One of the most confusing things for a Christian is when they experience anxiety or depression symptoms and wonder where God is. Generally speaking, when a person comes into relationship with God they experience an initial elevation of hope, joy and peace over their newfound identity in Christ. As time progresses, many Christians then go… CONTINUE
Being Kind to Yourself – Saying Goodbye to Negative Self-Talk
There I go again, being a jerk. Why am I so lazy? I keep repeating the same mistakes. I don’t deserve to be happy . . . Negative self-talk is a common symptom of depression and anxiety. It’s an attempt to motivate yourself by self-criticism. But you won’t make yourself feel better by making yourself… CONTINUE
Working with Anxiety
What’s your pet mental fixation? Money worries? Health concerns? Anger at your spouse? Frustration with your boss? This fussy internal voice chatters at you all day, making noise when you’re stopped at a red light, standing in line at the grocery store, or lying in bed tossing and turning. Chronically visiting and revisiting whatever pet… CONTINUE
Anxiety, Relaxation and Focus
What’s the least helpful thing you can say to someone who is stressed and anxious? Just relax. Telling someone who is stressed to relax is like telling someone who wants to win the race to run faster. Obviously, if an anxious person could relax in that moment, she would do just that. And oftentimes, the harder… CONTINUE
Easy Relaxation Tip
Relax your face, and your mind will follow. When you think, your eyes are involved. Try to remember what you ate for breakfast yesterday. In trying to remember, your eyes look away for a moment or they defocus. Your eyes react when you call something to your mind’s eye. This is especially true when you… CONTINUE
Using “Then What” Thinking to Overcome Anxiety
What’s the worst that could possibly happen? You either avoid this question or you tackle it head-on. When you’re feeling anxious about some life change or new undertaking, it can be useful to consciously consider the Worst Case Scenario. Suppose you fear certain social situations, such as business meetings. Regarding your next business meeting, what… CONTINUE
Trump Lovers and Trump Haters Unite! Here’s How You Maximize the Donald Years
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC You’re going to be seeing a lot of president elect Donald Trump for at least the next four years. Even more than you have been lately. Even more than when Omarosa was on “The Apprentice.” Some of you will like this. Some of you will not like this. Either way,… CONTINUE
Do You Ever Truly Clear Your Mind?
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC You want to clear you mind. You take a walk, work in in the garden, run an errand. You do some simple, relatively “automatic” task that doesn’t require your mind to do anything in particular. But is this really clearing your mind? Suppose you had a hard day at work…. CONTINUE
Introduction to Meditation and Mindfulness
Dallas Whole Life Counseling is offering a FREE introductory meditation and mindfulness session with Jon Johnston. Why Should I Meditate? Meditation has many benefits: Reduces anxiety, panic, and stress Alleviates depression Lowers blood pressure Addresses anger issues Reduces headaches and chronic pain Improves focus and follow-‐through What is Mindfulness? “Mindfulness means paying attention in a… CONTINUE
You Worry Too Much — But What if You Didn’t?
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC Are you a worrier? Do you stress about money, health, your relationship? Do you suffer from chronic pain or high blood pressure? Do you experience panic attacks or social anxiety? Most people deal with some kind of recurring stress or concern. These issues tend to limit our experience in various… CONTINUE