Do you remember the magic of catching fireflies as a child? Memories of catching them came back a few nights ago as I was walking Hunter and the fireflies were just rising from the ground. It was beautiful, but also sad as it occurred to me that my anxiety robbed me of some of the magic in recent years. How? Many years ago I noticed a few fireflies slipped into my … [Read more...] about Anxiety and the Vanishing Fireflies
Facing the Little Red-Haired Girl of Your Dreams
So often we are own own worst enemy when it comes to anxiety. We worry so much about what could go wrong that we take a tiny, little problem - maybe not even a problem, just a situation - and blow it up into an international crisis without ever considering that things might go our way. In doing so, we delay, delay, delay. And you know what happens then? It gets even worse. … [Read more...] about Facing the Little Red-Haired Girl of Your Dreams
Does Study on Exercise and Depression Miss the Mark?
A recent study reveals that exercise may not provide the relief from depression that has been assumed for years. I don't know what to think. At first blush the results don't make sense to me. Consistent, vigorous exercise should surely provide some relief from mild to moderate anxiety and depression yet this study suggests otherwise. I am curious to see the results of future … [Read more...] about Does Study on Exercise and Depression Miss the Mark?
Calling a Time-Out Through Mindfulness Meditation
Anxiety is truly an overwhelming force for many of us. For periods it consumes us like fire, touching every corner of our lives, and sometimes for weeks or months without break. And then when it subsides we are left wondering what happened to all that time we lost. I'm reminded of this as I began reading Calming Your Anxious Mind by Jeffrey Brantley, MD. He opens the … [Read more...] about Calling a Time-Out Through Mindfulness Meditation
Got Depression? Ewww, Maybe You’ve Got Worms
I've struggled with depression for about 20 years and in that time I've read and researched quite a bit about it. Today, a new theory of depression just blew me away and reveals how little we really know about chronic, serious types of depression. You see there is thing called the "hygiene hypothesis" that suggests worms or other bacteria may be responsible for triggering … [Read more...] about Got Depression? Ewww, Maybe You’ve Got Worms