​Patricia* come home early one day and was shocked to find that her husband, Larry*, cheating on her with their helper. She feels betrayed, angry, and confused.  She fired the helper and the couple began couple therapy.
​
*Not their real name

 Research has shown that women are twice as likely to be affected by panic attacks. ​The mean age at onset for panic attack in US is approximately 22-23 years old.  This is more related to a weaker autonomic response to emotional states in older individual compared to younger individuals. ​Negative affectivity (i.e., proneness to experiencing negative emotions) and anxiety sensitivity (i.e., the disposition to believe that symptoms of anxiety are harmful) are risk factors for the onset of panic attacks, as well as worry about panic.  Childhood experiences of sexual or physical abuse are more common in panic disorder.  Smoking is a risk factor also for panic attacks and panic disorders.  Personal stressors (e.g., interpersonal conflicts, diseases, or death in family, use of illicit drugs) are often identified as stressors before the first panic attack.

​Sex is important in a marriage as it is an expression of the intimacy of the relationship - you cannot get any closer physically to another person.  Good sex is very much interrelated with intimate trust, friendship, and conversations that create emotional connection.  Evidence is very clear that if people feel good about sex, they feel good about their relationship in general.  Research has shown that in marriage, sexual satisfaction is related to relationship satisfaction, stability and love commitment.  When sex is non-existent, it has a significant impact on the relationship.

As we step into the new year, let's look at 5 common problems people face and what we can do about it:
a) Time
b) Conflict
c) Shyness
d) Patience
​e) Communication

​Some of the most common issues faced by elderly folks at home, with regards to their kids and grandkids are loneliness, lack of sense of purpose, relevance or importance, being disregarded, etc.  While the elderly are trying to still contribute and assert their role in the family, others are not necessarily accepting that.  There may also be generation gaps where each are operating under different perspectives, information, beliefs, and values.  For some, the family had also change the main language of communication so there might also be language barriers.

​Divorce is always stressful. In this article, we look at what are some of the unique stresses and challenges that expats face when they are going through a divorce.

​​All mums experience an intense emotional and physical transformation during pregnancy and the first year of a baby’s life, but for a significant proportion of us, this can lead on to full blown depression and anxiety and for a very small number, postnatal psychosis. The Baby Blues are a common expression for what happens to approximately 80% of all mums around the third to tenth day after birth. Because it is so common and temporary, we do not associate the Baby Blues as being a mental illness, but rather a natural state that is sure to pass once we settle into our new role as mothers. Symptoms include exhaustion, tearfulness, mood fluctuations, anxiety and irritability. Baby blues is thought to occur as a result of hormonal changes during pregnancy, the labour, breast feeding and lack of sleep.

​Many parents would like to get a headstart for their kids by enrolling in pre-school.  However, apart from their ambiguity about having their kids leave their side, they also have some questions.  Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

With the prevalence divorce rate, many of us are now growing up to be Adult Children of Divorced Parents.  Having gone through the turmoils of our parents' divorce, we now feel the past is over and we can focused on living our own life, cutting our past and leaving it behind.  What we may not be aware of the continued effect of this hurt in our current, present lives as adults.

Yes, that time of the year is upon us again!  The upcoming holiday season can be a time of joy and peace.  However, it can also be extremely stressful.  There is increased pressure to put on a happy face and be merry, and that only makes things more difficult.  Getting ready for the holidays means looking forward to good times, but it also means more work.  It also means more time spent with relatives you may not really care to be with.  Holiday parties, social gatherings, gift giving, family commitments, and personal responsibilities all require attention, planning, and energy - and these stresses can quickly damper your enjoyment of the holidays.
 
But there are several simple things you can do to make the holiday season more relaxing, meaningful, and stress-free for you and your family.  Here are some tips for coping with holiday stresses:

Seeing our friend or family member going through their struggle with eating disorder is not easy.  Many of us feel helpless and lost in terms of how we can be of support and help to them.  Find out some do's, don'ts, and preventive tips for eating disorder.

Having looked at the goals of coparenting, let's look at how we can communicate so as to facilitate this process.

How do you cope with your anger?  Do you know that there are 4 predominant styles and with each there are associated ways to change and manage our anger?  Come and identify your specific style(s) and what to do.

Often we seem to be trapped in the repeated cycle of doing unhealthy pattern of behaviours, over and over again, despite the pain and suffering we go through.  Sometimes we might even have the insights that these behaviours came from unresolved issues from our past and yet felt helpless in changing them.  Here's a poem for us to reflect upon.

We continue to look at challenges new parents face to stay focus as a couple.