It’s Normal to Feel Anxious Before Your First Session Making the decision to see a therapist is a huge step towards improving your mental health. It shows that you are willing to make choices to improve your situation. While going to therapy is beneficial to your mental health, that doesn’t mean you have to be completely comfortable going. Seeing a therapist for the first time can create a lot of anxiety towards therapy in general, especially if you have no experience interacting with a therapist. But you should know that these feelings are normal. Even though you may have agreed to go, it does not mean your anxiety towards therapy goes away. These initial interactions can make you feel uncomfortable. After all, you have to share not only information about what you are struggling with but also basic information about your entire life. Your therapist will ask about your family, career, close friends, romantic relationships, background, and much more. Revealing all of this information to a stranger is daunting. A fear many people have before their first session is if they are going to like their therapist or not. If not, they will have to go through this process all…
Pay It Forward on July 15th It seems, in today’s world, people have more things than they need. The ever-increasing popularity of consumerism encourages people to buy in excess. Even if someone doesn’t need a product, they are often convinced by a brand or a business to make a purchase. As you can imagine, this often leads to people owning more than they need. Many of us are fortunate to have this “problem.” However, there are just as many people who do not have this privilege and struggle to get even the bare minimum. For those that have excess, they often clean their homes and declutter, getting rid of the things that they no longer need. However, instead of throwing these things away, you might have an option that not only helps you declutter your home but also makes the world a better place, and National Give Something Away Day is just the time for that. Every July 15th, we celebrate National Give Something Away Day. On this holiday, you are encouraged to share your many blessings with others in your community without any expectations. It’s a day to give back to those around you. Whether it’s to a significant…
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…
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,…
