Elise Rodriguez, LMFT #84376

Breathe. Breathe. Watch this little boy help out his younger brother who was about to have a tantrum relax and get grounded using breathing techniques. Beautiful!

Take care of you!

In today's society, we live in a fast pace world, that never seems to stop. With the invention of cell phones that are mini computers, work goes with you everywhere. Long hours and high stress jobs, can lead to burn out. Although there is no binding diagnosis of burn out, the most common definition is, "burn out syndrome is characterized by exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced satisfaction in performance." (A. Weber and A. Jaekel-Rienhard). According to Dr. Ballard o...f who is the head of the APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program., "A lot of burnout really has to do with experiencing chronic stress." In other words, burn out is the result of chronic stress that has not been dealt with. Burn out affects every area of out life. Our work, home, and social life can be affected. Some areas that burn out affects are: 1)Hyperactivity 2) Exhaustion-chronic fatigue, loss of energy 3) Reduced activity- withdrawal, resignation 4) Emotional reactivity- aggression, negativity, and cynicism 5) Breakdown- cognitive function, motivation, creativity 6) Degradation- emotional distress 7) Sleep disturbance, gastro-intestinal disorders, cardio-vascular disorders, , sexual disorders, susceptibility to infection. increase in alcohol or drugs 8) Despair- psychosomaitic disorders, and suicide. In other words, stress affects your health, your social life, and your mental health. There are several things you can do to prevent burnout. Some ways are to get enough sleep, develop a rich life outside of work, unplug from electronic communication, stay attuned to you body. Your body will begin to tell you tell tale signs that its heading into burn out. Some researchers have also found that religion and spirituality also serve to help prevent burn out. If you are already experiencing burn out, here are some tips for redirecting your life and getting back on track. 1) Psychotherapy to learn relaxation techniques, improve self-esteem, and learn new techniques for dealing with stress 2) Learn time management techniques to help you better manage your time 3) Delegate where you can- learn to say no 4) Change work environments if necessary. Remember that you only have one life. Taking care of yourself is not just recommended but necessary. If you find that your burn out is so high you have reached the point of despair, reach out and get the help you need.

Self-Care Friday! Self-care matters. I can't say it enough. Taking care of yourself gives you the energy and strength to take care of the other areas of your life. Today's self care tip: Self-care doesn't have to cast a lot of money. Start your self-care journey by meditating for 10 minutes in the morning to start and build it up to 30 minutes. Daily meditation quiets the mind and helps you get in tune with your body. According to Health Line a few of the scientific b...enefits of meditation are : *Reduces Stress. Stress reduction is one of the most common reasons people try meditation. ... *Controls Anxiety. Less stress translates to less anxiety. ... *Promotes Emotional Health. ... *Enhances Self-Awareness. ... *Lengthens Attention Span. ... *May Reduce Age-Related Memory Loss. ... *Can Generate Kindness. ... There are many different ways to meditate. You can meditate with quiet instrumental music (youtube is good for that), you can meditate on scriptures, or you can focus on the sound of your breathing. Explore what works best for you. Be still and notice the quiet, notice the peace. Taking time to meditate can make all the difference in your day. Start today. Remember self-care matters!

Why Go to Therapy? Something that is commonly stated is, " I don't need to go to therapy, that's what friends are for." Many people have the belief that therapy is just paying someone to listen to you talk. There is some truth to that but, there is a lot more to therapy than just listening to someone talk. Therapist don't just listen, they help you get from problem to solution. Together, you plan the destination (i.e. I want to alleviate my anxiety), and the therapist ha...s the skills to get you there. For example, you are experiencing anxiety that impacts your ability to function. You ask your family and friends and they tell you to "rebuke the demons" (if they're Christians), to "get over it", or that you're "worrying for nothing." You love them, and you know they love you and want you to feel better but none of the advice is working. How is seeing a therapist different from that? Therapist have special training that helps you determine the root cause and develop the skills necessary to permanently overcome the condition. Our role is to develop a road map that will get you to that destination. Sometimes you know where you want to go but you don't have the GPS to get you there. That's where your therapist comes in. He or she is like the GPS on your phone (with a lot more skills than just reading directions, LOL), they gently guide you to your destination. So if you need someone to help guide you to a happier, healthier you. Call a therapist. After all, You're worth it! P.S. If you're curious about therapy techniques and have therapy questions, tune in on Mondays for weekly therapy tips. If you have any specific questions you'd like to see addressed, comment below with your questions and I'll be happy to answer.

IS SELF-CARE SELFISH? In today's world something is always competing for your time. Things like, family, friends, emails, Facebook, work, traffic, etc. The distractions can be overwhelming and sometimes down right exhausting. We feel torn in every direction trying to fit it all in to our day. Our minds have trouble slowing down and feel as if they are always thinking, sometimes so much that it's disturbing our sleep. Then comes along our friend, therapist, or family ...member that asks, "So what are you doing to take care of yourself?" And your next thought is, Take care of myself? How am I supposed to do that? How am I supposed to find the time? I am SO BUSY. A statement that frequently comes up in treatment when this subject is brought up is, I feel selfish doing something that's just for me. Isn't self-care selfish? My answer, NO. Self-care is the exact opposite of selfish. Self-care is what allows you to recharge, get refreshed, and get what you need to keep loving on those that matter and accomplishing your goals. If you don't take care of yourself, burnout will be on the horizon. Believe me, I speak from experience and a burned out you is no good to anyone. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself and those you care about. It doesn't take much time for self-care. You can simply carve out a few minutes. Believe it or not, a few small minutes will take you a long way. Start today by taking some time out of your day to take some slow deep breaths and notice the beauty around you. When your mind wants to wander to your to-do list, notice the sound of your breath and take your attention inwards. Then refocus it on the beauty around you. What colors do you see? What sounds do you notice? Just stay present. This one small act can energize you until the next time. See more

You don’t have to live in the darkness. Reach out for help and you will discover the light.

There has been an alarming rate of suicides among Pastors and Ministers in recent years. This could very well be one of the main contributors. It’s slightly long but worth the read. http://appalachianmagazine.com//the-too-accessible-pastor/

We aren’t made to just survive, We are made to thrive! If you’re not thriving, what is hindering you?We aren’t made to just survive, We are made to thrive! If you’re not thriving, what is hindering you?