ACA Counseling Corner Blog

It's not unusual for parents to feel overwhelmed by the demands their children may be making for all the latest in toys and gifts. The holiday season is a time of massive amounts of advertising, a great deal of it aimed at our children. Few parents are able or willing to say "yes" to all the toy requests their children may present, but if you approach it correctly, saying "no" doesn't have to make you feel like a Scrooge.

While we would all like our holidays to be perfect, the reality is that the holiday period comes with lots of stress and anxiety for most of us, and that can lead to the holiday blues. For some people the busy holiday season leaves them in a depressed mood, unable to enjoy the fun of the season. But there are ways to combat such feelings.

Visits to the doctor's office are something most of us would like to avoid, mainly by staying healthy. But sometimes it's simply necessary to see your family physician and when you do it's important to get as much as possible out of the visit. Many people find doctor visits stressful, and the medical terms they encounter intimidating. What follows are some suggestions to make encounters with the medical profession more productive and beneficial.

The holiday period offers most of us ample opportunities to make mistakes. From having one drink too many at that office party, to finally telling Uncle Edgar what you really think of him during that family Christmas dinner, to simple over-eating and partying to excess, the season provides a number of chances to do things that have us feeling sorry and guilty the next day. Here are some ideas for making the holiday season more enjoyable and guilt-free.

Last year nearly one-third of Americans packed up and headed off on a trip somewhere during the holiday season. This year, despite higher gasoline and airline fares, the numbers are expected to be even higher. If end-of-year travel is in your plans, here are a few suggestions on how to make the experience, whatever your mode of travel, at least a little less frustrating and stressful.

Researchers report that more Americans than ever are using online-dating applications to find new relationships. One report found that between 2013 and 2015, the use of digital dating sites increased by almost two-thirds for adults 45-54. Dating later in life can be intimidating, but here are a few simple tips to reduce the stress and anxiety that mid-life dating can sometimes bring.

Depression is an increasingly common mental health problem, yet one which is far too often left untreated. That's truly unfortunate, since depression is a leading cause of suicide, especially for young people and the elderly. Depression can strike in several forms, and none of them should be ignored.

Every relationship is liable to hit rough spots, but the secret to any good relationship is to be able to recognize when there are trouble areas and to act to overcome them. There are often early signs when a marriage is not working as it should, but it takes some effort to spot the problems and to do something about them.

If you aren't already exercising regularly you've probably found it can be difficult to get started. It can also be hard to stick with an exercise program. It's far too easy to let a busy life get in the way of staying physically active. Here are some tips on starting a sensible exercise program and keeping it going.

While today's cars have more safety features than ever, there's one danger that the automobile companies can do little about -- the person behind that steering wheel. It's often easy to get upset or angry when faced with traffic jams, road repairs and bad drivers. It's a pointless reaction, and sometimes a dangerous one, that needs to be controlled.