THERAPIST CORNER

Alone Time is Great For Your Mental Health As humans, we are naturally social beings. We crave interaction with one another. If it were not for our social nature, we would not have evolved into sophisticated people we are, living in an advanced society. While staying social and interacting with friends and family is vital to your health and well-being, separating yourself from large groups can also be just as essential. Spending too much time around other people can be overwhelming. You may start to feel irritable, anxious, and stressed. You may even lash out at those around you. Getting some quality alone time is crucial to help your mind and body reset and refresh. While the current pandemic has caused millions to isolate themselves, you can still need personal alone time. Some people are introverts and prefer being alone, while extroverts cannot stand being alone. A series of 11 studies found that participants across a wide range of ages did not enjoy spending even a brief period of time alone in a room doing nothing. In fact, some preferred giving themselves a mild electric shock rather than sit in a room and think. However, while we may not always…

Nature is Good for Your Mental Health We understand that during this age of social distancing and self-isolation, it’s difficult to do anything outside of your home without fear of contracting COVID-19. To protect themselves from the coronavirus, thousands of people have isolated themselves indoors, avoiding leaving their homes unless for essential work or errands, like visiting the doctor or going to the grocery store. While staying indoors does keep you away from those infected with the coronavirus, it also has quite an impact on your mental health. Humans are naturally social beings. We have evolved this way to ensure our survival by building relationships that benefit all parties. By self-isolating, we disrupt our social lives. However, there are other impacts of staying indoors that many people don’t realize. Are you aware of the countless mental health benefits of the outdoors? The outdoors and nature provide your mind and body with countless benefits that you cannot get while locked inside. It’s crucial to the health of your mind and body to spend plenty of time in nature. There are countless mental health benefits of the outdoors, which is why everyone should be taking some time out of their day in…

COVID-19 Has Worsened Many People’s Mental Illness Symptoms Everyone across the globe is experiencing a situation that we have never faced before. The current global pandemic caused by the swift spread of COVID-19 has impacted the lives of millions. The novel coronavirus has infected millions around the world, claiming the lives of thousands, as well. To combat the spread of COVID-19 and limit its impact, government bodies across the country issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. Social distancing rules were also established to protect communities. Unfortunately, due to these orders and guidelines, many places of business were temporarily closed. This eventually led to millions of people losing their jobs. Over 38 million Americans have filed unemployment over this time. It’s natural for people to feel scared and stress about COVID-19. They worry about the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones. However, due to many losing their jobs or having their hours or pay reduced, they also have financial worries. Additionally, humans are social beings, so limiting our social interaction has also impacted them. The mental health of millions has taken a hit because of the spread and impact of COVID-19. While many people are rightfully worried about their…

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…