January 25, 2018
Today’s Mission
May you be unstoppable in your mission, strong and fearless. May you live with courage and compassion in your heart. May you find your confidence and wear it like a shield to deflect whatever negativity comes your way. May you feel powerful and proud of who you are and what you do. May you start each day with positive thoughts and readiness to take on the day ahead.
You are on a mission to achieve your goals…be unstoppable!
January 23, 2018
Beauty
The person across from me asks, “Am I attractive? What do others think of me?”
I respond, “What do you think of yourself?”
The person sitting across from me doesn’t know how to respond. She is so accustomed to assessing herself upon others’ reactions that she doesn’t know the answer to the question.
I say “society says you must be thin, young, vivacious.”
She responds, “that’s right, people will accept me if I am those things.”
“Really?” I ask.
Beauty…the true campaign website has this to say about it:
“What you believe about your identity has a direct correlation to what you believe about beauty. For example, if you believe our culture’s message that says your identity is defined by your outward appearance, this belief will likely lead you to focus on what you can do to change, alter or ‘perfect’ your outward appearance. Or perhaps, it will lead you to give up on taking care of your body altogether – the images presented in the media too difficult to even try measuring up to. Ironically, the frustration, disappointment, anxiety and emptiness that accompany such pursuits are quite the opposite of true beauty. 1”
Our culture teaches women that beauty is skin deep.
But it’s not…
Beauty is an inner quality. Character, Temperament, Love…
To experience true beauty is to live a life that embraces and expresses the beauty and goodness of life itself.
I think you’re beautiful.
January 11, 2018
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Understanding a light box
Generally, the light box should:
- Provide an exposure to 10,000 lux of light
- Emit as little UV light as possible
- Within the first hour of waking up in the morning
- For about 20 to 30 minutes
- At a distance of about 16 to 24 inches (41 to 61 centimeters) from the face
- With eyes open, but not looking directly at the light
Light boxes are designed to be safe and effective, but they aren’t approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SAD treatment, so it’s important to understand your options.
You can buy a light box without a prescription. Your doctor may recommend a specific light box, but most health insurance plans do not cover the cost.
- Is it made specifically to treat SAD? If not, it may not help your depression. Some light therapy lamps are designed for skin disorders — not for SAD. Lamps used for skin disorders primarily emit ultraviolet (UV) light and could damage your eyes if used incorrectly. Light boxes used to treat SAD should filter out most or all UV light.
- How bright is it? Light boxes produce different intensities of light. Brighter boxes will require less time to use each day, compared with dimmer boxes, to achieve the same effect. Typically the recommended intensity of light is 10,000 lux.
- How much UV light does it release? Light boxes for SAD should be designed to filter out most or all UV light. Contact the manufacturer for safety information if you have questions.
- Can it cause eye damage? Some light boxes include features designed to protect the eyes. Make sure the light box filters out most or all UV light to avoid damaging your eyes. Ask your eye doctor for advice on choosing a light box if you have eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts or eye damage from diabetes.
- Is it the style you need? Light boxes come in different shapes and sizes, with varied features. Some look like upright lamps, while others are small and rectangular. The effectiveness of a light box depends on daily use, so buy one that’s convenient for you.
- Can you put it in the right location? Think about where you’ll want to place your light box and what you might do during its use, such as reading. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, so you receive the right amount of light at the proper distance. (From Mayo-Clinic)
January 2, 2018
Try Some Therapy in the New Year
Did you (or someone you know) ever have the experience in which life is going along pretty well, you feel reasonably successful in most areas, but there is just one area you can’t seem to get a handle on and it really brings you down and frustrates you? Perhaps you have a great job you love, but you can’t seem to get a handle on snacking excessively while TV watching in the evening. Maybe you’re a great mother with awesome kids, but there is this nagging negative body image that compels you to work out, even when you don’t really want to or need to work out. Maybe you’re a father who is a super sports coach for your child’s team, but you feel incredibly awkward and tongue tied in social situations with your peers.
People often think of counseling as something only needed by people with diagnosed mental disorders; and certainly, counseling is very helpful in those situations and many of my clients fall into that category. However, counseling can also be helpful for those frustrating little stuck spots that annoy an otherwise pretty content existence. Counseling can help with creative blocks, learning better communication skills, and learning how to get along better with the in-laws!
Counseling is also great for life transitions: kids taking off for college, getting married, bringing children into a relationship, retirement. All of these are healthy, but can cause distress from some people. Talking about it, really does help.
The collaborative approach I take with counseling allows you to explore any of those little troubling areas that might be getting in the way of Discovering A New Day! Take that first step and give me a call! (717)951-0266.
Be Well and Have a Wonderful Day!
Kelly F. Dennis MS LPC 