EMDR Can Build Self Esteem Faster than Talk Therapy
Self Esteem generally gets established based on a) Feedback from the people around us–especially during childhood, and b) How much sense of mastery in our world we develop. When feedback from parents, siblings, peers, teachers, etc is shaming, children often don’t develop good self-esteem. Children take feedback that is punishing, contemptuous, insulting, undermining, teasing, mean, neglectful, unappreciating, bullying, abusive and so on as information that they are not worth much. When this is the source of low self-esteem, EMDR can often help, because each of these...
Read MoreHow Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain (article from the New York Times)
Why would exercise build brainpower in ways that thinking might not? The brain, like all muscles and organs, is a tissue, and its function declines with underuse and age. Beginning in our late 20s, most of us will lose about 1 percent annually of the volume of the hippocampus, a key portion of the brain related to memory and certain types of learning. Exercise though seems to slow or reverse the brain’s physical decay, much as it does with muscles. Although scientists thought until recently that humans were born with a certain number of brain cells and would never generate more, they now...
Read MoreRape or Childhood Sexual Abuse and Feelings of Anxiety
Rape or Childhood Sexual Abuse and Feelings of Anxiety In my clinical practice I see many women presenting with symptoms of Anxiety: Excessive anxiety and worry Restlessness Fatigue Difficulty Concentrating Irritability Muscle Tension Sleep Disturbance Distress or Impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. This Anxiety is due unprocessed sexual trauma stored in your midbrain as unconscious material. This unconscious material can be easily triggered and set in motion as high survival anxiety and panic attacks. When an event triggers a neuronal connection...
Read MoreThe Love Avoidant
Characteristics of The Love Avoidant: Love Addicts are attracted to people with certain identifiable and fairly predictable characteristics, and people with these characteristics are attracted to Love Addicts in return. The primary attribute marking all of the characteristics on the “model” partner for a Love addict is avoidance, which seems incredible to their partners since Love Avoidants come on to their partners so strongly at first. Characteristics: Love Avoidants evade intensity within the relationship by creating intensity in activities (usually addictions) outside the...
Read MoreWomen's Sexual (Love/Relationship) Addictions Screening Test
Women’s Sexual Addiction Screening Test By Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.& Sharon O’Hara, LMFT The Women’s Sexual Addiction Screening Test (W-SAST) is designed to assist in the assessment of sexually compulsive behavior. This test is a screening instrument, meant to be used in the context of a therapeutic interview. By itself, the W-SAST does not provide a diagnosis. Answer each question yes or no, then count how many “yes” answers you have. Depending on the particular pattern of symptoms:3 – 4 “yes” responses may indicate an...
Read MoreCreating Boundaries When you are in a Relationship with a Sex Addict
Creating Boundaries When you are in a Relationship with a Sex Addict: What are boundaries? They are a dividing line between you and anyone else. These lines represent physical, emotional, and spiritual limits that other people in your life may not violate. It may help to envision a psychological fence that separates you from others in your life. You may have different boundaries for loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and strangers, depending on the area of focus and the situation. Boundaries are meant to protect you from physical danger, anger, hurt, fear, or any other painful...
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