Symptoms of Social Anxiety & How to Recognize Them

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Symptoms of Social Anxiety & How to Recognize Them

 

Feeling nervous is often confused with experiencing symptoms of social anxiety. That is why we’ve decided to share critical information about social anxiety. Learn how to recognize the first signs and what to do about them. After all, you might notice someone close to you experiencing symptoms of social anxiety, and you want to help them in the best way possible. Without further ado, let’s learn more about this condition!

 

What Is Social Anxiety?

Fear and worry cause avoidance in social anxiety disorder, which can negatively impact your life. Extreme stress can interfere with relationships, daily activities, employment, education, and other pursuits.

While social anxiety disorder can be a long-term mental health issue, taking medication and learning coping mechanisms in psychotherapy can boost your self-esteem and enhance your social skills.

A persistent and intense fear of social situations is known as social anxiety disorder or social phobia. It’s a prevalent issue that typically arises throughout adolescence. It can significantly affect your life and be upsetting.

Some people find that as they age, things get better. However, in many cases, it requires therapy to go away on its own. Seeking assistance is crucial if you are experiencing symptoms. You can manage it with the help of some treatments.

 

Social Anxiety Symptoms

Shyness or uneasiness in specific circumstances, particularly in young people, are not always symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Individuals’ comfort levels in social settings differ based on their life experiences and personality features. While some people are more gregarious by nature, others are inherently quiet.

Unlike normal anxiety, social anxiety disorder is characterized by worry, anxiety, and avoidance that interfere with relationships, daily activities, jobs, education, and other endeavors. Usually starting in the early to mid-teens, social anxiety disorder can sometimes strike adults or younger children at earlier ages.

 

Emotions and Behavior

These are the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder:

  • Fear of being judged negatively in certain circumstances
  • Fear of humiliating yourself or making a fool of yourself
  • Experiencing severe anxiety while engaging or conversing with strangers
  • Fear that people will notice your discomfort 
  • Avoiding social interactions or any other activities 
  • Stay away from situations in which you could be the center of attention
  • Looking for your weaknesses or mistakes after you’ve interacted with others
  • Anticipating the worst outcomes 

 

Physical Symptoms

The following physical signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder can occasionally be present:

  • Blushing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Shaking
  • Sweating
  • Nausea or upset stomach
  • Having difficulty breathing
  • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
  • Tension in the muscles

 

Seeking Help for Social Anxiety

If you believe you may have social anxiety, it’s a good idea to contact a general practitioner or primary care provider (PCP), particularly if it’s significantly affecting your life. It’s a prevalent issue, and there are helpful solutions.

While seeking assistance can be challenging, your general practitioner will attempt to reassure you, knowing that many individuals experience social anxiety. To learn more about your social anxiety, they will question you about your emotions, behaviors, and symptoms.

If they suspect social anxiety, you will be directed to a mental health professional for a comprehensive evaluation and to discuss possible treatment options. Without a PCP, you can also refer to talk therapy.

 

Psychotherapy

A well-researched kind of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is frequently used to treat social anxiety disorder. To reduce anxiety and dread, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you alternative ways of thinking, acting, and responding to events. Additionally, CBT can assist you in developing social skills, which are crucial for the treatment of social anxiety disorder. CBT is the most researched and effective form of psychotherapy.

A cognitive-behavioral therapy approach called exposure treatment helps you participate in things you have been avoiding by gradually facing the fears that underlie an anxiety condition. Sometimes, relaxation techniques are combined with exposure therapy. When CBT is administered in a group setting, it can also have unique advantages for treating social anxiety disorder.

 

Medications

Medical professionals may recommend medication to treat social anxiety disorder. This disease can be effectively treated with a variety of medications, such as:

  • Antidepressants include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • Beta-blockers

 

In addition to being frequently used to treat depression, anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines, SSRIs, and SNRI antidepressants can also help alleviate the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. It can take a few weeks for them to begin operating. 

Antidepressants may have adverse effects like nausea, headaches, or trouble falling asleep. Generally speaking, these side effects are not very serious, particularly if the dosage gradually increases from a low starting point. Discuss any potential side effects with your healthcare provider.

Some of the physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder, like sweating, tremors, and a fast heartbeat, can be managed with the aid of beta-blockers. When treating social anxiety disorder that manifests as “performance anxiety,” beta-blockers are frequently the recommended drug.

 

Support Groups

Support groups are beneficial for many individuals with social anxiety. You can get objective, truthful feedback about how other members of the group perceive you if you are part of a group of people who all have social anxiety disorder. In this approach, you can discover that your beliefs about rejection and judgment are false or misguided. It is also possible to gain knowledge on how people with social anxiety disorder manage and get over their dread of social situations.

Support groups can be found online and in person. Any advice from a support group participant should be utilized carefully and should not replace a doctor’s medical suggestions.

 

Conclusion

Getting knowledge is an excellent method to support someone you love or yourself who might be experiencing social anxiety disorder. Look into the symptoms, find out about available treatments, and stay informed about new findings in the field.

If you feel like you could be suffering from a social anxiety disorder, talk to someone you can trust about how you’re feeling. Make time to speak with a friend or family member you suspect may be experiencing social anxiety disorder to let them know you are concerned and to reassure them of your support.

It’s time to get professional help if your anxiety, or the anxiety of a loved one, begins to interfere with day-to-day activities. Examples include avoiding social situations at work, school, or with friends and family. Consult a medical professional about your mental health.

Begin a guide to getting calm at home.

 

Quick Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

quick ways to reduce anxiety and stress

 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Female Orgasmic Disorder Treatment

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Female Orgasmic Disorder Treatment

 

If you’ve stumbled upon a term called female orgasmic disorder treatment, you might be curious to learn what it actually is. There are many reasons why you might not be able to reach a climax in your relationship. Therapy, medicine, and addressing underlying problems are possible treatment forms. However, a professional will need to see you first to detect the root of the problem. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look into female orgasmic disorder treatment. Find out the reasons why it happens, which treatment options are available, and so much more that might be beneficial for you when learning about female orgasmic disorder. 

 

What Is Female Orgasmic Disorder? 

Orgasmic dysfunction occurs when a woman experiences difficulty or fails to experience an orgasm during a sexually stimulating moment.

When it’s not fun, having sex may turn from being a fulfilling, intimate experience for both parties to a chore. Sex may happen less frequently and with a decrease in sexual desire. Tension and animosity may result from this in the partnership.

A disorder known as orgasmic dysfunction is when a person struggles to experience an orgasm. Even when they are sexually aroused and receiving enough stimulation, they still struggle with this. This disorder is referred to as female orgasmic dysfunction when it affects women. Although it is far less common, orgasmic dysfunction can also affect men.

Orgasms are powerful sensations of release that occur during intercourse. Their frequency, duration, and strength might all change. Even minimal sexual stimulation can cause orgasms, although occasionally, much more stimulation is required.

Even when they receive plenty of sexual stimulation, many women still struggle to experience an orgasm with a partner. Many studies have indicated that 11–41% of women may experience orgasmic dysfunction. Anorgasmia, or female orgasmic condition, is another name for orgasmic dysfunction.

 

Causes of Female Orgasmic Disorder

10% to 15% of women report never having experienced an orgasm. According to surveys, as many as 50% of women express dissatisfaction with the frequency of their orgasms.

The complicated interaction between the mind and body occurs during sexual response. For an orgasm to occur, both must be in good working order.

Orgasmic difficulties might result from a variety of circumstances. Common causes are:

  • Past experience of rape or sexual abuse
  • Fatigue, tension, or despair in a relationship or during sexual activity
  • Not understanding sexual function
  • Prejudice about sex, which is frequently picked up in childhood or adolescence
  • Embarrassment or shyness around physical touch
  • Relationship problems

 

Health issues that may make it challenging to experience an orgasm include:

  • Certain medications that are prescribed. 
  • Hormonal imbalances or changes (menopause).
  • Persistent conditions that impact one’s sexual desire and well-being
  • Endometriosis 
  • Damage to the nerves supplying the pelvis 
  • Contraction of the vaginal muscles 
  • Dryness in the vagina

 

Symptoms of Female Orgasmic Disorder

The inability to reach a sexual climax is the primary sign of orgasmic dysfunction. Other symptoms include orgasms that are not satisfying and climaxes that take longer than usual to reach.

It might be challenging for women with orgasmic dysfunction to experience an orgasm during masturbation or sexual activity.

Four categories of orgasmic dysfunction exist:

  • Primary anorgasmia: The inability to experience an orgasm.
  • Secondary anorgasmia: Having trouble experiencing an orgasm despite having experienced one previously.
  • Situational anorgasmia: The most prevalent kind of dysphoric orgasm. It happens when you can only experience an orgasm in particular circumstances, such as during oral sex or masturbation.
  • General anorgasmia: The inability to experience an orgasm in any situation, even when you’re really aroused and have received enough sexual stimulation.

 

Treatment for Female Orgasmic Disorder

If your sexual dysfunction is not causing an issue for you, it shouldn’t be considered as something that needs to be solved. You should seek treatment only if your dysfunction is bothering you or impacting your relationship with your partner.

Treatment types differ depending on the potential symptoms and causes of the sexual dysfunction you’re experiencing. You should share your concerns and learn to understand better your body and how intimacy works for you. Your sexual aspirations are also crucial when talking about treatment options.

If you’re experiencing sexual dysfunction as a woman, a comprehensive treatment approach addressing physical, relationship, and emotional factors could be very beneficial for you.

When treating sexual dysfunction, your physician may advise applying the following techniques:

  • Converse and pay attention
  • Adopt a healthy way of living
  • Discover relaxing techniques
  • Consult a counselor
  • Apply lubrication
  • Try using a gadget

 

When treating sexual dysfunction, an underlying issue should be addressed first. Your doctor could recommend switching medications or writing you a prescription for another one.

When talking about medications, these are the treatment options for female sexual dysfunction that most doctors recommend:

  • Estrogen therapy
  • Ospemifene (Osphena)
  • Androgen therapy
  • Flibanserin (Addyi)
  • Bremelanotide (Vyleesi)

 

Asking for Help 

Make an appointment with your physician if you believe you have orgasmic dysfunction. Your physician has the expertise to identify your ailment and devise an appropriate course of action. The greatest approach to guarantee that you can once again fully enjoy sexual activity is to get advice from your doctor.

Your doctor conducts a physical examination and inquires about your sexual history during your visit. Your answers and the results of the exam can assist in discovering additional elements that might be causing your issue, as well as any underlying reasons for orgasmic dysfunction.

For a follow-up checkup, your doctor might recommend that you see a gynecologist. For orgasmic dysfunction, additional treatments can be suggested by a gynecologist.

 

Therapy for Orgasmic Disorder

Couples therapy is yet another well-liked form of treatment. You and your partner can resolve any disputes or issues by working through them with the assistance of a counselor. This can settle the problems that are coming up in the bedroom and in the relationship.

 

In Conclusion

Being unable to experience an orgasm can be annoying and could affect your relationship. With the right care, you might be able to reach a climax. Realizing that you’re not alone is crucial. Orgasmic dysfunction is a problem that many women have at some point in their lives.

You might benefit especially from therapy if you experience orgasmic dysfunction. A portion of couples’ or individual therapy focuses on your perspective on sexual activity. You and your partner can better understand each other’s sexual needs and wants by attending therapy sessions. It will also take care of any relationship problems or daily worries that might be keeping you from experiencing an orgasm. In the future, resolving these underlying issues may facilitate orgasm experiences.

 

 

BLISS: Proven Methods for Improving the Female Orgasm

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Defining Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Defining Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

 

We’re all talking about anxiety, yet defining anxiety is not as easy as it seems. Everyone experiences anxiety occasionally. An anxiety disorder may be indicated when unexplained sensations of anxiety persist, making it difficult to go about everyday tasks, or happen for no apparent cause.

If you want to learn how to recognize anxiety in yourself and in others, continue reading this article, as we’ll share all the vital information about anxiety.

 

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a complex response to real or perceived threats. It can involve cognitive, physical, and behavioral changes. Real or perceived danger causes a rush of adrenaline, a hormone, and a chemical messenger in the brain, which in turn triggers these anxiety reactions in a process called the fight-or-flight response. Some people may experience this response in difficult social situations or around important events or decisions.

The duration or severity of feelings of anxiety can sometimes be out of proportion to the original trigger or stressor. Physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and nausea, may also develop. These responses move beyond anxiety into an anxiety disorder.

Once anxiety reaches the stage of a disorder, it can interfere with daily function.

 

What Is an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorder is one of the mental health conditions that is impacting more and more Americans every day. You could react with fear and dread to certain items and circumstances if you suffer from an anxiety condition. Additionally, you can exhibit bodily symptoms of anxiousness, including perspiration and a racing heart.

A certain level of anxiousness is normal. If you have to make a big choice, go for an interview, take an exam, or deal with a situation at work, you could feel worried or anxious. Anxiety may even be advantageous. Anxiety, for instance, helps us focus our attention and identify potentially harmful circumstances, keeping us safe.

However, anxiety disorders are more than just occasional bouts of mild worry and trepidation. Anxiety disorders arise when:

  • Anxiety makes it difficult for you to operate.
  • When anything makes you feel something, you tend to overreact.
  • Your reactions to circumstances are beyond your control.

Managing anxiety problems may make daily tasks challenging. 

 

Causes of Anxiety 

Anxiety can arise and persist due to a variety of social and environmental circumstances, which can also impair our social interaction skills. These social and environmental variables might include social demands from society and the workplace, childhood trauma, social isolation, traumatic life experiences, stress from work or school, and issues with one’s physical or mental health. Gender may also be relevant, as anxiety is about twice as common in women as in men.

 

Social Isolation 

When compared to those who report having excellent social ties, individuals who suffer social isolation or loneliness frequently have fewer or lower-quality social contacts. Social isolation may make it difficult to strike up conversations with others, which frequently results in feelings of uneasiness and rejection.

 

Childhood Trauma

Neglect or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse throughout childhood can have a lasting impact on a person’s mental health. Those who have experienced trauma as children may be more prone to anxiety. This may result from modifications to brain development that impact memory, mood management, and our fight-or-flight response.

 

Negative Life Events

Unfavorable experiences in life can also exacerbate anxiety. These are the kinds of things that upset our sense of security or well-being and have a profound emotional impact.

These are some common examples of negative life events that can lead to anxiety:

  • Divorce or ending a significant relationship
  • Abuse or domestic violence
  • Stressful work or education environment
  • Car accident
  • Job insecurity
  • Excessive workload
  • Financial strain

 

Symptoms of Anxiety

Everybody’s experience of anxiety is unique. In addition to effects in other aspects of your life, you may encounter some of the mental and bodily repercussions outlined on this page.

It’s possible that you have dealt with anxiety in ways that aren’t mentioned here.

These are the common physical symptoms of anxiety: 

  • Uncomfort or pain in your stomach
  • Feeling light-headed or dizzy
  • Feeling restless 
  • Frequent headaches or backache 
  • Shallow, fast breathing
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Sweating
  • Sleep issues
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Nausea
  • Panic attacks

 

These are the common cognitive symptoms of anxiety:

  • Feeling tense or nervous 
  • Constantly worrying
  • Seeking reassurance from other people
  • Low mood or depression
  • Rumination
  • Depersonalization
  • Derealization 

 

Anxiety may raise the chance of getting some long-term physical health issues, such as diabetes, stomach ulcers, and heart issues, according to some research. However, there is insufficient data to determine the precise nature of the dangers or the demographics most likely to be impacted.

There may be times when you feel as though your anxiety issues and physical health issues are intertwined since having a physical sickness or impairment can exacerbate your anxiety.

 

Treatment Options for Anxiety

To find out if there is a connection between your anxiety and your physical health, you should first consult your primary care physician. They can look for indications of a potentially treatable underlying medical issue.

If your anxiety is extreme, though, you might need to consult a mental health professional. A psychiatrist is a medical professional with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. Psychotherapists and other mental health providers, such as psychologists, are qualified to diagnose anxiety and offer psychotherapy.

 

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy or psychological counseling, is working with a therapist to lessen the feelings of anxiety that you experience. It could work well as an anxiety therapy.

For anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most successful type of psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is often a short-term treatment, teaches you particular methods to help manage your symptoms and progressively resume the activities you’ve avoided due to worry.

As part of CBT, you will progressively come into contact with the thing or circumstance that makes you anxious in order to gain confidence in your ability to control the situation and your anxiety symptoms.

 

Medications

Depending on the kind of anxiety illness you have and whether you also have other physical or mental health conditions, several drugs can be used to aid with symptoms. Discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and potential adverse effects of drugs with your doctor.

 

Wrap Up

It is possible to lower one’s risk of anxiety disorders. Recall that experiencing anxiety is normal for day-to-day living and does not always signify the existence of a mental health issue.

Having an anxiety illness can make daily tasks challenging. Anxiety disorders are characterized by trepidation, panic, and terror. Physical signs like perspiration and an accelerated pulse are also possible. You don’t have to live this way, though. 

There are several efficient therapies for anxiety disorders. To determine your diagnosis and the most effective course of treatment, see your healthcare physician. Treatment frequently consists of both medicine and counseling. CBT combined with antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs can help you feel your best.

Begin your journey to calm at home. 

Quick Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

quick ways to reduce anxiety and stress

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Friendship Therapy: What It Is & Do You Need It? 

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Friendship Therapy: What It Is & Do You Need It? 

 

Friendship therapy helps friends strengthen their relationship by sharing their concerns and working towards the same goal. Although we’re used to hearing about couples therapy as the most popular therapy to go with someone else, friendship therapy can be extremely beneficial for friendships that are facing an obstacle and are uncertain about the best way to solve it. 

In this article, we’ll look closer at friendship therapy, who needs it, and what outcomes to expect from it. If you and your friend think that friendship therapy is something that you both need, make sure to share this article with them as well.

 

What Is Friendship Therapy?

One of the most important things in life that you will encounter is friendship. Friendships feed and nourish us, satisfying some of our most basic needs for connection and belonging. However, we can find ourselves lacking the means to provide continuous, loving care for these connections, in part because our culture has long maintained that romantic and sexual relationships are the height of intimacy.

Just as traditional romantic relationships need time, intention, and care, platonic connections are as important to our well-being. During friendship therapy, mental health professionals offer a quiet, judgment-free environment where you and your friend may examine the causes of any lingering issues and use your strengths to forge a consensus, make repairs, and rebuild trust. Friendship therapy offers a space where both parties can hear and be heard, allowing them to make their connection even stronger. 

 

Signs You Need Friendship Therapy

If you have friends, you’ve probably encountered a few bumps on the road several times. It’s normal to have issues in your friendship, whether that’s a lack of communication, misunderstandings, or something else. The problem occurs when these issues are not addressed properly, and you’re unable to find a solution that is satisfying for both of you. That is when seeing a therapist might be beneficial to solve these underlying issues and feel closer to each other. 

These are just some of the common situations in which friendship therapy could be beneficial:

  • Frequent arguments or conflicts 
  • Spending less time together or communicating less 
  • Not being invited to the occasions you used to go together
  • Noticing a harsh tone or negative comments from your friend
  • Noticing you’re not receiving some amount of support you used to
  • Being overly competitive with your friends
  • Changes that concurred in distance or life priorities

 

How Therapy Can Save Your Friendship 

If you’ve found yourself in one of the situations mentioned above, you should consider going to friendship therapy. There are many ways that such therapy can help you navigate your friendship better. More importantly, with friendship therapy, you will learn how to recognize the signs that something is ‘off’ and how to become proactive in solving issues that appear in the future.

After all, therapy aims to provide us with efficient tools to better manage different areas of our lives. Talking to mental health experts allows you to learn from them and become more self-sufficient. Whichever the reason for pursuing a therapist, you will notice more benefits than just solving the issue that was bothering you. 

When talking about friendship therapy, you will learn to communicate more efficiently with your friends. Also, you will learn how to set boundaries and share your needs in a healthy manner. As friendship is a two-way street, you will also learn to listen better and provide your friends with what they need. 

All of this will help you build and maintain more significant friendships while also learning more about yourself. As social beings, we need to get to know ourselves first to be able to get to know others. 

Lastly, it’s possible that the outcome of the friendship therapy is parting ways with your friend. As much as it might hurt, sometimes certain relationships can hold us down or impact us negatively, so it’s best to say goodbye and not hold a grudge.

 

Is Friendship Therapy Right for You? 

One major advantage of therapy for friends who are having trouble communicating openly and healthily is that it provides a secure environment in which such conversations may take place under the supervision of a professional. That way, therapists are able to make necessary modifications in real time if they pertain to communication and conflict resolution.

Not every friendship endures, and going to therapy won’t be worthwhile for every difficult connection you have. However, friendship therapy is absolutely the best course of action if you find yourself in a long-term friendship that truly seems worth preserving and resolving. 

If you have persistent problems in your friendship that you haven’t been able to identify and address on your own, therapy may be very beneficial. To determine whether therapy is the best course of action for you and your buddy, think about scheduling a consultation with a mental health professional before beginning treatment. A lot of therapists are quite willing to talk with you and answer your questions before you enter the treatment session.

 

How to Suggest Therapy to Your Friend 

Make sure you speak about the idea of friendship therapy with your friend. Tell them how much you cherish their friendship and why you think it’s crucial that they try to strengthen it.

Also, you might want to admit that the tough period in your friendship is painful for you, and you want to do something about it. You may say something like, “I know we are both hurting in this situation, and I want us to be the healthiest and closest friends that we can be.”

If you believe your friend might be concerned about the cost of treatment or other practical issues, you can also help alleviate some of their worries by conducting your own research and having a variety of solutions ready for them to choose from. 

Pursuing individual treatment in addition to friendship therapy would be a good idea for people who have issues with their interpersonal interactions. This will provide access to crucial resources for communication and self-care, enhancing relationships with others and yourself.

 

Conclusion

In a secure environment, friends may be more motivated to express what they need from one another. After that, the friendship therapist may help identify the disconnects and offer both friends the tools they require to process, resolve, and recover. A friendship therapist may even assign homework, such as suggesting that friends go on a “date night” to replenish their intimacy reserves and rekindle their bond.

After all, people are social beings. Friendships are essential to our happiness. It is a great shame to lose a friend who holds great significance for you, even if the friendship may still be preserved.

 

Quick Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

quick ways to reduce anxiety and stress

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

 

Grief Symptoms, Causes & Types

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Grief Symptoms, Causes & Types

 

If you notice a few grief symptoms, it probably means that you’ve lost someone or something very valuable in your life recently. Grief refers to learning to live with loss. Besides losing someone close to you, losing a house, divorce, and death are all significant life events that also cause grief. 

As much as it’s true that every person experiences sorrow differently, there are certain typical reactions that you may find helpful to identify if you’ve experienced a loss. Patience is crucial when navigating this challenging period, whether you’re grieving over a loved one or providing assistance.

 

What Is Grief?

Regardless of whether a person’s grief comes from the death of a loved one or from receiving a terminal diagnosis, it is a powerful and often overwhelming emotion. You might feel numb and disconnected from daily life as a result of the loss, which will make it challenging for you to carry out your regular tasks.

That said, it’s important to be aware of the fact that grief is completely normal and expected on such occasions. After all, grief is a normal response to loss. Bereavement is a shared and individual experience. The type of loss has an impact on how each person grieves. Common examples of events that cause grief are losing a loved one, ending a significant relationship, losing a job, suffering a theft, or losing mobility due to an accident or an unfortunate event. 

Other grieving examples include the loss of: 

  • A home or community
  • Financial stability
  • A goal
  • Youth
  • Fertility

 

If you’re experiencing grief symptoms, you can expect different stages of mourning. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t and probably won’t be able to impact your grieving process. There are many healthy ways to deal with your grief, such as talking to others about situations that cause considerable emotional pain or the emotions you are experiencing on a daily basis.

A person may mourn for months or even years. In most cases, grief lessens with time as you learn to live without the person or thing you have lost, accept the fact that you are unable to change the past and start making room in your life for healing. 

 

Grief Symptoms

Loss and grief can cause a wide range of symptoms in different people. What they are feeling is neither good nor wrong. However, sometimes we need help to navigate those emotions so we can complete our other responsibilities and eventually end the grieving process once we’re ready. 

When it comes to common grief symptoms, these are mentioned:

  • Void, ache, and/or pain in your stomach
  • Tightness or heaviness in your chest or neck
  • Oversensitivity to sounds
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Numbness
  • Weakness or exhaustion
  • Dry mouth
  • Changes in appetite
  • Sleeping issues 

 

Five Stages of Grief

In her book On Death and Dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross outlines the five phases of grieving. Despite its 1969 publication, this is still the most well-recognized source of knowledge about the mourning process. Kubler-Ross conducted interviews with more than 200 terminally ill patients for her book. Through these talks, she was able to pinpoint five typical phases that people go through as they come to terms with their imminent mortality.

These are the five stages we use today to better understand the grieving process: 

  1. Denial: It is difficult for you to accept the loss and you don’t want to admit that this event happened in your life.  
  2. Anger: You might feel that you’re angry at God, at others who failed to save what you’ve lost, at yourself, or even at no one in particular.
  3. Bargaining: To avoid coping with a loss, you can envision coming to an arrangement. You could also feel remorse for certain actions that you believe could have prevented loss.
  4. Depression: Emotional detachment is one of the complicated feelings that are linked to depression.
  5. Acceptance: With time, you will be able to accept the loss and find a way to continue with your daily activities, accepting that the event changed you and that you’re accepting the pain it comes with. 

 

Types of Grief

There are several ways that bereavement can be felt. The various forms of grief illustrate the complexity and variety of grief.

 

Anticipatory Grief

Grieving in anticipation of a loss means starting the grieving process before it happens. For instance, finding out that you or a loved one has a fatal illness may cause you to start mourning. Grief processing in advance might help you be ready to accept the loss when it happens. However, it’s crucial to remember that grief shouldn’t keep you from savoring the limited time you have.

 

Short-term Grief

There are moments when you can get over your grief very fast. This is the situation with a shorter period of grieving. Abbreviated grief may occasionally follow anticipatory grief. Because you’ve already used a lot of emotional energy anticipating the loss, you may grieve it more swiftly. It’s not a sign that you never cared about what you lost if you were just grieving briefly.

 

Delayed Grief

After a loss, you don’t feel the grief-related emotions right away. You might experience them days, weeks, or even months later. Sometimes, your body takes a while to process these feelings because of the shock of the loss. Or perhaps your body can’t grieve until you’ve taken care of the practical issues that come with loss, such as funerals and wills, because you’re too occupied with them.

 

Repressed Grief

Inhibited mourning is the suppression of feelings. Most of us haven’t received any instruction on identifying or handling the complex feelings that might surface throughout the mourning process. Because of this, many people suppress their emotions without realizing it. 

 

Accumulated Grief

When you experience cumulative grief, you process several losses at once. You’re not only grieving the death of a child, for instance. You’re mourning the breakup of a marriage that came after that tragedy. Grieving many losses at once adds unanticipated complexity and difficulty to the process.

 

Collective Grief

Though most of us consider grieving personal, communal sadness often occurs among communities. Significant occurrences like pandemics, natural catastrophes, school shootings, and conflicts cause wide-ranging losses that alter the definition of “normal” living. We mourn the common experiences we have lost as a community while finding it difficult to envision a different future.

 

Final Words

It’s not necessary for you to experience grief on your own. You might rather talk to a therapist in person or online, seek an online support group with members who’ve experienced the same as you, or read books on this topic. Whatever works for you, stick to it. This is your grieving process, and what works for others might not work for you. Just keep in mind that help is always there when you are ready to accept it. 

 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Self-Esteem vs Self-Confidence: What’s the Difference?

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Self-Esteem vs Self-Confidence: What’s the Difference?

 

When it comes to self-esteem vs self-confidence, we’re all guilty of sometimes confusing these two terms and thinking they mean exactly the same. However, self-esteem and self-confidence are not synonyms, although they are very similar. 

For you to understand the difference, we will examine these two terms. You will not be confused for long once you understand what self-esteem and confidence are, and it can also help you better understand those around you.

 

What Is Self-Esteem? 

Your self-esteem is your level of self-worth and appreciation. It also includes your life experiences and relationships with other people, shaping and altering your sense of self-worth.

Self-esteem, as the term suggests, is about how we estimate or value ourselves. It’s a concept deeply rooted in our feelings, ideas, and actions. The term ‘estimate’ (aestimare) originates from Latin and means ‘to appraise, value, rate, or estimate.’ Understanding this origin can enhance your knowledge and appreciation of the concept of self-esteem.

Strong self-esteem is a powerful attribute. It liberates individuals from the need for external validation, such as money or prestige. It fosters acceptance of oneself and others, encourages risk tolerance, and opens doors to new experiences. This understanding can inspire and motivate you to nurture your own self-esteem. 

 

What Is Self Confidence? 

The term “self-confidence” describes the assurance we possess in particular areas of our lives. It is our conviction that we can accomplish our objectives and overcome obstacles. Unlike self-esteem, self-confidence is more outwardly focused and frequently easier to develop. 

Since knowledge and experience are the sources of confidence, our confidence level increases with our level of experience. The term “confidence” is derived from the Latin word, which means “to trust.” In other words, one has to have faith in their own abilities and their capacity to interact with others to be self-assured. 

Successful experiences usually result in increased self-confidence, which increases self-confidence in those domains even more. Most people, however, rely more on their self-confidence than on improving their self-esteem to be happy. The issue with this is that, unless we rise to a new challenge, our success is usually fleeting. 

 

Impacts of Low Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence

Low self-confidence or self-esteem are common problems for many people. For some, it just affects certain circumstances, while for others, it can be crippling or limiting.

If you lack these qualities, individual unpleasant or disappointing events might negatively impact your self-esteem or confidence. This might lead to a vicious loop of self-fulfilling prophecies, discouraging you from attempting them because of your pessimistic outlook on the future. Of course, this produces unsatisfactory results.

For example, if you lack confidence in yourself and receive negative feedback from your boss, you may think, “What else can I expect? I am stupid. This experience proves it, so I may as well give up.”

If you feel good about yourself and get negative feedback from your superior, you could ask yourself, “Where did I go wrong? I’ll research it so that I can improve next time.” You don’t feel less of a person despite your disappointment with the poor evaluation.

 

How to Improve Your Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence

Luckily, there are many ways to improve your self-esteem and self-confidence. After all, these two terms have a great impact on all areas of your life, so it’s in your interest to improve them. 

 

Start with Self-acceptance

Regardless of the circumstances, feeling better about yourself and other people is facilitated by increasing your self-acceptance.

We all make mistakes, and accepting them can make your life a lot easier. By engaging in self-acceptance exercises, you can:

  • Acknowledge that making mistakes is a vital part of learning 
  • Consider how you could approach challenges differently or change your approach to get different results.
  • Review your actions and try to change them without self-blame.

 

Learn More about Yourself

Pay attention to the situations or ideas that make you feel more or less confident or good about yourself. Be honest and list all your accomplishments, big and small. Once you are used to celebrating small wins, you will feel more confident and encouraged to tackle bigger projects. Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments helps. 

Consider that you are the only person with you 24/7. As you are beginning to learn more about yourself, focus on your own growth – which is something you are actually in control of. This means considering your goals and the aspects you would like to enhance or modify.

 

Challenge Your Thinking Patterns

When describing oneself to others or to yourself, be mindful of the words you use. We frequently show others more generosity and kindness than we do ourselves.

Acknowledge and confront your inner critic and try to convert them into your friend, not your enemy. After all, our inner critic is trying to protect us from negative experiences, and acknowledging its function allows you to become friends with it.  

Pay attention to the messages that help you respect who you are, and ignore the ones that doubt your worth or capacity. Use affirmations and constructive self-talk to rewire your brain every day, wherever you are.

 

Make Positive Changes in Your Life

To boost your confidence and sense of self-worth, you could decide to make some adjustments in your life. Consider the things you can change to feel better about yourself. For instance, you could wish to change your career, relationships, education, or acquire new skills.

Create a strategy that will entail specific objectives you want to achieve. Also, provide a timeline so you don’t feel stressed about this strategy of positive change. If it feels overwhelming for you, divide the objective into actionable steps and add them to your calendar. That can save you time and energy and keep you accountable at all times. 

 

Final Words

Whether you have low self-esteem or self-confidence, accepting that you’ve got the power to change it is crucial. As people, we’re all different, and we have unique experiences in life that can result in lower self-esteem or self-confidence. However, there are many ways for you to change that and start living a more confident, richer life! 

If you continue to struggle with boosting your self-esteem or self-confidence, consider reaching out to a therapist and working on it with them. Therapists can help you acquire a valuable set of techniques for this area and discover what is causing your low self-esteem or self-confidence. 

 

If you want to start your body journey at home, I invite you to learn more in our at home therapy video.

Body Image Therapy: Learn Positive Body Image

Couples Communication Strategies

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Help with Menopause Crazy Behavior

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Help with Menopause Crazy Behavior

 

If you’re a woman, you’ve probably heard someone talking about menopause crazy behavior, and if you’re in your 30s or 40s, you might feel confused about its meaning. We wanted to do some more research on how menopause affects women before deciding what is crazy and what isn’t. 

There is little discussion of menopause, which is unavoidable for aging cis women. Even if you ask young women, most of them will not know what to expect when that time comes. Read on if you are a woman curious about menopause or has just entered it and wants to know if your symptoms are common.

What Is Menopause? 

A woman enters menopause twelve months following her last menstrual cycle. The menopausal transition, also known as perimenopause, is the period before that happens when women may have hot flashes, irregular monthly cycles, or other symptoms.

The onset of menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. This period of time can range from 7-14 years. The length of time may vary depending on lifestyle choices, including smoking, age at onset, and race/ethnicity. The ovaries produce the hormones progesterone and estrogen, which the body produces in varying amounts during perimenopause.

Every woman experiences the menopausal transition differently and in different ways. Women may acquire weight more quickly, and their bodies use energy differently and in various ways in fat cells. Your physical function, body composition, and structure, as well as your heart or bones, may all alter.

Stages of Menopause

Menopause is the natural end to menstruation. There are three stages of menopause that you’ll need to be aware of to be able to tell them apart.

Perimenopause

Your ovaries progressively start to generate less estrogen eight to ten years before menopause, which is when perimenopause starts. It generally begins in your 40s. The final year or two of perimenopause is when estrogen begins to decline. Many women may be experiencing menopausal symptoms at this point. However, you can still become pregnant during this period and still have menstrual cycles.

Menopause

When you reach menopause, your menstrual cycles stop. Your ovaries have finished generating the majority of their estrogen and are no longer releasing eggs at this point. When you have missed your monthly cycle for 12 months in a row, a medical professional will diagnose you with menopause.

Postmenopause

This is the term used to describe the period following a year without a period. Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, may improve during this phase. Nonetheless, a decade or more after the menopause transition, some women still have menopausal symptoms. People in the postmenopausal period are more susceptible to several health issues, including osteoporosis and heart disease, due to a decreased level of estrogen in their bodies.

Menopause Symptoms

If you start to have some or all of the following symptoms, you could be entering menopause:

  • Hot flashes (a sudden sense of warmth that spreads across your body)
  • Chills and/or flashes of cold
  • Dryness of the vaginal walls 
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Urinary urgency
  • Sleep problems
  • Emotional changes 
  • Chapped lips, eyes, or skin
  • Soreness in the breasts
  • Abnormally heavy, light, or irregular periods

Some women might also experience:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Headaches
  • Pain in the muscles and joints
  • Sex desire changes
  • Concentration issues
  • Memory loss
  • Weight gain
  • Thinning or loss of hair

Changes in your hormone levels bring on these symptoms. While some people experience minor menopausal symptoms, others may experience severe symptoms. Not every person going through menopause will experience the same symptoms. 

Contact a healthcare provider that specializes in menopause. There are different boards depending on what country you live in. If you are in the United States, check them out. 

Why Do I Feel Like This? 

In menopause and perimenopause, varying emotions are common. Changing progesterone and estrogen levels cause many changes in your life like mood swings, insomnia, and hot flashes.

Your ability to sleep may suffer, libido problems may negatively impact your sexual life, and vaginal dryness may make things seem unpleasant. You could think you’re insane because of all these changes, yet we’re here to reassure you that you’re not. Hormonal changes happen! You don’t have to suffer and you can reach out to a longevity specialist. 

Hormone fluctuations occur throughout perimenopause and diminish during menopause, which can lead to abrupt and inexplicable mood swings or seemingly insane behavior. You could think you’re going crazy if you experience increased levels of impatience, anxiety, or melancholy, yet there’s no reason to freak out.

Menopause is a natural aspect of aging for all women, and it brings with it a host of mental and emotional changes that can cause disruptions to day-to-day activities. You should be aware that you are not experiencing menopausal symptoms alone, since around 75% of women encounter emotional issues during this time.

The Bottom Line

Your progesterone and estrogen levels vary during perimenopause and drop sharply during menopause. Due to low hormone levels affecting mood-regulating neurotransmitters, mood swings are common.

Hot flashes, which exacerbate tiredness and irritation and make it hard to fall asleep, are another effect of a fall in estrogen. Without enough sleep, as we all know, everything feels worse, and our emotional stamina is at its lowest.

While most women do not experience severe depression or anxiety after menopause, it is normal for them to have modest mood changes, irritability, and a lack of energy. Additionally, women who have had anxiety or depression in the past are more likely to encounter severe emotional symptoms throughout menopause.

If you’re struggling with your menopause symptoms or have any questions related to them, reach out to your doctor. If you’re noticing mood swings and are not able to function due to emotional bursts, you should consider reaching out to a therapist, as there might be other issues you need to address and work on. 

 

BLISS: Proven Methods for Improving the Female Orgasm

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

When to Seek Help for Anxiety & How to Do It

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When to Seek Help for Anxiety & How to Do It 

 

If you’ve been wondering when to seek help for anxiety, it probably means you’ve been experiencing certain symptoms for a while and are considering reaching out for support. As with any mental health challenge, professional guidance can be crucial in managing daily difficulties and uncertainties.

 

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a complex reaction to perceived or actual threats, manifesting in behavioral, physiological, and cognitive changes. The brain releases adrenaline in response to these threats, triggering the fight-or-flight response. This can occur in social situations or during significant life events. Sometimes, anxiety symptoms can persist long after the initial stressor, leading to physical symptoms like nausea or high blood pressure. Understanding when to seek help for anxiety is crucial in distinguishing between normal worry and an anxiety disorder.

 

Treatment Options

If you’re unsure when to seek help for anxiety, consider whether your symptoms are affecting your daily life. Consulting with a primary care physician is a good first step. They can identify any potential underlying medical conditions contributing to your anxiety. For more severe cases, a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, can provide specialized care. These professionals are skilled in diagnosing anxiety and offering effective treatment options.

 

Psychotherapy

In psychotherapy, a therapist works with you to reduce anxiety symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is particularly effective, teaching methods to manage symptoms and gradually face anxiety-inducing situations. Knowing when to seek help for anxiety can guide you in finding a therapist who specializes in CBT or other relevant therapies.

 

Medications

Medications can be useful depending on the type of anxiety disorder and any co-occurring conditions. Discussing the benefits and potential side effects with your doctor will help determine if this is an appropriate option for you.

 

Relaxation Techniques

Stress can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can help manage stress and anxiety. Recognizing when to seek help for anxiety can involve exploring these techniques to see if they alleviate your symptoms.

 

How to Find Help for Anxiety

Finding the right therapist is a crucial step in managing anxiety. Research potential therapists, consider your therapy goals, and assess your budget and insurance coverage. Personal recommendations can also be valuable, but ensure the therapist’s approach aligns with your specific needs.

By understanding when to seek help for anxiety and exploring the available options, you can take proactive steps toward managing your mental health and improving your quality of life.

 

Quick Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

quick ways to reduce anxiety and stress

 

 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

 

Anxiety Counselor: What Is It & How Do They Help?

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Anxiety Counselor: What Is It & How Do They Help?

 

If you’re struggling with anxiety, a general therapist might not be the best choice for you, and you should consider seeing someone who specializes as an anxiety counselor. After all, having anxiety is very different from having depression or experiencing difficulties in certain areas, so having a therapist who is skilled in treating anxiety can be very helpful.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with anxiety. Make sure you read this article as we share what you can expect from seeing an anxiety counselor and how they can help you feel better. 

 

What Is Anxiety?

It’s normal to feel anxious in life occasionally. On the other hand, people with anxiety disorders frequently experience intense, overwhelming, and persistent concern and panic regarding routine events. Panic attacks, which are abrupt, intense emotions of fear or terror that peak in a matter of minutes, are a common feature of anxiety disorders.

These uncontrollably intense, out-of-proportion-to-the-real-danger emotions cause disruptions to everyday tasks and can last for extended periods. You could steer clear of certain areas or circumstances to stop these emotions. The onset of symptoms can occur in infancy or adolescence and persist throughout maturity.

Generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, particular phobias, and social anxiety disorder (sometimes known as social phobia) are a few types of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders can coexist in you. Anxiety can occasionally be the outcome of a disease that requires medical attention.

 

Therapy for Anxiety

You don’t have to live with anxiety and dread, whether you’re experiencing panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, constant worries, or an overwhelming phobia. Therapy is frequently the best course of action for many anxiety disorders, and treatment can be helpful. This is because, in contrast to anxiety medications, anxiety treatment addresses the root cause of the issue as well as its symptoms. 

Finding the root reasons for your anxieties and phobias, learning how to unwind, adopting a more positive outlook on life, and improving your coping and problem-solving abilities are all possible with the support of therapy. Therapy teaches you how to use these techniques and provides you with the means to overcome anxiety.

Since anxiety disorders vary widely, treatment should be customized to your unique symptoms and diagnosis. For example, you will receive a different course of therapy if you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) than if you are experiencing anxiety attacks. The kind and degree of your anxiety problem will also determine how long therapy takes. Nonetheless, a lot of anxiety treatments are only temporary.

Although there are many other kinds of treatment used to address anxiety, exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are the most popular methods. Any anxiety treatment can be used on its own or in conjunction with other forms of treatment. Individual or group therapy for those with comparable anxiety disorders might be used for anxiety treatment. However, the objective remains the same: to reduce your anxiety, relax, and face your anxieties.

 

How Can an Anxiety Counselor Help You?

Notwithstanding their licensure or number of clinical hours, not all counselors provide the same services or possess the same experience. If two counselors work exclusively with anxiety. For example, one may provide cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) while the other would solely do exposure treatment. Therefore, it might be helpful to explore treatment modalities, specialties, and strategies before choosing a counselor. 

Finding mental health practitioners who work in these fields after researching different kinds you might be interested in for your specific symptoms could be a useful place to start. You may also get in touch with an anxiety-focused counselor to find out which method they think will work best for your circumstances.

Experience does not always correlate with a field’s licensing and training requirements. A counselor with years of expertise in treating anxiety may be able to help various clients by drawing on what they have observed to be effective in the past. However, because they have recently finished school, newer providers may also be conversant with more sophisticated treatments as they often supervise more seasoned specialists. 

 

I’ve Found My Anxiety Counselor, Now What?

Some mental health providers may limit their client interactions to in-person sessions. On the other hand, many counselors now only or mostly provide text, phone, or video sessions. These virtual formats could be more pleasant for those who suffer from anxiety and might also be more practical for people who reside in remote places or have difficulty finding a suitable provider nearby. 

To help you decide, you may evaluate online and in-person counselors’ availability and testimonials. 

Prepare a short list of questions to ask possible therapists to learn more about them and see if they are a good fit for you. A lot of providers will offer a short email consultation before the first session to answer any questions you may have. Here are some examples of questions you could ask: 

  • Are you working with clients who struggle with anxiety?
  • Do you have experience treating symptoms similar to mine? 
  • What do the people you work with do to control their anxiety?

 

Conclusion

It’s a common misconception that treatment will make you feel better immediately. Sometimes, this might be the case, yet more often, therapy requires time. However, you frequently have worsening symptoms before improving ones. Interestingly, feeling worse is often a sign of getting better, which makes sense when you think about it.

When you decide to go to therapy, it is usually because you have not been able to deal with your anxiety on your own. As you go through therapy, you will learn more about what is making you anxious. The process will not always feel pleasant, yet in the end, it will be helpful.

 

Quick Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

quick ways to reduce anxiety and stress

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Work Stress Therapy: A Path to Managing Work Stress More Efficiently 

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Work Stress Therapy: A Path to Managing Work Stress More Efficiently 

 

We spend so many hours working that it is not surprising that more people are interested in work-stress therapy. Feeling good about your work environment can be challenging when you have a lot of responsibilities and obstacles. 

Mental health professionals say that people who work in stressful places or who get stressed out a lot at work have chronic stress. Having a lot of stress in your life can have long-term effects on your physical and mental health. 

Discover methods that can stop some stressful events from happening and how work stress therapy can help you handle the stress you experience at work.

 

What Causes Stress at Work? 

Stress at work is affecting workers’ health and happiness, as well as the efficiency of businesses around the world. Work-related stress happens when someone has to deal with too many demands at work.

Various situations can result from work stress. A person may feel pressured by their work when their demands—such as long hours or heavy workloads—beyond their capacity. Unexpected changes, disagreements with coworkers or superiors, and threats to job security, such as potential layoffs, can also cause stress at work.

When talking about symptoms of work stress, these are the most common ones: 

  • constant or frequent fatigue
  • muscular tension
  • headaches
  • heart palpitations
  • sleeping difficulties
  • gastrointestinal issues 
  • anxiety and negative thoughts
  • irritability

 

What is Work-Stress Therapy?

Seeking professional help from a therapist is a must when someone is stress level gets so high that it is hurting their mental health. Too often, people do not care about treatment. After all, how can a therapist make their office feel different? That is not what the treatment is meant to do, though. Therapists help people deal with stress in a healthy way, which is good for their mental health.

There are different types of therapy that can help you manage your work stress, depending on the therapist you choose, your needs, and your specific situation.

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to treat a range of mental and behavioral health issues. Counselors using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assist patients in seeing the strong links that exist between their ideas, emotions, and actions. The first step in creating techniques to manage negative thoughts and emotions, lessen the stress they produce, and curtail any resulting harmful actions is to recognize what negative thoughts and feelings are.

 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Many mental health professionals advise using DBT, a type of stress reduction, in addition to more conventional therapies like CBT. While DBT doesn’t “cure” stress, it does improve coping mechanisms like emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. People with long-term mood disorders and eating disorders are among those who use this method to get better. DBT therapists help clients with work stress therapy by incorporating mindfulness into their daily lives, which makes a big difference in the quality of their lives. 

Although these two approaches are the most common in treating work stress, other therapy approaches that can be beneficial are psychoanalytic therapy, EMDR, or sometimes medication. 

 

Other Ways to Cope with Work Stress

Besides therapy, there are other things you can try to help alleviate stress and feel more relaxed at work. Knowing how much impact work has on our private lives as well makes it even more necessary to approach stress the right way.

It is important to keep track of your medical visits because stress has been associated with certain medical conditions. Making an appointment with your healthcare provider will assist in ruling out any potential medical issues that could be causing your symptoms. Additionally, your doctor can help you create a healthier diet and recommend avoiding coffee as a way to manage stress.

Try mindfulness exercises like meditation through classes or applications. Studies have indicated that these techniques, many of which are straightforward enough for you to include in your workday, might help lessen the anxiety symptoms that may accompany work-related stress.

Discussing your job stress with your boss might be beneficial, especially if you have the help of a therapist, to see if you two can come up with any solutions. Speak with an HR specialist as well, if there is one at your place of employment. You can involve HR if you think that harassment or discrimination at work is the cause of your stress. You can also ask union resources for assistance if you’re a member of one.

Consider adding rewarding activities to your everyday life and reducing your body’s stress reaction by engaging in the visual, performing, and creative arts. Maintaining interests outside of work may also be a helpful reminder that life is more than just your job.

Lastly, consider spending more time in nature. Going for long walks in nature and exploring new parks, mountains, or woods can help you feel more relaxed, grounded, and connected with your surroundings. The sun, fresh air, and movement are three things that can help you improve your mood and make you feel relaxed almost immediately. If your work is stressful, aim to walk every day for at least 20 minutes. 

 

Conclusion

If you believe you are experiencing stress at work, you should get adequate help. It’s easy to believe that the emotion will pass or that everyone experiences it in the same way, yet ignoring it and not addressing it can only make you feel worse. Work should normally make you feel happy, especially when you spend so much time there. You ought to be content and pleased with your accomplishments.

Everyone will inevitably experience unpleasant days where they feel worn out and uninspired. However, if you carry these feelings with you every day, they will eventually get to you. Long-term stress may have a negative impact on your life, both psychologically and physically. 

Seeking a good therapist and prioritizing your mental health are crucial to managing stress. The sooner you start working on it, the sooner you will feel better. Don’t forget that by taking care of yourself, you become a better partner, mother, daughter, and friend, as you’ll have more energy and capacity for everyone around you. 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

How To Convince Someone To Go To Therapy With You

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How To Convince Someone To Go To Therapy With You

 

If you’re in a relationship or a marriage, you have experienced the good and the bad and might be wondering how to convince someone to go to therapy with you. No relationship is perfect, and it requires a lot of communication to understand each other’s needs and wants, so talking to someone who might guide you both to become the couple you want to be could be the solution you need.

If your partner or spouse doesn’t feel as strongly about the benefits of therapy as you do, give them some time. In the meantime, do your best to share everything they will get from sessions and work with you on strengthening your union.

 

The Power of Couples Therapy

Marital therapy, couples counseling, and couples therapy are other names for couples therapy. It’s a form of family therapy that can help examine why two individuals disagree. This kind of relationship therapy also emphasizes communication skill improvement for a romantic relationship to recover and flourish. Marital counseling or couples therapy may have numerous advantages when two people are committed to it. It may play a crucial role in establishing a partnership based on trust, respect, and concern for one another.

The advantages of relationship therapy can vary depending on the pair seeking assistance. The greater the level of commitment both you and your partner are prepared to make to your relationship, the more likely it is to succeed.

Having someone you both trust is essential when looking for a competent couples therapist. After hearing what you both say, your therapist may provide frank, fair, and impartial comments. Hearing what someone else says about our relationship gives us a fresh perspective. That impartial third person can hear all sides and provide you with insightful comments and suggestions on different areas of your relationship or marriage. 

 

How to Convince Your Partner/Spouse to Go to Therapy with You

If you’re certain that you want to try therapy, yet your partner doesn’t agree, be patient. There are certain things you can do to help your partner understand how therapy can make your relationship and your individual lives better. 

 

  • Ask Them Why

Before judging or encouraging your partner to try couples therapy with you, ask them for their reasons. Why don’t they like therapy? Are they afraid of something? What do they think might happen? Understanding why your partner doesn’t consider couples therapy a good idea might help you understand each other better. Once you know their reasons, it will be much easier to know your options.

 

  • Share Your Reasons

Oftentimes, your partner might assume that by going to therapy, you’re expressing your unhappiness about the relationship. Explain to them the real reasons why you think therapy would benefit your relationship. For instance, you might want to feel closer to them, work on setting boundaries that would work for both of you, or look to solve a recurring argument in a relationship.

 

  • Connect with a Couple That Goes to Therapy

Do you have a friend who went to or is going to couples therapy with their partner? If they are willing to share that experience, this might show your partner that it’s not at all as they imagined it. Also, if they hear from someone else about the numerous benefits of couples therapy, it might be more effective. 

 

  • Talk about Boundaries

When trying a new thing, especially as a couple, it’s important to establish boundaries. Your partner might feel insecure about certain topics or areas of their life, so respecting their needs is essential before going into therapy. Allow them to gain trust in your therapist first. They might need more time than you to open up about certain things, yet once they feel secure enough, they will feel more open to the idea of sharing more vulnerable experiences or thoughts.

 

  • Test the Idea

Explain to your partner or spouse that you can try different therapists before you commit to the one you both like. Not only that, you can get them to be more interested in couples therapy if you tell them that this doesn’t have to be a commitment at all. Suggest trying one session and seeing how they feel about it. With a good therapist, they will probably want to give it another shot before you start going to therapy regularly. 

 

  • Find the Common Objective

Besides sharing your reasons why you want to try couples or marriage therapy, also try to focus on the common goal. For instance, if you’re engaged, you can tell your partner that you want to be even more intimate with them as you’re approaching marriage. Or, you might want to start working on some issues before you go on a longer vacation together. Framing the idea of therapy as a tool to enjoy something that matters to you both might improve the chances of your partner actually going to therapy with you. 

 

  • Know When to Quit

If your partner is certain that they don’t want to go to therapy even after trying all these suggestions from our list, respect it. Maybe it’s not the right time for them to do therapy. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t open up this subject with them in a few months. Be mindful of how your partner feels, and instead of forcing a solution, try to be more supportive. 

 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that any relationship can benefit from therapy, even the one that ended. However, we are not all aware of the benefits that couples or marriage therapy can bring to our relationships. If your partner or spouse doesn’t want to go to therapy, talk to them about it. Ask them about their reasons and think about ways you can make them feel more comfortable with that suggestion. Also, if you’re not in therapy and are only considering couples therapy, think about finding a therapist for yourself and working on improving your mental and emotional health. In the end, there are so many things we can give to ourselves without expecting to receive them from someone else!

 

 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Effective Strategies for Preventing Burnout in the Workplace

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Effective Strategies for Preventing Burnout in the Workplace

 

In today’s work environment, preventing burnout in the workplace has become increasingly crucial. The rise in employee burnout across various industries, particularly in the tech sector, highlights the need for effective strategies to manage and prevent this issue. Understanding and implementing these strategies can significantly enhance employee well-being and productivity.

 

What Is Employee Burnout?

Employee burnout refers to a state of physical or emotional exhaustion, often accompanied by feelings of emptiness and helplessness. While not classified as a medical condition, burnout can lead to or exacerbate mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. Recognizing the symptoms of burnout, such as frequent headaches, fatigue, and lack of motivation, is essential for early intervention and recovery.

 

Strategies for Preventing Burnout in the Workplace

  1. Seek Employee Feedback

Regularly soliciting feedback from employees is a key strategy for preventing burnout in the workplace. Engaging with team members helps identify potential issues before they escalate into burnout. Addressing concerns promptly and ensuring employees feel heard can prevent dissatisfaction and reduce the risk of burnout.

  1. Be Mindful of Workload

Managing employee workload is crucial for preventing burnout. Overworked employees are at higher risk of burnout, so it’s important to ensure that workloads are manageable and align with each employee’s capacity. Monitoring performance and being proactive in adjusting workloads can help maintain a healthy work environment.

  1. Provide Flexible Scheduling

Flexible scheduling is another effective approach to preventing burnout in the workplace. Allowing employees to design their own work schedules can enhance job satisfaction and reduce stress. Flexibility helps employees balance their personal and professional lives, leading to lower burnout rates.

  1. Implement a Good PTO Policy

A robust paid time off (PTO) policy is essential for preventing burnout. Encouraging employees to take their allotted PTO helps them recharge and return to work with renewed energy. Cultivating a workplace culture that values and supports time off can significantly impact employee well-being.

 

In Conclusion

Preventing burnout in the workplace is essential for maintaining a productive and healthy work environment. By implementing strategies such as seeking employee feedback, managing workloads, offering flexible scheduling, and promoting a good PTO policy, companies can create a supportive atmosphere that reduces burnout and fosters overall employee satisfaction.

 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Harmonizing Minds: How Music Helps Mental Health

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Harmonizing Minds: How Music Helps Mental Health

 

If you’ve ever listened to music and noticed you feel better as soon as your favorite song comes on. You might have wondered how music helps mental health. Whether it’s listening to music that reminds you of certain times or certain somebody, to cheer you up. Or to allow you to connect with your other emotions. Music is a powerful tool that can have a great impact on how you feel.

According to recent studies, listening to music influences our cultural and personal identities and affects how we feel. Let’s take a look at how music can improve your mental health.

 

Why Music Is Important to Us

If one language could be used worldwide, it would be music. It has the power to take us elsewhere, enable us to relive memorable events. Improve our health and happiness, and enhance our sense of community and family ties.

It’s well established that music enhances mental health and life satisfaction. Young children may communicate through sound and movement through music, providing a creative and healthy avenue for self-expression for people of all ages.

Our relationship with music is particularly personal since we are complex human beings from a wide range of cultures with diverse life experiences and physical and mental health demands. Our connection with music may be a highly delicate, fragile, and frequently complex dance that changes every minute depending on our feelings, tastes, social context, and past experiences. 

There are ways in which listening to music can immediately and visibly improve our well-being:

  • Using a calming playlist to facilitate the transition to sleep,
  • Using lively dance music to inspire yourself to work out or feel better in general,
  • Facilitating self-expression through singing, 
  • Connecting with others during a live performance.

 

Music & Healing

Musical interactions between babies and their caretakers may develop a baby’s attention span and social awareness from birth. Musical interactions also provide social benefits for toddlers and preschoolers; however, their area of influence also extends to other children and instructors.

As children grow into teenagers and adults, they engage with others in a community of listeners and players through music. Music aids our understanding of people’s thoughts and emotions. Out of all the groups in our culture, students who play in the school band or orchestra have the lowest rates of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use, both in the present and over the long term. 

Listening to music influences our cultural and personal identities and affects our feelings. Serious mental health and drug use issues can also be treated with music therapy, as it can help people take a deeper look into their emotions and understand what caused them to feel a certain way. 

Apart from its therapeutic qualities, music can enhance the message of diversity and inclusivity by exposing individuals to different cultures and giving voice to underrepresented groups, thereby improving our comprehension and admiration of many societies.

 

Ways Music Can Help Mental Health

Music may be a powerful tool of transformation, even though there isn’t one miraculous song, optimal intervention, or ideal genre to make life’s difficult things easier.

 

  • Trauma Healing

It has been demonstrated that music therapy may offer a secure and encouraging setting for trauma healing and resilience development, as well as lowering anxiety and enhancing depressed people’s functioning. Utilizing music to achieve health and educational objectives, such as enhancing mental well-being, lowering stress levels, and easing pain, is known as music therapy. It is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention. 

Hospitals and schools are two places where you will be able to find therapy in the form of music. Participating in music-making activities, including creating songs, drumming circles, or group singing, has helped emotional release, encouraged introspection, and fostered community.

 

  • Social Connection

Additionally, music can unite people and foster social support by tearing down barriers and bridging gaps. There is growing evidence that music can foster social connectivity, improve prosocial conduct, and foster emotional competency. Communities may use choirs, music education programs, and music programs’ intrinsic power to unite people and promote a feeling of belonging. 

These events have the potential to provide welcoming environments where individuals from all backgrounds may congregate, work together. And form bonds around common musical interests. These encounters foster community, fight loneliness, and offer a network of support that can enhance general well-being.

 

  • Empowerment

There is a long history of using music for social change and activism. Through tackling subjects like gender bias, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial inequality, music may effectively serve as a vehicle for advancing inclusivity and social justice. People may communicate their particular experiences, challenges, and victories via music, connecting with others who have similar experiences. Listening to various musical genres and performers may help listeners overcome preconceptions, widen their viewpoints, and develop empathy—especially when they dance together.

Historically, underrepresented voices have been given a platform by genres like hip-hop, reggae, jazz, blues, rhythm & blues. And folk to reclaim their stories and question social conventions. Songs that are socially conscious have been shown to have a significant impact on causes like feminism. LGBTQ+ rights, and civil rights, where they have mobilized communities and brought about change. Engaging in activism as a musician may help their audience feel more connected to causes and inspired to become involved, as well as reach out to new supporters.

 

Conclusion 

According to certain studies, listening to music may be enjoyable and may even improve your health. In addition to its potential to bring happiness and pleasure, music has several other psychological advantages. In addition to energizing the body and calming the mind, music can even improve pain management.

The idea that music has the power to affect your emotions, ideas. And actions probably does not come as a huge surprise. Ever been moved by a live performance or pumped up by your favorite fast-paced rock anthem? You may understand how music can affect moods and motivate action. Whatever your mood, music will likely be your best friend. Whenever you need it, you can easily access it and enjoy its numerous benefits!

 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Improve Your Communication Skills With These Helpful Tricks

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Improve Your Communication Skills With These Helpful Tricks

 

As long as we live, we will need to communicate, so finding ways to improve your communication skills is beneficial for all areas of your life. When we are better at communicating what we need, we can better understand others and build valuable relationships with them. People who have successful careers are often excellent communicators. Also, people in fulfilled relationships are quite aware of the value of communication.

That said, communication is a skill. We are not born as great or bad communicators and we cannot change that throughout our lives. There are many ways you can improve your communication skills and start noticing changes very soon. Continue reading!

 

Why Communication Matters

From the moment we are born, we start communicating. A baby cries if it is hungry, cold, or feels unsafe. The mother hears her baby cry and fulfills her newborn baby’s needs. That is communication. 

We can communicate verbally or nonverbally with each other. For instance, you can tell your friend that their comment was inappropriate by giving them a certain look. Or you can be direct and express your thoughts with words. Without communication, we would be unable to connect with others. We wouldn’t be able to build relationships with our parents, siblings, friends, teachers, partners, bosses, and random people we meet in life.

However, communication is not just an exchange of information. It gives us self-esteem, security, and a feeling of belonging. It is what builds relationships and communities that, without it, probably wouldn’t even exist. When we understand the value communication has in our lives, we are able to treat it as a priority and spend some time learning techniques that improve how we interact with the world around us. 

 

How to Improve Communication Skills

If you think your communication skills could be better, you’ll be happy to hear that improving them is not that complicated. As with everything, it takes time, yet once you start implementing the tricks we’ll share below, you’ll notice how you understand people better, and they will be able to understand you better as well. 

 

  • Listen Carefully

When talking about communication, most people will assume that we’re referring to talking. However, listening is a crucial part of communication. How you pay attention to the person talking to you will impact the quality of the communication you two have. Not only that, listening to someone partially shows them you don’t care about them or the topic they are trying to discuss with you. 

If you want to become better at listening, make sure you engage in a conversation when you are ready for it. If you feel tired or distracted, it’s better to share it with the other person and find a time and place that work better for both of you. 

 

  • Ask Questions

The best way to ensure that communication is ongoing and valuable to everyone who is interacting with you is by asking questions. When you ask a question, you show that you care and that you want to learn more about the person. This will also motivate the other person to ask questions about you.

Asking questions is not just reserved for showing interest. You should ask a question if you are listening to a lecturer at a seminar and need clarification on what they are saying. By clarifying, you will be able to have more valuable information and avoid miscommunication and confusion.

 

  • Always Recap 

Regardless of whether communication is happening between you and your work colleague or your partner, it’s a wise idea to recap. It allows you to see if you forgot to address something and also ensures that everyone is on the same page. Many times, you will notice that although you’ve shared your ideas or expressed your opinion, the other side didn’t maybe understand the way you hoped for. When you recap, you can check if all the information is clear. 

Don’t skip this one just because you assume that everything you or someone else has shared is more than straightforward. Just one second of distraction and your brain could have lost the most valuable detail!

 

  • Be Patient

When communicating, don’t rush! Trying to say or explain something quickly can make you skip important pieces of information and create chaos. When talking too fast or trying to end the conversation as soon as possible, the other person might even get the wrong idea and think you don’t like talking to them.

That is why it’s crucial to plan time for communication. If you need to talk about something with your partner, dedicate a certain amount of time to the conversation. Don’t just calculate the time you need to say what you need to say; include the time for the other person as well. 

 

  • Be Kind

Kindness and patience go a long way. If you are kind, people will want to talk to you. Even the leaders who are in front of multinational corporations will seem more approachable if their employees see them as kind. However, kindness is so much more than just not being distant or close-minded.

Offer empathy. Use your body language to show interest. Offer a hug when someone seems to need it. If people feel comfortable when talking to you, they will seek your advice more often. This also builds trust between people, so you’ll see that a kind person has more friends than an unkind one. 

 

Your Words Have Power … And Your Actions Too

Becoming aware of how you communicate with people around you is the first step to improving your communication. If you feel comfortable, ask a friend or your partner how they would describe your communication style. Take their impressions and start working from there.

Keep in mind that everything can be improved if you work on it. Also, don’t forget to work on areas that are important to you. If you want to learn how to speak more, get connected and start your journey at home. 

With your demanding boss, sharpening your communication skills will get you there. Test our ideas and adjust them to your communication style. As soon as you do so, you will start noticing how communicating with others has become much easier and more beneficial for you!

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do. 

Anxiety and Depression Therapist Near Me

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Anxiety and Depression Therapist Near Me

 

If you’ve come here after searching for an anxiety and depression therapist near me, we’ll share everything you need to know to find the best professional for yourself. Whether it is anxiety or depression, you need help with, or both, finding a good therapist is essential.

If you are keen to find someone who offers in-person sessions, look for a therapist whose office is within a reasonable distance from you. Before you go to your first session, there are some things you should be aware of, and we’ll mention them all in this article. 

 

Definitions of Anxiety and Depression

Although anxiety and depression are two distinct conditions, many people will experience both at the same time. If this is your case, you don’t have to seek a therapist for anxiety and another one for depression. As these two conditions often go hand in hand, patients dealing with both an5xiety and depression will receive one treatment that focuses on the causes and symptoms of both. 

Feeling sad or unmotivated to get out of bed is normal from time to time. Also, it’s normal that you experience anxiety in certain situations. This doesn’t mean you need to be diagnosed with these two conditions. However, if you’ve been experiencing anxiety or depression for a while now and it’s difficult to find something that makes you feel calm, happy, or satisfied with your life, it would be a good idea to see a therapist. 

Persistent or severe anxiety and depressive symptoms may indicate an underlying mental health issue. One of the signs of clinical depression is anxiety. Anxiety disorders like separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder can also frequently cause depression. A lot of people are diagnosed with both clinical depression and anxiety disorders.

Most of the time, psychotherapy, often along with antidepressants, successfully reduces the symptoms of these disorders. Adjusting your lifestyle to include better sleeping patterns, more social support, stress-reduction strategies, or regular exercise may also be beneficial. Avoid recreational drugs, alcohol, and tobacco if you have anxiety or depression. Even though many assume that because they briefly alleviate certain anxiety and depression symptoms, drugs and alcohol can hurt your progress to recovery. 

 

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

If you notice a constant presence of a feeling of unease, whether it’s fear or worry, you might have anxiety. Having anxiety is different from experiencing worry or fear from time to time. For instance, feeling anxious about a job interview is completely normal, yet feeling anxiety often and so intensely that it affects your daily activities is a more severe condition. 

These are the most common anxiety symptoms:

  • Finding it challenging to concentrate or make decisions
  • Feeling irritable or tense
  • Experiencing nausea or abdominal pain
  • Having heart palpitations
  • Sweating, trembling, or shaking without any cause
  • Sleeping problems or insomnia
  • Fearing that something bad is going to happen 

It’s important to learn the difference between anxiety and depression. When you feel sad for a while and feel like it’s interfering with your everyday activities, these could be signs of depression.

These are the common symptoms of depression: 

  • Feeling down or sad constantly
  • Feeling like you’ve completely lost hope
  • Feeling helpless
  • Feeling unworthy
  • Being constantly irritable and intolerant of others
  • Feeling guilty for things that are out of your control 
  • Finding it hard to make decisions
  • Lack of motivation or interest in things you were once passionate about 

 

Anxiety and Depression Therapy

Through therapy, you can become more conscious of your feelings, the reasons behind them, your triggers, and techniques to help change your behavior. Certain forms of treatment provide useful skills for reframing unfavorable beliefs and altering behaviors, and they are used in treating anxiety and depression as well.

 

Interpersonal Therapy 

Interpersonal therapy is focused on any disturbed personal relationship in your life that could be the cause of depression or anxiety. 

 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help patients change the negative patterns in their thinking and behavior, which are often common symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) 

Dialectical behavioral therapy was created to help with borderline personality disorder, yet it has proven to be quite successful with patients who deal with anxiety and depression. Many individuals can use these skills to get instant distress tolerance and emotion regulation. 

 

Eye Movement Desensitization Resolution (EMDR)

The EMDR technique is recommended for people who want to recover from a certain trauma or have post-traumatic stress disorder. As childhood traumas are one of the most common causes of depression and anxiety in adult life, EMDR therapy can help you deal with symptoms better and learn how to cope with your everyday activities better. 

 

Somatic Therapy

Although popularized recently, somatic therapy is really efficient when it comes to learning how our thoughts and emotions impact our body. Somatic therapy consists of numerous body-centered practices in which your therapist helps you understand what your body is experiencing with certain memories or events and how to find better ways to deal with them. 

 

Finding the Right Anxiety and Depression Therapist

There are probably many therapists in your area. However, not all of them will be adequate to deal with patients who are suffering from anxiety, depression, or both. This is why it’s important to research a therapist before booking a session with them.

Check their website and client reviews, or ask them directly for fields of expertise. You have every right to know whether or not they will be able to help you with your unique situation. Treating a patient who has anxiety or depression is very different from treating a patient who is going through a divorce with kids. 

These are just a few useful tips when looking for an anxiety and depression therapist:

  • Determine your goals before seeing your new therapist.
  • Check your finances and consult your insurance company.
  • Ask for recommendations from people you trust. 
  • Reach out to therapists who address your area of concern. 
  • Ask your therapist questions during the first session to see if they fit you well. 

 

Whichever therapist you choose in the end, make sure they have the knowledge and the skills to help you deal with the challenges in your life. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, reach out to a trustworthy anxiety and depression therapist in your area and take the first steps towards a more fulfilled life. 

 

Quick Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

quick ways to reduce anxiety and stress

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do.