When I was a kid, I had a lot of anxiety and fear about public speaking. Often before speaking, I would tell myself, “I’m going to mess up!” or “I won’t do a good job” or “What if I forget what I want to say?” As a result of allowing these negative thoughts to swirl in my head, my anxiety …
Demystifying and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder with Psychotherapy and Medication
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental illness in which a person is preoccupied with an imagined physical defect or a minor defect that others can not see. These individuals spend up to eight hours per day focusing on and trying either trying to “fix” or hide their perceived defect. A few years ago, I (Karen) attended a workshop at …
Challenge Negative Thinking in 5 Steps
When I was young, I played tennis competitively. When I was feeling good about my game, I would tell myself that I was a great tennis player and that I could win. Often, these positive thoughts improved my game. However, on many occasions I would beat myself up with negative thinking, including telling myself I could never win. My anxiety …
Overcoming an Eating Disorder: It Takes a Village
By Karen Chinca and Lauren Manasse Collaboration is a key element of an individual’s recovery from an eating disorder. It can be overwhelming and scary when you suspect that you or a family member has an eating disorder. We strongly recommend that the first and most important step is to put together a treatment team. Our team at Greater Boston …
What is Mindfulness? Answers from a Licensed Therapist
After writing my first blog about mindfulness during the holiday season, I realized that many people don’t really know what mindfulness is all about. A non-therapist friend of mine asked me if it means closely paying attention to our thoughts, no matter what activity we are engaged in. Actually, I responded, it’s quite the opposite. Mindfulness is letting our thoughts …
How Mindfulness Can Help You Stay Sane Over the Holidays
Welcome to my new blog, A Healthy Mind and Body. I felt compelled to write my first blog post about mindfulness now since we are approaching the holiday season. This season is by far my favorite time of year. I love the brisk sweater weather, the fresh air of November and December, and being surrounded by family, friends, and delicious …