What You Think Matters

Posted on April 13, 2020 at 1:25 pm by cognitivehealthsolutions

What you think matters. Research has shown there are actual chemical changes in someone’s brain and body depending on what thoughts are going through their mind.

During the challenging time that we’re all experiencing, your thoughts can either make it harder or easier to get through it.

Test it out! Take a moment, and think to yourself, “How are we ever going to get through this? This is awful! I don’t think this is EVER going to end.” Now, test out what you’re feeling. Are you feeling happy? Content? Peaceful? Relaxed? Probably not.

Now try this set of thoughts. “This is certainly tough, but it’ll end. Tough times always do. Now, what would I enjoy doing while we’re here?” Test out your feelings again. What are you noticing?

Pair accurate and positive thinking with doing something enjoyable and your moods are likely to be better…and under your control!

Dr. Beth A. Davis, Psy.D.

About Author

cognitivehealthsolutions

Mental Health Tips

Mental Health Awareness Month: May

May 11, 2020 at 7:52 pm by cognitivehealthsolutions

May is Mental Health Awareness month. Our staff wanted to share with you what we do to self-care and be cognizant of our mental health. Mental health awareness month has encouraged me to pause and reflect on my own self care routine. These current times have been challenging but have also provided me the opportunity to prioritize my personal fitness goals more than I typically would. Exercise and strength training is one of my preferred self care activities that nurtures my mind and body simultaneously. -Ms. Jessica D. Hurda, MS, NCC, LPC Hanover Office I enjoy active self-care with...

Mental Health Tips

Worry? Blow it away!

May 5, 2020 at 4:19 pm by cognitivehealthsolutions

Image: Freepik.com One of the easiest, quickest – and inexpensive - ways to control stress, worry and anxiety is through your breath. Our bodies are designed to react to stress and worry by getting us ready to run away, fight, or freeze. When this happens, we breathe shallowly in preparation. It’s only meant for short-term response. Not good in the long term for our bodies and minds. Deep, slow breathing actually triggers the production of relaxation/anti-anxiety neurotransmitters in our brains. Think about trying one of the following quick relaxers once or twice a day: Sit quietly in a comfortable place...

Mental Health Tips

Screen Fatigue: It’s A Real Thing

April 28, 2020 at 5:28 pm by cognitivehealthsolutions

Since the onset of stay-at-home orders and the advent of working from home, adults and children alike are on screens a lot more. And even though things may be opening up more in the weeks to come, screen usage will still be very much a part of the new normal. Recent observations are showing that people are experiencing significant exhaustion and fatigue from being on their screens for meetings, for school lessons, for family gatherings, and for therapy. Are you one of these? Tired after a meeting, class, or therapy session? Minor memory issues? Needing to rest more? You’re not...

Mental Health Tips

Be Nicer to Yourself

April 14, 2020 at 1:06 pm by cognitivehealthsolutions

Image: Freepik.com You're probably a nice person. You probably help family, neighbors, co-workers. But are you as nice to yourself? Sounds a little silly, but you might be surprised at how compassionate we are to others, never thinking about being that way toward ourselves. Dr. Tara Brach calls it radical self compassion. In other words, being as nice to ourselves as we are to others. This is so important given what we are all going through now with social distancing and understandable fears about COVID-19 and what it means now and in the future. Here are some possible ways to...

Mental Health Tips

Family Seclusion Exercise

April 8, 2020 at 2:34 pm by cognitivehealthsolutions

image: Freepik.com This time of “forced seclusion” is very challenging, but it has also granted us an opportunity to step back and take a new perspective. Here is a family activity that can ensure we carry what he have learned for months (and maybe years) to come. Each family member completes the two lists and the lists are saved in the same jar or box. 3 things that I miss terribly as a result of this seclusion and I can’t wait to do again… 1. 2. 3. 3 things that I had not done in a long time but...

What You Think Matters

Mental Health Tips