Kate Motaung

Avoidance anxiety results from trying to avoid those things that cause you to be uncomfortable or fearful. When facing fears, a person experiences anxiety. Avoidance anxiety is a disorder that a person experiences when they know they are facing a situation they don’t think they can overcome. As the person tries to avoid the situation and the anxiety it causes, they may exhibit behaviors that affect how they interact with others. Being overwhelmed by anxiety can lead to extreme

Anger is nothing new in the human condition. Increasingly, public displays of rage are commonplace, whether they are directed at public officials, institutions, or on a more personal level between motorists or family members. Whether this anger is expressed in person or online, much of the anger that we witness can typically be described as ugly and destructive. This is why anger management tips can be helpful. Seeing the ugly side of anger can put you off. For some

Most humans want to see fruitful outcomes in life. We are created like the Father to want what He wants, though we may express it differently. Despite this abiding desire, life presents boulders that can obstruct not only our view but also disrupt our progress toward the future we’ve envisioned. Personal development can help. Daunted and overwhelmed, we sometimes abandon the pursuit, clouded by discouragement and cluttered by life. Dreams from God often loom larger than what we feel

Would you say that you’re the kind of person that is led by their emotions? Our emotions are an important part of our lives. They are like bells that go off periodically, alerting us to what’s going on inside us, and how we are responding to the world around us. Laughter tells us that we are enjoying ourselves, and it feels pleasurable. We can usually pinpoint what we’re laughing about without much difficulty, and we know the kinds of

Autism is a developmental disability that primarily affects social interactions and communication skills, and typically includes fixations with routines, restricted interests, and repetitive patterns of behavior. Before 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognized four different types of autism based on specific sets of symptoms affecting a child’s development. Each one was given a unique diagnostic label in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) with the intent of helping medical professionals, educators, and parents understand the

The spiritual life must not be lived in isolation. It is a call to the community as much as it is the salvation of your soul. Throughout history, people have looked for spiritual guides, and many shared their wisdom in written form. You can receive great benefits from spiritual coaching. The care of your mental health and spiritual health are both important to your overall health. There are many ways to receive spiritual guidance in your life. You may

Nearly every day doing counseling I run into people who need relationship advice because of issues they are having. Today, I received a note from a client (that I will paraphrase): I have been in this relationship for almost four years and the communication has not been great at all. I feel like I cannot talk to him. I feel like he manipulates the situation…He lies a lot, and he thinks that I feel like I’m always right, but

When you are facing a volatile situation, there are a variety of approaches you might take to deal with it. Some would rather avoid it altogether than run the risk of danger. Others may be cavalier and take on the danger, possibly hurting themselves and the people around them. Some will approach the circumstance boldly but with caution, carrying an awareness of the dangers involved but not shying away from what needs to be done. All of us face

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a disorder that women develop after giving birth. The symptoms can include feeling sad, anxious, and exhausted, making it difficult for the mother to take care of herself and her child. PPD can emerge right after birth but commonly emerges one to three weeks after delivery. Often, women who experience PPD have never experienced another form of depression. A lack of understanding and experience with PPD can be a barrier to seeking help. Because of this,

Life is full of pressure. We face it at work, at school, at home, and even within our minds. There is pressure to get things done, to be where people expect us to be, to parent well, to help others, and to learn new things. Somehow, we are supposed to do all this and look good while doing it. Even as we face all these things, we keep going. We keep doing our jobs and taking care of people.

Pain is a universal experience that we all face at one point or another. It speaks a language that we all come to know and understand. Regardless of the places we’ve been or the people we’ve encountered, our experience of pain informs our lives by shaping our thoughts and behaviors. For some, it produces dysfunction to the extent that it disrupts what God intended for us to experience and distracts from God’s goodness. Yet, God in His faithfulness, has

Do you wake up in the morning feeling full of dread even before you get out of bed? Do you wonder why this is happening to you? If so, you may be experiencing something called morning anxiety. Morning anxiety refers to the experience of waking up feeling anxious, panicky, and on edge for no apparent reason. Though it is not a medical term or an official clinical diagnosis, it is something many people struggle with, especially those who are