Have you ever noticed that when you are healthy, you feel more like yourself and happier? Well, if so, it’s because they all circle around each other. It is not impossible to maintain a happy heart. Practicing daily habits to improve this mindset can increase well-being. Daily habits Smile. You tend to smile when you’re happy. Exercise. Exercise isn’t just for your body. Get plenty of sleep. Eat with mood in mind. Be grateful. Give a compliment. Breathe deeply. Acknowledge the unhappy moments. If struggling to find that piece of happiness, counseling is a great way to find where to start and create different methods to suit your lifestyle. At Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida!

STEPS: 1. DECIDE 2. WRITE IT 3. BREAK DOWN THE GOAL 4. PLAN THE FIRST STEP 5.APPLY/ TAKE ACTION 6. MAINTAIN GOAL 7. TERMINATE THE BAD HABITS Goals can be used for short term use and long term use. There is no specific limit to them, however, they should be SMART: SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ATTAINABLE RELEVANT TIMELY AN EXAMPLE OF A SHORT TERM GOAL THAT IS SMART IS: AFTER 2 WEEKS OF STARTING MY GOAL, I WILL SAVE $300 FOR MY CAR INSURANCE THAT IS DUE THE FIRST OF THE MONTH. AN EXAMPLE OF A LONG TERM GOAL THAT IS SMART IS: AFTER SAVING $1000 EVERY 3 MONTHS, I WILL HAVE AT LEAST $4000 IN THE BANK FOR A RAINY DAY. SETTING GOALS ISN’T IMPOSSIBLE, BUT APPLYING THE COMMITMENT CAN BE. DON’T GIVE UP, FINISH THE GOAL AND CREATE NEW ONES.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY? In relationships with s/o, friends and or family, it is vital to be together. Research shows, that unity is a key component to survival. When there is unity, there is peace. Having that unbreakable bond, allows one to learn more about others and themselves. It is a positive way to build relationships and be more accepting to others as well as understanding. At some point, everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated and that can be the perfect way to start. You may still be asking why unity is important, so here are some examples: 1. Unity is needed for survival 2. Unity helps to grow 3. Unity works in wonders 4. Unity gives courage In order to be mentally healthy and or stable, a person must GROW. This growth refers to compromising, accepting someone for who they are and not pushing the limits. It can be hard at times, however, if you find yourself still struggling with handling the problems, counseling is always an option. At Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida!

DO YOU HAVE A TRIGGER? When you get angry, have you found yourself losing patience? Are your efforts considered good enough or do yo feel as if it is underappreciated? These are very common symptoms of anger and can lead to long term problems. Anger is not a one time feeling. If a person is experiencing anger issues, it has a pattern and is not always expressive. *Patterns are not always expressive because one can become inward aggressive, leading to isolation. This means he/she can wake up one day ignoring people and then the next day, he/she refuses to respond. Built up anger can become toxic to the body over a period of time, so if you know someone who may have frequent outbursts, try encouraging counseling. With untreated anger, you’ll eventually start to see a cycle of behavior that can overall, affect relationships.

Child abuse is not something that should be taken lightly. Child abuse is when someone, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm, or risk of serious harm to a child. Dealing with these troubles can make one shut down and not express what he/she is feeling with others. Signs of child abuse consists of: increased absence from school, withdrawal from friends/loved one, changes in behavior such as aggression, anger and or depression. For those who may be aware of child abuse going on, therapy is always a great place to build open communication. A child’s trust has to be rebuilt in order to try and cope with the damage done. In 2015, Florida had 217,895 total referrals for child abuse and neglect. Of those, 160,733 reports were referred for investigation.8 At Affordable Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida! starpointcounselingtampa.com

Caregiver role strain is experienced when a caregiver feels overwhelmed and is unable to perform their role to the best of their ability. SIGNS OF ROLE STRAIN: Insomnia or not enough sleep Too much sleep Chronic tiredness and exhaustion Change in appetite Crying easily and often Gaining or losing weight WHAT CAUSES ROLE STRAIN? Living with the person you are caring for Social isolation Preexisting mental health issues like depression Financial difficulties Lack of choice in being a caregiver IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY: Everyone needs to be uplifted once in a while. A great way to conquer this problem is by staying organized, continue to provide what you can, create a great support team and or try counseling to discuss possible solutions. At Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida!

Being socially isolated is a choice that can make someone not want anyone in their space. It is important to understand the difference between just wanting alone time versus being socially isolated. isolation is a way of shutting yourself off from the world, often to avoid dealing with insecurity, anxiety, or negative thoughts about yourself. An emotionally-isolated person keeps their feelings bottled up inside and is unwilling to let their guard down and allow another person to get to know them with any level of intimacy. Finding a good therapist who can work with you to guide you through recovery from social isolation is not difficult with the right resources or referrals from a trusted friend, family member, or caregiver. At Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida! starpointcounselingtampa.com

forgiveness is described as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you. Regardless , if the person truly deserves it, it can release a burden or stress that may have been caused. Forgiving is a healthy way of wanting to move forward, and shows signs of growth. “EASIER SAID THAN DONE” Although some may feel, it is “easier said than done” it is not impossible to achieve this goal. Just think about it: Would you rather carry hurt/ pain from something that was in the past, or would you rather focus on self improvement and ways to become a better version of yourself? benefits of forgiveness: * healthier relationships *improved mental health *stronger immune system *decreased blood pressure *less stress Forgiving can improve your health as a whole but the very first question you should ask yourself is, ARE YOU READY TO LET GO?

Substance abuse can correlate to any need a person may not be getting. It is especially, higher in adolescents. When a adolescent is performing such behavior, it is important to consider: *Does he/she not have enough parental supervision? *Is there a lack of communication at home? *Are there frequent family conflict? *Have rules been established? HOW DO I KNOW IF A TEEN IS AFFECTED? Signs of any psychological distress perceives substance as not being harmful becomes impulsive dramatic changes in appearance, friends or physical health The Signs are not limited to above, however, it is common to see these behaviors and should not be avoided. What can I do to prevent or decrease use of substances? *Teach children about drug use and it’s affect. *spend quality time with teens, sets good examples *Be clear, with message you want to give.

Research has shown that, Spending more than 3 hours on social media per day puts adolescents at a higher risk for mental health problems. 13% of kids ages 12-17 report depression and 32% report anxiety. 25% of 18 to 25-year-olds report mental illness. Have you ever caught yourself killing time with hours of social media? Spending too much time on this can affect your mental status due to delaying sleep. Your body has a circadian rhythm, which means your body works like a clock. When it is time for rest, you constantly fight it just to have more free time on the phone. If you find it hard to pull away, try placing a phone in a different room than where you sleep. You need your mental health to be balanced: Part of having balanced mental status, exercising the mind is crucial. If you’re consistently looking at videos or recent pictures on Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter e.tc. that leaves minimal time for studying and or learning, thus, creating poor academic performance. HOW WILL I NOTICE THE CHANGE? If you start to feel the pressure of social media and or the burden from any situation, you will start to notice: *Restlessness *Low energy *Depression *Memory loss *Anxious

WHAT IS COMMITMENT? Commitment is another word for being dedicated or willing to do anything to achieve a goal. It is easy to stay committed when things are going easy, however, when things get tough, that is where the commitment is mostly challenged. When a person is faced with a commitment issue, it is important to understand, WHY he/she is dealing with it, WHAT can be done to overcome this problem and HOW he/she can refrain from reverting back to those ways. Remaining consistent is key to being successful. If a goal or action is met, make it a continuous habit. Strive for a new goal and maintain it because it can open many doors when you least expect it. MAKE THAT PROMISE INTO A REALITY! IF YOU FIND YOURSELF STILL STRUGGLING: At Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida! starpointcounselingbrandon.com starpointcounselingtampa.com affordablecounselingbrandon.com

Dealing with DEPRESSION Depression can interfere with your health as whole and it is very common to lose interest in daily activities, experience a loss of appetite and or resting frequently. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF DEPRESSION? Although depression is a delicate subject, it is important to be aware of any changes in someone you may know: changes may include but are not limited to anxitey lack of concentration excessive sleep social isolation frequent agitation mood swings WHO CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM? For those who may not know, counseling is a great place to start. At Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, Fl and Brandon, Fl we are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida!