How are you doing this Christmas?

Are you having a hard time finding hope in the world?

God gave His only Son to die in our place so that we, in all our brokenness, could know forgiveness. 

He came so that we could know what love feels like, real love – love that never leaves, love that never disappoints, love that is never betrayed. 

He sent His Son into a corrupted world to bring us hope.
 
Are you having a hard time finding peace? 
It doesn't have to be that way. 

You can have peace and find hope and know forgiveness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Bring peace to my world this Christmas. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you invited Jesus Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life.

The Story of Jesus

"About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's hometown, for the census. As a decendant of David he had to go there. 

He went with Mary, his fiancee, who was pregnant.While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the hostel.

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. 

Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: "Glory to God in the heavenly heights; Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him."

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 

Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!"  (Luke 2:1-20).

Reference
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/christmas/christmasstory.htm

There is hope and healing available for you! JESUS LOVES YOU!

Wishing you a joyful Christmas! 

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

Many people feel lonely during the holidays. People can feel lonely even if they have loved ones in their lives. 

Others may feel lonely because they are in fact alone.

Holidays tend to get us thinking of family and most of us have lost loved ones. As Thanksgiving draws near, we start to miss our loved ones who are gone and it can be extremely painful. 

There is also pressure from society to connect and be with others during the holidays. This can make us feel even more vulnerable to feel lonely.

WAYS TO COPE:

Seek company. Attend a meet- up group. Go to Church and a small group such as Sunday School class to connect with others.

Implement Self-Care. When you feel lonely and down in spirits, it is important to demonstrate self-care or you will end up feeling worse. Get fresh air and exercise, do something that you enjoy, drink water, and eat healthy.

Acknowledge your feelings and explore them. There may be good reasons as to why you feel lonely as the holidays approach. Think over possible reasons and try to understand the factors that may contribute to how you may be feeling especially lonely at this time.    

Volunteer. Reaching out to others who are worse off than you can make you feel better in many ways.

Talk to Someone. Talk to a friend if possible and/ or seek counseling. It is helpful and healthy to talk to someone. It can help you to better understand and to get validation as to why this particular time is especially difficult for many people. 

Count your blessings! Think of what you are thankful for.

Pray! Your Heavenly Father is always with you and He loves you!

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

Some of us are more prone to optimism, and others of us are not.

If you are not naturally an optimist, it is possible to change with some effort.

Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky says, “Even if you haven’t won the optimism lottery, you can shift your point of view by putting a concerted effort into changing your mind-set.”

She describes optimism as a "muscle" that you can learn to exercise.

Here are some approaches that can help:

1. Write down the things that you are looking forward to.
2. Re-live positive memories.  “Bringing up those positive memories can boost confidence, which boosts optimism.”
3. Get adequate sleep.  Optimistic individuals tend to get more sleep than pessimists.  
4. Write down your worries and then set aside a period of time to review them.  You may find that after a period of time that your worries will not seem as big later.

Instead of being consumed by negative emotions, figure out what you can do to change your circumstances.

You may not be a natural optimist, but you can work on becoming more optimistic by changing your outlook!

Source:  Better Homes and Garden, December 2017, pp. 134 - 138.

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

If you  are struggling this holiday season to find Christmas cheer, stop thinking about yourself for a moment and do something to bless someone else!

It’s the surest way to cheering yourself up!

1.  Write a letter to someone.  Don’t type it.  Don’t email it.  Handwrite it!  And then mail it in an old fashioned envelope and stamp. Getting a handwritten letter in the mail is bound to make anyone’s day.

2.  Pay it forward. If you’re standing in line at the coffee shop, buy the drink for the person behind you.

3.  Make someone smile. Provide some levity for your cashier.  Waiting on the public can be a stressful experience.  Offer a smile, a joke, or a compliment.

4.  Make your server’s day and leave a bigger tip than you’d originally counted on leaving.

5.  Open your home to someone who will be alone this Christmas and ask them to come for a meal.

6.  Bake and take some homemade goodies to the office so everybody can enjoy them.

Few of us can influence what goes on in far off capitals of the world, but most of us can have great influence on those around us! 

                Be a light for Jesus! 


Reference:  https://www.becomingminimalist.com/spread-cheer/

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

I've spent several Christmas holidays in some not so pleasant conditions but have been usually rescued by an invitation, often last minute.

However, Christmas of 2016, I spent the entire day by myself.  It was kind of miserable.

Early on, I decided that this Christmas would be different.

I've never bought a Christmas tree for myself.  But this year I bought one from the grocery store lot and put it up . . . the day after Thanksgiving.

One string of lights was not enough, so I added another strand.  After adding pine cones, I thought my minimalist tree was great.

But then the wife of a friend found out about my tree and offered her excess ornaments.  I accepted and spent part of an evening adding them.  A few days later I added some candy canes.

But the Christmas cheer did not last long.

The last two weeks have been utterly miserable.  I have a catastrophe unfolding in my business.  I'm terrified.   I'm stressed.  Everything I've built over the last several years is teetering on the edge of a cliff.  I may go from zero debt to many thousands in debt.   I'm utterly panicked.  My entire life has been on hold for the last two weeks as I've tried to resolve this.

It was only just today that I realized Christmas is next week.  I had no plans.

I had some vague idea that I wanted a Christmas meal.  Not being much of a cook, I figured I'd order something from the Fresh Market.

Then I thought how great it would be to share the meal with someone else.

A young couple from church came to mind, so I emailed them and asked if they were busy on Christmas and that if they were not, they were welcome to come to my place.  

They were quick to accept.  To tell you the truth, I was momentarily stunned.  I thought I was just being considerate.  I never actually expected them to accept.

I upgraded my meal order and added an apple pie.

I've no idea if the unfolding catastrophe will be a train wreck by the end of the week.  My personality is such that when I'm dealing with a problem, it consumes me.  I brood.  I get miserable.  Everything goes dark.  I bitterly question why God made me.

The big challenge for me this coming week is to somehow let go of this impending doom, play host and enjoy serving my guests.

I have an example.

Facing the worst doom imaginable,  Christ not only hosted a Passover meal, he served his fellow disciples by washing their feet. 

By a contributing blogger, David Mueller 

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

Do you want to feel better this Christmas and New Years season? Do you want to avoid illness, tiredness, and hangovers?  

Researchers in Birmingham City University found five simple steps that will go a long way to minimizing weight gain and hangovers.  

Their ideas include:

1. Increase your intake of water.  Water flushes toxins from the system, keeps you hydrated, and can boost your immune system.
2. Cut out so called health drinks that contain sugar.
3. Keep exercising.  Exercise helps elevate your mood, increases bone and muscle health, and eliminates toxins from you system.
4. Eat foods that are rich in potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.
5. Make sure you're eating a balanced diet.  Include carbohydrates, proteins and fats, as well a foods high in vitamins and antioxidants.  

Researchers said, "What we wanted to do was give people a few basic tips that could help them feel a bit fresher over the Christmas period."  

Source:  Three things you need to prevent a Christmas hangover and avoid the bulge.

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

A study of nearly 200,000 individuals has established that there is a link between back pain and a number of mental health conditions.

People with back pain were “more than twice as likely to experience one of five mental health conditions” including anxiety, depression, psychosis, stress, and sleep deprivation.

An earlier study “found that chronic back or neck pain was associated with increased risk for mood disorders, alcohol abuse, and anxiety disorders.”

Of course none of this will come as a surprise to people with back pain.

As someone who has suffered with a great deal of neck pain, I’ve lost sleep, endured headaches, been irritable, and experienced stress.  Then after being adjusted by a chiropractor, I've been told what a pleasant person I've become.

A few helpful ways to manage back pain can include

• Heat and ice therapy
• Massage therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Weight loss
• Pain management classes
• Acupuncture

Each person is unique and may respond differently to treatments.  So it’s important to find out what works for you.  

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

There will not be a miscarriage/ infant loss support group this month due to Christmas.

We will resume on the 3rd Tuesday of January at 7pm. 

These type of support groups are always free.

Pre-resgistration is required for each support group.

Text Diane at 615-556-8406 to register or for more information.

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)
Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.
Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

 

Our actions stem from our beliefs.

Positive thoughts produce positive outcomes. 

 Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Believe that the best is yet to come! 

Do the best with what you have with where you are in life---- and let the rest go.

 Proverbs 3:26 For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Believe in yourself and believe that better is right around the bend! 

You can also pray. 

 Psalm 18:32-34 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

God loves you and hears your prayers.

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

   

CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)

Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

If the party starts at the foot of the cross, then why is the journey of the believer not one of going from strength to strength?

We think that the job of the Spirit is to help us to sin less and less; We wonder why the Christian experience is more like a journey of failure to failure.

God chose to make us clean and right with Him at conversion but mysteriously let our sinful nature remain to war against us.

As we mature and have our eyes opened as to how terrible our hearts really are, God uses that knowledge to gently bring us back to the cross, admitting our sin and guilt.

In doing so, we come to depend more and more upon him.  We learn to love him better as weak sinners in need of grace and forgiveness than as conquering soldiers defeating sin.

Author Barbara Duguid writes, “If the job of the Holy Spirit is to make you more humble and dependent on Christ, more grateful for his sacrifice and more adoring of him as a wonderful Savior, then he might be doing a very, very good job even though you still sin every day.” 

 By a contributing blogger, David Mueller

 CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 


   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

 Open Full-Time Days - Monday through Saturday
With Evening Appointments

615-556-8406

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)
Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.
Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure