Publications that May Help You!

In case some of you didn’t know, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, provides many publications on mental health for professionals as well as for the general public. Although a great deal of the subject matter presented by SAMHSA has to do with substance abuse and/or dependence, there are many other publications provided that may be helpful to you. Here is the link to their website where you can browse mental health topics…
http://www.samhsa.gov

For more information on mental health counseling services for grief, depression, anxiety, substance issues, family dysfunction, separation and divorce, overwhelming life stress, and much more, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Or you can visit our parent company at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com.

Happy Holidays

Affordable Counseling would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays! We hope that your holidays are as stress free as possible, and full of love and joy with family and friends. A recent tagline I heard said, “Less Stress, More Living.” This may be an ideal (yet seemingly unrealistic) motto for some, especially during the holidays. But in its simplest form, the quote is pointing to how stress often conflicts with enjoying every day life which is a very simple supposition understood by many. But how do you live when stress is impeding your life? While there are many quick helpful tips to reduce stress, such as breathing, and stopping to take a break, a tip to remember is that your thoughts are what need to change in order for your feelings and behaviors to change. If you start seeing things in a different way, you are more likely to make long lasting changes rather than short immediate “fixes”

For more information on this and other mental health topics visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com, or see our parent website at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com

The Perfect Gift

Gift giving has become more of an art form in the recent years. People have the added stress of trying to find the most meaningful, most useful, coolest, most unique gifts for the ones that they love. Some find it fun, while others find it extremely stressful. Either way, gift giving has become, for some, a very competitive sport. But this type of thinking would assume that gift giving is all about the giver, not the receiver that the gift was intended for.

So how do you avoid competing with the “Jones’s” of gift giving. Here are some tips that might help you keep gifts centered around the receiver.

1. The cost of the gift doesn’t necessarily identify the value of the gift- different people attach different meanings to gifts. While one person appreciates a nice picture book of memories, the next person might look forward to something he needs but may never purchase for himself.

2. Know your receiver- Just as mentioned in #1, people have different ideas of what gifts mean. Many people do like the stereotypical gifts such as diamonds for women, or watches for men. However, that can get monotonous and not to mention, expensive. Really listening to someone and learning who she is can give you a great idea of what types of gifts a person appreciates.

3. Try to be more objective- this is a big one. When giving gifts many people are looking for that positive reinforcement, the big hug and a huge thank you from the receiver. But, you are not always going to hit the nail on the head with every gift. Try to release some personal responsibility from gift giving, and know that your intent was good. If someone doesnt like the gift you provided, that’s not your doing. Everyone has a right to personal preference.

We hope you find these tips helpful to reduce some stress associated with gift giving. For more tips on eliminating some of your personal stress, check out our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Or, see our parent company at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com

Happy Holidays!

Suffering From Loss?

The Holiday Season can be a time for joy and celebration. However, for many it is a time that reminds us of loss. It is hard celebrating holidays if someone who is usually present, is not longer there to celebrate with. For example a recent death in the family or even a divorce can elicit some greif like symptoms that are hard to handle on your own.

Counseling is a helpful option when grieving from any type of loss. At Affordable Counseling we are available to help you and loved ones during times of acute stress resulting from grief and loss. Children and adults as well as civilians and the military need love, support, and guidance in order to process the losses in separation and divorce, fatal accidents, demise of a close friend, family member or significant other, loss of a job or home, or other sudden and unwelcomed turn of events.

We will walk with you through your darkest hour, holding the light of faith and giving you hope, renewal, and strength.

For more information about mental health services in the Tampa Bay area, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Also, see our parent company’s website at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com.

Suicide and the Holiday Season

Have you ever heard that suicide rates are the highest during the holiday season? This is a common idea that we hear about every year. But is it really true? When you think logically it sounds likely that people feel depressed during the holidays because of family issues, stress, and overwhelming anxiety and therefore would make a decision to take their own lives. But the truth is that many studies show this concept of suicide rates excelling over the holidays is actually a myth. While suicide does occur within the holiday season, evidence does not show significant rises in the act during this period. This does not mean that suicide does not occur at this time, nor does it excuse anyone from seeing and addressing some of the warning signs. The following articles present information about this myth, but also provide links to suicide facts such as prevalence rates, warning signs, as well as additional information.

http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/holiday.html

http://www.bidmc.org/YourHealth/TherapeuticCenters/Depression.aspx?ChunkID=156980

Even if this concept is a myth, suicide is not something to take lightly. If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal many resources are available to you. In Florida you can call 2-1-1, or call the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Educate yourself on the warning signs so that you can also be a resource for someone in despair.

For more information on mental health counseling in the Tampa Bay area, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. You can also visit our parent company’s website at http://www.starpointcounselingbrandon.com, or http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com. We have two locations to better serve you!