Do I Wish My Narcissistic Mom a Happy Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day is supposed to be fun, but it fills you with dread
As the day looms closer, you aren’t sitting there thinking about the wonderful conversation you and your mom will have or the lovely day you’ll have together. Instead, your anxiety is growing bigger and bigger as you wonder what should you do?
You are afraid of taking a misstep, of doing the wrong thing. You are constantly walking on eggshells around her. How do you handle this holiday when the two of you have so much baggage together?
A Therapist’s Guide to Authentic Parenting Tips for Teens
Your teen is having a hard time. And you’re lucky because they’re bringing their problems to you. But your advice isn’t working! You keep trying to tell them what to do. Your solutions are so simple. But your teen won’t listen! You give them option A. They won’t budge on it. You present option B. They give you reasons as to why that won’t work.
You’re getting frustrated. How are you supposed to help your teen through these lows?
How to Ask for Help if You Had to Figure it Out on Your Own
You grew up fast. Maybe you had to figure things out because if you brought up your feelings, your needs, asked for help, you were shamed, told you were “too much.” That felt lonely. Over time, that gave you the strength of independence. You love that part of you, but you also notice it can make you guarded, hesitant to reach out for support. At the same time, you are so caring. You desperately want to let others in, but you are not sure how. How do you learn to be vulnerable and to ask for the help you want and need?
I Worry Everyone is Mad at Me and Tips to Calm the Fear
It happens all the time. The moment another person’s face shifts, they become silent, they turn away, you can’t help it. You get that unpleasant feeling. You’re so nervous. What if? What if they are angry? What if you did something wrong? What if you finally became too much for them? And if you don’t address it right here, right now? Well that’s just not an option. You have got to make sure it’s all okay or your discomfort skyrockets.
So when that feeling, that pressure, that people pleasing anxiety comes on, what do you do? How can you tend to yourself?
Strategies to Help When Your Teen is Shutting Down
Something has shifted. Your successful, curious teen is hiding and shrinking. They feel less confident, less capable. And when you try to approach them about it? You get nothing.
So what do you do?
Moments like this tend to test the confidence in your parenting. Suddenly, there is pressure to fix what is going on with your child because you feel like you are losing control. And if you lose control, there is a whole list of scary things that jump into your mind about what could happen next.
My Family Is Perfectly Normal, so Why Am I SO Anxious to See Them for the Holidays?
The holidays are coming up. You’re supposed to be excited about the warmth and good times, but you are feeling dread.
It’s a lonely feeling. Family is expecting to see you and those expectations are packed with additional pressure. And if you’re the only one feeling this way, or if you have been told it is culturally unacceptable to not spend time with family, you are left feeling confused and bewildered. On the other hand, have you ever given yourself the space to consider what is at the root of your dread?