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	<title>Better Relationships &#187; self care</title>
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	<link>https://www.better-relationships.com</link>
	<description>Marriage &#38; Couples Counseling, Psychotherapy, Premarital Counseling</description>
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		<title>Distortions in Your Body Image</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/distortions-in-your-body-image/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/distortions-in-your-body-image/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:08:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BODY IMAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[body image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dieting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional eating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4311</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“What disturbs people’s minds is not events, but their judgments on events.” – Epictetus In China, parents once bound the feet of their daughters in pursuit of beauty. In parts of Africa, both men and women elongate their earlobes and decorate their skin with minerals to look attractive, and this trend may be found in the United States now. At one time in this society, we found plump, rotund people to be the epitome of beauty. Old movies show us that the Tarzans and Supermen of past decades would hardly pass muster in today’s gyms. Today we define beauty as a thin, youthful, and muscular look. Today we go under the knife and on extreme diets to achieve a socially acceptable appearance – not to mention tattoos and body piercing – all practices that are similar to the early Chinese custom of binding feet. Although changes are taking place, strong social standards have dictated, especially through the media, how we should look – and if our own bodies deviate from these expectations, which is the case for almost all of us, we can feel inferior and ashamed. We hide. We cover up. We don’t like an important part of our selves. We feel depressed. We feel anxious in front of other people. We feel powerless – and we are apologetic when we show the world who we are. Body image refers to your personal relationship with your body. This includes all of the beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions you have about your body. It does not refer to what your body actually looks like. Our body is one of many aspects of who we are, but for many of us it is the dominating source of our sense of self. If we compare ourselves to what we are supposed to look like, we come up short and this brings up negative feelings about who we are. We forget that our inner or essential self has many wonderful attributes. We do not have to harbor negative feelings about ourselves because our external appearance may not conform to current social norms. [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>When Depression Is More Than Sadness! – 7 Other Tell-Tale Signs</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-depression-is-more-than-sadness-7-other-tell-tale-signs/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-depression-is-more-than-sadness-7-other-tell-tale-signs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2018 23:32:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irritatable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sadness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4213</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We don’t always have the full range of words to explain what we are going through. For example, we might say that we feel sad. Yet, in fact, we might have clinical depression and not even realize it. Alternatively, we might recognize depression in someone else who insists that they are “just sad.” Honestly, it can be hard sometimes to tell the difference. Sadness is a regular, temporary, human emotion. Depression, in contrast, is a mental health condition. Usually, it requires some kind of dedicated treatment before the condition will improve. Here are seven key differences between sadness and depression. 1. The Cause for Sadness or Low Mood One key difference between sadness and depression is whether or not something provokes the emotion. We feel sadness in response to something. For example, a breakup causes people to feel sad. In contrast, depression doesn’t have a specific cause. We can sometimes point to reasons, finding a cause. However, when the mood doesn’t lift, we see that’s not the real reason. Something underlying it all is at the root. If we can’t find a concrete cause for feeling blue, then we need to consider that it might be depression. 2. Sadness Doesn’t Leach Away Interest When we are sad, we might want to skip a few activities. For example, we might not feel like keeping a standing Saturday night date with friends. However, we don’t lose all interest in everything. We quickly back bounce and enjoy the same activities as always. In contrast, depression eats away at all interests. In depression, we lose desire or motivation to do the things that we used to enjoy. Nothing feels pleasurable anymore. We don’t want to see people we used to like or go to events that we previously thought were fun. 3. Sadness Isn’t Irritable Sadness can make us feel more sensitive. However, it doesn’t tend to cause major mood changes. If you feel especially irritable, then you might have depression. Other similar signs include: Feeling easily frustrated Impatience Outbursts of anger Quicker than usual to feel overwhelmed Slower than usual to “bounce back” from [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>Why Self Care is So Important When Overcoming Addiction</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-when-overcoming-addiction/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-when-overcoming-addiction/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2018 02:25:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recovery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forgiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcoming addicition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovering from addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4160</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Addiction is more than an annoyance or inconvenience. It sucks the life out of you and leaves you feeling drained. When trying to overcome an addiction this fact is even more exacerbated. That’s why self-care is so important for your recovery. Get Back to Basics When addiction has you in its grasps even the basics of self-care often get left behind. That’s because you are so focused on either being high or getting high. There’s just not much time left over to take care of yourself. For example, you may neglect such things as: Bathing and grooming Doing laundry Cleaning and maintaining your home If this sounds like you, it’s time to get back into a routine. Even something as basic as taking a shower and wash your hair thoroughly will be restorative. Do the basics you need to do in order to feel “normal” again. Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep For the addicted, sleep patterns get usually turned upside down. Your brain becomes hyper-focused on drugs or alcohol instead of sleep. Indeed, some drink just to be able to fall asleep at night. As part of your self-care routine create a sleep routine that includes: Going to bed at a reasonable hour consistently each night Setting the temperature in the bedroom at a level that is neither too hot or cold Removing any TV’s or other electronics from the bedroom Not checking your phone close to bedtime (in fact, just leave it outside the bedroom) Avoiding the use of caffeine or nicotine before bedtime Your body actually needs sleep in order to repair itself. If you are in recovery, this is especially important. Ensure You are Eating a Healthy Diet Nutrition is another important component of addiction recovery. Just like with sleep, your body needs to be able to repair itself from the damage caused by addiction. If you are putting junk food into your body, then it will have a harder time healing itself. Instead, make better food choices. For example, consider foods such as nutritious fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains. Try cooking for yourself. Cooking is [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>Self-Compassion: Why it’s Much Harder Than Compassion for Others</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/self-compassion-why-its-much-harder-than-compassion-for-others/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/self-compassion-why-its-much-harder-than-compassion-for-others/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:54:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FORGIVENESS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Do you find it easier to forgive others than yourself? Are you able to accept others’ mistakes but not your own? Practicing self-compassion can actually be very difficult. This is especially true if you learned as a child to care more about others, or if you have a hard time forgiving yourself. People are not born with a loathing for themselves. They learn it from their environment and life experiences. Perhaps this is you. Were you told as a child that you were somehow less-than-worthy? Was this reinforced by your experiences with other people? Sadly, oftentimes it is parents who plant the seeds of these beliefs. The damaged caused only amplifies over the years into adulthood. However, there is a way to mend the situation. What Is Self-Compassion? Self-compassion is a set of practices aimed at being empathetic and affirming to you. In layman’s terms, you could say it’s, “giving yourself a break.” Yet, at the same time, it is much more than that. It encompasses the following attributes: Acceptance: Being OK with who you are—warts and all. Forgiveness: Showing compassion and mercy to yourself for past actions or behavior. Kindness: Treating yourself with love and empathy. Understanding: Having an awareness of how you think and act—and why. As a whole, self-compassion sounds like a pretty good thing. It’s very similar to showing compassion to someone else. Yet, why is it often so hard for us to practice self-compassion, even when we have no problem extending it to others? Consider some of these possibilities: Having Impossibly High Standards for Yourself One reason why it is hard to have self-compassion is that you may have really high standards for yourself. Now, on the one hand, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Everyone should strive to be their personal best. Yet, we all experience setbacks, too. There are times when we even fail. You may be someone for whom a failure becomes a personal crisis. For you, failure is not an option. Yet, this kind of thinking isn’t realistic. Everyone has weak moments from time-to-time. The important point of failure is: [&#8230;]]]></description>
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