By CPT Jennifer K. Paweleck, Chief of Community Mental Health Service, and Selina A. Jeanise, Health Promotion and Public Affairs, Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, Fort Huachuca, Arizona Note: This article was published in the early 2000s, while I was still on active duty. To my knowledge, all information is still current and relevant. People often have significant concerns regarding … [Read more...]
Trichotillomania and Excoriation
July 24, 2020 by
With the heightened anxiety of late, people are manifesting all sorts of coping skills, some of which are self-destructive. A couple I've seen more than once are trichotillomania, which is also known as hair-pulling disorder, and excoriation, which involves picking at one's skin, blemishes or scabs. Together, I'll refer to these as pulling and picking (P&P) disorders. Why do people do these … [Read more...]
Inflammation
July 19, 2020 by
There's a lot of buzz about inflammation these days. It has been linked to all manner of physical maladies, including everything from allergies to autoimmune illnesses to cancer. Put simply, inflammation is part of the body's immune response to harmful things, such as toxins, cell damage and various microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. Inflammation, in turn, can be a catalyst for the … [Read more...]
Spring, Summer and Suicide: It’s In the Air
June 3, 2020 by
MYTH: Suicide rates are higher around the holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. FACT: December is the month with the lowest suicide rate. Starting in 1949, May was recognized as mental health month. The goal of this month is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, decrease the stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment and provide resources for improving … [Read more...]
Depression Antidotes
May 20, 2020 by
Check out this video on some ways to fight depression. For a more comprehensive list of depression antidotes, see the full article here. https://youtu.be/EM_P8TVkwi4 DISCLAIMER: Material on this site is for informational purposes only. The content of this site is not intended to be a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a licensed professional. Information contained on this site … [Read more...]
Psychological Abuse in Relationships
May 4, 2020 by
Outside of some of the more obvious abuses and sins against a relationship, such as physical abuse, sexual coercion and infidelity, there are other forms of abuse that may not be so obvious to some. These include forms of psychological and emotional abuse. It’s not necessarily that people have had poor relationship role models and landed in a relationship similar to the one(s) they grew … [Read more...]
Up-Level Your Covid-19 Anxiety Management Game
April 27, 2020 by
Last time, we discussed anxiety management via creating greater control in your life by using scheduling. If that's working for you, skip this video. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take an honest look at your schedule and see what's really necessary in a given day. Let other things go. It's ok. If you're struggling to stick with your schedule, it's time to up-level your anxiety management game: … [Read more...]
Controlling Quarantine Anxiety
April 18, 2020 by
To watch a quick video of the article below, click here. Anxiety is a reaction to a perception of a loss of control. Read that again. The antidote for anxiety, then, is control. I want you to look at life as a continuum with acceptance on one end and change on the other. Some things we can’t do anything about and have to just accept. Other things, we can do something about, make a change in … [Read more...]
COVID-19 and Anxiety
March 23, 2020 by
Check out this live I did with Pastor Mark Grochocki, another therapist, about psychological coping during the coronavirus outbreak. You'll hear specific coping skills for anxiety and answers to real-time questions submitted by viewers. You'll also hear the story of the silliness my 11 y.o. son is engaging in to keep things light during quarantine. (Note: No toilet paper was wasted in the making … [Read more...]
White Fang
August 8, 2018 by
Last night, I watched White Fang with the kids. It was a really good movie. I’m sure many of you have read the original book by Jack London. For those who haven’t, I won’t spoil it for you, but the main character is a “wolfdog” that has three very different owners across his life. What I found interesting was the relative ease with which his personality changed from good to bad to good, depending … [Read more...]
