We all get stuck in patterns when it comes to our health - patterns around sleeping, what we put into our bodies, how we eat, alcohol/substance use, movement, internet use, and social connection.

And if one of these areas is out of balance, it’s likely the others will be as well.

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Thanks to the internet and social media, we are constantly bombarded with endless contradictory messages on how to care for our bodies and what it means to be healthy.

Sometimes the list of things we think we should be doing gets so long we freeze.

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All patterns, including health or lifestyle patterns, involve repeating cycles of thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and behaviors. Often, we get so tangled up in all these moving parts, we lose the ability to see the whole situation clearly. Without this clear sight and awareness, it’s easy to stay stuck in these patterns.

We may try to change.

We may try a new diet or exercise program. We may try setting boundaries with our boss or family members only to feel a wave of intense guilt and confusion later. We may try seeing a new sleep doctor but feel discouraged when all they have to offer is more sleep medications that come with terrifying side-effects. We may try deleting Instagram or Netflix off our phones only to end up re-downloading it an hour later.

When we wind up stuck back again in the old pattern, we often end up feeling discouraged and defeated.

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Here’s where psychotherapy can help:

Psychotherapy can help you develop the capacity to clearly see the whole situation and from this place of clarity, create a vision for moving forward on a path towards changing lifestyle patterns to promote whole-person health and well-being.