Individual Counseling Archives | The Colony Christian Counseling

Diagnosing and Treating Signs of Early Onset Dementia

Diagnosing and Treating Signs of Early Onset Dementia

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-27T12:29:51+00:00April 22nd, 2024|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Early onset dementia is a frightening diagnosis to receive. Typically, we expect illnesses related to cognitive decline to affect people in their seventies and beyond. Signs of early onset dementia, however, can appear from the age of 30 and older, but before the age of 65. This is typically more difficult to diagnose, as it is not the first condition that medical professionals suspect. While there is currently no cure for any type of dementia, it is possible to take steps to treat the symptoms. This can decrease the rate at which the condition advances and improve the patient’s quality of life. Signs of early onset dementia The symptoms of dementia vary according to the specific condition the person is suffering from. An individual can experience several signs of early onset dementia, or just one or two. For this reason, a medical diagnosis needs to happen. Professional assessments are conducted by specialist psychiatrists and test aspects related to a person’s memory, communication, focus, and reasoning. Short-term memory loss is of course one of the most obvious symptoms. While most people forget things from time to time, including details of a conversation, or the reason why they have walked into a particular room, if these occurrences become more frequent, they should be noted with concern. Dementia typically does not affect long-term memory as quickly, but it is the retention of day-to-day events that tend to “go missing” from one’s brain. Language and communication are other areas where signs of early-onset dementia present themselves. A person who is typically erudite can start to falter over common language expressions and jumbled words. For example, instead of asking whether they should cook dinner, they might ask whether the food is eaten, confusing the listener. They start to repeat themselves, unaware that they have [...]

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How to Practice Debt-Free Living

How to Practice Debt-Free Living

By Joanna Kucherera|2024-09-27T12:24:36+00:00April 1st, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

When it comes to money and our finances, one aspect that has not been given much attention is our mindset toward it. We know from psychology that behavior, whether about money or anything else, is greatly influenced by our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and attitudes. Our financial habits are no exception. How we choose to spend or not spend money is directly linked to what we believe and how we view money. All of this has been shaped by our upbringing, fears, past experiences, and education. Our understanding of money and financial matters also influences our relationship and understanding of debt. In America, debt has been seen to be a way of life. Most people and households are living with debt because, for the longest time, it has been taught and believed that one cannot function or live without debt. This is not true. A debt-free life is possible, it’s not easy, but it is possible. Each person’s journey with debt is different and it is important not to blanket everyone’s reasons for debt, however, it is of vital importance for us as individuals to ask ourselves honest questions about why we are in debt and how we can achieve debt-free living. Below are some common reasons why people find themselves in debt. Student loans. Unplanned expenses. Lack of financial literacy. Job loss. Impulse buying. Consumerism. Gambling and addictions. Income loss due to disasters or emergencies. How to live debt-free Go against the grain Dave Ramsey is quoted as saying “Debt is normal so be weird!” It has almost been ingrained in us that it is impossible to live without debt unless you are super rich, but that is simply not true. With the right education and changing attitudes and beliefs, many people are choosing to live debt-free. This is [...]

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Signs of Infidelity to Look Out For

Signs of Infidelity to Look Out For

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-27T12:29:59+00:00December 29th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Infidelity and Affairs, Relationship Issues|

It is probably true to say that you know your spouse or significant other better than anyone else. When you spend a lot of time with someone, you learn their moods, likes, weaknesses, and strengths. When something is wrong in their life, you usually will be the first person to detect it. In the unfortunate case that your spouse or partner is being unfaithful, you will likely have the intuit to detect signs of infidelity. Understanding infidelity in relationships. Infidelity is one of many things that could go wrong in a relationship. If it happens, you hope that you would be able to tell. Unfortunately, even the happiest of relationships can be affected by infidelity, as the reasons for it are myriad and often not obvious. Typically, people assume that affairs happen only where there is some sort of unhappiness or neglect. Though this is often enough, infidelity happens for other reasons too, including: A spontaneous act when the opportunity presents itself, combined with poor boundaries. As a form of revenge for a real or perceived wrong inflicted by the other partner. As part of one’s self-exploration. Due to low self-esteem and being unable to say “No!” to someone’s. Poor emotional self-care that leaves one vulnerable to a quick escape in an affair. Sexual dysfunction with one’s current partner. Difficulty communicating with and feeling connected to one’s partner. Unfortunately, infidelity is quite common, with some studies indicating that around a fifth to a little under half of heterosexual married men, and a fifth to a quarter of heterosexual married women will engage in an extramarital affair at some point in their lives. The betrayal of infidelity can occur in a variety of ways, including an emotional affair, flirty texting, or a porn habit. Some signs of infidelity. It can [...]

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Stress Eating as an Unhealthy Coping Mechanism

Stress Eating as an Unhealthy Coping Mechanism

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-27T12:29:27+00:00November 29th, 2023|Eating Disorders, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Life can get hectic and overwhelming at times. Between work, school, difficult relationships, financial concerns, relationship conflicts, or the many social and other issues one faces daily, there is a lot to deal with. When we’re under enormous pressure, various coping options present themselves, though we don’t always make healthy choices. One of the ways people deal with stress is through stress eating, which is also known as emotional eating. Why stress eating is working against you. Stress eating is a common way for people to deal with difficult emotions or situations. Research indicates this connection between stress and food, as people tend to seek high-calorie, high-fat foods during periods of stress. This occurs despite the fact that when people are stressed. their bodies store more fat than when they are relaxed, and this leads to weight gain. According to the American Psychological Association, a survey showed that 38% of US adults said they overate or ate unhealthy foods in the past month because of stress. Around 49% of these adults reported engaging in these behaviors weekly or more. We can turn to food for comfort and to soothe unwanted emotions such as stress, anger, loneliness, or sadness. This impulse to turn to these comfort foods can become an automatic reaction, and that means you reach for those treats in a stressful situation without even thinking about it. Physiologically, what happens when we’re feeling stressed is that our bodies release cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol increases a person’s appetite, and distress increases the intake of foods that tend to be either sugary, high in fat, or both. These types of foods, once you eat them, seem to have a dampening effect on stress, and so they really do seem to comfort you. That pizza or pint of ice cream [...]

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Biblical Support for Counseling

Biblical Support for Counseling

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-27T12:31:22+00:00November 6th, 2023|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Are you unsure about counseling? Are you wondering if it’s the right step for you? Do you worry that it isn’t biblical? Sometimes it can be hard to pursue something new, especially something as personal as counseling. Just because it feels hard or different, doesn’t mean it isn’t helpful. Counseling can provide the support you need to help you with whatever you are facing. What counseling offers. When you think about counseling, you may have an image in your head of what it looks like. It may seem like it is just about sitting in a chair and talking to a stranger about your problems. Counseling can provide more than just a listening ear. Some of the things counseling can offer include: A trained professional to help you understand your feelings. An unbiased party to listen and offer thoughts. A person to pray with you. Someone who can point you to Biblical truths. Strategies for coping with common issues like stress, anxiety, and relationship concerns. A person who can help you sort through your past. These are just a few of the things a trained counselor can offer you. Why some Christians struggle with counseling. Sometimes believers have the idea that they need to rely solely on God for handling every feeling and situation they face. While relying on God is essential, God provides help in a variety of ways. This can be through prayer, Scripture, Bible study, and waiting on God. It can also be through things like good nutrition, self-care, rest, movement, sunshine, breathing, meditation, and counsel from wise people. What the Bible says. The Bible is full of advice on everything from faith to relationships. God knew we would need direction, so He filled His Word with stories and directives that help us live a life of [...]

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Growing Through the Pain: Bible Verses About Life Struggles

Growing Through the Pain: Bible Verses About Life Struggles

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-27T12:29:50+00:00August 17th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Life comes with struggle; it’s as inevitable as the day following night. That is the reality of the human condition in a world broken by sin. The struggle will come - the question is what you’ll do when those struggles come. Consider these Bible verses about life struggles to find encouragement and support. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, who is known for conceptualizing the five stages of grief, has been quoted as saying, “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” When you go through a hard time, lots of questions go through your head that you might not otherwise entertain or contemplate, such as: Is God there? Does He care about me? Have I done something wrong to deserve what’s happening to me? How long will God let this carry on? These and many other questions are real in seasons of struggles, and they don’t always have answers. Scripture can help orient us as we encounter and seek to overcome life struggles of various kinds. Bible verses about life struggles Being a follower of Jesus does not insulate you from pain or struggle. Arriving at that truth will help you avoid bewilderment. Jesus said to His disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33, ESV Another word for tribulation is trouble. Trouble comes in many guises, and it happens to us as well as because of us. Sometimes it’s easy to tell when we’ve brought trouble to ourselves and other people. In other circumstances, trouble comes unexpectedly or without an obvious cause. We can get trapped in [...]

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12 Habits for a Healthy Morning Routine

12 Habits for a Healthy Morning Routine

By Joanna Kucherera|2024-09-27T12:24:26+00:00June 30th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

It can be hard to wake up motivated and energized to face the day without a morning routine. However, it is important to learn how to get the morning right so that it sets you up for the rest of the day. You can start as you intend to finish. Because we all have different demands each morning, it can be hard to have a routine that fits everyone. Certain habits need to be followed in the morning that have been proven to aid us in starting our day. 12 Habits for a Healthy Morning Routine Below are some habits to adhere to for a healthy morning routine. Start the day before. A healthy morning starts the day before. To avoid the rush of the morning, it is advisable to tie up all the loose ends of the day the night before. Things like doing the dishes, picking your outfit for the next day, and packing lunches mean you do not have lots of tasks you need to do in the morning. This makes you less anxious as you start the day. Wake up early. Waking up early has so many benefits. The world is still quiet during that time. It is the best time to take care of yourself as you begin the day. Waking up early makes you feel good about yourself, which will be a great start to the day. Change your alarm tone. We are all familiar with the loud, unforgiving alarm tone that jerks us awake in the morning. This usually leaves us annoyed and grumpy. Choosing a more melodious tone for our alarm means that it wakes us up in stages and we get to ease into being fully awake. It helps more if it is a favorite song. Hydrate. Drinking water first thing [...]

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Bible Verses About Peace to Carry With You

Bible Verses About Peace to Carry With You

By Melissa Plantz|2024-09-27T12:24:13+00:00June 9th, 2023|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Christians describe a peace that passes all understanding. But what is that peace, and how do you keep it with you past Sunday morning? Memorizing God’s Word and what it has to say is how you "hide His Word in your heart." Even when it seems like the world is closing in on us, God can give us peace, a stillness deep in our souls that will guide us through the rough times. To make it accessible, write or print several Bible verses about peace to carry in your pocket, handbag, or car or post on your mirror. Bible verses about peace I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33, NIV Jesus gave us the above words as encouragement. He knew that life would throw us curveballs, we would lose friends and loved ones, and face insurmountable odds. Yet, he reminds us that if He faced these things, we have the strength to do it too. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. – Psalm 3:5, NIV No matter the difficult situation, God can press His peace into our souls. We are safe under His watchful eye. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Matthew 5:9, NIV God calls us to live peaceful lives with others and with ourselves. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. – Isaiah 26:3, NIV Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. – Psalm 119:165, NIV When you keep your heart and mind on God, He fills your soul with peace. Obeying His commands means not intentionally putting yourself into bad situations. However, [...]

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Metaphors for Grief to Help Understand the Grieving Process

Metaphors for Grief to Help Understand the Grieving Process

By Caitlin Mallery|2024-09-27T12:24:16+00:00May 10th, 2023|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling|

The experience of grieving a loss is common to all humans. From small losses in daily life to larger losses such as death and separation, people have been trying to understand grief. Many people find that they cannot adequately describe or express their grief. Many other people have spent their lives trying to write about, explain, or understand the grieving process. Let’s look at several common metaphors. Perhaps one will resonate with you as you walk through grief yourself. The Grieving Process Commonly broken into five stages that are based on On Death and Dying, the 1969 book by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. The five stages are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Many people may find they experience these stages in a different order. Some find they go back and forth in different stages. There has been a lot written about the five stages. Some have added stages like shock and anxiety. Some compress or rearrange the stages. Regardless of how it breaks down, the common thread is that grief is a process. It has definable qualities that a grieving person may experience, and that counselors can help you work through. This type of metaphor is commonly used in counseling as the landmark of a person’s journey through grief. Tunnels Speaking of journeying, many describe grief using the terms of tunnels. A tunnel limits your ability to see both peripherally and further ahead. There is an accompanying sense of uncertainty if you have never been through this tunnel. You don’t know where it ends or what exactly is waiting for you on the other side. The only way to get out of a tunnel is to keep moving. Staying still is not a healthy option and going around is not an available option. The same is true of grief. You [...]

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How to Control Your Anger: Conquering Irritability

How to Control Your Anger: Conquering Irritability

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-27T12:29:37+00:00February 10th, 2023|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

It might seem as though the world and the people around you are becoming angrier and angrier. While you influence other people’s anger, there are a few things that might help you control your anger, annoyance, or rage. Addressing irritability Agitation can be an expression of everyday annoyance brought on by provocation, illness, or seemingly no reason at all. However, it can also be a sign of a mental health or medical condition. It may be beneficial to speak with a therapist if you experience chronic irritability that impacts your life. If you notice increased stress with other warning signs a therapist can help. Be on the lookout for things that affect your ability to sleep, work, eat, and maintain positive relationships with others, or if your irritability may be inappropriate for or out of proportion to a particular situation. Chronic irritability causes Irritability by itself is not a mental health issue. Most people experience occasional irritation, and some people may become more easily frustrated than others. Even if there doesn’t seem to be anything causing the irritability, there is usually a root problem, such as life dissatisfaction or relationship issues. Even drug or alcohol withdrawal can cause irritability. Irritability is a symptom of many mental health issues, and persistent irritability may be a sign of an underlying medical problem, inadequate coping mechanisms, or careless self-care. Physical conditions like the flu, menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperthyroidism, toothaches, and ear infections are common causes of chronic irritability. Stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder (during a manic or depressive episode), schizophrenia, and autism are examples of mental health conditions. Most frequently, teenagers and adolescents who are depressed experience irritability as a symptom. In children, oppositional and defiant behavior may be associated with an irritable mood. Inadequate self-care, including not getting enough sleep, [...]

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