly slurping ramen, or just being the captivating young men that they are (yes, I’m a bit of a fan too). Almost no matter what the band members are doing, it is an emotional salve for my daughters, and they laugh like crazy with each clip. Sometimes my cheeks ache from smiling too hard as I watch my girls watching those charismatic boys.
My older daughter, who is normally easygoing and affable, came to me a few months ago and said she thought she might be getting depressed. I took her seriously. As a mental health professional, I knew I would first support her in several lifestyle changes, and then if she continued to feel internally shaky, I’d find her a therapist. Keep Reading on medium.com…
In case you haven’t heard, the British monarchy has a new outpost in LA, and I think Trauma has a role in this relocation.
Let’s take a very brief look at Harry’s trauma, where it all originates from. As a child, Harry watched as his mother suffered under scrutiny from the tabloids and the royals, had her mental health needs ignored or even shamed, and ultimately died as she famously fled yet another paparazzi ambush. But that’s not how it all plays out for him and Meghan, and good for Harry for refusing to repeat the traumas of his youth.
Of course Harry doesn’t want to repeat those same horrific outcomes! He already had to live (and love) through them once. But what can Harry do to change the way these traumas function in his brain? keep reading on medium…
I hope my new article on Medium helps you gain some tools to get through this stage of the pandemic. We need all the help we can get!
Pandemic fatigue is on the evening news, it infuses the moods of my Covid bubble buddies, and it’s easy to spot on the masked faces I pass on the sidewalk or the store. I’m hearing this from clients, colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors. Many of us are hitting a wall at this point in the pandemic, and it makes perfect sense that people are looking for a way out. It’s coming to my attention — possibly yours too — that our familiar standbys are falling short for pandemic-coping. While a lot of us have turned to excessive zoom-socializing or T.V watching to cope, many are working to excess, shopping to excess, or drinking to excess — each of those three activities can be followed by “oholism” for a reason — they pose a threat to our health and wellbeing. But even seemly healthy choices like cleaning and exercising can become destructive….continue reading on Medium
I had a great conversation with Debbie Sorrensen at Psychologists off the Clock about the value of body-based therapeutic practices and where your somatic-imprints might originate from. I hope you’ll take a listen!
I was happy to spend an hour talking with Dr. Dave of Shrink Rap Radio, one of the first podcasts on psychological wellness on iTunes.
Have a listen here, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Did you know I have a YouTube channel? It has a collection of videos that might be helpful for your self-regulation practices. There could be a video that lifts you up during a hard day. Or perhaps there is one that is a friendly reminder of a basic of somatic-regulation skill. Take a look, a listen, or share with a friend.
Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/user/thismindfullife
