We live in a society that values people who strive for something. Hard work, dedication, perseverance and perfectionism garner attention and praise. But what happens when perfectionism and rumination take a darker turn? Striving to be better – or the best – comes at a cost for many people.
Caregiver mental health can suffer due to lack of support and resources. Caregivers are more prone to depression, anxiety and substance abuse, and more than 44 million Americans provide care to loved ones. I recently wrote a piece on caregiver mental health for 1800wheelchair.com, a website with resources for people with physical disabilities.
Strong emotions are a fact of life as a human. Like it or not, we are emotional beings, driven by parts of the brain that manage emotional processes, memory, habits and more. Although emotions can often feel as overwhelming as ocean waves crashing over you, it is possible to develop your emotional resilience as a powerful life skill. That resilience, in turn, can help you reduce cravings and change other behaviors that have a negative impact on your life.
Welcome to the first in a series of features designed to help you reflect on what you want out of your life. I invite you to join me as we explore topics from relationships to goal-setting and discuss ways to create positive change in your own life.