February 2020 —
This New York Times article deftly outlines the differences between worry, stress and anxiety and provides useful tips for managing all three. Whatever might be weighing on your mind, we here at PPG can help.
News
Thinking of New Year’s Resolutions? You might want to read this New Yorker article called “Can Brain Science Help Us Break Bad Habits?” A thought provoking read, the author lays out the argument that because so many habits are formed unconsciously, relying on will power is all but useless. The key is in developing strategies that side step the need for resolve. This is a central concept in our work with adults and children with ADHD. We must learn how to work with what we have rather than struggle through force of willpower alone. Contact us to find out how we can help you develop these strategies.
This GQ article provides a nice outline of what to expect from couples therapy and makes the excellent point that the sooner you begin, the better. Couples often wait until the relationship is in critical condition but using couples therapy proactively can give you the tools you need to head trouble off at the pass.
This New York Times article is called “Marriage Therapists Who Follow Their Own Advice.” It follows John and Julie Gottman, two psychologists who are married and who together created the Gottman method of couple’s therapy which we use here at PPG. As an evidence based approach marriage counseling that is backed by decades of data, we think it’s a great example of how a marriage can grow and develop over the years. Check out our couples therapy services to see how we can help you get started towards a healthier marriage.
This New York Times article is called “How to Make Tough Decisions Easier.” It’s an interesting read, and we recommend it for anyone who is facing a difficult decision.
Key takeaways include:
- Realizing that F.O.B.O (fear of better options)is what is causing indecision. While F.O.B.O can sometimes lead to good decisions, it often makes decision makers less satisfied with what they chose.
- Strategies to define your M.F.D (the minimum outcome you are wiling to accept). With the M.F.D., you think strategically about the future, while focusing on the upside, not the downside.
This New York Times article is called “Parenting the Fortnite Addict” but it’s really about how to parent your children when they are engaging in activities you might not fully relate to. The 1950s rock n’ roll confused parents and made them worried. Now, in the 2010s, we have video games. Is there a downside to spending too much time gaming? Yes and no. We recommend looking at this article for a more detailed breakdown.
If you are wondering how you might improve your child’s focus, we recommend taking a look at this New York Times article called “Reading Aloud to Young Children Has Benefits for Behavior and Attention.” The article talks about a recent psychological study that followed 675 families, asking half of the families to read to their children and asking half to not. The study demonstrated that families that read to their children saw their kids improve in all kinds of ways — not just in literacy and attention, but also in emotional well being.
This is a wonderful New York Times piece featuring a firsthand account of panic and anxiety. Take a look to find some real world strategies to help manage your anxiety and contact us if you need some help developing an anxiety toolkit.
In this New York Times opinion piece, columnist Adam Grant, makes the case that kids can benefit from learning to argue and that, by inhibiting their disagreements, we might just be squelching the development of creative problem solving. Something to keep in mind, next time the kids start bickering. It might drive you crazy but maybe it’s not as bad as you think.
This New York Times article, “Outsmarting our Primitive Responses to Fear”, provides an outline of our evolved fear response, often referred to as “fight or flight”. Take a look for ideas on how to help your response match the stimulus and get yourself out of the red zone when you don’t need to be there.