According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 40 million adults (age 18 and over) are affected by some type of anxiety disorder each year – that’s approximately 18% of the U.S. population. Anxiety (or excessive worry) is increasingly replacing depression as the most common mental concern in western culture. It is often accompanied…
Grief is a universal, God-given response to a significant loss. Grief is a process through which one journeys, not something one simply “gets over.” It is not unusual for the journey of grief to last up to eighteen months, sometimes longer. While everyone’s journey is different, unresolved guilt is often the one aspect that hinders…
Self-harming behavior is not a new phenomenon. False prophets in Elijah’s day cut themselves until the blood flowed as they tried to appease the Baal god. (See 1 Kings 18:28) However, self-harming behavior among children and teens has been on the rise for the past decade or so. Self-harming behavior (also known as self-injurious, self-mutilation,…
It’s not uncommon to hear individuals complain about the other drivers in the city or town they call home. In fact, I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone day, “This town has the worst drivers.” Maybe it’s just part of the local experience.
I have several solar powered lamps positioned in strategic locations around my back yard. They are tasteful, providing accent lighting around the swimming pool and patio palms at night; and economical, purchased at the local discount store. It’s a rather straight-forward operation. The sun’s light recharges the batteries during the day, which in turn, power…
As one who is trained in the art of listening . . . and who makes his living as a counselor by it, it pains me to see how much listening actually goes on, . . . or not. Mostly not. All around me (and I don’t believe I’m imagining things) it appears that people…
“Repeat after me,” I said to my counseling client, “The future is my friend.” He looked at me with a furrowed brow and head cocked slightly to the right. “I’m serious. Repeat after me. The future is my friend.” The skepticism in his expression remained, but he complied with a less than enthusiastic tone. “I…