Depression

Climb out

When we feel depressed, it often feels or looks to us like everything is bad or wrong. Nothing seems to go right and the harder we try to make things better. Often we feel like and think we are not going anywhere. We may feel helpless and that goes hand in hand with hopelessness.

Having low energy we may want to stay in bed, not do our usual routine. Finding fault or making excuses, it often seems easier not to do anything rather then take constructive action. Not caring, or thinking negatively sometimes goes hand in hand with thoughts to hurt or punish ourselves when we unable to get out and up through a fog we can barely see through.

No one is blame for this situation and invite you let go judging or making yourself wrong for having this experience if you do. That behavior makes it worse.

When an uncomfortable feelings or sensations arise, we want to know what they are and rightfully so. With each question and inquiry into the source of reason for the troubling feelings we might be left with no answer.

“What is wrong?” “Why Me?’ “Why do I feel this way?” “There must be something wrong me maybe what is it………..”

“Why do I have no energy to do the things like to do?”

And because we all like to figure things out and the very least have the right answers, we may meet more questions unanswered. Please do not fret if this is your predicament.

A continued search for the answer can trigger us to spiral deeper into the seeming pit.

All is not lost and neither are you. Believe me. .

“Have Heart, more often then not, things are not as they appear, nor as we think they are”

Should you have feelings of depression or just can’t get out of a funk, consider a call to me and I will be happy to assist you.

Steven Shaps MFT. 310.666.8807 www.stevenshapsmft@hotmail.com

Breaking Illusions Seeing Past Maya Live interview

Please Access Zen Radio for A recent Interview, Breaking through illusions and Maya.
http://accesszenradio.com/archivedshows/breakingthroughillusionsovercomingaddictionandanger.html

Are You Predisposed to Wait for things to change?

It is very interesting how personal style and disposition may run us.

Some people would rather get out there into the world to make things happen. Try everything possible to stay afloat in challenging times, while others would sit back & be patient.

When does the so called patient person,  run out of patience & become more aggressive in the search for work and when does the more aggressive ones finally give up?

What is the tipping point?

How does it feel to give up?

What is it like to turn  the motor on full throttle after idling for a time?

Where do you fit in the picture?

If you are lucky enough to be working and making a decent wage, are you less concerned about being laid off, or having your income reduced then the person worried that they can not find a job?

It is relative isn’t it? Or does it depend on our emotional maturity?

Are you running on fumes now?

How long can you rely on your savings if you have been fortunate enough in the past 2-3 years to have saved?

All of these questions are discussed in my counseling practice each day.  I have to look at my own situation as well.  Each week a client that used to be regular needs to cut back to one half if not pulling back entirely.

Others are dealing with extreme anxiety about what to do or  how to survive, should I walk away from my home for which I cannot afford.

Transforming ourselves from a free floating culture of haves, where security meant having money in your pocket to spend as you wish and when you wanted,  to becoming  a daily concern, and nightly anxiety attacks about  where the next dollar is going to come from.

These and other reactions are transforming our psyche, our homes, and our relationships with ourselves.

Perhaps everything is happening  as it should be.

From Consumers who consumed at will,  perhaps it is high time, we are learning to be more careful with what we have and valuing what we used to take for granted?

I would like to think so.

Has our addictions finally caught up with us?

Are we all not being forced to onto the recovery wagon?

Well I think all of us know that the answer.

All is not lost here, there is a silver lining for all situations, the question I have for you is:

Are you willing to look as well as  realize that everything is happening as it should.

We are not being punished, other then by our own faulty reactions, our childlike responses for the lack of control over a world that has never been there for us to control in the beginning.

Waking up to this truth is not easy, but we have to grow up and see the reality of our ways.

Our former behaviors  are starring at us right in the face. What comes around does come around.

Are you willing to make the emotional shift in perspective?

Steven Shaps

Harvesting Happiness Live Interview On Anger, Pleases Listen

Please listen to the Live Interview with Lisa Kamen Interviewing Steven Shaps

http://toginet.com/podcasts/harvestinghappiness/HarvestingHappinessLIVE_2011-04-27.mp3?type=podpage

“If within silence, that stillness spoke, would you listen with your heart?”

If within silence, that stillness spoke, would you listen with your heart. Would you abide in that home, would you need anything else? Would your true Self not have all of the wanting & all desires, quenched? And not to forget the tendencies, be now replenished? That silence sings the ultimate, the supreme, go within. “I am that.” Steven Shaps

My Wisdom Pages by Steven Shaps

Favorite Links

University of Santa Monica,

School of Spiritual and Counseling Psychology

www.universityofsantamonica.com

A Course in Miracles ACIM
www.ACIM.org

Foundation
www.FACIM.org

Body Mind Psychotherapies
Ron Alexander PhD
www.ronaldalexander.com

Dr. Dave Van Nuys

www.shrinkwrapradio.com
www.mentalhelp.net (The wise council podcast)

Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks
www.Hendricks.com
www.therelationshipsolution.com

Inner Bonding
www.innerbonding.com

Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness

www.msia.org

Momentum Conscious Movement & Soul Motion
www.dancemomentum.com

David Klick Advanced Massage Therapy
www.advancedlmt.com

James Swartz Ramji
www.shiningworld.com

Anger Management

Please listen to  Steven Shaps MFT on Anger

How Can you release or let go of Angry feelings Safely & Effectively?

First off, Any & All reactions we may feel, or any thought that seems to take our attention off the present moment, appears to us as painful. The feelings tell us that something hurts, Thoughts & Feelings run in tandem, Learning to let the thoughts go will have a direct affect on the feelings, and letting go of the feelings will have a direct affect on thoughts.

Actually as we stop to look, that is pay attention to what is there, just watch, a very interesting thing begins to happen, the so call mind  begins to quiet, the sensations & feelings that we are tempting us to act on begin to dissolve.

We all become frustrated and stressed at times. When that stress leads to uncontrollable anger we are at the greatest risk to hurt ourselves and others. . We do not have to go far to see it or feel it. The physiological and psychological effects can be long lasting without proper support.

How we relate to ourselves and others affects our mental and physical well being. The feelings of anger have more to do with how well we approve or disapprove of ourselves and others   But particularly our relationship to wanting control, seeking approval, and feeling secure and safe.

In fact the more we attempt to figure out the reasons for being upset or angry, the more we can end up in conflict.  We all want to know how to make the pain go way. We usually blame the other person or the circumstance as being the cause.

We cannot control the way life comes to us and when we want control and do not have it, we are really out of control finding it very challenging to let go.  Truly when we do not have control over a situation or want approval or security, we really are in a lacking state of mind and are experiencing feelings that we do not want which may be challenging to dealing with.

It is very natural to be upset or to be disappointed. Yet it does not serve us to push those feelings back down to have them come back and explode when we least expect.

Intense feelings states left alone can be very unhealthy. The thoughts, the feelings, the accompanying sensations affect our mental, emotional and physiological health.

Anger, can also be an unconscious reaction to trauma that occurred at an earlier time in our lives. Some people who have experienced severe trauma establish defense mechanisms to protect themselves from further hurt. These mechanisms can be very resistant to healing unless the energy or trauma is allowed to be released or let go of.

Learning to release our emotions rather than keeping them stuffed begins with a willingness to acknowledge that we have been triggered, or are upset, and are in pain.

In my practice as a Counselor, I teach and lead seminars in Anger and Stress management. I use the skills of Somatics, Mindfulness, meditation, movement, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, breath, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

If you or a loved one is having a challenge or is seeking support to overcome angry feelings or stress please consider a consultation or contacting me.  Making a decision to support your-self   begins right now.  You are your most valuable asset.

Please See Seminars and Workshop pages for upcoming events.
310.666.8807

Email Steven