Nowhere in the DSM-IV does it mention “the stupid complex,” but I’m telling you it’s an epidemic these days. I used to suffer in silence. But ever since I’ve come out of the closet, I swear I find a fellow sufferer every day. At my last therapy session, I was telling her how scared I […]
I’ve long been interested in the connection between mental health and addiction because the worlds of recovery are so similar and yet so different. One of my biggest frustrations in addiction recovery circles is the lack of awareness of mental health–especially the physiological nature that threatens lives. And many depressed folks don’t take seriously enough the addictive […]
Guilt is one of the main rivers feeding into the great lake of depression. And that’s unfortunate if you’ve been raised Catholic or Jewish. Or are prone to OCD behaviors like extreme rumination of thoughts. Soooooo ….. as usual, I have to come up with a visualization technique that allows myself to unload some of […]
Deep breathing has become increasingly important in my recovery from depression and anxiety because I recognize that shallow breath contributes to my panic. In fact, at my worst hours, I would use a paper bag to keep from hyperventilating. The practice of deep breathing stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), responsible for activities that occur when our body is […]
Paris Jackson, daughter of rock star Michael Jackson was rushed to a hospital yesterday after cutting her wrists, say sources close to the family. She had called a suicide hotline and the counselor called 911. The young girl who lost her father in 2009 is now recovering and getting the appropriate medical help. “Being a sensitive 15-year-old is difficult no […]
Human beings are creatures of habit, which is why Spencer Johnson sold more than ten million copies of his book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” Business executives sit down to PowerPoint presentations based on it, and depressed patients watch the “Who Moved My Cheese?” video during group therapy in hospital psychiatric units across the country. (Who […]
Recently I described symptoms of panic: Indecision: sorting the laundry is excruciating. My God! I don’t know if these plaid shorts go into pastels or darks. They include both light and dark colors! Guilt: I’ve given my husband a rash because I’m causing him stress and stress does evil things, shame on me. I’ve also caused […]
The Everyday Health link is down right now, so I thought I’d publish the whole post here. A very wise editor once gave me a simple piece of writing advice: write from where you are, not from where you want to be. In naming this blog, “Sanity Break,” my hope is that it becomes a […]
A recent Northwestern University study found that what makes a person a good dating partner might not determine who is a suitable spouse. For couples in both a dating relationship and a marriage, an important contributor to a satisfying relationship is an understanding that a partner will help the other achieve his/her dreams. That’s huge […]
A very wise editor once gave me a simple piece of writing advice: write from where you are, not from where you want to be. In naming this blog, “Sanity Break,” my hope is that it becomes a place of trust and honest rambling among persons who are struggling to live life normally—to function at work and at […]
Flow is the mental state of a person when he is completely immersed in one activity or event—a moment in which all of his energy is focused on one thing so that he is oblivious to the world around him. It is a single-mindedness that harnesses all emotions into one action to produce a kind […]
I don’t know about you, but when I’m depressed, my self-talk goes something like this:”This is uncomfortable … I wish I were dead.””I don’t know what to do about x, y, and z … I wish I were dead.””I can’t escape this sadness … I wish I were dead.””How can I get rid of this […]
