FEELING LEFT OUT?

Parents have every right to be leery about their children’s participation in Internet activities that expose them to potential harm. After all, anyone is just one text message away from making a comment or showing an image that has the potential to elicit a firestorm of criticism and rejection. At the same time, it is necessary to recognize that texting has become the predominant means of expression among teens, and social networking sites have become the preferred gathering places. With this in mind, parents must make the effort to set necessary boundaries for their children while still allowing them the freedom to interact with their peers. Often times, failure to grant Internet privileges may lead to feelings of isolation. Parenting in the 21st century is complicated. Parents are forced to deal with new technologies that change with bewildering speed. It’s enough to make your head spin. Our caring counselors know how overwhelming it can be to set rules for technology you might not even understand. We can help with setting proper limits and understanding how to deal with this ever evolving world of adolescence. In addition to family counseling, we also offer help with anxiety, depression, and stress. If you would like an appointment or if you have any questions, please call 608-742- 5020. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1.
Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Parents may want to initiate discussions with their children about Internet protocol by bringing up the issues of impulsive statements,
anonymous confrontation, and hurtful comments.

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MANAGING ANGER

Anger is an emotion that can serve a useful purpose, such as protecting oneself against mistreatment. However, people who become angry over small matters on a consistent basis should know that chronic anger is likely to make them less happy and healthy as well as less optimistic. With these important ramifications in mind, it is important for people to ask themselves whether their health and welfare are more important to them than the circumstance that engenders their anger. When anger wells up, it is also important to ask whether it is an appropriate response to what is bothering them. Anger often is merely a cover up for some deeper hurting feeling. Next, it may help to take a breath and consider whether the situation can be modified in any way.

If you’re wrestling with anger issues, it can affect every aspect of your life and the lives of those around you. Our caring counselors provide a safe space and an understanding ear as well as proven techniques with depression, stress, or anxiety. If you would like an appointment or if you have any questions, please call 608-742-5020. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Talk therapy may help individuals with a low boiling point gain some insights into their behavior as a means of understanding it better and learning to choose an alternative response when appropriate.

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FACING UP TO ALCOHOLISM

If you suspect that you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, face up to the painful truth. Shame should not be a factor that stands in the way of treatment because alcoholism is largely genetic. Forty percent of alcoholism is caused by genetics, while factors that are not completely understood comprise the other sixty percent. What is well understood is the fact that it is very difficult for alcoholics to quit on their own. Only four percent of alcoholics stay sober for the next year if they try to quit on their own. On the other hand, fifty percent of alcoholics stay sober for the next year if they go through treatment.

Alcoholism is very difficult to overcome alone. If you are ready to be sober, or if you are a loved one of an alcoholic, our compassionate staff can help you think and act healthier. With the support and tools we offer, you could navigate your way to feel better, strengthen relationships, and be more productive. Call us at 608- 742-5020 and schedule today. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite
1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Alcoholism may be considered to be a family disease because it affects everyone intimately involved with the alcoholic.

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LIVING UP TO OUR POTENTIAL

Most of us have experienced the feeling that our behavior is standing in the way of realizing the full potential and enjoyment of our lives. It may be that a habitual pattern of behavior is no longer in our best interest. We may have trouble dealing with an inner conflict. Our inability to experience, express or manage emotions may be blocking our ability to love at home, progress at work or live independently. Major disorders, such as depression, panic attacks or a phobia, may be involved. Then, there are the everyday problems, including marital and family conflicts that seem intractable at times. Counseling are/or psychotherapy offers the resources to confront our problems, know ourselves better and make choices that lead to growth.

We would like to welcome you to our biweekly column examining all aspects of mental and emotional health. We hope that you find upcoming installments to be both practical and inspirational. Our office is a unique, full-service, outpatient community resource specializing in comprehensive consultation, evaluation and psychotherapy for families and individuals. Through the work we do together, people redesign their lives and emerge with a powerful sense of self, and as a result, the ability to enjoy life in a most rich and meaningful way.

P.S.: The basic goal of therapy is to assist those who seek it in taking more active and effective control of their lives.

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FEAR OF PUBLIC PLACES

The term “agoraphobia” (derived from the Greek word “agora” for marketplace”) refers to the fear of open or public places. Agoraphobics may suffer symptoms of severe anxiety when they leave home and anticipate being anxious while at home. As a result, they generally avoid situations that trigger anxiety and are afraid to leave particular areas that are familiar to them. In the most severe cases, agoraphobics may be afraid to leave home out of fear of developing panic symptoms such as a racing heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and shakiness. While it is not known for certain why agoraphobia develops, some theorize that it may stem from having a panic attack in a crowed area, which creates a strong avoidance response.

Of course, if you are suffering from agoraphobia, you need to seek treatment right away. But you needn’t be suffering from something so dramatic as a full-blown phobia to seek help. Depression and stress can strike anyone at any time. Our compassionate counselors understand your real difficulty -- whether it’s caused by a dramatic phobia or by something as subtle as depression -- and we offer the compassion you want and the proven solutions that you need to get back to your usual healthy self. Call 608-742-5020 today for an appointment. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. From a talking therapy perspective, agoraphobics may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps them recognize distorted feelings about particular situations that may be causing anxiety and learn to counter the fears they evoke.

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CAN PARENTS EFFECTIVELY MONITOR DRINKING?

With reports of binge drinking among college students on the upswing, parents may ask how they can effectively influence their children’s drinking behavior. As one might expect, authoritative parents (who lay out clear rules but encourage open discussion) seem to be more successful in monitoring their children than permissive parents (who behave more like friends than parents). On the other hand, research indicates that authoritarian parents (who place emphasis on rules and obedience with no discussion) had neither an advantage nor a disadvantage when it came to monitoring their children. Even more important was the study’s finding that the opposite gender parent (father/ daughter, mother/son) had the most influence over reducing a child’s problem drinking by limiting impulsive behavior.

Of course, if your child is already wrestling with alcohol or with some other form of substance abuse, you clearly need to get him or her some help right away. Our caring counselors understand substance abuse and can help your child conquer this illness with proven techniques in a safe space. If you would like an appointment or if you have any questions, please call 608-742-5020.

Our address is 2639 New Pinery Road, Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Impulsive individuals are known to be more likely to struggle with control over their drinking and are more likely to experience alcohol related problems than their less impulsive counterparts.

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DINING WITH FAMILY BENEFITS TEEN GIRLS

Research shows that teenage girls who dine regularly with their families are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. In fact, in families who ate at least five meals per week together, the teen girls were much less likely to drink alcohol or smoke marijuana or cigarettes five years later. Previous analysis of the same study found a stronger association for girls than boys between family meals and a lower risk of eating disorders. Other research by some of the same researchers has also revealed a link between regular family meals and a lower risk of high-risk behaviors, including violence, school problems, and substance abuse in both boys and girls.

It seems that sitting down together exerts a positive influence. Eating together as a family creates an atmosphere of sharing on an emotional level. This demonstration of caring lets your teen know they are important. It is one of the many attributes that builds resilience and coping for your teen.

If you have concerns about your teen, our staff can assist in building those assets that resist negative influences. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Road, Suite 1 in Portage. We offer supportive direction with compassion.

P.S. Researchers in the above-mentioned study indicated that the “shared meal” need not be dinner to positively influence teen behavior.

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INSIGHTS INTO ADDICTION

While it was once thought that addiction could be treated with either punishment or encouragement, the current view is that addiction is a chronic disease that alters both brain structure and function. Whether from taking a drug or eating a delicious meal, the brain registers pleasure by releasing the neurotransmitter dopamine in a cluster of nerve cells underlying the cerebral cortex known as the nucleus accumbens (the brain’s “pleasure center”). Not only is the likelihood that a behavior will lead to addiction linked with the intensity of dopamine release, but dopamine has also been found to play a key role in learning and memory (which factor into transitioning from liking something to becoming addicted to it).

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, it’s vital you get help right away. But you needn’t be wrestling with something as dramatic as addiction to be helped by a counselor. Depression, stress, and anxiety can seem minor compared to drugs or alcoholism, but they can have similar effects and seem just as overwhelming.

Our compassionate counselors can provide you the help you need, no matter how dramatic—or mundane—your problem may seem. Call 608-742-5020 today for an appointment. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Road, Suite Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Because addiction is learned and stored in the brain as memory, psychotherapy can play a role in helping diminish the influence of those memories.

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YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW

Parents generally assume, often rightly so, that they know their children better than anyone else. However, parents should be open to the possibility that they may not be fully aware of their children’s behavior. In fact, a recent study indicates that parents are largely unaware that their children are using alcohol or drugs. When researchers asked teens about alcohol and drug use, the three most common substance cited were alcohol (54 percent) tobacco (44 percent), and marijuana (23 percent). When the teens surveyed were asked about their own use of these and other substances, their parents failed to detect usage in about half the cases. The older the child, the more likely the parent was aware of substance abuse. The most recent Columbia County teen survey shows that age groups (11-13) and (14 15) reveal that 15% and 14% respectively, are engaging in drinking behavior beyond a few sips.

Parenting in today’s culture can be a positively overwhelming task. You have the right to ask for help, especially if you are concerned about your child using drugs or alcohol. Our counselors provide the compassionate understanding to help you and your whole family get through these difficult times and come out as a stronger family. Call 608-742- 5020 today for an appointment. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S.: Research shows that starting to use alcohol and drugs at a young age is a risk factor for developing substance abuse or dependence in the future.

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AN EXAMINATION OF BULLYING

Bullying, defined as being repeatedly teased, hit, threatened, kicked, or excluded by other students, has become the focus of widespread attention. Both those who are bullied as well as those who bully face an array of health risks. According to a recent survey of nearly 6,000 middle school and high-school students, those involved in bullying in any way are more likely to harm themselves and contemplate suicide. While previous studies have linked bullying to poor grades, substance abuse, and mental health issues, the new research also points to worse home environments for kids with experience with bullying. All these factors point to the complexity of bullying behavior and a greater need to look for signs that may warrant counseling.

Of course if you or your child suffers from bullying at school or work, it’s vital that you get counseling for any resulting depression or anxiety. But our compassionate counselors know that depression and anxiety don’t always have such an obvious source. We know that depression and anxiety can strike for any reason, and sometimes for no reason at all. We can help you work through whatever is bothering you so you can be healthy again. Call 608-742-5020 today for an appointment. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1.

Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice. P.S. The study mentioned above points out that those involved in bullying are more likely to suffer abuse from a family member or witness violence at home than kids who were neither bullies nor victims of bullying.

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CHILDISH BEHAVIOR AT WORK

Does it sometimes seem that your co-workers are acting more like children than the adult professionals that their job descriptions profess them to be? If so, it may help to heed the recent work of a clinical psychologist who says that her research indicates that much of our behavior is governed by the roles we assumed in our families when we were children. So, while workers (including bosses) may take a rational approach to work matters when they are calm, stress may induce a retrograde behavior that is recalled unconsciously form childhood. This may explain why some people throw tantrums while others avoid confrontation or criticism. It may also explain how some people adopt such roles as clowns and rebels.

Do you think you or your office could use a little help getting past the difficulties that are keeping you from being productive? We provide unique, full-service, outpatient resources specializing in comprehensive consultation, evaluation and psychotherapy for families, individuals, specialized groups, schools, and businesses. We can get you or your team back on track. Call 608-742-5020 today for an appointment. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Introspection and counseling may help some people become better “team players” and more productive workers by identifying unwanted childhood behaviors that they may be prone to lapse into and learning to avoid them.

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HEARTBREATING MARRIAGES

Women in unhappy marriages run a greater risk of suffering cardiovascular damage than men. According to recent research, both men and women in strained unions marked by arguments and anger tend to feel depressed. However, women in unhappy marriages are more likely to develop high blood pressure; high cholesterol; high blood sugar; and other markers of “metabolic syndrome,” which also elevates the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Exactly why contentions marriages are more likely to lead women to metabolic syndrome than men isn’t clear. Some say women
the reason, it is clear that women should seek counseling, either alone or with their husbands, to address unhappy marriages. When symptoms of stress impact your health in addition to your functioning, it may be necessary to refer to a medical professional such as a psychiatrist or physician’s assistant to see if medication may help.

Clearly, your mental health can directly affect your physical health. If you are in an unhappy marriage, you need to get help quickly. Our compassionate counselors and medical staff understand and we can provide you with a safe space and helpful techniques for dealing with the cause of your unhappiness, whether that’s a strained marriage or a difficult work situation. Call 608-742- 5020 to make an appointment today. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. The couples engaged in the study mentioned above have been married for an average of 27 1/2 years.

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NEW PERSPECTIVE FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL

If you or someone you know repeatedly drives under the influence of alcohol, new research indicates that there may be an underlying problem that needs addressing. According to the new study, more than half of repeat DUI (Driving Under the Influence) offenders suffer from a least
one mental disorder. In fact, nearly 60 percent of the repeat offenders studied reported experiencing major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder over their lifetimes, in addition to a drug or alcohol-use disorder. This finding points out the need to deal with underlying conditions in addition to a drug or alcohol abuse. A comprehensive approach to the problem is more likely to deal with it successfully.

Of course, if you or a loved one is wrestling with an addiction or behaving in an unsafe manner- -like driving drunk--it’s vital that you get help as soon as possible. Other addictions such as gambling, drugs, compulsive shopping, food technology, porn, and sex have parallel brain neurotransmissions that impact
the pleasure center of the brain. Until this is understood and interrupted, people crave those “pleasures.” We provide a safe space and proven techniques for dealing with your addiction as well as help you deal with the underlying cause. You deserve to be healthy again. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1, or you can call 608-742- 5020 to make an appointment. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S.: Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs places the greater community at danger; therefore, we all have a responsibility to address this potentially life threatening problem.

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TREATING ADULT ADHD

While many people presume attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to be a childhood disorder, an estimated 4% of U.S. adults also experience it. Advances in behavioral treatment approaches help people on new ways of thinking about, and undertaking, their daily tasks and longer-term goals. Home exercises of self discipline, planning, time management, and follow through, have helped many compensate for their mild to moderate deficits. Medication therapy combined with behavioral therapy have greatly improved outcomes for more severe cases of attention-deficits. Computerized testing (TOVA) by a skilled clinician has been helpful in identifying symptoms of attention-deficits in both adults and children If you or someone you love is suffering from ADHD, please call our office for an appointment now. Our compassionate staff provides a safe place and proven techniques for dealing with a variety of issues including ADHD, as well as stress, depression, and grief. We want to help you reach your best. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd. Suite 1 in Portage. Call 608-742-5020 to make an appointment.

P.S. Many people report vast improvement and personal satisfaction when seeking treatment for attention-deficits indicating they didn’t know it would be so easy.

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OF PRIMARY INTREST

Owing mostly to embarrassment, most of the 12 million Americans with clinical depression do not get treated. Instead of going to a mental health professional, those who do seek help often go to their primary care physicians. The problem with this approach is that general practitioners are not always able to identify depression. According to one scientific review of 41 previous studies involving more than 50,000 patients, general practitioners miss cases of depression about 50 percent of the time, and they incorrectly diagnose it in 19 percent of healthy people. These percentages are truly significant because, if left untreated, depression can be debilitating. Thus, it is important to get help for this problem by visiting a specialist in mental health.

If you are suffering from depression, you deserve help so that you can be healthy again. Our compassionate counselors will provide you with a safe space and proven techniques for battling your depression. Through therapy, we can help you redesign your life and emerge with a powerful sense of self, and as a result, the ability to enjoy life in a most rich and meaningful way. Call 608-742- 5020 today for an appointment. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. According to one estimate, about one in five people in developing nations will experience depression in his or her lifetime.

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FIGHTING IN FRONT OF YOUR KIDS?

Parents should bear in mind that heated family arguments, whether or not they involve the children directly, leave lasting impressions. In fact, only takes harsh words, not physical altercation, to leave a lingering impact in the minds of children that can endure for more than a decade. According to a landmark study that began with kindergartners more than three decades ago, 15-year-olds exposed to their parents’ verbal battles were more likely to be functioning poorly 15 years later than children not exposed to escalating arguments at home. Even more serious repercussions arise when a child is the object of parental argument and scorn. To head off such problems, parents need to learn constructive ways of engaging one another.

If you settle disagreements in front of your children in a calm, respectful manner, you teach them skills in resolving conflict. Unresolved arguments and tension can hang a cloud of confusion, anxiety, and sadness over your children. For assistance with communicating more effectively when conflicts arise, we offer a supportive, constructive plan designed to reduce stress and reconnect relationships.

Remember your children do not expect you to be perfect... when mistakes are made a sincere apology and a conscious effort to do it differently next time can mean the world to them.

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TRAINING YOURSELF TO SLEEP

Some people find it difficult to get to sleep, particularly as they get older. Those who find themselves with this problem may benefit from cognitive behavior therapy, to sleeping pills because it is a more natural remedy found to be effective for sleep disorders. If so, the therapist may teach those getting insufficient sleep to change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to poor sleep. Cognitive strategies may include, setting aside a certain time of day for addressing worries and concerns so that bedtime will be stress free. Mind body techniques, such as guided imagery, may also be taught to help a person wind down. Beyond that, behavior techniques may include avoiding naps, and going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.

If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your physical and mental well-being is affected. We can provide you with the help you need to get a better night’s sleep and improve the rest of your life, too. In addition to insomnia, we can help with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or difficulty dealing with loss or grief. If you would like an appointment or if you have any questions, please call, 608-742-5020. Our address is 2639 New Pinery Rd., Suite 1. Offering you and your family compassionate and professional advice.

P.S. Insomniacs often find it helpful not to read or watch TV in bed.

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THE RECOVERY PROCESS

Those addicted to alcohol and drugs can often refer back to a point in time when they made their decision to take positive, concrete steps that would help them come to terms with their problems. While this decision may be identified as a turning point of sorts, recovery from alcohol/ substance abuse is more of a continuing process. Recognition of this fact helps to place recovering individuals in a vigilant mind-set that recognizes that there is more to recovery than mere avoidance. Those in recovery are also encouraged to enlist the help of individual, group, and family counseling, which serves to remind them of the benefits that accrue to those choosing to live up to their potential.

Recovery is a process that is difficult, but those who have made the decision for health report rewards in multiple aspects of their lives. Support is one of the key ingredients of those who have been successful. We can support you with compassion, confidence, and connections that will help you to choose the healthy path. We are located at 2639 New Pinery Road, Suite 1 in Portage.

P.S. In as few as three days of heroin use, individuals can experience significant withdrawal symptoms.

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