Photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash
Reflecting on thoughts is natural, and is a part of problem solving, But overthinking can become overwhelming. Intrusive and compelling thoughts can become emotionally and physically draining, as well as a spanner in the works when it comes to problem solving. Recognizing its patterns and roots is the first step toward finding calm and clarity.
Read more: Overthinking: Why It Happens and How to Find Calm
In this post I look at how listening to your anxiety can ease and reshape it, and make it a force for personal growth rather than just a source of suffering.
Are you concerned you might be experiencing depression? Here I outline common signs, explore emotional roots, and suggest ways forward. A persistent sense of dejection and despondency is not meaningless. When we listen to it, along with other emotions we experience, it can guide us toward change, connection, and renewed vitality.
Read more: Fed-Up of Being Fed-Up? Making Sense of Depression
The death of a loved one hits hard. Grief can bring deep sadness, disorientation, yearning, disrupted sleep, appetite changes, fatigue, anger, and a loss of meaning and identity. It can also send us into a flurry of doing.
Anger is often misunderstood. Many people see it as something to be avoided, suppressed, or feared. But anger is not inherently bad - and it can even be a powerful ally.
Read more: Is Your Anger Making Life Harder? Make It Work for You
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well (Mark Twain)
In this blog post I outline some techniques that can help ease procrastination, as well as look at key emotional issues that may lie behind it.
Read more: Procrastination: Why We Do It, and How to Move Forward
It is important to find a therapist who is a good fit for you. Please note that I use the titles therapist, counsellor, psychotherapist and talking therapist interchangeably as there is no agreed distinction between them within the field. As I note in my article 'Feeling at sea about choosing a therapist?', client motivation and the quality of the alliance betwen the client and therapist are the central factors contributing to the success of therapy. It is important therefore to feel free to search for a therapist who you feel a rapport with. But it is likely that you'll also want to feel confident that they have been properly trained, and that they work in an effective and ethical way for their clients.
Here are some tried and trusted places to look for a therapist.
Choosing a therapist, counsellor, psychotherapist, or talking therapist can be daunting. I use these titles interchangeably as there isn’t any agreed distinction in the field between them. There are many therapists, and many different styles of therapy to choose from – four or five major types, and hundreds of sub-types!
