Living with Dementia: Caregiver Grief and Loss From the time a person is diagnosed with dementia, their loved ones are thrust into an unknown and uncertain space where they are no longer sure what the future holds. This uncertainty creates a unique type of loss, known as ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss is difficult for caregivers
Knowing the Facts: Eating Disorders in Young Children Though eating disorders have long been perceived as illnesses affecting only adults, they are becoming increasingly prevalent in young children. According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), one in four people battling an eating disorder is under the age of 18. Among young people, eating disorders
Therapy as a Family: What is Family Therapy All About? Families are one of the most important aspects of our lives, but they can also be one of the most complicated. When issues arise and dynamics shift in the inner workings and culture of a family, it can be difficult to conceptualize what the problem
Vagus Nerve Part 2: Promoting Calm through Vagus Nerve Stimulation In our day to day lives, we encounter numerous cues from our environment that our bodies then process and make determinations on our level of safety and security in our environments. Our bodies may perceive an interaction with an angry coworker or an upcoming SAT
Vagus Nerve Part 1: The Connection Between the Vagus Nerve and Anxiety Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions in the world, affecting an estimated 40 million adults in the United States. Anxiety can be about anything – from everyday concerns, such as money and relationships, to more serious problems, such
When Energy Reaches an All Time Low: Effective Strategies for Managing Fatigue Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness and lack of energy that can be caused by physical or mental activity and exertion, a lack of sleep, or extensive stress. Fatigue can also be a symptom of certain medical conditions and a side effect to
Understanding the Role of Disgust in Complex Trauma: Part II As explored in a previous blog post, disgust is a core emotion that functions to promote survival and prevent contamination with a harmful source. There is a significant amount of research that has been conducted on the relationship between disgust and complex trauma. Interestingly, there
Processing Disgust Part 1: How It Relates to Our Sense of Wellbeing What is disgust, and why do we feel it? Disgust is one of the six basic human emotions, along with happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and surprise. Disgust is a very complex emotion, with a wide range of functions. Disgust is an emotion that
DBT and Dialectical Thinking: Balancing Opposites as a Way to Promote Healthy Coping Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral treatment that was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. However, it is now used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. Within DBT, there are different modules
Separation Anxiety After Loss: Supporting Your Child and Promoting Healthy Attachment Grief comes in many different forms, and for children, it can be especially difficult to process. When a loved one dies, it’s natural for children to feel sad, confused, and even scared. In addition, when a child is separated from a parent or caregiver
5 Mindfulness Activities to Incorporate into Your Daily Routine Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment, accepting and observing thoughts and feelings without judgment. It has been shown to improve mental well-being, stress levels, sleep quality and even attention span. Mindfulness has also been shown to have a lot
Caring for a Loved One with Dementia: Resources for Caregivers in NJ Dementia affects people in different ways. For some, it means gradually losing the ability to think and reason. For others, it means personality changes, problems with movement and balance, and changes in mood and behavior. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) estimates that
