Seasonal Affective Disorder or Winter Blues

Often, individuals who suffer with depression experience a worsening of symptoms during the late fall and early winter; for some depression has a seasonal component and is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. symptoms worsen with the decreasing hours of sunlight in the late fall, often peaking once daylight savings time begins. Psychotherapy, and in some cases medication, is helpful for those suffering with increased depression during the winter months. Light boxes the simulate UV rays are found helpful by some. Holtz Psychological Services, in addition to therapy recommends the following:

• Stay busy during day light hours and increase physical activity. Simply walking for 30minutes a day can significantly improve mood in those who are sedentary.

• Get up early and go to bed early – maximizing your daylight waking hours.

• Maintain health eating habits.

• Stay socially connected to people you enjoy being around; no hibernation!

• Consider using a high quality vitamin supplement such as Holtz Psychological Services own custom formulation “Stress Less and Focus” which is designed to increase energy, improve sleep, enhance concentration, and assist with tension and anxiety.

• Try to embrace the seasons for what they are – notice beauty in nature even in the winter.

If you or someone you know is suffering with SAD or depression please do not hesitate to call on us!

Assertiveness and Communication Styles

One of the more common relationship problems people seeking help discuss is communication. Each and every relationship has a unique dynamic of communication. Individual relational styles run the gamut from passive to aggressive. Passive communicators favor a style that includes withholding ones true feelings, beliefs, needs, and opinions, in favor of accepting and supporting their partners’. Over time the passive communicator develops resentments and often feels neglected by their partner. Long term feelings of neglect and resentment often leads to passive –aggressive behavior. Aggressive communicators insist, demand, or insure that their needs, wishes, wants, and beliefs are supported irrespective of the consequences. Sometimes seen as bullish or arrogant, aggressive communicators appear interested only in their own needs.

As with most human traits, finding a middle ground is most desirable. The middle ground between passivity and aggression is assertiveness. Holtz Psychological Services’ clinical staff assists those with communication and relationship problems in finding their own assertive voice, enabling them to express their needs, wants, desires, and wishes confidently, while acknowledging the same in their partner. Assertiveness training helps bolster self confidence, improves relationships, and increases feelings of self worth. If you are interested in receiving more information about assertiveness check out our website or give us a call.

Stress and Children

Stress and anxiety are common problems that we see in children who are brought to our offices. Children show signs of stress and worry in ways that are different from adults. Symptoms of stress and anxiety in children include poor school performance, nightmares, sibling conflict, increased aggression or agitation, and clingy insecure attachments to parents. Annually, the American Psychological Association (APA), publishes a report on stress, this year the APA included children in their report which was summarized by the NY Times: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/helping-our-children-with-stress/?emc=eta1).

If you are concerned that your child or the child of a loved one is exhibiting signs of stress or anxiety there is help available. The Psychologists at Holtz Psychological Services specialize in the treatment of anxiety and stress and are here to help. If you are interested in having a psychologist speak to your social, community, or civic group about stress please call us today and we will be happy to put you in touch with a member of our speakers bureau.

Quitting Smoking

Several patients over the past week have expressed interest in quitting smoking so I thought I would take a moment and post a few thoughts about this challenging habit. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, nicotine addiction (nicotine being the main culprit in tobacco addictions) is as, or more difficult to overcome than heroin:
(http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/29/magazine/nicotine-harder-to-kickthan-heroin.html)!
If you are a smoker quitting is one of the most beneficial things you can do that will have an immediate and positive impact on your health.

In order to successfully quit smoking, it is important to take a comprehensive approach. One of the main reasons people fail when trying to quit on their own is that they often attend to only one or two facets of the addiction. HPS staff psychologists focus on comprehensive treatment, attending to the cognitive, behavioral, and physical aspects of nicotine addiction. Treatment generally consists of addressing the underlying thoughts and beliefs that the individual has about smoking, these may include the role of smoking in managing stressful situations, mistaken beliefs about the health consequences of smoking, and underlying beliefs about social smoking. Our clinicians help you to understand your smoking triggers, work with you on developing impulse control, and help you to substitute smoking with more healthful behaviors. In many occasions recommendations for nicotine replacement therapies such as the patch or referrals for medications such as Chantix are made in order to help people break free from smoking. Hypnotherapy and biofeedback are also often utilized. If you or a loved one needs assistance in quitting smoking please do not hesitate to call us, we are here for you!

Greetings and Welcome

Hello and welcome to our blog. Our staff Psychologists will be checking in regularly in order to provide you useful and timely information, answer your questions, and discuss topics of interest such as managing stress and anxiety, depression, ADHD, parenting, relationships, and more. Hope you come to see us as a quality resource on the web. Best, Adam

FIRST POST

Thanks for joining us! There are a lot of exciting projects in the works at Holtz Psychological Services. Our new LESS STRESS Vitamin supplement will be available in ONE WEEK, and we can begin accepting orders now. Staff of HPS will be presenting a Seminar on Stress Reduction at the Melville Public Library on January 7, 2010 at 7:00. FREE material, including a complimentary STRESS Squeeze-Ball and other practical materials will be available. Please Join Us!