Beyond Blue

It’s that time of year again!!! Ready to hear it again??? DISCLAIMER: I am no Barbara Streisand. I’ve never taken a singing lesson in my life. Not one.The inspiration for this song came two weeks before Thanksgiving when I received a call from my doctor: we had better get together a plan for lowering my…

I have a theory regarding holiday stress: In the month of December, high levels of Cortisol (stress hormone) turn 80 percent of the American population into fruitcakes–just like the stale one delivered to your house yesterday. Because on top of adding 675 things to your to-do list, you’ve now got to deal with the strained…

I have prayed the Memorare every day since my mom (and others) told me to go to Mary with my depression. It’s clear from the words of this prayer that Mary hears all pleas, but especially those uttered in desperation. I thought I would post it today since it is the Feast of the Immaculate…

My “9 Holiday Depression Busters” are featured in a Beliefnet gallery. You can get to it by clicking here. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year–but not if negative emotions take hold of your holidays. So let’s be honest. The holidays are packed with stress, and therefore provoke tons of depression…

If you don’t find the humor in this, my sincere apologies. But we need as many laughs this holiday season as is possible. CHRISTMAS DISORDERS and CAROLS 1. Schizophrenia — Do You Hear What I Hear? 2. Multiple Personality Disorder — We Three Kings Disoriented Are 3. Dementia — I Think I’ll be Home for…

We often reach out during the holidays to the poor and homeless — sponsoring a family during Christmas, or distributing toys to children without presents. However, we often forget those that suffer just as intensely within the walls of psych wards or prisons, the mentally ill that can be so awkward to visit. I was…

This reflection was from four years ago, but is still very real every Christmas. I’m starting to understand Christmas as the season where Christ comes to visit you in the most unexpected ways. If you can only quiet yourself for a few days–unplug the computer, forget your cell phone, and head to the ICU of…

Following is the master plan to helping your child resist negative thinking that Dr. Tamar Chansky presents in her book “Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking.” However, her strategies are just as effective for adults. Used by permission of Da Capo Lifelong, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Step One: Empathize with Your Children’s…

A video including all the forms of my distorted thinking would be too big to store on You Tube. So I’ll present my top five: ways I torture myself upstairs. The good news? Then I can untwist the distortions and try, ever so bravely, to walk toward REALITY. To view my YouTube video click here.

For as long as I can remember I’ve struggled with obsessive thoughts, with severe ruminations that can interfere with daily life. My thoughts get stuck on something and like a broken record, repeat a certain fear over and over and over again until I scream out loud, “STOP IT!” The French call Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder “folie…

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