More info... Leslie Morgan Steiner has written a book called The Mommy Wars, that is helpf ul for new parents who are concerned whether they are making the right choices for their children. Often, new moms come to my office feeling guilty about working vs. staying home. Additionally many stay at home moms worry feel guilty about taking time for themselves and finding the balance between parenting and not losing who they are. The book is a series of essays written by mothers (mostly upper middle class), primarily addressing the issue of to work outside the home or stay home. It is a good illustration of how many different ways there are to parent.
It’s a beautiful hot summer day, yet some people just can’t get out of bed. Depression is more than just a one day case of the blues. How can you distinguish depression from grief or a bad day and what do you do if you determine that you or someone you love is depressed? Depression vs. Grief Suffering any type of loss, be it a death, break up or even a move
from one location to another is bound to bring up feelings of sadness. There may even be crying spells, loss of appetite and an inability to concentrate. While these symptoms can also signal major depression, the intensity and duration distinguish them from a depressive episode. A grief reaction may last several months to a year but one will notice that symptoms diminish with time. With major depression, symptoms stay the same or worsen and there is also a preoccupation with worthlessness, as well as suicidal ideation. There may be physical agitation and a loss or gain of weight. Those who are depressed feel that life is no longer worth living and find no joy in any activity. What to Do? True clinical depression requires treatment. Up to 15% of individuals with severe major Depressive Disorder die by Suicide (DSM IV). If you or someone you know feels depressed, the first step is to see your physician who can prescribe an anti-depressant or refer you to a psychiatrist. In addition, it has been shown that the combination of medication and psycho therapy can improve depressive symptoms in the long term. Depending on the issues, therapy can address family and personal concerns as well as provide ways to modify one’s thought process to lessen the potential for future episodes. What else helps? If you are the person who is depressed, it is important to take care of yourself physically. Sleep patterns are often altered so getting enough rest might not be a problem. Rather, it is important to get out of bed regularly and get some exercise. Even a simple walk outside will be helpful in lifting mood. Eating balanced meals is often a challenge since loss of appetite is a symtom yet dehydration and lack of nutrition can worsen depressive symptoms
At Lotus Group, we see potential. We see it in every client who comes through the door. We see it in every family that - purely out of love - does what it takes to make life better. We know how hard it is to heal. We also know that working to create healthy, growing relationships might just be the most rewarding act a person can ever do.Serving central Indiana including Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Anderson, Greenwood, Noblesville, Plainfield, Westfield, Franklin, Brownsburg, Greenfield, Muncie, Zionsville, Danville and Avon
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 9 years experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and adults, mainly in the area of grief and loss. Through my work at Brooke's Place for Grieving Young People, www.brookesplace.org, I have been taught by countless numbers of individuals, ranging in ages 3 - adults, about grieving the death of someone significant. Death is the ultimate loss. However, each loss in life is significant. My practice provides a safe place for you to work through any loss or relationship issue. Other areas I work with include depression, anxiety and self esteem. Grieving is natural and is your unique way of experiencing any loss. Choosing to grieve any loss is a courageous step. I will walk with you in your grief journey, at your speed and duration. How you choose to express your story is up to you. I will offer you acceptance while sharing your story. Are you experiencing loss through death, relationship, experiences from childhood, career choices, children transitioning, or other losses? Do you yearn for greater intimacy in relationships? Where there is death or loss, there is life, love, faith, hope and joy. Doing the work of grief is not easy; it IS REAL! And, you are worth it.
I have been working with parents for more than thirty years. During that time, I have seen a huge increase in parental uncertainty.
Today's parents are much more unsure of themselves than previous generations. They second-guess themselves, question the efforts they make on behalf of their children, and continually wonder if they should be doing more or better. When their children fall short they take it personally, believing that the only explanation for their children's performance is their failure as parents
Why do today's parents have so much anxiety over child-rearing? Here are two explanations:
1. Parents have lost sight of the goal of parenthood. They overlook the fact that children have been raised successfully by generations of parents with no uncommon knowledge. Yesterday's parents were, without giving it much thought, guided by time-honored notions of what child-rearing was all about: responsibility, respect, proper conduct, courtesy, and compliance. The efforts of these parents were informed by the notion that their job was to produce a responsible, character-filled young adult who could make his own way in the world.
Today's parents have replaced that goal with other, less suitable, goals: that their child be happy, or have high self-esteem, or that they have a good relationship with their parents. What they've overlooked is that these modern goals are not goals at all but byproducts of the traditional goal of parenthood.
By substituting modern goals for traditional ones, today's parents have overcomplicated what has historically been a relatively simple and straightforward process. This overcomplication has produced
