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Making connections in group therapy

If you’re facing an illness or stress, you don’t have to go it alone!

A support group can help you find others who’ve faced your challenges before. You’ll learn about what works best for you. Support groups bring together those who are going through or who have already gone through similar experiences. Common ground includes cancer, chronic illness, addiction, bereavement, and caregiving.

A support group provides a place where people can come together to discuss issues they may not feel comfortable discussing elsewhere.
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Why group therapy works

More often than not we are left alone with the problems we face.

We try and tackle these problems all by ourselves. When we find ourselves in trouble, we may turn to our closest friends or family members to help us out. Sometimes this helps, but a lot of times it doesn’t. A lot of people who are close to us may not know how to deal with us or they may not really care about helping us. They may even tell us what we should do instead of just letting us talk. That is why support group meetings were created.
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Being a parent to teenagers

Being a parent is harder than most realize

Parents are people, and as such they have a finite amount of emotional energy and strength, which can easily get depleted by a rebellious teen. In fact, though you do love your teenager, you may find yourself feeling hurt, angry, resentful, distrusting, grieving, anxious, lonely, and so forth. You may also feel that your teenager is constantly trying to push your buttons, and that he or she is doing it all at once!
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Postpartum Depression

Giving birth to a child is one of life‘s biggest changes and greatest pleasures.

Welcoming a new member to your family sparks great change in your life. Most especially the mother as her body is also undergoing some major changes both physically and emotionally. The first few months after giving birth can be very challenging. New parents now must learn to make sacrifices and endure fatigue being the new norm. Of course, there is the expected feelings of pride to welcome a new child into your home and an incredible amount joy. However, a mother may also experience feelings of great sorrow, irritation, and fatigue throughout the first few months post-partum.
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Mental health in the transgender community

Mental health concerns are commonplace – about 1 in 5 people experience them during any given year.

However, the rates among transgender individuals are even higher. Many transgender people suffer from one or more mental health issues.

While there are many reasons why transgender individuals may suffer from mental illness, one reason is because of the negative attitudes held towards transgender people. Transgender people are often treated poorly, and can face discrimination and harassment simply because of how they identify themselves. Some transgender people also face physical attacks, including rape and murder.
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Staying happily married throughout counseling

Relations are complicated

When a couple turns towards one another, they make and respond with what we call ‘Bids For Connection.’ Bids can range from small things, like trying to get your attention by calling out to you, to bigger things, such as asking for deeper needs to meet. Happy couples are able to recognize when their partner is making bids and stop whatever they’re doing to engage.

Marriage and other committed, monogamous relationships involve imperfect people trying to navigate an imperfect world together. While creating a strong relationship requires effort, struggle, and suffering; the joy, connection, friendship, support, and love make the journey worthwhile.
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Techniques for handling PTSD

Grounding techniques are an invaluable coping tool for people suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSS).

At its core, PTSS is a disorder that keeps us stuck in the past. However, grounding techniques can help us reconnect with the present.

Finding grounding techniques that work for your PTSD symptoms has been a long journey. While grounding techniques may not work for everyone, they’re worth trying out if you’re struggling with PTSS.
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What’s it really like to learn you have PTSD?

Learning that I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) helped me recover from my trauma.

Symptoms of PTSD typically begin within 3 months after a traumatic event but in rare cases, they may not occur immediately. Because of PTSD stigma people often dismiss symptoms of PTSD until it is no longer able to be ignored.

Everyone has a different story

In my own case it took a while for myself to realize I had PTSD. Even longer to fully accept the diagnoses. But learning I have PTSD has enabled me to seek the help I need to heal.
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Coping with PTSD at work

Dealing with PTSD at work can be challenging. Navigating flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and hypervigilance is difficult in any environment, but managing these symptoms at work can feel impossible.

When your coworkers and colleagues judge you based on your trauma history, it can be hard not to worry about how they’ll react to what you say next. You may find yourself avoiding certain situations altogether because you know you won’t be able to cope if something goes wrong.
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