by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Feeling lonely is bad enough but add the holidays to the mix and instead of helping, the feeling intensifies. This strange phenomenon tends to isolate even further and can bring about a deeper depression. In some cases, the hopelessness many lead to suicidal thoughts. The contrast is shocking. Everyone else seems to be happier. There… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
One minute everything seems fine. Then in a flood of intense emotion and erratic thoughts, it all changes. Life becomes a distorted kaleidoscope, with nothing familiar from before. Even speaking is difficult. It is impossible to explain what is happening because the event is so unlike anything experienced prior. In the past, the term nervous… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Addicts plus holidays usually equal disaster. This is because addicts have a tendency to divide family at a celebration, not unite. Relatives fall into one of three categories: those who see the addiction and have no tolerance, those who see the addiction and tolerate it, and those who don’t see the addiction at all. An… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Getting married is often an easier decision than getting a divorce. Marriage brings pleasurable feelings of excitement, passion, and desire. But divorce stirs up feelings of anger, rejection, and betrayal. Severing ties with a person is difficult and great consideration should be given. Here are ten reasons a divorce should be considered. Abandonment/neglect. There are… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Sixteen years ago to the date, my best friend committed suicide. She was beautiful inside and out with a compassionate heart too large for her physical body. As one of the smartest people I knew, she loved to engage in passionate discussions about her favorite subject: politics. She had more energy and could cram more… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
My dad had Alzheimer’s. Watching him fade away was one of the most difficult experiences on my life. It challenged my ideals, tested my patience, expanded my knowledge, and wore me out. These are the some of the things I learned along the way. Don’t say they are lazy. They are not; this is part… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Narcissists can be frustrating at work. Their constant need of attention, admiration, appreciation and affirmation exhausts everyone around them. Yet without these, they become agitated, angry, and even abusive. Satisfying their essential needs is not as difficult as most think but it does require some basic understanding of how narcissists operate. The reward of a… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Perhaps a new custody agreement has the kids spending the holidays with their other parent. Or perhaps this is the first holiday after the death of a loved one. Or perhaps a family member is deployed with limited contact. Or perhaps a recent break-up in a relationship immediately changes the plans already made. Whichever the… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Have you ever wondered how exhaustion becomes so pervasive and infects nearly every aspect of life? Just like the flu bug, it takes over with an unyielding vengeance, putting the most productive people out of commission. There are two main ingredients that constantly fuel exhaustion: obsessive thinking and guilty feelings. This concept is borrowed from… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
This time of year is exhausting watching the morning talk shows filled with the same New Year’s resolution stories over and over. They should just save some time and energy by replaying last year’s stories. It’s all about eating more healthy, taking more vitamins, drinking more water, losing more weight, changing your appearance, and of… (more…)