The holidays are full of family, friends, food, and depression, anxiety, and stress! 
Today we share how to keep moving forward and dealing with mental health and holidays - there are tips for those suffering and those that have ones that are suffering from mental health issues. 

I know it may be hard to hear but therapists are people too! We have just as much stress and anxiety and can be overwhelmed as anyone alive. What we have is a LOT of tools that we are supposed to be able to use to make life better and that is what I am sharing today. The honest reality from sleep habits to alternative medicine is part of a therapist's life too.  So join me as I tell the world, well, at least the few that listen to my podcast, the truth about how a therapist deals with life stresses.



Music from https://filmmusic.io "Eternity and Shades of Spring" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Are you living or just surviving? This last year has brought a lot of stress and anxiety to the world and many that have never dealt with such trauma or those that have past trauma have fallen into survival mode - the place that we are still breathing and existing but in many places, we have stopped living!

Today I talk about how to recognize if you are in survival mode and how to self-help to a place where you are starting to feel good and alive again or LIVING MODE!

References for today's podcast -
PTSD symptoms
Helpguide.org
Psychology today
UConn Article on Survival
Vista  Today
Montco.today 

I have been asked a lot of questions over the years about trauma and recovery so in this episode of EDP I am going to answer a few of those questions -

I use broad-based questions and personal experience answers -  but I also add references from a good trauma site (here) 

Trauma is something we do learn to live with but we do not have to let past trauma drive our present life! 

No one that I have met love change - most people dread it, even if you like it, when things don't change then that change you won't like - 

When we think we know something and then there is a rapid change it causes us to enter the state of Psychological Incongruency - our brain has to figure out how to react or to adapt to the new concept or situation that we are now facing. It can cause a lot of personal problems for those that do not recognize and work on adapting our Psychological Incongruencies. 

I have suffered a concussion while working on the family hobby farm and am in recovery - I will not be able to produce the normal size podcast but wanted to at least give you a short very positive podcast so you can find more strength in yourself. 

I have used the statement what you focus on determines what you miss for a long time now! It has good bad and ugly sides to it but it proves to be true no matter the reality. 

Today we talk about what it means to be hyperfocused and what it can cause you to miss - How to recognize your hyper-focus and how to start looking around you more and see what you may be missing. 

Sleep is one of the most important processes that we humans do - it recharges us physically and mentally but not if the nightmares are ruining a good night's sleep. 

today we talk about what nightmares are, why they happen and of course various ways you can help stop or reduce nightmares - including introduction to Image Rehearsal Therapy. 

references for today show come from 
https://www.bustle.com/p/11-common-creepy-dreams-weve-all-had-at-least-once-what-they-mean-9159525
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nightmare-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353515
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/stages-of-sleep
https://www.vivapartnership.com/optimal-living/what-do-our-nightmares-mean/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/nightmares

Thie week we wrap up our last of the relationship series with Extroverts in relationships - 

This is for those that are (extro) or (extra) -verts both spelling are fine just small differences -  we use extroverts for this podcast - and this is also of those in a relationship with an extrovert... 

Learn pros and cons of the personality type -
Extroverts learn how to be better partners 
Those in relationships with extroverts learn how to do it better...

References for today podcast 

https://medium.com/hello-love/how-to-date-an-extrovert-when-youre-an-introvert-196888411124
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-introverts-corner/201509/5-essential-tips-introvert-extrovert-couples
https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/6-great-reasons-date-extrovert-bbab/
https://www.beliefnet.com/love-family/relationships/the-guide-to-dating-an-extrovert.aspx
https://www.psychologistworld.com/influence-personality/extraversion-introversion

Let me say - Introverted people are NOT mentally weaker, more dangerous, or less functional than extroverted people! 

Today we talk about the personality type called introversion - the What the why and the how-to build good relationships with an introvert - 

I am an expert as I have been married to one for 25+ years now! Yes, I made some bone head mistakes in the earlier years but learned the true power and value of introverted people! 

 Information for today's podcast in part came from: 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/introversion
https://www.thecut.com/article/apparently-there-are-four-kinds-of-introversion.html
https://www.verywellmind.com/signs-you-are-an-introvert-2795427
https://introvertdear.com/news/introvert-love-relationship-extrovert/
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-know-when-dating-an-introvert-5093777