Author Archives: JmaC

None of us ever set out to live a life with chronic pain and illness, but it happens. There comes that moment when you are sitting in yet another doctor’s office going over your symptoms for the third time that … Continue reading →

Halloween is a time when we have fun with the feeling of being afraid, so I thought I’d write about our fears, phobias, anxieties — things that shorten our breath, quicken our heartbeats, and sometimes outright disable us. Some of us shut … Continue reading →

For many people, the beginning of autumn triggers anxiety with its shorter days, reduced sunlight, changes in schedules, and allergies. Fortunately there are many foods and spices during this season that can help us to stay emotionally resilient and boost … Continue reading →

For anyone with an inclination to use food as comfort — which basically includes us all — the two months between Halloween and the New Year provide one temptation after another. For me, it starts the hour the trick-or-treaters have … Continue reading →

Ten years ago, when I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I was working with a psychiatrist who wanted me to alert him at the first hint of a creative thought. Whether it was an article idea or, God forbid, … Continue reading →

Difficult people are like the termites of the human spirit. They can be eating away at the tender parts of you for months on end before you notice, and then, suddenly, at a work meeting or a family dinner, you … Continue reading →

For highly-sensitive folks and people predisposed to sadness, the holidays create a perfect storm for depression. There’s the added stress of holiday shopping, decorating, and parties — not to mention dealing with strained family relations; snowball and gingerbread cookies seem … Continue reading →

Finding the right therapist can involve almost as much energy and time as finding the right spouse. Instead of meeting for coffee, or appetizers and drinks, you’re spilling your guts inside a bunch of psychotherapists’ offices, trying to gauge whether … Continue reading →

People with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or the clinical version of the winter blues, aren’t the only ones who struggle with the shorter days, colder weather, and the general blah of the winter season. Less sunlight can affect the circadian … Continue reading →