Dear patients, colleagues, and friends,
As summer fades into memory, the vibrant energy of the season gives way to a return to routine. This transition is a great opportunity to reset and reflect, addressing any lingering concerns and setting intentions for the remainder of the year. For children and teenagers, this period can bring its own set of challenges as they adjust to the demands of a new school year, with fresh schedules, academic expectations, and social dynamics to navigate. It can be difficult getting used to our day-to-day schedule again, but we’re here to help. Our team of professionals are ready to offer the support you need to navigate through these challenges.
The Courage to Connect newsletter will provide our patients, colleagues and friends with insight on the importance of mental health, wellness and information on the topics that are important to you. If you are interested in setting up an appointment for therapy, testing, nutrition or medication management, please call our office at (847) 730-3042 or email info@couragetoconnecttherapy.com.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Clatch, Psy. D.
Specialty Spotlight:
The Impact of Trauma
Dani Selan, LPC, CADC
Trauma is a word that is often thrown around to describe daily grievances like when our coffee order is wrong or we got stuck at all the red lights on our way to work. The definition of trauma is “an emotional response to a distressing event or series of events that can be physically or emotionally harmful or threatening”.
Though getting the wrong coffee order can be distressing, it is likely not a traumatic event. What makes trauma unique is that it does not discriminate based on age, race, religion, sex, or gender, though the experience can often feel so personal and lonely.
An interest and passion of mine is how trauma not only impacts us on an individual level, but also the people we surround ourselves with and our view of our world. Since each individual has their own reaction to trauma, it is also important to understand that trauma can look like anything.
What I would like my clients to understand is your trauma is an experience to learn from and does not define you. Life is often scary after trauma, but breaking the cycle so it does not happen again can be even more terrifying. And the question is, how do I break this cycle?
One of my favorite Adlerian concepts is Gemeinschaftsgefühl (ga-main-shafts-ga-fuel), a German word simply defined as community and feeling. It can almost feel like the exact opposite of trauma because as humans we need human connection to grow.
One thing I stress with clients, whether they have been impacted by trauma or not, is the importance of finding their community of choice – whether it be religious groups, sports, or going to support groups. Though individual therapy has many benefits, there is something powerful about being in a room with others who understand what you are going through or have similar interests.
In the Press:
Self-Care Plan to Manage Depression or Anxiety
Rene Nekic, LCSW
With summer ending and back to school schedules beginning, the disruption in your current routine can lead to feeling depressed or anxious. When managing symptoms of depression or anxiety, it can feel like small or menial tasks of everyday life are difficult in a way they never have been before. When life feels out of control or emotions are heightened, it could be a sign that you are not taking care of yourself in a healthy way. It is important to set aside time to take care of ourselves in a way that is relaxing to us, not just bubble baths and beach vacations. Here are some guidelines to help build a self-care routine that works for you.
1. Take a Self-Care Assessment.
These are typically free and all over the Internet and can help you target activities that will make you feel better in the long term.
2. Build a Bank of Self-Care Activities.
The easiest way to build a self-care routine is to create a bank of activities or rituals that are relaxing to you as an individual, so it is easier to implement. Thinking of activities that always feel good or make you feel productive are key. Some activities should be easy (i.e. petting your dog for fifteen minutes) and some should be more rewarding (i.e. taking a trip with someone you love). You can rank the activities in order of Easiest to Implement to Most Rewarding. This way if you’re struggling on any given day, you can choose an activity that ranks Very Easy, like taking a hot shower. The key here is that all self-care activities do not need to be indulgent—they can be activities that you often put off but know will make you feel more mentally clear.
3. Work on Using Activities Regularly.
Set up a specific time of the day or week when you can set aside time to just focus on self-care. For example, if you are working from home, sitting down to eat lunch away from work or school technology can be beneficial for even fifteen minutes, or perhaps you could choose a day of the weekend where you routinely do something more indulgent for yourself. By building self-care activities into your regular routine, it can help keep depression and anxiety symptoms from becoming too overwhelming to manage.
While the phrase “take care of your- self” seems simple, doing things that are relaxing or emotionally fulfilling can be extremely difficult especially when you’re already feeling anxious or depressed. Self-care helps decrease emotional burn-out and can reduce negative mental health symptoms from taking over.
