Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ignore Your Feelings

Posted on November 29, 2020 by jamesmatter

So, did that get your attention? What’s a therapist doing telling people to ignore their feelings? Aren’t we, the therapists, supposed to help people get in touch with their feelings? Not necessarily. This is going to be a relatively short … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, behavioral health, choices, Depression, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Distress tolerance, Emotions, Feelings, mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

More on Mindfulness

Posted on November 15, 2020 by jamesmatter

It’s been a while. Like many Americans, I’ve been watching the news and riding the roller coaster. But something happened earlier today that brought me back to a kind of everyday mindfulness, which my Midwestern forebearers would have probably called … Continue reading →

Posted in Crisis survival, dealing with change, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Distress tolerance, mindfulness, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

An Inspirational Moment

Posted on September 18, 2020 by jamesmatter

I just have to share this, even though it’s far from new content and completely off topic for this blog. In a time of radical wealth inequality, there is a billionaire who has given away an eight billion dollar fortune. … Continue reading →

Posted in hope, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Your Forgiveness is for You

Posted on July 30, 2020 by jamesmatter

I have not been posting very often because I continue to try to keep my original purpose of writing about things I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere, but this piece was just too good to not pass along: it’s about forgiveness. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, arguing, betrayal, communication, Couples and relationships, Feelings, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Restraint, Asking for Help

Posted on June 29, 2020 by jamesmatter

I recently saw a post on social media representing nurses and pertaining to our newly-reinvigorated struggles for equality. “Friendly reminder that nurses have to restrain violent, confused, intoxicated and belligerent people all the time. And we make it happen without … Continue reading →

Posted in behavioral health, change, Crisis survival, mental health, stigma of addiction, stigma of mental illness, Trauma, Uncategorized, Violence | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Respect the Trauma of Others

Posted on June 6, 2020 by jamesmatter

I have been in much the same emotional state as those reading, I expect. I’ll honestly admit– I did everything in my power to avoid the actual video of George Floyd being killed. But it was so prevalent that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, anxiety, choices, Crisis survival, Distress tolerance, reconciliation, Trauma, Uncategorized, Violence | Tagged | 2 Comments

A Ten Best List for Any Year

Posted on December 26, 2019 by jamesmatter

I have continued to be pulled into many things other than posting to this blog, but my New Year’s resolution is to get back to posting. In the mean time, I ran across something from the Center for Greater Good … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Continue to Eat Right

Posted on October 10, 2019 by jamesmatter

Sorry to have been away for so long. I just had to come back with yet another study that showed eating a certain kind of diet can help depression. Hint: it isn’t the “day after Halloween” diet plan. One of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I’m Alive: Keep It Simple, Care for Self

Posted on August 4, 2019 by jamesmatter

Sorry for the long absence. When I find a good way to write about it while still maintaining appropriate professional boundaries (a good topic right there) I will. In the mean time, my basic approach is in the title, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Acceptance, Action, Self-Compassion

Posted on May 5, 2019 by jamesmatter

I can never get enough of this stuff. I don’t have time to add some of my own thoughts right now, but I can’t let this one pass without passing it on: it’s always helpful to accept yourself, especially when … Continue reading →

Posted in behavioral health, mental health, physical health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments