The Mental Health Impact on Veterans: Why Therapy Matters

Serving in the military is an honorable duty, but it comes with its own set of risks and challenges. Often, our brave heroes return home from overseas feeling overwhelmed or have difficulty adjusting to civilian life. Over the years, it has become increasingly evident that many of our veterans are living with mental health issues. Unfortunately, many struggling veterans don't get the help they need, which can lead to devastating consequences. In this post, I will discuss the mental health impact on veterans and why therapy matters.

The constant exposure to traumatic experiences can have a significant impact on a person's mental health. For our service members, the effects of war, the fear of death or injury, and the brutality of violence can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other debilitating conditions. Veterans who have experienced these conditions often feel a sense of shame or stigmatization that prevents them from accessing mental health services. However, seeking therapy is one of the most critical steps towards recovery. It provides a safe space where veterans can work through their emotions, thoughts, and trauma.

Given the stigmatization surrounding mental health and seeking help that some veterans face, many organizations and therapists are working to make significant strides in providing accessible mental health services. Therapists who work with veterans often use various evidence-based therapies, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). They tailor treatments to the individual needs of service members, and sessions are often conducted one-on-one. Moreover, some treatments involve family members or close friends, which can provide a supportive network for veterans.

Given the unique challenges that veterans face its important to find a therapist specifically trained in working with veterans who understand the military culture. The military culture stressors, especially long deployments, and high operational tempos that come with the profession, can be traumatic for service members.

In conclusion, mental health remains a significant problem for our veterans. Mental health problems are often considered part of the invisible wounds of war, given that it is often stigmatized, and the need for help to treat these problems is often overlooked. If you are a veteran or know someone who needs help, we offer mental health services, including EMDR, to support veterans' and help them overcome their challenges. The road to recovery is never easy, but it is essential to seek support when you need it. With therapy, veterans can find recovery.

Blog Title: 10 Affirmations to Tell Yourself When Having a Bad Day

We all have bad days every once in a while. A missed alarm, a tough meeting, or even just waking up on the wrong side of the bed can throw off our entire day. When this happens, it can be easy to fall into a negative thought pattern and allow that one bad thing to control the entire day. The good news is that you have control over your thoughts and emotions, and there are ways to turn your day around. One technique that is particularly helpful is using affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself to shift your mindset and attitude. Here are 10 affirmations to tell yourself when having a bad day.

1. "I am strong and capable." This affirmation reminds you that you have faced tough situations before and have the inner strength to get through them again.

2. "This is just a moment in time, and it will pass." The bad day you're having won't last forever, and things will get better.

3. "I choose to focus on the positive." Even in the midst of a bad day, there are positive things happening around you. Choose to focus on those things rather than dwelling on the negative.

4. "I am deserving of love and happiness." This affirmation reminds you that you are worthy of good things, even on a bad day.

5. "I am in control of my thoughts and emotions." You have the power to choose how you react to a bad day. Use this affirmation to remind yourself that you can control your response.

6. "I am grateful for the good things in my life." When things aren't going well, it can be easy to overlook all of the positive things in your life. Take a moment to reflect on what you're grateful for.

7. "I am doing the best I can." Sometimes, we put too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. This affirmation reminds us that we are doing our best, and that's all we can ask of ourselves.

8. "I am worthy of forgiveness and grace." If you made a mistake that contributed to your bad day, it's important to remember that you are human and deserving of forgiveness and grace.

9. "I am capable of finding solutions." When we're having a bad day, it can be easy to feel like there's no way out. This affirmation reminds us that we have the skills and ability to find solutions to our problems.

10. "I am loved and supported." This affirmation reminds us that we are not alone, and that we have people in our lives who care about us and are there to support us.

Bad days happen to everyone. What's important is how we respond to them. Using affirmations can be an effective tool for shifting our mindset and attitude. The next time you're having a bad day, try using these affirmations to help turn things around. Remember that you are strong, capable, and deserving of love and happiness.

10 Ways to Connect with Your Baby

Connection with your baby is an important and fulfilling part of being a parent. Here are 10 ways on how to connect, attach and bond with your baby that will help create a strong relationship between you two.

1. Talk to Your Baby – Talking to your baby helps build their language skills as well as strengthens the bond between the two of you. Make sure to talk in a calm voice so that your baby feels safe and secure when you are talking to them. Additionally, use facial expressions, gestures, and body language to clearly communicate with your little one.

2. Read to Your Baby – Reading aloud to your baby allows them to become familiar with stories and different types of literature while allowing them to make connections between reading and communication. Reading also allows for bonding time by providing an opportunity for both of you to share special moments together while introducing new concepts, sounds, words, and ideas into their minds.

3. Sing to Your Baby – Singing not only helps keep babies entertained but it also exposes them to different tones, rhythms, pitch changes and emotions which can stimulate their brain development and enhance their listening skills. It's also great for developing motor skills as babies often move along in response or attempt to clap or sing along!

4. Spend Quality Time with Your Baby – Taking some time away from work or other responsibilities each day is important for connecting with your child on an emotional level as well as teaching them about the world around them. During this quality time share yourself emotionally by expressing love for them through physical touch such as hugs, cuddles or kisses which can help reassure your baby that they are loved unconditionally by you no matter what happens throughout the day.

5. Play Together - Playing games together helps develop socialization skills while deepening the connection between parents and children by providing opportunities for shared laughter which can reduce stress levels in both parties involved. Some great simple games include peekaboo, patty cake or building towers out of blocks which all allow for plenty of laughs whether its over silly mistakes made during playtime or just general silliness!

6. Give Massages – Massages are great way not only relax but also foster trust between parent-child relationships since massaging requires physical contact (which is vital in bonding) while conveying emotions such as love, support & safety through gentle touches.  Plus, massaging has been proven beneficial in reducing stress & promoting relaxation while simultaneously improving muscle tone & circulation.   

7. Share Special Moments - Sharing special moments is essential in forming bonds between parent & child because it gives each person involved an opportunity to express their feelings without worrying about what another might think- plus it’s always fun taking pictures or videos recounting funny stories from earlier times spent together! 

8. Participate in Activities Together - Once you find out what your baby or toddler is showing interest in find creative ways to bring these interests into outings or activities. Sharing in these activities together allows us parents & kids alike experience new things we may not have otherwise participated in. An example may be your baby or toddler having a love for animals, so planning a trip to the zoo together is a great way to share in this interest.

9. Show Affection - Showing affection doesn’t mean simply saying “I love you" but rather showing that through physical contact such cuddling, hugging, kissing, holding hands etc. This type of affection reassures our children that we care deeply about them. In addition, it also releases the hormone oxytocin which promotes bonding.  

10. Listen To Them - “Listening” isn’t just referring to talking but also body language, gestures, noises and facial expressions.  Listening attentively shows our children that we value what they are working to communicate no matter how big, small trivial, or serious the topic may be. Listening allows a strengthening of the bond and communicates that they are seen and what they are working to communicate is important to us.

Building a strong connection with your baby takes time but is essential for creating healthy parent/child relationships down the line. There are many effective ways build these connections to ensure both yourself and child feel understood, loved, appreciated, and ultimately connected!

How to Use Coping Statements to Benefit Your Mental Health

How to Use Coping Statements to Benefit Your Mental Health

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or down, it can be helpful to use coping statements. A coping statement is a positive phrase that you say to yourself in order to help manage difficult emotions and situations. They can remind you of the strength within yourself and help you stay focused on what is important. Let’s take a look at how we can use coping statements to benefit our mental health.

What Are Coping Statements?

A coping statement is simply a phrase or sentence that encourages or motivates you when times are tough. They should be personal and tailored to your specific needs. For example, if you feel overwhelmed by work tasks, your coping statement may be something like “I can do this one step at a time” or “I am capable of completing this task.”

The key with using these statements is that they must be realistic yet effective for your situation; otherwise, they won’t actually help in managing your stress or anxiety. You may need to experiment with different phrases until you find one that works best for you.

When Should I Use Coping Statements?

You should use coping statements anytime you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. These statements can also be used in moments of happiness or joy as well; they serve as affirmations and reminders of the good things in life and positive qualities within ourselves.

It may take some time before you master the art of using these statements, but don’t give up! The more practice you have at using them, the better they will become at helping manage difficult emotions and situations. Try using them as tools for self-reflection and growth so that we can become stronger mentally and emotionally over time.

Other Examples of Coping Statements:

I can handle this, especially if I take it one step at a time.

I am capable of doing tough things.

I can calm myself with slow, steady breaths.

This feeling is uncomfortable, but it won’t last forever.

I belong, I am lovable and matter. No matter what.

We all experience difficult emotions from time to time—that’s natural. However, by learning how to use coping statements effectively we can better manage those feelings without having to resort to negative behaviors such as avoidance or self-harm. Through practice and repetition, we can begin using these positive phrases as tools for self-reflection and growth so that we can become stronger mentally and emotionally over time. So next time things get tough, remember—you have the strength within yourself to cope with whatever comes your way! Remember: You’ve already survived 100% of your bad days.

7 Relaxation Techniques to Help Reduce Anxiety Before Bedtime

Stress and anxiety can interfere with your sleep, making it hard to get the restful night's sleep you need. The good news is that there are plenty of relaxation techniques you can try to help reduce your anxiety before bedtime. Here are seven simple yet effective ways to relax and let go of anxious thoughts so you can finally get some much-needed rest.

Yoga and Stretching: Yoga is a great way to relax both your body and mind before bed. A few gentle stretching movements will help loosen up tight muscles, leaving you feeling calmer and more relaxed. If possible, find a yoga class that specializes in evening classes – this will give your body a chance to slowly unwind from the day's activities as well as learn how to practice various calming poses that can be done at home before bedtime.

Meditation: Just 15 minutes of meditation has been shown to reduce stress levels, so why not give it a try before bed? Meditation helps clear the mind of racing thoughts so you can focus on the present moment instead of worrying about tomorrow or regretting the past. It’s best done in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed, such as your bedroom or living room. For added relaxation, try listening to guided meditations or nature sounds while meditating.

Journaling: Writing down your thoughts or feelings can be an effective way to release any tension or worries that are lingering in your mind. Journaling is also a great way to reflect on things that happened during the day – this will help put any negative events into perspective so they don’t keep playing over in your head at night when you're trying to sleep.

Breathing Exercises: Taking deep breaths is one of the easiest ways to relax quickly and easily. Focusing on slow inhales and exhales for several minutes will help slow down your heart rate and take away any built-up tension in the body. You can do this anywhere; even lying in bed just before sleep.

Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is an ancient practice that uses essential oils from plants like lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, etc., which have been known for their calming effects for centuries. Try adding drops of essential oil into an aromatherapy diffuser near your bed or simply dabbing some onto your pillowcase just before getting into bed – either way will help calm down anxious thoughts before sleep.

Reading: Reading is one of the best ways to distract yourself from anxious thoughts right before bedtime – plus it helps tire out your eyes so they stay closed for longer once you drift off into slumberland. Reading anything from fiction novels and magazines to nonfiction books filled with facts about things outside of yourself will keep those racing fears away until morning comes around again.

Listening To Music: Listening to calming music just before going to sleep is one relaxing activity everyone should try out at least once. Slow classical pieces have been known for their de-stressing powers while upbeat tunes may make it harder for some people fall asleep due to its energizing effect on the brainwaves - but either way works perfectly fine if it helps lulls you into dreamland faster than usual.

These seven relaxation techniques are easy enough for anyone who wants some extra help reducing anxiety right before going off into dreamland each night - whether they suffer from chronic stress/anxiety or not. Keep these tips in mind when dealing with those pesky pre-bedtime jitters - happy sleeping!

10 Strategies for Helping Children Regulate Their Emotions

Managing emotions can be challenging for adults, but it is especially difficult for children. There are many strategies that parents and caregivers can use to help children regulate their emotions. Read on to learn the top 10 tips on how to help children regulate their emotions.

1. Identify Feelings: Start by helping your child name their feelings. This helps them recognize and label their own emotions as well as understand the feelings of others.

2. Validate Emotions: It’s important to validate your child’s feelings and let them know that it’s okay to feel whatever they are feeling. This will help them feel heard and understood, which is essential when trying to teach them how to regulate their emotions.

3. Offer Choices: Providing choices gives your child the power to make decisions while allowing them some control over a situation they may feel powerless in. This can be especially helpful during moments of intense emotion when they may not have the ability or resources to think through a problem logically or rationally.

4. Encourage Problem-Solving: Problem-solving helps children become more resilient when faced with negative emotions or stressful situations because it teaches them how to come up with solutions on their own rather than relying on adults for help every time an issue arises.

5. Model Appropriate Behavior: Our behaviors have a profound effect on our children, so it is important that we model appropriate behavior in all situations, even when we are feeling overwhelmed ourselves. Taking a few deep breaths and counting down from 10 can be helpful in demonstrating healthy ways of managing stress or intense emotions.

6. Address Unhealthy Habits Early On: If you notice any unhealthy habits your child has developed such as biting nails, picking at scabs, or twirling hair, address it immediately by talking about these behaviors and teaching better alternatives such as clenching fists or squeezing a stress ball instead.

7. Create an Outlet for Expression: Creating an outlet for expression—such as art, music, writing, or dance—can give children an avenue through which they can express themselves without words and work through difficult emotions in a safe space without judgement or criticism from others.

8. Establish Routines & Rules: Establish routines so that your child knows what is expected of him/her each day; this helps provide structure and order in an otherwise chaotic world.

9. Focus on Self-Care & Mindfulness Practices: Encouraging self-care activities such as yoga, meditation, journaling and physical activity can help reduce stress levels and increase emotional regulation skills.

10. Be Patient & Kind: Above all else it is important that you remain patient and kind with yourself and your child throughout this process; try not to take things personally if mistakes are made along the way – mistakes happen! Celebrating successes (no matter how small) can go a long way towards helping build confidence in yourself and your child’s ability manage his/her own emotions successfully..

Learning how to regulate one's emotions takes practice - lots of practice! - so don't get discouraged if progress isn't seen right away; keep trying different strategies until you find what works best for both you and your child. By following these tips outlined above you should see marked improvement over time in your child's ability to recognize, cope with, and respond appropriately to difficult feelings without becoming overwhelmed or distressed by them.

What is Play Therapy? Exploring Benefits & Techniques for Children

As parents, it can be difficult to watch our children experience a range of emotions. When your child is struggling with difficult emotions, Play Therapy may be a powerful tool to help them process and manage those feelings in a safe space. Let’s explore what Play Therapy is and how it can benefit your child's physical, social, and emotional development.

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that utilizes play as a therapeutic medium for children aged 3-11 years old. It allows children to express themselves through play while working through their issues in a way that they understand best. Through this process, they learn how to better identify and manage their feelings. Often times, play therapy helps them become more confident in expressing themselves openly with others.

Benefits of Play Therapy

The benefits of play therapy are numerous. It has the potential to improve communication skills, problem solving abilities, self-regulation skills, and even academic performance when done correctly by a qualified Play Therapist. Additionally, it helps create positive relationships between parents/guardians and their children as it encourages open communication within each family unit. In order for any child to grow up healthy and happy, having strong communication skills within the family is key!

Play Therapy Techniques & Strategies

There are many techniques used in play therapy but some of the main ones include filial therapy (parent-child relationship building), sand tray therapy (using miniatures to act out stories), art therapy (utilizing art materials like clay or paint), bibliotherapy (using books to explore emotions) , dramatic play (acting out different scenarios) and cognitive behavioral play therapy (to address behavior issues). All these techniques focus on providing a safe space where children will feel comfortable exploring their feelings without judgement or fear of punishment or ridicule. They also provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to support their children as they work through their issues together as one cohesive unit.

At Capturing Serenity we believe that all families should have access to helpful resources such as Play Therapy. We offer both online counseling sessions and in person sessions depending on your needs so you can get the help you need from the comfort of your own home! We believe that every child deserves a safe space where they can explore their emotions without judgement or fear - because only then can they truly learn how to better manage those emotions in a healthy way. If you think your child could benefit from Play Therapy don't hesitate to reach out! Our team would love nothing more than helping you start on this journey towards emotional growth and healing for your entire family!

What is Gaslighting?

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were constantly being made to feel crazy, even though you knew deep down that your feelings were justified? If so, then you may have been the victim of gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to make the victim doubt their own perception of reality. Let’s take a closer look at what gaslighting is and why it’s so dangerous.

What is Gaslighting?

Gaslighting typically occurs in relationships between individuals or groups, where one party attempts to make the other question their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs by purposely distorting or denying reality. This tactic can be used to gain power over the victim and manipulate them into believing something they know isn't true. It's also common for gaslighters to try and isolate their victims from friends and family in order to further control them.

Signs of Gaslighting

It can be difficult to recognize when someone is trying to manipulate you through gaslighting because it usually happens slowly over time. However, there are several signs that may indicate that you are being subjected to this type of psychological abuse. These include:

• Making false accusations or contradicting your memories or experiences

• Undermining your accomplishments or belittling your opinions

• Blaming others for their actions while ignoring yours

• Constant criticism with no constructive feedback

• Isolating you from family and friends

• Refusing to take responsibility for mistakes or bad behavior

If any of these behaviors sound familiar, then it's possible that you are being subjected to gaslighting tactics.

Effects of Gaslighting

The effects of gaslighting can be devastating and can leave victims feeling confused, helpless, and isolated. Victims may start doubting themselves and feeling like they’re “going crazy” – often leading them to become increasingly dependent on the abuser for validation and support. Unfortunately, these feelings of insecurity can linger long after the relationship has ended as victims continue to struggle with trust issues and self-doubt. It is important for victims of gaslighting abuse to seek help from professionals who can provide guidance on how best to deal with the situation and move forward in a positive way.

Gaslighting is a serious form of psychological manipulation that can have devastating effects on its victims. It's important for everyone – especially those who have been in unhealthy relationships – to be aware of the signs that could indicate they are being subjected to this type of abuse so they can get help before things get worse. If you think you might be a victim of gaslighting tactics, it's important not to stay silent – reach out for help immediately!