I'm reading the August 2009 edition (yes I am a little bit behind in my reading) of Yoga Journal and I am reminded once again of all the benefits yoga has to offer in one's struggle for peace of mind and mental health.
I write a lot about the importance of feeling your feelings and being in touch with the messages thay are sending you. Perhaps this is because I rely so heavily on them in my everyday work. I cannot imagine being without them.
Yes, therapists have issues too. Anxiety was never mine until a few years ago. Prior to that I could intellectuallly understand that people said they were experiencing anxiety and panic, but I couldn't fully appreciate how bad it felt, until I had my own.
Jim* tenderly, patiently cared for his father as he lay dying. Day after day, when everyone else turned their backs, Jim was there. And when his father's last breath came, Jim's was the last face he saw. That's what Jim wanted, because...
I don't always agree with Dr. Laura, but I think she was absolutely right about this. People with low self esteem often tend to gravitate to people with whom they feel equal, or even superior.
Therapists talk a lot about boundaries, but we're not always clear what we mean by "boundaries", why they are important to an individual's mental health, or why they are important for healthy relationships.
Blood may be thicker than water, but you can't drink it. We are told throughout our lives that family is the most important thing. I constantly find myself working with clients who are deeply entrenched in the dynamics of toxic family systems. Helping them navigate these turbulent waters can be difficult, but well worth the effort.