Stress can place internal and external pressure on us as individuals. We can get worn out and out of sorts. Soon irritability and exhaustion start getting in our way. The same dynamic holds true for our relationships. In fact, as life goes on, you and your partner may directly or indirectly put a significant amount of pressure on each other. And, … [Read more...]
Try These Strategies to Keep Depression & Loneliness at Bay
Everyone knows the feeling. You hit a rough patch and just don’t feel like yourself. Others notice you’re in a funk but you put on a brave face and vow to push through it. But depression and loneliness do not work that way. Especially in a year like 2020, you cannot afford to push down your emotions and tell yourself things will be better … [Read more...]
Uncertainty Doesn’t Have to Make You Unhappy: 7 Ways You Can Still Live Well
You could not be blamed for seeing 2020 as THE year of uncertainty. Our health, our income, and our very way of life seem to be under threat and very much in flux. What if I told you that uncertainty is our constant companion regardless of pandemics, elections, and civil unrest? Every moment is chock full of possibilities — good, bad, indifferent. … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Dating: New Rules of Engagement in the Age of Social Distancing
It’s a bit of a cliché now to say “everything has changed” in 2020. But, let’s face it, a lot of what we deemed normal has been transformed — perhaps forever. In such an environment, where do dating, sex, and romance fit in? Existing couples have had their share of challenges. It is a completely different story for those who are not yet … [Read more...]
Tips for Working from Home and Feeling Better in the Time of COVID-19!
It may feel like life during Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an insurmountable challenge, with demands to work from home, worries about people you love, and a feeling of hopelessness. While I can’t make this all go away (I’d have to be more than an ordinary psychotherapist!), I do have some tips for coping on a daily basis and how to feel … [Read more...]
Competition? Or Ambition!
What’s the difference between competition and ambition? Let’s look at competition... A competition is between you and others. Someone’s going to win, and it better be you! So you compare yourself to others, looking over your shoulder to see who’s gaining on you, looking ahead to see who’s outpacing you. You find yourself hoping that he or she … [Read more...]
Dealing with the death of a pet
Why is dealing with the death of a pet so hard? Fluffy or Fido is just an animal, right? So what’s the big deal? Many people who didn’t grow up with pets often don’t understand and will say something insensitive: “Why are you so upset? Your dog died. It’s not like it’s your mother!” What's the big deal if a pet dies? Let's look at what pets … [Read more...]
Incompatible Travel Styles? 5 Tips from a Couples Therapist for a Great Trip!
You’ve hired Fifth Meridian to plan an unforgettable travel experience for you, but what do you do if you and your travel partner have incompatible travel styles and ideas for vacations? Does that mean a tension-filled travel experience is in your future? Or that you can’t possibly travel together? Or, if you’re a couple, that your relationship is … [Read more...]
Sexual Assault Survivors, Christine Blasey Ford, and Brett Kavanaugh
The Senate Judiciary hearings on the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice, including the televised testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, in September 2018, returned the #MeToo issues of sexual assault survivors and those who have endured sexual harassment to the glare of the public spotlight. This testimony reactivated … [Read more...]
Parenting Lessons from the Movie “Eighth Grade”
Is it better to be your child’s parent or their friend? There are many parenting lessons in the movie "Eighth Grade," comedian Bo Burnham’s directorial film debut, which is a squirm-fest tour de force. Eighth grade is a painful life phase and movie Kayla, the main character, allows viewers to experience the self-involved cringe-inducing anxiety … [Read more...]