Support

Protecting yourself from insurance fraud

Stephen Brewer, MA - SDGLN Contributor
August 19th, 2010

Have you ever seen a therapist? If so, did you ask for your diagnosis? Did asking for such a thing cross your mind? If it did not, or if you simply forgot to ask, you may want to read this article. Your insurance premium may depend upon what you learn in the next five minutes.

People often choose to use insurance to pay for their mental health services. This is a fairly routine thing that most people do without thinking twice, but there is one important pitfall that you should be aware of:

Always know your diagnosis.

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Single and lonely? How to keep the HUNGER in check

Jennine Estes, MFT - SDGLN Contributor
August 4th, 2010

My friend and I run through Balboa Park on a weekly basis, and one of our latest topics discussed is the singlehood hunger.

Some people have this vibe that they are single and hungry to connect. Some people have this “hunger radar” where they can simply tell if someone is single or not, simply by the “hunger” look. The hunger look is often this vibe of searching, on the prowl, and open for any food … even the scraps.

Professionals must recognize and stop anti-gay bullying

Michael C. LaSala, Ph.D. – Psychology Today blog
August 2nd, 2010

"You shouldn't have to be a hero to make it through adolescence." -- Youth advocate quoted in “Drifting Toward Love” by Kai Wright.

Q Psych: Fight or flight is our body’s defense against stress

J.M. Evosevich, Ph.D. - BottomLine
July 28th, 2010

Anxiety is the body’s reaction to an event that is experienced as disturbing or threatening.

Our primitive ancestors experienced stress when they had to fight off wild animals and other threats to their survival.

Now, in the contemporary world, we are more likely to feel the anxiety that emerges from stress when we face overwhelming responsibilities at work or home, experience loneliness, rejection, or the fear of losing things that are important to us, such as our jobs or friends. When we are exposed to such events, we experience what has been called the fight or flight response.

Post-pride self care

Stephen Brewer, MA
July 21st, 2010

Pride celebrations are something that many people in our community look forward to every year. But whether you prefer political gatherings, circuit parties, or a leisurely stroll around the festival, all good things must come to an end.

Sometimes, the revelry surrounding Pride can have such an overwhelming effect that we might become a little more impulsive than usual. This means that we might do things that we would not usually do, which can lead to regrets and guilty feelings.

Q Psych: The toll of emotional manipulation

J.M. Evosevich, Ph.D. - BottomLine
July 15th, 2010

We have all been manipulated by other people, and it is likely that we have done a bit of manipulation ourselves.

Telling a white lie in order to get what we want is one way of manipulating someone. Students are notorious for telling teachers that they could not get their paper in on time because their computer crashed last night.

Employees claim to have car trouble in order to miss a day of work. Politicians inflate a problem or make misleading statements in order to gain public support for their agendas.

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Single at Pride?

Jennine Estes, MFT
July 9th, 2010

Are you like “Melissa Etheridge,” single during PRIDE season?

As you may have all heard, the well known, lesbian power-couple Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lyn Michaels recently broke up. Melissa is now recovering from the breakup and facing the world with a new relationship status, single.

You may find yourself relating to Melissa, in that your singlehood is suddenly staring you in the face and Pride is right around the corner.

The value of independence

Stephen Brewer, M.A.
July 2nd, 2010

On July 4th we will celebrate the day our country declared its independence from the British Empire.

As we enjoy the fireworks and festivities that so many of us look forward to every year, few will take time to explore the meaning of the word independence and how the story of our nation’s founding might serve as a model for how each of us as individuals might develop our own independence. If developing your personal independence is at all interesting to you, I hope that you will read on.

First, a brief overview of our nation’s founding

Relationship? Pride Do’s and Don'ts

Jennine Estes, MFT
June 30th, 2010

Pride is here! The colorful flags are all hung out along University Avenue and the restaurants and stores are decorating for the large event. There is such hype for all the big parties, the celebrations and the party scene, that often maintaining and focusing on relationships can be overlooked by many couples.

Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts for keeping your relationship strong during those Pride celebrations.

Do:

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Q Psych: Ways to overcome roadblocks to having a lasting relationship

J.M. Evosevich, Ph.D. - BottomLine Magazine
June 30th, 2010

One hallmark of success in life may be the ability to sustain a long-term relationship. People in lasting relationships tend to live longer and stay healthier.

Research shows that they report more happiness in life, more rewarding social interactions, and lower instances of substance abuse. Maybe the most important aspect of living within a successful permanent relationship is that a person not only feels loved, but also is able to share love with somebody else.