Kate Motaung

There is a lot in this world that is worth celebrating. The smile of a child, a bright sunny summer day, time with family over the holidays. However, there is also a lot in the world to lament and that brings us to despair. Some events we experience in life are traumatic, and they affect us physically, mentally, or emotionally in negative ways. In this article we will look at some of the common effects of trauma. What is

When Sally was eight, her father suddenly left her mother for another woman. Sally desperately loved her father, but he never showed any interest in being involved in her life. As she grew, she found it difficult to trust others enough to get close to them. Eventually, she fell in love with Tom, a man with whom she had grown up, and they were married. Throughout their life together, Sally was consumed by a nagging sense of anxiety. She

What is emotional well-being? There are a few different ways to define it, but Healthline describes three components of emotional wellness: Emotional attunement (identifying how you feel). Vulnerability (the ability to express your emotions). Authenticity (the capacity to share your feelings honestly). As you can see, two of the primary aspects of emotional well-being involve relating to others. When we are adept at emotional regulation and wellness, we can have healthier relationships and model well-being for others. We also

As we continue to navigate this world during a pandemic and adjust to changing rules and mandates, children and adolescents may be the hardest hit group of all. Data is already emerging that shows the detrimental impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health. The pandemic, and its ensuing consequences, will likely have long-term negative effects, possibly altering an entire generation’s mental health and way of life permanently. Children and adolescents have experienced increased stress every day during the

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – formerly known as multiple personality disorder – is a mental health issue that’s often misunderstood. Blockbuster movies like Split have created a lot of misinformation about DID, leading to people with DID being feared and considered dangerous. The stigma surrounding DID means that people with the condition are often fearful of how others will react to them. It’s common for DID sufferers to avoid becoming part of a church community simply because they don’t

Almost 40% of marriages end in divorce in America today. Another interesting area of research is the divorce rate for couples who did not date long before marriage. “A host of studies have found that a longer romance before marriage is linked to higher marital satisfaction and lower risk of divorce. One 2015 study in the journal Economic Inquiry, for example, found that couples who dated for one to two years were 20 percent less likely to later get

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a potentially debilitating disorder that causes repetitive and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive time-consuming rituals (compulsions) that are often distressing, debilitating, and life-altering. OCD is lifelong and occurs on a continuum with symptoms of OCD possibly increasing or decreasing throughout a person’s life. As a parent of a child or teen with symptoms of OCD, it can sometimes be frightening to watch your child suffer from this debilitating disorder. A natural reaction to such symptoms is

Depression in children is more common than most people think, and it was once believed that children were too developmentally and emotionally immature to suffer from depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), approximately 3.2%, or 1.9 million, of children and teens aged 3-17 years in the U.S. have been diagnosed with depression. Comorbidity, or having a simultaneous coexisting condition in addition to depression, is common among this age group. Common coexisting conditions include but

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs  4:23, NIV ". . . It determines the course of your life.” - Proverbs 4:23, NLT In an article published by The Harvard Business Review entitled, "The Daily Routines of Geniuses," the author compared the schedules and lifestyles of 161 artists, scientists, philosophers, and other exceptional thinkers and found several commonalities among them, such as: Creating a workspace that is fresh and calming with

No matter if you’ve been married one year, ten years, or twenty years and beyond, marriage can be trying at times. It’s normal to get in relationship ruts, and that’s why it’s good to look for ways for improving your marriage. 10 Tips for Improving Your Marriage Improving your marriage is possible by being intentional with several small changes. These ten tips for improving your marriage can get you back on the right path and move toward closeness. 1.

To understand what causes codependency in relationships, it is first necessary to understand what codependency is and what it is not. One dictionary definition of codependency says it is based on a psychological state of mutual dependence between two people, especially when one partner relies emotionally on support and care for the other partner. This can sound a lot like normal care in a loving relationship, but in actual practice, it is something quite different. Perhaps the most important

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? The holiday season doesn’t feel wonderful for everyone. Some people deal with grief every time the holidays roll around. Others have new changes to navigate and may feel overwhelmed instead of joyful. If you are feeling depressed during the holidays, here are practical steps you can take for dealing with depression and to get the help you need. Are You Depressed? If you have felt overwhelmed by feelings of isolation,