Addiction Wreaks Havoc on the Lives of Millions Mental illness comes in many forms, affecting everyone differently. People commonly think of depression and anxiety when the discussion of mental health comes up, and rightfully so. However, many people often overlook the mental health implications of addiction and substance abuse. Those struggling with addiction understand just how much of an uphill battle beating it can be. However, there is no quick fix to ridding yourself of your addiction. It is an arduous process, but admitting your struggles and issues is the first step. Once you’ve recognized your issues, it’s time to start working towards solving them. While addressing your problems and committing towards changing them is the first step, it’s only the beginning. Deciding to overcome your addiction is a life-changing decision. Addiction affects individuals in various ways. While your body is addicted to a substance and craves it, after time, so too will your brain and mind. To clarify, quitting substance abuse is not just a physical task; it also means working on your mental health, as well. Those suffering from a dependency on a substance should not have to go through this process alone. Some of the most successful…
Low Self-Esteem Can Lead to Negative Impacts on Teens As children grow older, they will go through numerous changes. Their bodies will grow, and their minds will develop. However, as they reach adolescence, they will experience monumental developments, which change their entire life. Puberty and hormonal shifts often lead to many teenagers feeling insecure about their bodies and themselves. On top of these bodily changes, teenagers also face social changes, new emotions, and much more. Many teens struggle to maintain positive self-esteem and self-worth during these formative years. While growing up and going through adolescence is hard for all teens in different ways, all parents, guardians, and those in leadership or mentor positions must do what they can to help these young people understand the importance of knowing one’s worth. There is no better time than now to inspire young people and to help them create and maintain their own sense of self than National Teen Self-Esteem Month. Every May, we take the time to ensure our youth are aware of the importance of one’s self-esteem and to combat self-worth and self-image issues teenagers face daily. Lifework Counseling Center understands how difficult being a teenager can be. After all, not…
Make Your Mental Health a Priority While Self-Isolating As the surrounding COVID-19 continues to progress, fear and stress have begun to seep into the minds of many people. After all, to combat the spread of this virus, many governments have issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. While these orders aim to protect the health and safety of the general public, they also force people to remain in their homes, away from work and away from most social interactions. While their physical health remains a priority, many people’s mental health has taken a hit while self-isolating. These governments had to make the necessary, but difficult, decisions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. Many people did not predict how much of an impact these orders and the entire situation around COVID-19 would have. Being forced to remain indoors can impact the mental health of many. Lifeworks Counseling Center understands how valuable maintaining your mental health is, especially during periods of uncertainty and stress like the one we currently face. Self-isolating allows us to protect our bodies, but people were not prepared for the impact on their mental health. Today, we are going to help you manage your mental health…
Stress Can Lead to Serious Health Issues, Both Physical and Mental Stress is a natural part of life that everyone will experience in some way several points throughout their lives. It can appear in many different forms, and some of these are not inherently bad. The stress that comes with planning a wedding or working a job you love means that you care about what you do and are excited about the outcome. On the other hand, some stress is bad and is the result of negative actions or life events, such as getting laid off or losing a loved one. Regardless, experiencing stress is a normal part of life, both good and bad. Every April, we celebrate Stress Awareness Month. Since stress is common, and everyone has some experience with this function, this month is a time that anyone can engage in. Stress is prevalent in the lives of most Americans. After all, the U.S. is one of the most stressed countries in the world. 55% of Americans reported feeling stress daily, putting the U.S. only four points behind the world leader Greece (59%) and 20 points over the world average (35%). At Lifeworks Counseling Center, we understand that…
Many Graduates Struggle With Their Mental Health We spend most of our young lives in school. We enter kindergarten when we are about five years old, and many of us don’t finish school until we reach our early to mid-20s when we graduate from college. While some people go on to get their masters or doctorate, most people are content finishing with their bachelor’s degree. Graduating from college is a significant milestone in life. People spend years of hard work and dedication working towards earning their diplomas. It’s a time for celebrating your accomplishments with friends and family. However, once the celebrations are done, reality sets in. You’ve graduated, and becoming a graduate comes with a lot of expectations. Whether you like it or not, you are expected to become a functioning member of society now. This moment is everything you’ve been working towards all these years, but it doesn’t feel right. If this applies to you, you aren’t alone. Many recent graduates experience post-graduation depression. Now that you’ve graduated college, you may be asking yourself: “now what?” It’s a common question to ask. Up until this point, you’ve received quite a bit of help and support, and now you…
Join Millions Across the World on March 20th Celebrating happiness seems to be seen as a bit childish. After all, kids sing songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” all the time. However, it is an essential part of human life and should be something that every man, woman, and child on Earth strives towards. While it may not be possible to achieve happiness every day, it is admirable to support others in experiencing happiness as often as possible. Many view happiness as an essential and guaranteed human right, which is why the United Nations (U.N.) established International Day of Happiness on March 20th back in 2012. The first International Day of Happiness was celebrated on March 20th, 2013, and has only grown with each passing year. The U.N. established this day as a way to appreciate how relevant happiness and well-being are as goals and ambitions for people all over the globe and how critical it is that happiness is recognized in public policy objectives. This day highlights that progress isn’t just about improving our bottom lines and boosting economic growth but also the happiness and well-being of the citizens of the Earth. Join Lifeworks Counseling Center,…
Playing in the NFL Isn’t Just Harmful on Your Body But Also Your Mental Health As the dust has settled on Super Bowl LIV and the NFL season, the glitz and glamour of the American gridiron have begun to fade until the start of the next season. NFL players are given time to relax and decompress until the offseason begins. This period of recovery is not only necessary for players’ bodies, as they spend weeks hitting each other at full speed, but also players’ minds. In recent years, players’ mental health has become a priority for many fans, owners, and players. Concussions have been a significant cause for concern for many current NFL players, as well as parents of young children playing the game. The NFL has made an effort to help NFL players, past and present, with their mental health with the creation of Player’s Trust. Additionally, in 2019, the NFL began requiring teams to have a mental health professional in building for the players and coaches to utilize. Unfortunately, the very nature of the game often leads to increased risks for mental illness. In 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu was the first person to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly…
Valentine’s Day isn’t Just for Couples and People in Love We have officially entered February. As the year moves forward, this month contains a particularly popular holiday: Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is synonymous with romance and spending the day with your significant other. Wine is drunk, chocolate is eaten, cards are given, and love is shared. While this is an exciting holiday for those in committed relationships, it’s hardly a day single people look forward to. For those not in a relationship, Valentine’s Day and the days leading up to the holiday remind them that they are single. It can be very difficult for people not in relationships to enjoy themselves or be happy around this time of year. But it is far from impossible. While Valentine’s Day is historically a holiday celebrating the intimate love shared between two people, it can also be a day to love friends, family, and, above all else, yourself. Lifeworks Counseling Center is here to help you enjoy Valentine’s Day while single. You may find out that you love this holiday, after all. Celebrate Your Friends and Family Like we said before, Valentine’s Day is a day for sharing love with those you care…
Parents Should Limit Their Smartphone Use In today’s digital world, parents across the country are aware of the impact digital devices have on their children. However, hardly anyone recognizes how harmful parents being on their smartphone may be to their children and their development. After all, young children are very perceptive of what their parents are doing. They often crave the attention of their parents. Children learn and develop important social and cognitive skills from interactions with their parents. However, these interactions are often disrupted. Not by digital device use from children, but from digital device use by parents. That’s right. Smartphone-addicted parents may be harming their child’s development. Even though today’s parents spend more time with their children than before, they don’t give them the attention they need. While they may be physically present, but they aren’t emotionally present. Parent-child communication is crucial to a child’s development. Without it, they can’t effectively develop the social, cognitive, and behavioral skills needed to be a happy and successful adult. This isn’t to say that using digital devices is 100% safe for children, but to argue that parents’ screen use is an underappreciated problem. Today, Lifeworks Counseling Center is here to shed…
Couples Counseling Has Proven to Be Effective No two couples are the same. Each has its share of problems and issues. Some of these issues may become so large and unavoidable that you and your partner decide it’s best to seek couples counseling. This decision is not an easy one, either. For most couples, it can be daunting. People don’t like the idea of being completely open and vulnerable with a complete stranger. However, more and more couples are beginning to see the benefits of couples counseling. Research has shown that roughly 75% of couples have seen significant improvements to their relationships after going through couples counseling, using Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). Couples seek out counseling for many reasons. For some, they have the same argument over and over without ever reaching a solution. Others may experience the exact opposite and never fight, constantly ignoring their problems. Some couples may not have any obvious issues and just want to see if their relationship is healthy. Regardless, couples counseling can do wonders for you and your partner. The team of specialists at Lifeworks Counseling Center possesses the tools and techniques necessary to help you and your partner navigate your relationship in a…
