My Articles about Stress
Stress often comes in the form of change to our lives. Therefore, it is very important that we learn how to “get a handle” on change so that we can roll with it rather than be rolled over by it. Stress can literally run you over! Did you know that researchers are finding out that emotional stress is associated with increases in heart disease as well as other stress-related illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia? Continue
This is the third installment of a series exploring 15 traits of healthy families, identified by Dolores Curran as important to family success. This month’s column will look at traits six through eight, which state that healthy families; 6) are playful and have a sense of humor, 7) have a balance of interaction among family members, and 8) share leisure time. These three traits discuss important ways in which healthy families share and participate in each other’s lives. As I write these columns on the traits of healthy families, I am struck again with the truth of how important these traits are to healthy family functioning. I also realize how easy it is to neglect implementing these traits, especially the ones in this month’s column. Continue
With the end of Thanksgiving, the “Holiday Season” is in full swing. In addition to the everyday grind, there is all this extra stuff to do to get ready for the holidays: shopping, baking, planning reunions, planning parties, wrapping, decorating, putting Christmas trees in stands, getting hunters out of tree stands, and numerous other tasks. Why do we put ourselves through this every year? The Scrooges and Grinches of the world see it as a waste of time, all this pointless effort for one frenzied day of consumerism. Those who love Christmastime hold this time as a special time of togetherness with family and friends. Continue
