Blog for Better Living
How to Help a Loved One Through Trauma
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | September 29, 2023
It can be difficult to see your loved one experience the effects of trauma, and it’s not always easy to know how to help. You may struggle to find the right thing to do or say or worry that you’ll say something that might make them feel worse. Know that there is so much you […]
Read MoreA Mom’s Perspective: The Sneaky Month of May
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | June 9, 2023
It was midnight on a dark and almost stormy night. I was sitting on the living room floor when the lights went out. I heard ominous creaking somewhere in the house. My eyes fell on the many pairs of sinister-looking scissors surrounding me, glistening in the moonlight. “How did I get here?” I wondered to […]
Read MoreHow to Get “Unstuck” from Anxiety
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | March 24, 2023
If you struggle with anxiety, you may notice that the harder you try to make it go away, the worse it becomes. If you wake up in the morning checking for signs of anxiety to determine if it will be a “good” or “bad” day, you may be caught in an “all or nothing” anxiety […]
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When an Attitude of Gratitude Hurts
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | December 16, 2022
The holiday season is upon us, and images of seemingly blissful couples and families dressed in cozy winter sweaters are splashed across our media. These happy, “shiny” people are shown enjoying a Thanksgiving feast together, frolicking in leaves, and cuddling by the fireplace. We are encouraged to ‘count our blessings!’ and ‘be grateful’ for what […]
Read MoreHow to Cultivate Self-Compassion
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | September 16, 2022
Experiences such as loss, pain, and disappointment are unavoidable parts of being human. If we want to feel the good stuff in life such as love, connection, and proud moments, then we must also accept the risk of the flip side of these experiences. For example, if you love someone, you are vulnerable to feeling […]
Read MoreAnxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Relationships
A Mom’s Perspective on Summer Vacation: Dream vs. Reality
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | July 15, 2022
Every year as summer approaches, I count down the days until school ends, awaiting the time when I have less on my plate. Exhausted from trying to balance my kids’ school demands, keeping the household functional, and keeping up with my own job, I look forward to not tracking almost daily COVID at-home tests, packing […]
Read MoreMirror, Mirror: Breaking Free of the Comparison Trap
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | April 22, 2022
Have you ever left a class or staff meeting feeling like an imposter because you think that everyone is smarter than you? Have you ever looked at your social media feed and felt envy for someone else’s seemingly beautiful life? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It’s human nature to compare ourselves to […]
Read MoreHow to Outsmart Procrastination
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | February 18, 2022
We’ve all been there; we have found ourselves facing tasks that we “should do,” maybe even “have to do,” and yet, we struggle to move ourselves toward actually doing these things. Maybe you need to study for a test, complete a work project, or start on your taxes. The scenario plays out the same, you […]
Read MoreNothing to Fear, But Fear Itself
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | December 31, 2021
Understanding and Treating Panic Attacks Have you ever experienced anxiety come on so quickly and with such intensity that you feared you were having a heart attack or that you were going crazy? Maybe your heart was pounding, or you were sweating or shaking. You might have visited the hospital or called your doctor only […]
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