Well, it’s one year since I began blogging on Mental Health here at Families. Where has the year gone? 2006 has certainly been a speedy, fast-paced year with its share of happiness and heartache alike. I have certainly enjoyed my stint here writing on what is one of my passions in life: mental health.
We’ve covered many areas in the blog to date: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and the raft of anxiety disorders, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia to name a few. We’ve also looked at developmental disorders such as Autism and Asperger’s Disorder.
But more than writing a succession of blogs on all the emotional woes that can befall us, I’ve also tried to include many blogs on positive coping techniques, ranging from positive thinking, relaxation techniques, dealing with difficult situations and people, and the importance of humor in recovering from mental illness.
I have attempted to present a well-rounded collection of useful and technical articles, coupled with aids to recovery, and the lighter side of the human condition. I have also included an eight-part guide to recovering from a breakdown. This series of articles is intended to fill a gap in psychological literature: there are few, if any guides on how to cope on a practical day-to-day basis with a mental breakdown.
I intend releasing a book in the near future which provides a comprehensive guide to recovering from breakdown, dealing with medication, choosing a therapist, coping with rejection and most importantly, becoming a stronger, more resilient person.
I have had much encouraging feedback from the blogs of 2006, both publicly and privately. Readers have come not only from the United States but from Canada, the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. Mental illness and life difficulties cross all racial barriers: we are fragile creatures, yet at the same time, we are also very resilient.
It is this inborn resilience that I rely on in dealing with all my clients. We therapists don’t heal, we just abet each person’s own unique healing process. It is a demanding job, but a satisfying one.
I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas. This time of year can be very stressful. If you feel yourself losing control, you are not alone! Family gatherings, like that famous little girl, can either be very, very good, or quite the opposite. Whatever the holiday season brings for you, be gentle to yourself. You deserve it!
Contact Beth McHugh for further assistance regarding this issue.
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Taking the stress out of Christmas gift-giving
Coping with Christmas and other family gatherings (1)
Coping with Christmas and other family gatherings (2)
Coping with Christmas and other family gatherings (3)