It’s that time of year when political campaigns seem to infiltrate and inundate social media and everyday life with reminders to vote. Regardless of which candidate you vote for, election years can stir up feelings of despair, hopelessness, uncertainty and fear for our future. This existential dread not only impacts our mental health and well being, but it can also impact our relationships.

As teachers you make a promise to show up everyday for your students, regardless of the storm brewing underneath the surface. Every year more gets added to your plate without relieving some of the pressure or responsibilities to make room for the new policies and procedures. But what happens when the weight becomes too much? What happens when the plate falls and shatters into a million pieces? 

What are the 5 Main Ways to Manage Stress?

What are 5 Coping Strategies for Stress?

How Will You Manage Stress?

How to Destress Quickly?

We're all living in a world that seems to be constantly spinning out of control. 

With all the political drama, economic worries, and social issues, it's no wonder we're feeling a bit stressed. 

But don't worry, you're not alone in this.

In this blog post, we're going to talk about some ways to manage stress, even when it feels like the world is falling apart around you. 

Let's dive in.

What Does It Mean to Feel Helpless?

What Should I Do If I Feel Helpless?

What Does "I'm Feeling Helpless" Mean?

How to Heal from Helplessness?

Ever felt like you're just a tiny speck in a giant, chaotic world? 

Sometimes, it can seem like there's nothing we can do to change the things happening around us. This feeling of helplessness can be really tough and can leave us feeling down.

In this blog post, we're going to talk about what it means to feel helpless, why it happens, and what you can do about it. 

We'll also explore how therapy can be a helpful tool in navigating these tough emotions.

The unwavering dedication of first responders – police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) – is the backbone of our communities. You bravely face danger head-on, providing critical aid in times of crisis.

However, constant exposure to traumatic events can take a significant toll on your mental well-being. This blog delves into strategies for managing stress and trauma as a first responder.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping first responders find balance and peace in their lives.

Have you been dreading the idea of starting therapy? Perhaps you’ve been dragging your feet, even though you know that it’s a good idea. Or perhaps you don’t really want to do therapy, but everyone around you is encouraging you to go.  If that’s the case, here are some things that our Maryland therapists want you to know!

Have you ever seen the memes on social media talking about how you signed up for therapy because of the people who won’t sign up for therapy in your life? This is a real thing!! We’ve been asked on more than one occasion, what people can do when someone they love needs therapy but won’t seek it. To answer this question, we’ve compiled tips from 5 LifeSpring therapists. 

First responders – police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) – are the cornerstones of our communities. You bravely step into the face of danger to help others, making a real difference every single day.

However, constant exposure to traumatic events can leave lasting emotional scars. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common challenge faced by first responders, significantly impacting your well-being and ability to function. This blog aims to equip you with knowledge about PTSD in first responders.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping first responders find balance and peace in their lives.

What are the key mental health challenges teachers face during the school year?

Teachers are like jugglers in a mental circus, keeping countless balls in the air – curriculum expectations, student behavior, individualized needs, parent communication, and the ever-present pressure to perform. While the rewards of teaching are immense, the emotional toll can be significant.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping teachers find balance and peace in their lives.

How can teachers create a balanced schedule to prevent burnout?

Juggling lesson plans, student needs, and the ever-growing demands of the education system can leave your personal life feeling like a forgotten melody.

But creating a healthy work-life balance is essential to prevent burnout and keep the joy alive in your teaching career.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping teachers find balance and peace in their lives.

How Do Night Shifts Affect a Nurse's Mental and Physical Health?Our bodies are like finely tuned machines, and they crave routine. Enter night shifts – the ultimate schedule disrupter. They throw a wrench into our natural circadian rhythm, that internal clock that governs our sleep-wake cycles. Think of it like constantly resetting your alarm – confusing, right?  This disruption has a domino effect on your overall health, leading to a cascade of issues.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in heling nurses find balance and peace in their lives.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to achieve your goals and build strong relationships. While some people seem to be naturally gifted with high EQ, the good news is, EQ can be learned and developed.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in fostering emotional intelligence.

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as an adult brings unique challenges, especially when sensory processing issues are present. Sensory processing refers to how our nervous system receives and interprets sensory information from the environment. Adults with ADHD often experience heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory stimuli, referred to as hyper-responsiveness and hypo-responsiveness.

Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver because your well-being is necessary in this role. Caregiving is not easy.  It takes a lot of responsibility, dedication, time and effort to care for an elderly individual. There are a lot of adjustments that have to be made as well. 

Have you ever heard of a runner’s high? If you have, you might imagine runners feeling extra great after a tough run or wonder how on Earth someone could feel good while running. 

One aspect that I have found particularly helpful in managing anxiety, processing trauma, and relaxing is the bilateral stimulation that the movement of running and walking can provide. 

The world of work is constantly evolving, and with it comes the reality of career changes. Whether it's a planned shift, an unexpected layoff, or the pursuit of a long-held dream, career transitions can be emotionally charged.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we understand the challenges that come with changing careers, and we want to assure you that therapy can be a valuable source of support.

Life throws curveballs. Sometimes, it feels like these curveballs come one after another, leaving us feeling lost, overwhelmed, and unsure how to move forward. Whether you're facing a job loss, a health scare, a relationship breakup, or any other major life challenge, you're not alone.

While these challenges can be incredibly difficult, they also present opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Therapy can be a powerful tool in helping you not just survive these challenges, but to truly thrive in the aftermath.

Our minds try to over-control, micromanage, and interfere in our lives every day, whether or not we notice. That is when we experience regrets about the past, fears for the future, self-labels, judgements, mental rules, and reasons—all of which aim to keep us safe from harm. Just as helicopter parents do, our minds do the same thing out of a desire to protect us in a world that can be seldom controlled. 

If you spend time on the mental health side of the internet or talk with people who do, you may be familiar with the term neurodivergent. However, if you are not and want to know more about it, you have come to the right place!

Neurodivergent refers to brains that work or develop differently from the average development or thinking pattern of the neurotypical brain and occurs due to a variety of reasons, such as mental or medical disorders.

Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. They’re like two good friends who like to hang out!  Depression and anxiety show up so frequently, that our therapists are regularly providing support and coping strategies to people who are looking to manage their symptoms.  We’ve asked 4 of our therapists to share some of their favorite strategies for managing depression and anxiety.  See what they had to say.