by guest blogger Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., author of the Five Good Minutes® series, The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, Calming Your Anxious Mind, and Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind

The word mindfulness appears frequently in the popular culture and media these days.  In addition, a growing number of professionals are exploring and offering mindfulness-based activities to their clients.

But, what exactly is mindfulness?

By guest blogger Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D., author of the upcoming ADD and Your Money (December 2009), and 10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD, Making the Grade with ADD.

ADD (or ADHD) affects all aspects of your life: work, home, and even your social life.  People with adult ADD usually had ADD symptoms when they were children.  You may have been diagnosed with ADD as a child and may have taken medication.  Or you may have had ADD symptoms and told you were “hyperactive,” but you were never formally diagnosed.   You don’t actually “grow out of” ADD—your symptoms just look differently when you are an adult.  While you may no longer be climbing the furniture, you are now constantly swiveling your chair during an office meeting.  Or instead of having difficulties waiting your turn in a game, you now can’t stand being stuck in traffic.  Many adults with ADD describe feeling a sense of “inner restlessness”— they are just itching to move around, fidget, or be active. 

Adapted from Therapy 101: A Brief Look at Modern Psychotherapy Techniques & How They Can Help by Jeffrey C. Wood, Psy.D. and Minnie Wood, NP

We wish we could say that choosing the right therapist for your problem was going to be simple, but the truth is, it’s going to take some effort on your part. After reading the descriptions of the therapies, hopefully, you’ll have a better idea about the type of treatment you’re looking for, which is the treatment that works best for your problems. Then, if you don’t already have a recommendation for a therapist who offers that type of treatment, here are ways you can get a referral:

Adapted from The Binge Eating & Compulsive Overeating Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Overcoming Disordered Eating

Stress is a natural part of life. Yet it seems that between the economic recession, multiple health crises, and other seemingly endless things, individuals are experiencing heightened anxiety. People often deal with stress by trying to find methods that will lessen their intense emotions. However, a number of eating patterns that people develop to cope during this time actually worsen the stress.

Here are some common eating patterns that you may fall into when under stress:

Excerpt from The Source of Leadership: Eight Drivers of the High-Impact Leader by David M. Traversi

A high-impact leader possesses the classic character traits of a leader and also executes the classic leadership functions.  These include:

By Mary C. Lamia, Ph.D. and Marilyn Krieger, Ph.D., authors of The White Knight Syndrome

The following case, a composite of many individuals, illustrates how the terrorizing/terrified white knight's unhealthy attempts to feel in control and safe damages her relationships.

by guest blogger Susan Albers, Psy.D., author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food, Eat, Drink, and Be Mindful, and Eating Mindfully


Are you having trouble conquering comfort eating?  Do you find yourself craving an ice cream cone after a hard day of work or munching on a bowl of nuts in hopes that the crunching will ease your nervous tension?  You may be surprised to learn that much of comfort eating may be just that—a habit.  It’s likely that the same events and emotions routinely trigger comfort eating.  The trick to staying one step ahead of stress eating is to know your triggers like the back of your hand. 

Dr. Barton Goldsmith, author of Emotional Fitness for Intimacy and Emotional Fitness for Couples, has created a YouTube page, as have other NH authors

Mary C. Lamia, Ph.D., co-author of The White Knight Syndrome was on Ronn Owens (KGO 810 AM)

Excerpt from Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind by Jeffrey Brantley, MD, and Wendy Millstine, NC

.... Cultivating patience involves being tolerant of life’s temporary, unsolved predicaments and uncertainties while you wait for a solution or opportunity to emerge. Patience requires trust. You nurture your ability to trust that the natural flow of life has moments that cannot be controlled or easily fixed. Life has an uncanny way of working itself out, with or without you.