What is Self-Harm?

Self-harm is when you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with something that is troubling you.

One way is to hurt yourself physically. Some people cut themselves. Another way is to not take care of yourself like you should.

Some ways of self-harming can include:

• cutting yourself
• poisoning yourself
• over-eating or under-eating
• burning your skin
• inserting objects into your body
• hitting yourself or walls
• overdosing
• exercising excessively
• scratching and hair pulling

Self-harm can create very difficult feelings and could make you feel even worse. 

If you self-harm, you may feel embarrassed or ashamed about it. You also might be worried that other people will judge you or pressure you to stop if you tell them about it. 

Because of this, some people keep their self-harming a secret.

It is best not to keep it a secret though. It is best to tell someone and to seek help. 

People say that they self harm for different reasons. 

 Some people say it makes them feel a certain way when they do it and that is why they do it. 

 If you don’t understand the reasons for your self-harm, know that it is okay and that you do not need to know why.

It is also important for people to know that most people who demonstrate self-harm do not do it to get attention. More so, they do it because of how it makes them feel when they do it. 

Some of the reasons people hurt themselves are:

-To express something that is hard to put into words

-To make experiences, thoughts or feelings that feel 
invisible into something visible

-To change emotional pain into physical pain

-To try to minimize overwhelming emotional feelings or thoughts

-To gain a sense of trying to be in control

-To try and escape from traumatic memories

-To try and feel numb, disconnected or dissociated to something

-To create a reason to have to physically care for yourself

-To express suicidal feelings and thoughts without taking your own life  

- To let others know that you are hurting without having to talk to them

• Reference- mind.org 

There is help!!! 

Counseling can help. If you are harming yourself, please seek help for yourself.

                          By Diane Gammon M.S.  

                    Clinical Mental Health Counselor                Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

 

If you want to feel good and be in good spirits- you need to eat healthy! 

It is helpful to eat 5-6 small meals a day instead of 3 large meals. Eating too much at once can overload your pancreas and make you feel tired and sluggish.

You also do not want to eat every few minutes as this is hard on the pancreas also. Space out your healthy small meals at least every 3 hours.

When your blood sugar drops, you can easily feel tired, irritable and depressed.

You need to eat regularly to keep your blood sugar level steady by eating foods that release energy slowly.

Slow-release energy foods include: protein foods such as nuts and seeds and lean meats.

Yes, it is true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Do not skip breakfast!

It is also good to eat smaller portions spaced out regularly throughout the day than to eat a large lunch and dinner.

It is best to avoid foods which make your blood sugar rise and fall quickly such as sugary snacks, sugary drinks, and alcohol.

Your body does need several servings of vegetables a day. Vegetables and fruit contain a lot of the minerals, vitamins, and fiber.  

Fruit and veggies help you to stay healthy both physically and mentally.

It is best to eat some vegetables raw because  cooking can destroy some nutrients.

                      By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

What are Arts Therapies?

Arts therapies are a way of using the arts in counseling sessions. 

In therapy- music, art, dance, or drama is used in a therapeutic environment with a trained therapist. 

In arts therapy, your therapist/ counselor helps you to express yourself by creating something such as a drawing, painting, clay sculpture, or a play for example. 

 

  This activity can help you express your feelings often without using words. This is very helpful in the therapeutic process.

I implement arts therapy with my clients and it has proved to be very helpful.

 Reference: Mind.org


 Art therapies can also help some mental illness. It can help to: 

• manage behavior
• reduce stress
• develop interpersonal skills
• increase self-esteem
• increase self-awareness

Art therapists can also help address:

• emotional difficulties related to disability or illness
• trauma and loss
• post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• physical problems
• cognitive problems
• neurological problems
• Reference: Art Therapy Blog 

                                    By Diane Gammon M.S.  

                    Clinical Mental Health Counselor                Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is schizophrenia?

 Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. 

People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.

 

Schizophrenia is a diagnosis that someone is given if they experience some of the following symptoms:

• a lack of interest in things
• feeling disconnected from your feelings
• difficulty concentrating
• wanting to avoid people
• hallucinations
• hearing voices
• delusions
• feeling like you need to be protected.

 Causes:

Schizophrenia is usually caused by a combination of factors rather than one single cause.

Dopamine

Dopamine is one of the chemicals that carries messages between brain cells. There is evidence that too much dopamine may be involved in the development of schizophrenia, however- it is not clear how, or whether everyone diagnosed with schizophrenia has too much dopamine.

Stressful life events

Highly stressful or life-changing events may trigger and cause schizophrenia. 
These may include:

• social isolation
• being out of work
• living in poverty
• being homeless
• losing someone close to you
• being physically or verbally abused, or harassed.

Drug abuse

Some people may develop symptoms of schizophrenia as a result of using cannabis or other street drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.

Inheritance

Some families seem to be prone to schizophrenia, which suggests that there is a genetic link.

Other causes

Research is happening all the time into what might cause schizophrenia. For example there is evidence that physical differences in, or injury to the brain may be linked to schizophrenia, and that some of this process might happen before someone is born. Research into other possible causes, including viruses, hormonal activity (particularly in women), diet, allergic reaction or infection is ongoing.

Mental health Counseling can be very helpful for individuals who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Reference: Mind.org

                        By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

Can an emotional and/ or domestic violence abuser change? 

It is possible if the abuser has a strong desire to change and recognizes his or her abusive patterns as well as the damage caused by them. 

However, the learned behaviors and feelings of entitlement and privilege are very difficult to change. 

Only a small percentage of abusers are able to successfully make permanent changes.

Most abusers tend to enjoy the power that they feel from emotional abuse and because of this, only a very low percentage of abusers can turn themselves around.

 Reference: Live, Bold, and Bloom.

If you are a victim of emotional or violent abuse, there is help. 

Free Monthly Support Group

For Victims of Abuse
 Support groups are also for loved ones and family members

When: Every 1st Saturday at 2:00pm- 3:15pm

Where: Michael Loftis Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd. Suite E

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Call Diane at (615) 556-8406 or email her at Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com to register. 

                                 By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

A victim of emotional abuse quite often doesn’t see the mistreatment as being abusive. 

Victims of abuse often demonstrate coping mechanisms of denial and they also minimize their abuse.

Emotional abuse can cause severe emotional trauma in victims such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here is a list of some behaviors that  constitutes emotional abuse:

1. When someone humiliates you, puts you down, or makes fun of you in front of other people.

2. When someone disregard your opinions, ideas, suggestions, or needs.


3. When someone accuses you of being “too sensitive” in order to deflect their abusive remarks.

5. When someone is controlling.

6.When you have to ask permission from this person.

7.When someone cuts down your dreams and goals.

8.When someone repeatedly points out your flaws. 

9. When someone accuses you of things that are not true.


10. When someone make excuses for their behavior, tries to blame others, and has difficulty apologizing.


11. They blame you for their problems, life difficulties, or for their unhappiness.

12. They call you names or curse at you.

13. They are emotionally distant or emotionally unavailable most of the time.

14. When someone resorts to pouting or withdrawal to get attention or to attain what they want.

15. They lack empathy or compassion.

16. They play the victim role and try to deflect blame to you rather than taking personal responsibility.

17. They disengage or use neglect or abandonment to punish or frighten you.

18. They do not notice or care about your feelings.

19. They withhold sex as a way to manipulate and control.

20. They invalidate or deny their emotionally abusive behavior when confronted.

21. They make threats to frighten or control you.

The first step for those being emotionally abused is recognizing it’s happening. 

If you recognize any of these signs of emotional abuse in a relationship that you are in, you need to be honest with yourself so you can regain power over your own life, stop the abuse, and begin to heal. 
 
The stress of emotional abuse will eventually catch up with you in the forms of illness, emotional trauma, depression, and/or anxiety. You simply can’t allow it to continue, even if it means ending the relationship. 

A counselor can help you navigate the pain and fears of leaving an abusive relationship and work with you to rebuild your self-esteem.

Reference: Live Bold and Bloom

If you are a victim of emotional or violent abuse, there is help. 

Free Monthly Support Group

For Victims of Abuse
 Support groups are also for loved ones and family members

When: Every 1st Saturday at 2:00pm- 3:15pm

Where: Michael Loftis Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd. Suite E

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Call Diane at (615) 556-8406 or email her at Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com to register.

                                 By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

Feeling insecure about yourself? 

The following tips can be helpful to improve your insecurities:

Surround yourself with people who are uplifting, supportive, and positive.

Draw boundary lines with people in which you feel insecure around.

Realize that you are your worst critic. 

Verbalize and/ or write down your self-defeating thoughts. Ask yourself if these thoughts that you are having are irrational. 

Change your 'stinking thinking' by demonstrating positive self-talk and positive affirmations about yourself.

Write down the good qualities that you believe about yourself and expound on them. 

Implement self-love and self-care on a daily basis. 

Remember that how you think will result in how you feel and how you act.... so begin today with thinking better and positive thoughts about yourself!!

                                By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                     Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

Free Support Groups 
for Adults of All Ages and for Older Teens

For Trauma and 
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) 

A trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience


This Saturday, April 9th, at 10:00am

Support groups are also for loved ones and family members

Trauma/ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD)

(with symptoms of anxiety, panic, self-harm, isolation, etc.)

When: Every 2nd Saturday Morning of Each Month

Time: 10:00am - 11:15am

Other Free Support Groups
Depression/ Hopelessness/ Anxiety/ Panic

When: Every 1st Saturday Morning of Each Month

Time: 10:00am - 11:15am

 Grief and Loss Including Miscarriage  
and Infant Loss 

When: Every 3rd Tuesday of each month
Time: 7:00 pm

     Groups are on-going every month and open-group

Where: Michael Loftis LCSW Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd, Suite E., Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Groups are led by Diane Gammon MS

Diane is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW

Contact Diane by calling or texting (615) 556-8406 or email her at Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com to register 
or for more information

                             By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

 

I am happy to announce that I am now open on Wednesdays along with Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays!



Call 615-556-8406 or email Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com for an appointment to help you live your life On Purpose! 

I offer a sliding scale in which begins at $25.00 a session.

                                 By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  

How often do you spend time thinking about what to say back to a person AS they are speaking ..........instead of listening to them attentively? 

Do you speak without thinking? 

Someone who has good communication skills listens attentively when someone else speaks. 

They also demonstrate body language that show others that they are listening to them.

Another skill is to take time to think before you speak. Just don’t do it while someone is speaking to you. Wait and listen and then take time to think before you respond.  

If you are upset when communicating, it is best to tell the other person(s) that you would like to step away for a few moments to gather your thoughts. Take deep breaths and focus on responding respectfully and not of out negative emotions. 

When you care about someone, it is important to ALWAYS treat them with respect in your communication!  

              By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays