How do YOU cope with Stress?

WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS

Courtesy of the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii


*Get up 15 minutes earlier
*Prepare for the morning the night before
*Avoid tight fitting clothes
*Avoid relying on chemical aids
*Set appointments ahead

*Don't rely on your memory ... write it down
*Practice preventive maintenance
*Make duplicate keys
*Say "no" more often
*Set priorities in your life
*Avoid negative people
*Use time wisely
*Simplify meal times
*Always make copies of important papers
*Anticipate your needs
*Repair anything that doesn't work properly
*Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
*Break large tasks into bite size portions
*Look at problems as challenges
*Look at challenges differently
*Unclutter your life
*Smile
*Be prepared for rain

Could you benefit from family therapy?

Attachment Disorders

Socio-economic status has nothing to do with the ability to establish successful attachment relationships. Children who have had a succession of nannies, or orphaned children who spend their early years in orphanages or move from foster home to foster home, are at risk for severe attachment disruption. It also can occur as a result of severe illness in the parent or the child, parental unavailability, or emotional trauma. Some children have inborn disabilities or temperaments that make it difficult for them to form a secure attachment, no matter how hard the parent tries. In any case, there generally are several factors involved. The major causes of attachment disorders are:

•neglect, including emotional neglect
•abuse, physical or sexual
•separation from primary caregiver
•changes in primary caregiver
•traumatic experiences such as death of parent or disaster
•maternal depression
•maternal use of drugs or alcohol
•undiagnosed, isolating painful illness such as colic or ear infections
Divorce

Separation and divorce can be devastating but there are things you can do to support and comfort your child. There are also things you may unwittingly do that can make coping with separation and divorce harder for your child --now and in future relationships.

Learn how to help your child cope with the negative short and long term effects of separation and divorce, as well as ways to help prevent trauma and decrease hardship. Challenges that are confronted effectively can improve relationships and strengthen your childs ability to cope.

When talking with your children about separation or divorce, it is important to be honest, but not critical of your spouse. Most children want to know why their lives are being upset. Depending on the age of your children and reason for divorce, this may require some diplomacy. As children mature, they will probably want more information.

Here are a few suggestions:

•Make plans to talk with your children before any changes in the living arrangements occur.
•Plan to talk when your spouse is present, if possible.
•Remind your children of your love.
•Be respectful of your spouse when giving the reasons for the separation.
•Tell them that your marriage problems are not their fault. Let them know they are not responsible for fixing them.
•Tell them about changes in living arrangements, school or activities. Let them know when they will happen. But do not overwhelm kids with details.
•Be emotionally available to comfort them. Even if there has been much conflict in the home, children may deeply experience the loss of the leaving parent, or the loss of hope for reconciliation.
Blended Families - Stepfamilies

Studies show that children of stepfamilies face a higher risk of emotional and behavioral problems. They also are less likely to be resilient in stressful situations. Although most parents are able to work out these difficulties within the family, they should consider a psychiatric evaluation for their child when he exhibits strong feelings of being:

•alone in dealing with his losses;
•torn between two parents or two households;
•excluded;
•isolated by feelings of guilt and anger;
•unsure about what is right;
•very uncomfortable with any member of his original family or stepfamily.
A psychiatric evaluation might be appropriate for both the child and the family when:

•the child directs his anger upon a particular family member or openly resents a stepparent or parent;
•one of the parents suffers from great stress and is unable to help with the childs increased need for attention;
•a stepparent or parent openly favors one of the children;
•discipline of a child is left to the parent rather than involving both the stepparent and parent;
•members of the family derive no pleasure from usually enjoyable activities such as learning, going to school, working, playing, or being with friends and family.
By devoting the necessary time to develop their own traditions and form caring relationships, stepfamilies can create emotionally rich and lasting bonds for each member. In the process, the children acquire the self-esteem and strength to enjoy the challenges that lie ahead.


source: http://www.drmarge.com/areas_of_focus/Family_Therapy.htm

Could music make your life better?

I know that all of you know that I am also a musicologist and music healer. Tonight as I listened to "America's Got Talent" I was so touched by a woman who sang her heart out and the judges loved her. When asked how she felt after this outstanding performance, she said she felt as though it were the second miracle in her life. "What was the first?" Sharon asked her. The dear lady then revealed that she was a cancer survivor for the last five years! Then Piers Morgan asked her if she believes that singing contributed to her healing. She replied that there was no doubt about that. Piers said" your singing has healed not only YOU but also everyone that hears you!"

What music is healing to you? What music lifts you up and gives you strength and hope? Find that music and listen to it often! It's free!!

No More Excuses

Having a tough day? Feeling like your life is not what you were promised? Check out this video and see what this guy has done despite some really bad luck! Have a good day!

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/meet-butch-lumpkin-9477/?ref=26000

Alice

Dealing with Mood Swings

Do you or someone you love have mood swings? Probably most humans have mood swings but it's how far you swing and how often your moods swing that determine whether or not it's worth considering therapy and/or medication. This is an excellent article I found on http://www.babyboomerarticles.com/. I hope this will be helpful to you!

Alice

Mood Swings: Dealing With The Unpredictable By: Harvey D. Ong
In one moderately publicized case in the US, a man filed for divorce, wishing to part ways with his wife, who had just given birth. The reasons for the divorce were summed up as “irreconcilable differences,” which tends to be legal jargon for “they got each other angry and neither one is mature enough to apologize.”
The divorce proceedings didn't get very far because it wasn't all that hard to dismiss, according to people who were aware of the confidential details of the case. As one of them anonymously commented, the whole thing really came down to the man being unable to deal with his pregnant wife's mood swings.
Among the multitude of things that people might find annoying or difficult to deal with while a woman is pregnant, the mood swings might be among the most complex. Simply defined, mood swings are those sudden changes in the emotional state of a person. These can happen for any number of reasons, with some people choosing to blame hormones and others finding fault in the woman's psychology.
In general, most physicians believe that the emotional changes that women undergo during pregnancy are caused by hormones. Pregnancy causes spikes in hormone levels that prevent fertilization when a woman is already pregnant. These same hormones also affect physical changes in the body, such as increased milk production in the breasts and preparing the pathways through which the baby will pass through during the birth process.
Hormones can also affect mental changes, making a woman happy and perky one minute, depressed and in despair the next.If the woman isn't pregnant, then there are still other possible reasons for them to have mood swings. Even men can have sudden changes in their mood and emotional state. Bipolar disorder is known to cause mood changes in the people that have them. These changes tend to be infrequent, but can occur very suddenly and without any sort of indication that they are going to happen.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has also been known to cause someone's mood to suddenly and rapidly change, though this is not considered a common occurrence among those with ADHD. Other mood disorders, like depression and anxiety disorder can also bring about sudden changes in mood. It should be noted that mood swings are not necessarily a symptom of ADHD. Anything that can alter or tamper with the hormone levels of the body can result in sudden changes in a person's mood.
These include post-menstrual syndrome, menopause, and puberty.If the problem is hormonal, the best approach is to simply wait it out. Human bodies tend to even out their hormone levels after a while, returning to what can be considered a “default” state. Once the hormones have returned to their normal levels, then the person's mood should return to normal as well.
If the problem isn't hormonal, then it is usually best to find a therapist that one is comfortable with, to discuss the potential causes and the best treatments for it. It is better to seek professional help than let something like this do damage to one's personal relationships.
Article Source: http://babyboomerarticles.com

12 Tips for Stress-Free Vacations

Hello Friends!

I had no idea it had been 3 weeks since I sent you a Crescent Hill Counseling blogpost!  Time does fly, doesn't it?  

I thought perhaps that since summer is upon us and people are vacationing whether at home or elsewhere, I'd send out this great article I found about "stress-free vacations!"  Hope you'll find it helpful!

See you soon!  Alice

12 Tips for Planning a Perfect Day of Sightseeing
Don't over-schedule. Think back to your last vacation—did you overextend yourself or visit so many attractions that you ended up not liking some of them? Resist succumbing to the fear that you may never return and so must see everything a destination has to offer, and instead focus on those activities and attractions that truly appeal to you. Take it easy—this is your time off.
Vary your activities from day to day. Visiting large art museums back-to-back can be taxing for even the most ardent culture vulture, just as shopping for six straight hours can wear out inveterate browsers. If you're someone who simply must pack a lot into every day of your trip, try to mix and match your activities. Spend a morning at a museum, and follow with a light hike or garden tour in the afternoon. Save a second museum for a different day, when you might also take a bus or boat tour.
Reconfirm hours and admission. No matter how much you trust your guidebook, or how recently you've checked an attraction's Web page, call the day of your visit to make sure the place is open. Some museums open or close late or early at a whim, or may close unexpectedly because of a staff shortage, a local holiday you're not aware of, a change in the budget, or for renovations.
Plan for inclement weather. There's no reason that a rainy day should put a damper on your vacation. Consider the climate where you're headed, and then plan realistically for the possibility that you'll have some rain—perhaps this will be when you go shopping or to a museum? If there's even a slight chance of an afternoon shower, carry along a lightweight, collapsible umbrella. If you're traveling with children, bring along games you can play, rent a video in your hotel room, or make a list of indoor attractions that you can enjoy regardless of wet weather.
Carry a bit of change in local currency with you. You might find that little unexpected payments are required in order to gain admission to sights, like public parks, or in order to use illumination devices in churches (timed lights on certain parts of the interior or artwork).
Pack light. Bring along just one bag, fill it with only a day's worth of necessities—guidebook, maps, cell phone, bottled water, IDs, sunscreen, portable umbrella, etc.—and take turns carrying it. There's no reason for everyone in the group to haul around a separate bag.
Don't forget your cell phone or phone card. Carry your phone with you, even if you don't plan to use it. Turn it off and use it only when you want or need to, but do keep it close at hand. It can be a lifesaver when you're trying to confirm a museum's hours, directions, or admission; need to make or change a dinner reservation for later in the day; or if you become lost or disoriented. If your cell phone doesn't work where you're going, you can rent one or get a prepaid phone card to make calls home.
Write down your hotel name and address on a slip of paper. In places where you don't speak the language, jot down the name, address, and phone number of your hotel on several pieces of paper, along with the same information for any restaurants, attractions, or other sites you're planning to visit, and present these to cab or bus drivers as you travel. Be sure, if appropriate, to write this information in both the local alphabet and your own.
Find out when museums offer free admission. Many large museums offer free or "pay-as-you-wish" admission one or two days per week, often for just part of the day (the first couple of hours in the morning, or a few hours late in the evening). Thursday and Friday evenings are common for this practice, but exact days can vary greatly—you might be able to plan your museum visits to get into several places free. Keep in mind, however, that most museums are nonprofit. If you are in a financial position to make a donation, it's always appreciated.
Plan a late-night museum jaunt. Quite a few major museums extend their usual opening times by two or three hours one night a week. This can be a great time to visit a museum, perhaps combining your tour with dinner afterward at a nearby restaurant. Sometimes museums offer special evening programs, such as lectures, wine-and-cheese socials, exhibit openings, or films.
With a group? Consider a theme park. Most parks have been planned specifically to appeal to a broad range of interests, so apart from wild rides there are gentle ones that please young children, older travelers, and more sedate types. Plus, many attractions in many theme parks are completely accessible to people who use wheelchairs or who have other disabilities.
Go with theme-park discounts. Local tourism boards almost always have coupons for the big theme parks—and many people are eligible for corporate deals through their company, school, or credit-card company. If you go after 4 PM, many parks charge almost half price; if you go in the offseason, your discounts will be even better. Check around for deals before you fork over your money.

Through the Eyes of a Child--refreshing!!

1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1.
Don't change horses...
until they stop running.
2.
Strike while the...
bug is close.
3.
It's always darkest before...
Daylight Saving Time.
4.
Never underestimate the power of...
termites.
5.
You can lead a horse to water but...
How?
6.
Don't bite the hand that...
looks dirty.
7.
No news is...
impossible
8.
A miss is as good as a...
Mr.
9.
You can't teach an old dog new...
Math
10.
If you lie down with dogs... you'll stink
in the morning.
11.
Love all, trust...
Me.
12..
The pen is mightier than the...
pigs.
13.
An idle mind is...
the best way to relax.
14.
Where there's smoke there's...
pollution..
15.
Happy the bride who...
gets all the presents.
16.
A penny saved is...
not much.
17.
Two's company, three's...
the Musketeers.
18.
Don't put off till tomorrow what...
you put on to go to bed.
19.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and...
You have to blow your nose.
20.
There are none so blind as...
Stevie Wonder.
21.
Children should be seen and not...
spanked or grounded.
22.
If at first you don't succeed...
get new batteries.
23.
You get out of something only what you...
See in the picture on the box
24.
When the blind lead the blind...
get out of the way.
25.
A bird in the hand...
is going to poop on you.
And the WINNER and last one!
26.
Better late than...
Pregnant