depression Archives

The Three Levels of Grateful – Understanding how Gratitude Changes Lives

by Dr. Kim Blackham

As Thanksgiving approaches, we will inevitably hear much about the importance of gratitude. Our Facebook feeds will be filled with gratitude posts, Sunday school lessons throughout the month will focus on this topic, and as parents, we will try to help our children understand this principle before they begin asking for Christmas gifts.

Yet as we talk about gratitude, I often feel as though our discussions are incomplete, and I am mindful of those who are struggling to feel grateful when their lives are full of many hardships.

As I have grown in my understanding and application of gratitude, I have realized that gratitude really exists on three levels.

Let’s call the first level The Magic Words Level.

When Your Spouse is Addicted to Porn

by Dr. Kim Blackham

Finding out that your spouse has a porn addiction is often devastating and overwhelming. In recent studies of wives whose husbands are addicted to porn, researchers have found that woman describe their experience in the same way women describe finding out about an affair. The deceit, betrayal, secrecy, shame, and feelings of inadequacy are the same. Because of the stigma associated with pornography, the addicts, and their spouses, often suffer in silence and feel utterly hopeless and alone. One woman has courageously shared her story of struggle as she and her husband have spent years fighting his addiction. She explained to me that she wished there was someone to have told her these things when she was going through it, and she wants to offer that support and encouragement to others.

Pornography addiction is than you might think. I am certain that there are several couples that you associate with on a regular basis that struggle with pornography addiction in their relationship – you just don’t know it. PLEASE share this article. When you share this on Facebook and Twitter or pin it on Pinterest, you don’t know who you might reach. This woman’s tender message may be the sliver of hope that someone desperately needs to hear right now.

I also want to add that therapy can help! Over half of the clients I work with struggle with some form of sexual addiction. The intensive marriage therapy retreat is a powerful way to begin addressing these hurts and putting your marriage back together.

Are You Doing What You Love?

by Dr. Kim Blackham

In my recent interview with ALLPARENTING, I talked about ways that you can make a living doing what you love while also balancing your family.

“Kim Blackham, a licensed marriage and family therapist, advises moms to brainstorm what it is that they love to do and then see how other people are making money doing the same thing. She adds, “Find a mentor that is in a similar life circumstance to you and interview them. It takes a lot of the research out of the equation if you can talk to someone who has been there and done it already.” READ MORE

How Do I Know the Difference Between Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression?

by Dr. Kim Blackham

Having a baby is one of life’s significant changes–whether it’s your first or sixth, it is always an adjustment for your body and your life. Women are very susceptible to depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Because of that, it is essential to tune into yourself and be aware of how your body responds during this time.

There are two significant ways to differentiate between “baby blues” and postpartum depression.