Dr. Chloe Carmichael Blogs

Posts about Anxiety and Stress Management:

How to Survive the Holiday Season With Your Family

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Nov 30, 2023 12:00:00 AM
How to Survive the Holiday Season With Your Family

 

 

The holiday season is here, and while this can be a wonderful and joyous time it can also come with plenty of stress.  If you’re lucky enough that your entire family is full of nothing but warmth and kindness (or at least courtesy), then you may not even need to read this blog- congratulations!  However, many people who enjoy a larger extended family find there may be one person in the mix who maybe is “more difficult”.  Even if you really love the person (in fact, sometimes especially if you really love the person), even minor conflicts can seem stressful.  For many people, family dynamics can contribute to anxiety about holiday gatherings… but the beauty of this type of stress is that it can be planned for. Family pattern stressors are, by nature, predictable stressors allow us to fill our tool belts with the necessary items for managing holiday interactions before any difficulties are met.

How to Stay Sane During Pandemic Holidays

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Nov 30, 2021 12:00:00 AM
How to Stay Sane During Pandemic Holidays

Tips and tools for making the most out of this holiday season!

The holidays are a time for celebration and togetherness, but they can also be a time of increased stress. This holiday season, we are dealing with extra challenges, as COVID issues may prevent many of us from celebrating together in our normal way.

What It Might Mean If You Love (Or Hate) Scary Movies, From A Clinical Psychologist

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Oct 27, 2021 5:49:14 PM
What It Might Mean If You Love (Or Hate) Scary Movies, From A Clinical Psychologist

For some of us, nothing compares to a good horror film. We know it's fake of course, and perhaps that's why it can feel so liberating: We get to expose ourselves to the darkest, scariest side of human nature, without any actual fear of harm or guilt. 

But still, why would we enjoy this? And what does it say about us if we love (or hate!) horror movies? 

Each person and situation is different of course, but as a clinical psychologist, I have a few thoughts on potential reasons why some of us love nothing more than getting spooked out of our minds by a scary movie:

How To Harness The Healthy Side Of Anxiety, From A Clinical Psychologist

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Sep 9, 2021 1:46:02 PM
How To Harness The Healthy Side Of Anxiety, From A Clinical Psychologist

As a clinical psychologist, people often ask me how to "get rid of anxiety." They are usually surprised to learn that anxiety actually has a healthy and essential function: to help stimulate preparation behaviors and provide us with the extra energy we need to carry out those behaviors. A little bit of anxiety can bring adrenaline and focus—which can actually be quite handy when we're in a "go time" situation like taking a test, bringing our A-game during an important presentation, or even getting ready for a first date or job interview. I've come to label this boost as "nervous energy," which can be a gift if we learn how to harness it.

The Surprising Benefit of Anxiety

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Sep 6, 2021 2:59:49 PM
The Surprising Benefit of Anxiety

 

Learn about ANXIETY for today's #MentalHealthMinute!

 

 

Yes! You read the title right! Whether you’re with me on this or not, I’m sure about this— anxiety is not bad after all. Snap out that negative list you have about anxiety. It’s time to look at the other side of the coin— the good thing that comes out from being anxious.

How To Overcome Your Fear Of Rejection

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Sep 6, 2021 2:59:44 PM
How To Overcome Your Fear Of Rejection

Dr. Chloe talking about REJECTION SENSITIVITY and how to handle your fear of rejection.

 

 

Every one of us has our fair share of rejections; some may handle it pretty well, but some people who have a high level of nervousness struggle to overcome it.

3 Tips For Helping (Not Enabling) A Friend With Anxiety, From A Clinical Psychologist

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Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD Jul 28, 2021 3:24:46 PM
3 Tips For Helping (Not Enabling) A Friend With Anxiety, From A Clinical Psychologist

As a clinical psychologist, people ask me a lot of questions about mental well-being, both on social media and IRL. I recently invited my Instagram followers to ask me questions through the stories feature, and I received a ton of responses. Here is one recent query that stood out: