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The real reason why social media might be making you feel bad by Victoria Pitz, LPMHC  Cognitive dissonance is the feeling of discomfort one feels when your thoughts or feelings about ourselves do not align with our actions.
Social media tends to exacerbate this phenomenon at an overwhelming rate. It perpetuates the feelings of “should”. I should be having more fun, I should be doing what they’re doing, I shouldn’t be feeling the way that I feel…It can be difficult to recognize the direct damage social media does to your self-esteem because it has become so ingrained in our daily lives. So how might social media trigger cognitive dissonance? Perhaps you are not feeling your best lately. Things just don’t seem to be going your way; maybe you experienced something that shook you up. Life just feels awful and overwhelming right now.You scroll through social media when you're bored. Half the time you don’t even realize how long you’ve been scrolling for. But your brain is taking note: "Wow. So-and-so went to Paris; why can’t I do that?" "Look, this person got their dream job, but I’m still stuck in one that I hate." "How nice, this person goes out every weekend and has a blast, here I am, feeling like cr*p."
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by Janet Whyte, LCSW  It is no secret that regular exercise has numerous health benefits. Aside from the more obvious physical benefits, there are many ways in which exercise is found to improve mental health. Exercise is proven to help decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, improve the body’s ability to respond to stress, increase self-esteem, improve sleep, and improve memory. Recently, a study published in the Journal of Physiology found that six minutes of high-intensity cycling could delay the onset of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Exercise releases endorphins, or “feel-good” brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of wellbeing and therefore reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. Exercise can help improve sleep, and this in turn has a positive impact on mood, attention, and memory. Additionally, mindfulness can be incorporated into your exercise routine as you pay closer attention to the feeling of your feet hitting the ground, the pace of your breathing, or the feeling of your muscles as they are working hard. When you are focused in on your body during a workout, this may help shift your focus away from any anxious thoughts.
by Caroline Rudin, LMSW MS.Ed.
These goals that we create are made with the best of intentions, we are feeling optimistic, excited even, to achieve these quests within the next three hundred sixty five days. Some people set goals to lose weight, redesign their spaces, or make all new friends to socialize with. Often, these goals are created using all-or-nothing language: I am going to lose thirty pounds. I am going to purchase all new furniture, paint, and decor. I am going to go out every single weekend. This wording leaves very little room for reality and the potentially difficulties we may encounter. What happens when this newfound hope turns into acknowledging that this goal may be out of reach?
by Linda Montalbano, Mental Health Counselor  Many children and adolescents struggle, whether it be with friendships, school issues, problems within the family dynamic, or something else. It is very common if your child is hesitant to share their worries and problems with you. Therapy is an excellent outlet for children. In therapy, children learn to talk about and work through their problems. They learn healthy coping methods and communication skills.
How do you know when to take your child to therapy? It can be nerve-wracking and stressful when you realize your child is struggling. When areas of their lives are affected or become unmanageable, it is a good indicator that your child may benefit from therapy sessions. Some signs include struggles in school performance, changes in friendships and relationships, decreased self-esteem, changes in appetite and sleep habits, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. By Sharon Grand, Ph.D.  If the holidays are over and you are wondering how you will pay your rent or mortgage over the next few months, or staring at your credit card bill with a sinking feeling in your heart, it’s important to know that you are not alone! Money blues after the holidays is an experience shared by many, especially here on Long Island where the cost of living is significantly more than the national average.
Often after overspending for the holiday, we blame ourselves for being irresponsible. We may hold resentment towards our spouse for their choices, or our wealthier family members for not understanding. There are moments where we may become overwhelmed with feelings of shame, anger, and stress. Olivia Mellan, the author of the book “Money Harmony: Resolving Money Conflicts in Your Life and Relationships” notes in a 1994 article that “It is important for people not to beat themselves up for having screwed up again. It won’t help you change and it won’t pay the bills. The important thing is to forgive yourself and take action.” By Melissa Laks, LMSW  Grounding is an effective way to calm anxiety symptoms. It is a self-soothing tool that you can use when you are having a bad day or dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety. The purpose of grounding techniques allows you to step away from negative thoughts, worries, and feelings and helps keep you in the present and focus on what is going on in the here-and-now. By focusing on the present surroundings, you can become more aware of your safe surroundings and start to feel calmer.
In this first grounding process, you identify objects around you to help your brain recognize where you are and that you are in a safe space. by Rukiya Symister, M.A.
Video Blog by Victoria Pitz, LPMHC
Learn more about Victoria or make an appointment with her hereA video blog by Sharon Grand, Ph.D. Dr. Sharon Grand discusses ADHD and Executive Functioning with Michelle Malon, Occupational Therapist By Caroline Rudin LMSW, MS.,Ed  “Fight or flight.” “Rest and digest.” We’ve heard these terms over and over since high school biology class, but, how can we access the latter physical response in the right times? Each of us as individuals have experienced intense levels of stress within the past two years alone living through pandemic times and some of us are still trying to cope with the changes that have occurred. Let’s tap into your personal resiliency and introduce a few different methods of reaching a state of calm that you may not have thought of before.
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