Coping Archives

Dealing with Holiday Stress: Tips to Keep Anxiety Levels Low 1

Jennifer TzoumasNovember 14, 2019January 8, 20221 Comment

Holiday stress! Remember when the holidays were fun? Perhaps you had to harken back to early childhood to answer that question accurately.

Let’s face it, the holiday season can be joyous and fun, but it has also become synonymous with stress. Travel plans, enormous expenses, reuniting with contentious relatives—you must juggle all of these factors and more along with your usual obligations. Combine that with a desire to have the ideal holiday image in your mind, and you have a perfect recipe for holiday stress and anxiety.

Key Benefits of Gratitude Practices: More Than Just Positive Thinking 7

Jennifer TzoumasSeptember 5, 2019December 4, 20207 Comments

Gratitude practices are tremendously beneficial to our mental heath and well being, but are often misunderstood or thought to be the same thing as positive thinking.

There are certainly benefits to thinking positively and getting rid of negative self-talk, but practicing gratitude is more than that.

7 Everyday Ways to Build Social Support & Make Friends 7

Jennifer TzoumasAugust 22, 2019October 20, 20207 Comments

Friends and social support helps us cope.

Friendships are crucial to everyone’s well being. Having a social support system, whether it’s in your church, your community, etc., can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and let you know you’re not alone.

But, it’s not always easy to put yourself out there and make new friends.

Whether you’re new to the area, or you’ve just always had trouble finding that solid support system in your life, don't despair! There are simple and everyday ways you can build social support and start to make friends for lasting, healthy relationships.

Social Media and Mental Health 7

Jennifer TzoumasAugust 15, 2019March 4, 20217 Comments

Whether you think of it a good or an evil, social media is a large part of our lives in the 21st century. Most of us are on it more than we’d like to admit. So many social interactions happen through our screen these days. In some ways, this is a blessing: we can stay connected to friends and family anywhere in the world.

Social media, however, can be bad for our mental health, and understanding how to use it and when to set limits is so important for self-care. While it can be a great tool, it’s important to handle it responsibly.

Self Care Strategies – More Than a Luxury Spa Day! 9

Jennifer TzoumasAugust 1, 2019October 17, 20209 Comments

When you think of the term “self-care,” do images of spa days and bubble baths come to mind? While it’s true that self-care can definitely include pampering yourself from time to time, self-care is about a lot more than treating yourself to a luxury day. You need to expand your strategies!

True self-care means that you take time to address your needs and take care of your body and mind. It can be a very small, simple act or a large gesture, but it is never limited to luxury cosmetic treatments or expensive shopping sprees.

Why Self Care is a Necessity, Not a Luxury 6

Jennifer TzoumasJuly 4, 2019October 17, 20206 Comments

The phrase “self-care” gets thrown around a lot lately. So much so, that many people think it’s a luxury. Self-care can take many forms, and is vital for a balanced life. It is especially essential for those with chronic stress, illness or pain, who feel depleted much faster. It is the emotional first aid we all need.

Between busy schedules, work, family, etc., it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself, which is why it’s often viewed as an "extra" in life. The problem with self-care is that we often fail to see that it runs on a broad spectrum. Self-care doesn’t have to mean taking a day at the spa or meditating for hours each day.

Happiness: A Symptom of a Life Directed by Values

You may be surprised at what research has found. It can shed some light on the ways we unknowingly set ourselves up to NOT feel happy.

Anthony TzoumasMarch 12, 2019June 23, 2020Leave a comment

-Anthony Tzoumas, Ph.D.
Psychologist

Everyone wants to be happy. It is a common goal most of us have. But what is the best way to go about achieving it?

Have you ever noticed that the harder you try to reach happiness, the more it seems to slip away?
Do you question how much control you have over feeling happy?
Is it luck? Genetics? Once you get out of debt, get a promotion, find the perfect spouse, etc.?
Do you think you are doing everything "right" but still can't find joy or peace?

You may be surprised at what research has found. It can shed some light on the ways we unknowingly set ourselves up to NOT feel happy.

How to Cope When a Loved One Has a Mental Illness

Jennifer TzoumasFebruary 2, 2019June 23, 2020Leave a comment

A diagnosis of mental illness affects more than just the patient. Family relationships and friendships are often affected too. If someone you care about struggles with symptoms of a mental illness, this article quoted below from the American Psychological Association (APA) addresses the situation.