Anxiety

I was recently interviewed for a couple of SheKnows.com articles. I really like the author Bethany Ramos’s approach as she always writes from personal experience and has a great interest in talking to therapists to gain more understand about psychological issues. I tend to like a lot of the articles SheKnows post on their Facebook page so recommend you Like their Facebook page too (as well as mine too of course 🙂  https://www.facebook.com/drsfcallen)

I hope you find them interesting too!

The first article also highlights the virtues of telephone/online therapy and if you would like to try that type of therapy please read more about it on my page https://drsarahallen.com/telephone-online-sessions/.

7 Things You Never Knew About Going To Therapy

SheKnows.com April 29 2015
by Bethany Ramos

“I wasn’t too gung ho about therapy at first. I’d always wanted a professional opinion about the anxiety that was running my life — but still, I was scared to open up and spill the beans to a virtual stranger.

Speaking of virtual, that was exactly what I did. When my oldest son was two years old and my second son was just an infant, I realized: I’m not doing a very good job at life. I thought that having a role as a mother would help calm the anxiety that constantly built up in my chest. As I realized that the responsibilities of parenting made me even more anxious, I knew it was time to bite the bullet. I signed up for virtual therapy, and my life has never been the same.”

Read the full article including my quote at:

http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1081050/reason-to-go-to-therapy

 

Telling Someone To ‘Cheer Up’ Is Not A Coping Method That Helps

SheKnows.com July 13 2015
by Bethany Ramos

I spent a year grieving and learned you should rarely tell someone to ‘cheer up’.
I recently made it through what I would unequivocally call the worst year and the best year of my life. I saw my dad for the first time in seven years. I fell apart. Then, I slowly put myself back together.

Read the full article including my quote at:

http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1084676/support-grieving-friend

If you would like to read some more articles that I have been interviewed for click over to my Latest News & Articles page.

I put together this booklet with strategies I am always giving to my clients firstly, because they help and secondly, so clients can have something handy to refer to between sessions.

I am a big believer in giving handouts about the strategies we talk about during sessions because I think it is hard to remember everything. I also give new clients a folder so they will be able to keep all this information in one place. A sort of emotional health toolbox to get out and read when you need it.

Not everyone is able to come and to see me though so I decided to make these strategies available to everyone and I hope you find this booklet helpful too. I think it is a great way to get started but it is hard to do this on your own so please contact me with any questions you may have after reading it.

Add your first name and email in the box below and you will be sent the steps to download your FREE depression book and begin your journey to feeling better.

I also put together a booklet with some strategies I am always giving to my clients to help them begin to feel less anxiety and to worry less.

I hope that you will find it helpful too.

Add your first name and email address in the box below and you will be sent the steps to download your FREE book.

Please call 847 791-7722 or email me on the form below if you have any questions.

Also, I have several blog posts about depression and other free booklets and posts about other issues that can affect the way you feel on my website www.drsarahallen.com.

If you have had a difficult day take some time to stop and relax. When we “go, go, go” then head straight to bed, our thoughts aren’t ready to stop and keeping our thoughts racing. Here are some good ways to slow down so your mind doesn’t keep you awake.

• Have a warm bath (not hot) as this will help your body reach a temperature that’s ideal for rest.

•  Writing “to do” lists for the next day can organize your thoughts and clear your mind of any worrying thoughts that pop in to your head (more about that later…)

• Relaxation exercises, such as light yoga stretches, help to relax the muscles. Don’t exercise vigorously though, as it will have the opposite effect.

• Relaxation CDs can help as they use a hypnotic voice to guide you through muscle relaxation and soothing music and sound effects to relax your brain.

• Watching TV or any computer or phone screen keeps the brain engaged and active so it is harder to fall asleep. It is better to read a book or listen to the radio as that relaxes the mind by distracting it from the present worries.

I hope you find these 5 tips useful. If you often feel stressed and would like to read more about ways to improve your mood please take a look at my free booklet below by entering your name and the email address you want the booklet sent to. I also have many articles on ways to improve your emotional well being on my blog which I hope you will also find helpful .

 

Dr. Sarah Allen specializes in empowering women to live the life they want. She sees clients in her Northbrook office or via telephone or Skype sessions. Visit www.drsarahallen.com for more blog posts on a variety of issues relevant to women. She can also be reached at (847) 791-7722 or by the form below.