HyperLoop555

#holidaystress #family #copingmechanism #conflict #Psychology No matter how far away from home we travel, most of us can’t escape our familial history — and the memories that come with it. Along with shopping, gift-wrapping and cookie baking, I’m prepping for the holidays by accepting that family stress may get the best of me. While I haven’t lived at home for over 20 years, conflict around heated topics like politics can make me feel like a misunderstood teen again. Listening calmly and objectively to my parents becomes harder and harder and I interrupt more. Once, I even rolled my eyes at my mom like a pouty adolescent. My behavior, however, isn’t meant to be disrespectful or cruel, even though it might look that way. It’s actually a normal coping mechanism known as regression. As a psychologist, I’ve heard hundreds of family tales similar to mine. For many of us, reuniting with loved ones during the holidays can feel like psychological time travel. There’s a rea...

#CopingStrategies #Stress #Anxiety #holidaystress #Mindfulness  Life is complicated. The daily pressures of meeting deadlines, paying bills and keeping house -- with or without a spouse or children -- can often times be daunting. Sometimes one can be exhausted before getting out of bed in the morning. Life on life's terms. Suiting up and showing up can be a great effort, and it's twice as difficult if your loved one is struggling with substance abuse issues. So, before your day gets going and when the morning is still in a quiet hum, here are some concepts that I have suggested to my clients and that I call upon before things might spin out of control: A Quick Gratitude Checklist We have all heard how important it is to acknowledge and be grateful for the things in our life. We've heard it so much that it's almost annoying, and becoming long in the tooth of its repetitive coolness. However, if it's not broken, don't fix it -- which is why good ideas wil...