Fear is a strange and curious companion that we all encounter most days, to greater or lesser degrees. Touted in various articles and ads as an achievable goal is a state of "fearlessness." A noble quest. Fear as something to be conquered. The slogan goes something like, "Once you have conquered fear, you will reach the highest heights, overcome all manner of phobias. Get the guy; get the … [Read more...]
Taking the panic out of pandemic
The word pandemic conjures up a host of overwhelming thoughts and feelings. The idea that a virus could be so enormous, so powerful, that it would pose a global threat is something only imagined in movies and sci-fi novels ... until now. While history shows us that numerous parts of the world previously suffered life-threatening and life-taking viruses, this is the first time in this … [Read more...]
How triggers from the past haunt the present
Back in the day there was a famous horse named Trigger. He was a 15-hand palomino rode by cowboy star Roy Rogers. Times have changed just a little! Today the word “trigger” has been repurposed and embraced by the therapeutic community. It has complex meanings and interpretations, but usually refers to reactions and feelings activated in the present but relating to the past. Triggers may … [Read more...]
When suicide comes ‘out of the blue’
One of the most treacherous terrains mental health clinicians navigate comes when a client struggles with severe depression, yet disavows any suggestions of suicide ideation. "Depression, yes. Would I take my life … never!" the client protests. And then one day, "out of the blue," the client completes the ultimate act of self harm. Everyone, including the therapist, is flabbergasted. … [Read more...]
Anxiety isn’t always a bad thing
In the final decades of the 19th century, a young Sigmund Freud was hammering out his theories and exploring the dense and complex world of the human psyche. Over time Freud fine-tuned his work and pondered what was then known as "hysteria." He offered in a paper a new way of looking at anxiety. Freud felt there were aspects of anxiety that might be useful, and in turn he coined the term … [Read more...]