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Tools for Better Living

A Well-Rounded Approach to Better Sleep

5/10/2023

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Stress and anxiety are some emotional experiences strongly correlated with sleeplessness. Grief, loneliness, and excitement also have a strong impact on our quality of sleep. According to Cognitive Behavioral Theory, our feelings are activated by the thoughts and beliefs we focus on. So the feelings listed above are brought on by the active and latent thoughts you bring with you to bed.
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People who experience insomnia for a period of time sometimes develop anxiety around sleep itself, on top of their other life stresses. They may be painfully aware of every passing minute they’re not sleeping, thinking ceaselessly about how tired they will be the next day. They may start to lose confidence in their ability to sleep, and blame their failure to sleep for the other problems they’re facing. They can develop bedroom phobias and start avoiding the bedroom and sleep altogether, to stop feeling like a failure.

So how does one clear their mind and calm their heart before crawling under the covers?

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Calm the body first
  1. Give yourself a foot or hand massage before bed. Consciously relax the tension in the muscles of your shoulders, neck, and back.
  2. Yawning helps your nervous system relax. If you fake a yawn, a real one will usually follow.
  3. Follow a brief "bedtime yoga" video to stretch and relax your body.
  4. Use essential oils like lavender, chamomile, bergamot, jasmine, rose, and sandalwood to enhance a feeling of peace. Dab a couple drops on your wrists, neck, or pillow. Or you can add them to a warm, relaxing bath before bed.
  5. Eliminate blue light from screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Read a paper book with a soft glow reading light or close your eyes and enjoy the darkness. Use an eye mask if your room isn’t dark enough.
  6. Slow, mindful, deep breathing from the diaphragm lowers cortisol levels, reducing stress. Slow your breathing down, take deep belly breaths and exhale for a little longer than you inhale. 
  7. Sleep for the season, with appropriate, breathable pajamas, bed sheets, and blankets.
  8. Weighted blankets induce a feeling of safety and calm in your body. They can be worn over your body while you sleep, but they can be hot, so people in warmer climates might use them to relax and then remove them to sleep. 
  9. Adjust the temperature in your bedroom between 60° and 67° F. This range of temperature is thought to help facilitate the stability of REM sleep.
  10. Moderate to vigorous exercise helps initiate and maintain restful sleep. Be sure to exercise in the morning or afternoon to cooperate with your circadian rhythms and keep your sleep time on track.
     
Curate your mental activity
  1. As you’re getting ready for bed, consciously turn your attention away from the day’s activity and toward how good it will feel to sleep. Get into bed mindfully, consciously feeling the sheets and blankets, experiencing the pillow under your head, and imagining melting into the mattress like a stick of butter in the sun.
  2. Drown out anxious thoughts with peaceful sounds. Green, brown, and pink noise are effective at inducing sleep. Try each one to find out which is most soothing for you. Nature sounds such as ocean waves and rainstorms can also be calming. Use the timer function to ensure the sound ends after a short time so that it doesn’t interrupt your sleep.
  3. Follow a guided sleep meditation to focus your mind on peaceful thoughts.
  4. Write a bedtime mantra to repeat to yourself as you relax into sleep. One example is “Everything is ok, I am safe”.
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Ease your emotions
  1. Place a hand on your heart, take a slow breath, and smile. Feel a sense of peace wash over you from head to toe.
  2. Cross your hands in front of your chest and hook your thumbs together, palms facing you. Slowly tap your chest, alternating sides, right left right left. Close your eyes and smile.
  3. Hum soft, gentle notes as a lullaby to yourself. The vibration of humming soothes the nervous system. Chanting the word "Ohm" or "Voo" has the same effect.
  4. Snuggle with a live or stuffed-toy animal or a pillow. Tell yourself you are safe and happy.
  5. If you have someone to hug before bedtime, be sure to take advantage of the calming power of co-regulation. 
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GRAPES—Small bites for robust mental health

4/1/2023

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Embracing a healthy lifestyle is valuable for reasons beyond general health and body aesthetics. Did you know exposure to sunlight creates dopamine? That spending pleasant time with others regulates your nervous system? That positive self-talk is the best medicine for anxiety?

For various reasons, some days, weeks, and months it can be difficult to tend to our basic needs on a regular basis. During especially stressful or low periods, we need extra support and strategy to do the basic things that keep us fueled up.  The GRAPES acronym helps us remember the critical activities to include every day. Even if you spend only one minute on each one, it will support your physical and mental health and move you closer to better days.
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G is for Gentle with self. Catch any self-critical or disparaging thoughts your brain is producing and shift them to a more positive perspective. For example, instead of calling yourself lazy for being a couch potato, affirm your need for rest and sink into it.

R is for Rest and sleep. Remember that your brain actually requires regular rest periods. Overall, it has two main modes of processing: 1) active, working mode and 2) default mode. The Default Mode Network (DMN) switches on whenever your mind takes a break, zones out, or has a pleasant daydream. Spending time in your DMN every day is critical for learning, memory, and problem-solving. So let’s banish the voice in our heads that tells us we need to be productive every minute and that relaxation is a form of laziness. Taking breaks makes us stronger, smarter, and happier! And remember that everything improves with a long, uninterrupted night's sleep.

A is for Accomplishment. Take care of at least one thing on your list every day. If you're in a very low energy space, it can be something small. But taking some form of action keeps you connected with your life and mentally engaged.

P is for Physical Activity. We don't need to call it exercise. Move your body for 10-15 minutes, preferable outside if possible. Breathe some fresh air, oxygenate your insides.

E is for Eat. Be sure to nourish yourself throughout the day. If you can include fresh foods with vitamins, protein, and fiber, all the better. There are two rules I try to follow: 1) whenever you eat, eat a fruit or vegetable. So either include a fruit or vegetable in your meal, or if you're just having a snack, make it a fruit or veg. 2) Whenever you drink, drink water. If you're going to have a coffee, soda, or other flavored beverage, have a full glass of water first.

S is for Social. Try not to fully isolate yourself. Keep in touch with your support network or social circle. Greet people you pass while walking. Meet with your therapist, doctor, or mentor. Interact with friends through games or social media. Social connections are imperative to robust mental health.



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Daily Insight: Making Sense of Humans

10/18/2022

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I believe everyone has a good reason for the things they do. Their reason may only make sense in their own mind, but the driving force behind their decisions makes good sense to them. I believe this and I try to remember it in traffic and while watching the news.

Humans aren’t as complex as they seem. A simple formula explains a process we all go through thousands of times a day. When we watch ourselves closely, we can see this formula come to life:
  1. We experience something. Let’s use the example of someone sneezing near us.
  2. A thought or deep belief is activated in us. When someone sneezes, we might think “Oh gee, they’re sick. I don’t want to get sick.”
  3. Our thought or deep belief generates an emotion. I feel afraid of getting sick, worried about catching something.
  4. We have an automatic physical reaction. My muscles tense and I start looking for a way to put distance between myself and the sneezer.
  5. We have an opportunity to make a thoughtful response considering the first four steps. I excuse myself politely and move away.
  6. We have a new experience. Now I’m over here and have new things to think about.

The magic of this formula becomes evident when the same experience elicits a different thought. It shows how powerful our thoughts and deep beliefs can be.
  1. Someone sneezes near me.
  2. I think, “Oh wow, someone has allergies. What a bummer for them.”
  3. I feel frustration in empathy because I also have allergies and have been sneezing a lot.
  4. My face shifts into an expression of concern.
  5. I find a pack of tissues in my bag and offer the person one.
  6. They smile and thank me, I feel good and the interaction continues.

Here is a different example to illustrate the influence of a deep belief.
  1. I see a spider in the garden.
  2. My history has me convinced that all spiders are deadly.
  3. I feel instant terror.
  4. My body goes into flight mode and I drop everything and run away.
  5. I stay inside and call an exterminator and refuse to go back outside until all the spiders have been eradicated.
  6. Now I’m stuck in the house.
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This formula highlights the power of our thoughts and deep beliefs over the decisions we make and the actions we take. People whose actions aren’t producing the desired results may benefit from exploring their thoughts and beliefs, the feelings they produce, and the reactions and responses they make as a result.
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Daily Insight: Being Woke for Older Folks

10/17/2022

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Being “woke” is both an insult and an aspiration. Too much of a good thing always leads to some kind of intestinal distress, but the intention behind this maligned term is evolutionarily valuable. If the human race is to survive this current round of ugliness, we need to wield the dual weapons of awareness and wisdom. Being woke refers to acknowledging and rejecting the beliefs and practices that hurt and oppress humans. So if you are a devout bigot, racist, or oppressor, you most certainly collude with trashing the idea of being woke. If you prefer not to carry those titles, becoming woke is actually quite achievable. 

The simple prescription? Embrace the new. 

People over thirty-five are automatically lumped into the category of “Boomer” by those who birthed the concept of wokeness. Humans have an undeniable affinity for tradition and “the good old days”, no matter how good they actually were. Those who refuse to stay young and engaged will find themselves fighting for outdated and useless ways of being. They start voting against their own best interests when they refuse to pay attention to the young people with their fingers on the pulse of culture and activism. 
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So for Pete’s sake, get TikTok, follow some smart people on YouTube, keep current on NetFlix. Listen to your kids, grandkids, and other young people. Ask them questions and resist teasing, lecturing, or comparing their experience to yours. Consider yourself lucky if they talk to you honestly, and don’t waste the opportunity to appreciate their perspective. When you notice the little door to new experience closing in your heart and mind, resist. Open it back up and listen. Be present and current and woke.

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Daily Insight: The Reverse I Statement

10/14/2022

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In therapy circles, the "I Statement" reigns supreme. Our first interpersonal psych classes taught us this method for helping people communicate their feelings in a concise, healthy way: "I feel (an emotion), when (a certain thing happens), because (why it matters to you)." We learned it, we practiced it, and most of us kinda forgot about it. It's one of those skills that is simple to say but not easy to do, and even harder to convince clients to use in their own lives.

Today I was pondering a way to stay neutral when receiving a message that feels like criticism. Many of us have an instant reaction when we think we've done something wrong and our nervous systems respond as though we're in Big Trouble. Common emotional responses are guilty apologizing, shrinking in fear or shame, puddling into sad tears, or angrily avoiding the conversation.

Maybe if we have a healthier, more assertive approach at the ready, we won't need to sink into any of these uncomfortable responses. Behold, the Reverse I Statement! With this approach, we can look the other in the eye, rather than feeling inferior or unworthy. And we can say: "I heard you say that when I (my action), you felt (an emotion), because (their interpretation of the event)". Then stop talking. Let them respond to your statement-- they will likely either agree or correct you. Continue rephrasing what you hear them say until you have achieved complete understanding of their concern. No apologies, no tears, no shouting.

Once the other has been heard, they will likely be more receptive to hearing your side of the story. Now you can swoop in with an I Statement of your own, or something simpler if you need more time to process your thoughts and feelings. It's perfectly ok to ask to return to the conversation after you've had some time to collect your thoughts.
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Many of us struggle to find the right words when we're not prepared for a conversation, so the Reverse I Statement can come to our rescue by taking the pressure off us to come up with just the right response. Try it out and share your thoughts in the comments!
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Daily Insight: What do you stand for?

10/13/2022

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I recently watched a show in which the question "What do you stand for?" was asked. I paused to consider my answer and felt pleased that it came to me pretty quickly. In my clinical work, I find that the answer to this question is often the answer to many of the questions brought into the therapy room.

We don't always give our personal values as much thought as they deserve. Elections give us a chance to consider the issues and leadership qualities that are important to us, but only a small percentage of people vote, and even then our judgments can be clouded by affiliations and other influences. Identifying the rights, privileges, and human experiences that we believe to be undeniable helps us know ourselves more deeply and gives us a solid foundation up which to base our most important decisions.

My clients often come to a point of exploring their next moves in life. Their decisions may include work opportunities, relationships, education, parenting, homesteading, or vacation planning. Sometimes when I inquire about the deep personal beliefs involved in making the decision, I get a blank look in response. So we begin by exploring what really matters to the individual, and distinguishing a value from an activity or a simple preference. The question "What do you stand for?" refers to something we are willing to take action to protect, to show reverence for by leaving our seat and proclaiming our devotion.
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Having values and the confidence to claim and protect them is an important avenue toward creating a meaningful and fulfilling life. Loads of worksheets can be found online to help with values clarification and personal exploration. Your TikTok "For You page" and Amazon ads can you reflect on the values you have aligned yourself with. Look around at your friends and chosen family and remember the saying "Show me who your friends are and I'll show you who you are". In essence, we are our values. So know your values and claim who you are! It will ease your passage through this life.
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Daily Insight: Extroverted Introverts

10/13/2022

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As much as we humans love to create and label mental boxes in which to organize the nouns we encounter throughout our days, the Russian doll effect applies in that every labeled box actually encompasses endlessly smaller labeled boxes, for our sorting enjoyment. Any member of the LGBTQ+ community can attest that every variation of romantic, gender, and sexual disposition has a name, a flag, and a thriving community of enthusiasts.

Same goes for the Introvert-Extrovert spectrum. Rather than settling for the classic binary, we now understand that gradations are typical and many people strive to find just the right term to describe their particular approach to engaging in the interpersonal realm. Extroverted Introverts are also referred to as Social/Sociable Introverts, Ambiverts, or Omniverts. I'm sure there are other synonyms I haven't come across yet. Feel free to deep-dive into this more if terminology interests you.

My insight of the day around this is a question that occurred to me: I wonder if it is common for Extroverted Introverts to be misunderstood and possibly rejected by others? Lots of people walk this earth feeling different, excluded, and "othered". The people who enjoy and need time alone, who can be quiet and solitary in certain moments, but who can also assertively lead a group and hold their own at a cocktail party, perhaps these people are confounding to others who try to pin them inside a decorative display box and attach a neat label underneath? Maybe these people come across as inconsistent and unreliable due to their seemingly unpredictable nature? These qualities can signal danger and put others on the defensive.
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The catch is, the EI's behavior isn't actually unpredictable if you understand the nuances of the situations, their personal needs and energy sources, and the predisposition that allows them to shift between two different styles of engagement with the world. If you are an EI, it may be enlightening to consider whether this dynamic affects your personal or work relationships. It's fascinating to explore the gradations of human experience and work toward releasing our reliance on clean lines and strong demarcations between us.
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Introducing Daily Insights

10/13/2022

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My job is fascinating and I've let too much time go by without documenting the little moments of revelation that happen practically every day. I am going to use this as a micro-blog to share the new and interesting thoughts that arise through my work with therapy clients and clinical associates. At the end of the day, psychotherapy is two humans sitting in a room together, learning from one another.
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some kind words From Karen's clients...
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