Sense of loneliness and emotional connection

It is common for a person living in a metropolitan city saying that one is having a sense of  loneliness even when being with a group of friends.  A client of mine told me that he felt lonely all the time, even he has two children and a lovely wife.  He also has regular social …

The vicious cycle of struggling during a depressive episode

Even though more people are being aware of the importance of destigmatization of mental illness, it is still difficult for one to accept being in a depressive episode.  On the contrary, some people might feel “proud” of being mentally well or feeling happy in general.  They might think they did really well to maintain their mental well-being.  There …

The demanding part of a depressed person

Nowadays, well-being and happiness are important aspects that people striving to achieve.  Unknowingly, we all tend to present our best self with physical and mental well-being in front of others.  With this expectation in mind, it may be difficult for us to accept the days when we feel depressed.  We may criticize ourselves for being …

As a trauma-survivor, is the relationship between you and your therapist conducive to your healing?

To varying degree, we all may have trauma in our developmental history.  In the culture of striving for achievement and perfectionism, being criticized and demanded by our parents in the childhood is common.  As everyone of us has our own dark sides, it is inevitable for us to face subtle or intense bullying in some …

No time for mindfulness exercise?  Incorporate informal mindfulness practice in daily life

Nowadays, many people understand the benefits of regular mindfulness exercises, such as enhancing concentration and attention, emotional regulation, stress reduction, or pain management.  However, many clients told me that they cannot commit regular practice due to their tight schedule.  Sometimes, even during holiday, people are reluctant to spend some time for formal mindfulness exercises, including …

What are the common symptoms of dissociation in people with childhood trauma?

A less known symptom in people who have history of childhood trauma is dissociation.  Usually, people are being aware of their depressive mood, anxiety, sleep problems, etc.  When they come to see me, they may tell me that they also experience some symptoms that do not make sense to them.  For example, a client felt …