GARCIAWESTBERG » Archive
Say “YES” to Pain!
WRONG: The best remedy for getting over a painful experience is to ignore it or to do something that will get your mind off of it. If you are partaking in this type of behavior, you are involved in “experiential avoidance” and that is not healthy according to some researchers. People who avoid their feelings tend to engage in substance abuse, impulsive risky behavior, emotional eating, and/or many other types of addictions. People who want to get away from their negative feelings end up having panic, anxiety or depressive attacks. It would seem that avoiding negative feelings would ease anxiety and depression. It does not. It makes them worse. Judge for yourself whether it is better to say “yes” or “no” to negative feelings and thoughts. There are various things you can … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Stress
Are You Sabotaging Your Happiness?
An article in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry discussed the implementation of “Well-Being Therapy.” I found it interesting because they report that when people are experiencing a good feeling, they begin to have thoughts that actually drive the good feeling away. They sabotage their present or potential moments of happiness with thoughts about the following: That feeling good means something bad is going to happen That whatever it is they have accomplished or are feeling is insignificant compared to what others have done or what needs to be done That moments of happiness or pleasure are not important because there is no purpose in life and that we are all gonna die anyhow That others’ pleasures or moments of happiness are more important and we need to forget about ourselves Unrealistic standards for our … Read entire article »
Filed under: Happiness
Happiness Is a Decision!
The happiness experts state that we can become happier if we engage in certain activities (e.g. socializing, being thankful, experimenting new things, etc.). But engaging in particular activities doesn’t seem to be enough. Researchers have found that a person must also have a “will” to be happier. A person must decide to be happy in order to increase their happiness level. How does one decide to be happy even when the world is crashing down around them? When it’s my turn to face hardship, I say to myself, “I have two choices: I can decide to be happy and overcome this or I can decide to do nothing and simply bear this.” I typically or eventually decide that I will make the best of the situation. Lyubomirsky, S., Dickerhoof, R., … Read entire article »
Filed under: Depression, Featured, Happiness
