In Part III of this Blog series: 7 Things To Do Daily to Increase Your Happiness- Tips from your local Jackson, MS Therapist, our therapist near you, Bahar Dunn, LMFT, concludes this Happiness series with the final 3 tips that you can start implementing in your life TODAY in order to experience more happiness daily. If you have experienced a traumatic, hurtful, or confusing situation that had led to stress, anxiety, or unhappiness or just find yourself feel “blah” lately, this blog is for you! Keep reading through this conclusion so that you can set yourself on the path to finding your happiness again.
Stress Management and other Mental Health Benefits of Animals / Pets
Research shows that by simply being around an animal provides people with benefits to their mental health and wellness. Caring for a pet on a regular basis can have a positive impact on mental illness symptoms, such as an increased ability to effectively manage emotions, a decrease in stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as higher levels of self-esteem and increased social interactions. In this short blog article, you can find out about how animals can improve a variety of mental health symptoms, as well as discover some important factors to consider before purchasing a pet.
Traumatic experiences: That's not me...(are you sure?)
Did you know that the term trauma can refer to a wide range of events or situations that are emotionally distressing or disturbing for an individual? Traumatic experiences can include war/combat experience and various forms of abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or mental abuse, or neglect); however, trauma can also include seemingly common life events, such as loss of a job or loved one, experiencing a catastrophic weather event (ex. tornado or hurricane), or going through a divorce.
Given this definition, it makes sense that trauma can be almost any event, depending how someone experiences that situation. A separation, a heated argument with a friend/family member, a seemingly insignificant comment made to us as a child or as an adult, a hostile work environment, moving to another city or state can all be considered trauma. Read on to find out if trauma is impacting your life and what you can do about it.