We all get stressed once in a while. We all thought about how there was never enough time to complete our tasks. Even with the limitless number of time saving devices, we always run out of time. We are constantly filling our time with things that are “time saving” that create unnecessary stress in our lives. According to the time management experts at webmd.com, there are several ways to reduce stress and add an extra hour in the day. Here are six tips for better time management:

1. Make a time diary: Before implementing any tips in your life, take a week to record your every day activities. Be as accurate and honest as possible. This exercise is often an impactful revelation for people. It serves as a base and reference for using your time effectively.
2. Learn to say “no”: Try to create time for yourself by simply turning off your cell phone. This will allow time to reflect on your life or participate in an activity that you love. If someone asks you to do something when you’re busy, say no politely and firmly. There is no need for guilt for focusing on you.
3. Time-based to-do list: Create a to-do or an objectives list for the day with dedicated times for each task. It will help to prioritize and organize your focus.
4. Let your computer help: Try out several personal scheduling software programs for your mobile devices and desktop with a calendar, list, and contact feature. This digital organization will help to remove physical clutter in your life.
5. Multitask: Try to combine several activities together to save time. (Of course, avoiding any potentially dangerous situations.) Pay your bills while watching TV. Listen to an audio version of a book while commuting.
6. Don’t be a perfectionist: Perfectionism can easily lead to excessive attention to insignificant details. This kind of behavior is a kind of procrastination that wastes valuable time. Worrying about miniscule details and unrealistic expectations adds unnecessary stress in your life.

After each step of this process, it is important to reward yourself. Time management should be associated positive emotions. Making progress is an enjoyable process that acknowledges all of your successes- including the smallest ones.

At Pasadena Villa, we are committed to helping you get one step closer to achieve success. Pasadena Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa Smoky Mountain Lodge provide mental health residential, transitional and support services for adults with cognitive, emotional and social disorders such as depression and anxiety. We immerse our clients in real life activities within the community to prepare them for the highest level of independent living possible. Please call us at 877-845-5235 or contact us online for more information.

In the late 1980’s Marsha M. Linehan developed a type of therapy to address the needs of women suffering from suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or tendencies to self-harm. She began treating individuals with Borderline Personality. This therapy was called “Dialectical Behavior Therapy” or DBT and it researched the environmental and biological factors that may cause some people to respond to emotional states quickly.

Individuals who benefit from this therapy include those who’ve suffered crises and severely shifting emotional peaks and valleys. DBT teaches coping techniques that were not developed during their childhood. Borderline and suicidal individuals are emotionally intense, experiencing severe emotions like anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety. Learning to regulate emotions can positively affect their well-being.

Linhan developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy to center around Five Core Criterion:

1) Expands and sustains the motivation the client possesses to transform

2) Provides the opportunity for the client’s skills to be further developed

3) Assimilates the client’s new skill set to be applicable in relevant circumstances

4) Develops the therapist’s own abilities and increases the desire to effectively treat people

5) Provides a nonjudgmental and secure environment for the healing process

Group therapy, phone conversations, coaching, and additional at home tasks play a key part in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Frequent consultations are required. The therapy structure can include family members to measure and promote progress, and track responses in the home.

Pasadena Villa is committed to providing the highest quality of clinical services within a physical environment that promotes health, well-being, recovery, and personal motivation. We provide full medical treatment, psychiatric therapy, medication management, life skills training, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and aftercare via our safe, friendly locations in Orlando, Florida and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. Please call us at 877-845-5235 or contact us online for more information about how we treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

Memory can create trouble for us, causing us to forget or distort the past. Sometimes disturbing memories may haunt us for years. Memory plays a pervasive role in our daily lives. This can be taken for granted until one realizes the memory failing them. The following are the 7 most common errors of memory.

1. Transience – This refers to a general loss of memory. This basic feature can include short-term memory and forgetting things quickly, or long-term memory and slowly forgetting things.

2. Absentmindedness – Misplacing your glasses or forgetting an appointment can be considered absentminded memory errors. This occurs because we are preoccupied with other issues or concerns. Basically we do not focus attention on what we need to remember.

3. Blocking- Trying to recall information that we are looking for is called blocking. This is a frustrating experience and can occur when paying attention to the task. It may take hours or day to retrieve the blocked memory, like a name or question you meant to ask.

4. Misattribution – Assigning a memory to the wrong source is known as misattribution. It could be as simple as incorrectly remembering a friend told you trivia that you actually read about in a newspaper. Misattribution is very common and has caused profound issues in legal settings.

5. Suggestibility – This refers to memories implanted as a result of leading questions, comments or suggestions. You may be inclined to accept and act on the suggestions of others when trying to call up a past experience. Top of Form

6. Bias – We can edit or replace previous experiences, unknowingly and unconsciously, even if it goes against what we know or believe. The result is a skewed, incorrect creation of a specific incident. Our current feelings alter the memory more what actually happened in the past.

7. Persistence – The repeated recall of disturbing information or events we wish to not remember is known as persistence. You may be unable to stop thinking about a painful incident on the job or a disappointing result. Depression or traumatic experiences can cause persistence to become disabling and life threatening.

For the full story on the 7 Sins of Memory, visit Psychology Today.

At Pasadena Villa, we are committed to helping you get one step closer to recovery and to achieve success. Pasadena Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa Smoky Mountain Lodge provide mental health residential, transitional and support services for adults with cognitive, emotional and social disorders such as depression and anxiety. We immerse our clients in real life activities within the community to prepare them for the highest level of independent living possible. Please call us at 877-845-5235 or contact us online for more information.

A life with constant worry, stress, fear, and frustration is common with many anxiety sufferers. Catastrophic thinking, however, has a large impact on those with social anxiety…but what is it exactly?

Catastrophic Thinking: An event “where a person imagines scenarios in his or her head that are way more intense or graphic than what can really be expected.”

Imagine yourself waiting at a restaurant waiting to meet with an aunt for lunch. Fifteen minutes pass and she still has not arrived. Unfortunately, you forgot your cellphone at home and have no way of reaching her. Most people would continue to wait at the restaurant with little or no worries, but anxiety sufferers with catastrophic thinking react quite differently. The individual would most likely be frantic, frightened, and worried with thoughts of kidnapping, critical injury, or even death.

For individuals that engage in catastrophic thinking, fear outweighs the consequences. The best way to explain the statement can be illustrated through the example of an anxious, overprotective mother who controls every aspect of her children’s lives in fear. Her behavior can ultimately result in her children becoming indecisive, resentful, and/or irresponsible as adults.

One method of managing the disabling thought process is constantly reminding oneself of reality and the unlikeliness of the catastrophe actually occurring. Practicing factually based thinking with breathing exercises can help to calm the nerves and prevent an anxiety attack from developing. It is also beneficial to ask for support from trusted friends and family who would have a much more realistic interpretation of the particular situation.

Here, at Pasadena Villa, we are aware of our patients’ needs and we strive to provide the best care. Pasadena Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa Smoky Mountain Lodge are adult intensive residential treatment centers for patients with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or other mental illnesses. For more information, please contact us online or call us at (877) 845-5235.

The Mission of the University Mental Health Assistance Program (UMHA) at Pasadena Villa is to provide meaningful clinical and life skills interventions to support college students struggling with serious mental health issues.  The ultimate goal is to provide access to the clinical services students need, and help them continue a successful career in higher education and beyond.

The UMHA is designed for college and university students whose mental health issues have impacted their academic and social lives so that the continued college experience is at risk.  The UMHA utilizes various clinical levels of care, academic support, life skills training and social mentoring so the student can return to the college or university as a student who is clinically stable, emotionally regulated, equipped in self-advocacy, socially confident and motivated to pursue higher education.  A medical or personal leave of absence may be required to ensure the student is re-enrolled after treatment.

Although every student receives an Individualized Treatment Plan and customized UMHA Transition Plan, a typical UMHA experience may look like this:

• Phase 1– Residential Treatment – assessments, clinical stabilization, medication management
•  Phase 2– Day Treatment or Community Based Residential Services – continued clinical services in a socially immersed setting, with enhanced Coping/Life skills training and opportunity for in-the-moment application
• Phase 3– Transitional Living & Learning Center – Life Skills and Social Mentoring with a focus on academics, study skills and a successful transition back to school, including training for self-advocacy and linking with supports and services on campus

**Lengths of stay and progress will vary depending upon individual clinical needs and progress toward mutually agreed upon goals.**

The UMHA staff collaborates with the referring College or University (Dean of Students, Counseling Center, Health Services/Center, Office of Student Disability, and other offices as needed) in order to facilitate a successful transition back to the college or university setting.

Students are not required to enter the UMHA at the residential treatment level of care. Students may be appropriate to be admitted directly into Day Treatment, Community-based Residential Services or the Transitional Living & Learning Center. This will be determined during the Intake process with our Admissions Staff.

Colleges and Universities can expect our UMHA team to work diligently to obtain all appropriate releases of information so that staff can share information with the professionals who will be working with the student upon return to campus. UMHA staff will provide a copy of relevant clinical records, a discharge summary and an individualized UMHA Transition Plan prior to the student’s return.

Key Facts

• In the 2010 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors, respondents reported that 44% of their clients had “severe psychological problems”, a sharp increase from 16% in 2000.
• A recent Healthy Minds Study found that over 90% of college counseling centers report seeing an increase in the number and severity of students with mental health disorders.
• The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) conducted a survey in 2011, with 416 counseling centers participating and found:
• The average percent of students seeking counseling services was 10.2%.
• On average, 25% of clients seeking services were taking psychotropic medications.
• Nationally, the incidence of students being placed on medical leave for psychological reasons is 4.47 per 10,000.
• Nationally, the incidence of students being hospitalized for psychological reasons is 3.85 per 10,000.
• A 2007 study found that 3% of all college dropouts were due to mental health and emotional issues.
• An effective approach to mental health on college and university campuses must include prevention and treatment along a continuum (Institute of Medicine, 1994; National Research Council, 2009).

Pasadena Villa has inpatient residential treatment facilities located in Orlando, Florida and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. We believe every person can live a happy, productive and healthy life; every client has the ability to learn, grow and recover. Call 877-845-5235 or contact us online for more information about our residential mental health programs.

In our society, perfectionism is viewed as a wonderful characteristic. The high standards and work ethic can produce excellent work and events. This attention to detail can open the opportunities for individuals to reach their best potential. However, some perfectionists become tormented in their pursuit of an errorless life. These individuals become stuck in their thoughts of blame, what-if situations, self-worth, and negative emotion.

According to the authors of the Almost Perfect Scale, there are two different sides to perfection – Standards and Discrepancy. Individuals who score high on Standards scale have high expectations and goals for them selves. They are considered adaptive perfectionists. These people have less irritation when they are unable to meet their standards. Individuals who score high on Discrepancy are considered maladaptive perfectionists. This is the characteristic that defines when perfectionism is disabling. These individuals feel anxious, have difficulty coping with negative emotion, and avoid work due to their fear of error.

Here is a test to measure the level of Standards and Discrepancy in your self. Rate each statement on a 7-point scale where 1 equals strongly disagree and 7 equals strongly agree:

1. I often feel frustrated because I can’t meet my goals.
2. My best just never seems good enough for me.
3. I rarely live up to my high standards.
4. Doing my best never seems to be enough.
5. I am never satisfied with my accomplishments.
6. I often worry about not measuring up to my own expectations.
7. My performance rarely measures up to my standards.
8. I am not satisfied even when I know I have done my best.
9. I am seldom able to meet my own high standards for performance.
10. I am hardly ever satisfied with my performance.
11. I hardly ever feel that what I’ve done is good enough.
12. I often feel disappointment after completing a task because I know I could have done better.

The maximum possible score on this scale is 84. A total of 42 and over with having high standards (7 items) would be considered high on the Discrepancy Scale would put you in the maladaptive perfectionism range.

Pasadena Villa has inpatient residential treatment facilities located in Orlando, Florida and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. We believe every person can live a happy, productive and healthy life; every client has the ability to learn, grow and recover. Call 877-845-5235 or contact us online for more information about our residential mental health programs.

The New Year is a time to assess oneself and resolve to get healthy. However, it is not all about setting physical goals that seem unattainable. It is greatly important to remember to monitor one’s mental health. A regular doctors visit is great, but a check from the neck up is greatly important too!

Jacqueline Bullis, Therapist at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, shared some of her tips for improving mental health. She shared pointers for starting a fresh New Year and ensuring good health throughout the year.

1. Improve your sleep routine. Good health is not always about getting too little or too much sleep. You should create a regular, consistent bedtime. Time in bed should only be used for sleeping. During this time, no lights should be on after lying down. Avoid using a cellphone or other devices in bed. Remember to close curtains and make your room as dark as you are comfortable with.
2. Exercise regularly. This doesn’t mean the intense, exhaustive, sweaty workouts you see in the gym. Moderate amounts of physical activity throughout the day can include walks, taking the stairs, a few sets of crunches, or even jump rope. Exercise has been shown to promote mental health, boost moods rapidly, and release stress. Just remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and fluids throughout the day.
3. Spend time with friends. Whether you are rekindling an old friendship or just seeing the usual gang, make sure to set aside time for social interactions. Take breaks from your ordinary schedule for fun. This break has been shown to promote creativity and productivity. Spending 2 hours a day with friends is a realistic and healthy New Years resolution.

For more of Jacqueline Bullis’ tips for mental health, watch her full interview at:

http://www.necn.com/01/01/13/Stop-the-madness-Mental-health-tips-for-/landing.html?blockID=819017&feedID=8498

Pasadena Villa is an adult residential treatment facility that cares about the quality of life and mental health of our residents. In addition to medication management and traditional and group therapy, our mental health programs focus on our internally developed Social Integration Model, which immerses clients into real life activities within the community. Pasadena Villa offers two adult residential treatment centers in  Orlando and Tennessee  as well as transitional living. Please call 877.845.5235 or contact us online to speak to someone today.

We’ve all been in bad moods from time to time. Having negative thoughts during a difficult life experience is part of being human. Most of the time, we continue to function and move on. But for people with depression, negative thoughts can take over and distort your view of reality.

Cognitive therapy is one way to defuse those thoughts and treat depression. Cognitive therapy is a type of psychotherapy that modifies mood patterns by stopping negative, hypercritical, and other types of thinking that can lead to depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Over time, cognitive therapy has helped change the way patients view the world.

In studies, researchers have found that cognitive therapy works just as well as antidepressants in treating people with mild to moderate depression. Medication and/or psychotherapy can shorten depression’s course and reduce symptoms such as fatigue and poor self-esteem that often accompanies depression.

Cognitive therapy was developed in the 1960s as an alternative way to treat depression with the underlying principle being “thoughts influence moods.” According to cognitive therapists, negative thoughts become automatic responses, meaning they occur without a conscious effort. Even if the thoughts may have some truth to them, the patient distorts or exaggerates the reality and in turn fuels the depression.

With cognitive therapy, the patient learns to recognize and correct automatic negative thoughts. Then over time, the patient is able to discover and correct deeply held but false beliefs that contribute to the depression. This leads to lasting improvements in mood and an overall positive outlook on life.

If you or someone you care for suffers from depression or another mental illness, please call us at 877-845-5235 or contact us online. We provide full medical treatment, psychiatric therapy, medication management, life skills training, and aftercare via our safe, friendly locations in Orlando, Florida and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. We believe every person can live a happy, productive and healthy life; every client has the ability to learn, grow and recover.

We all want to feel happy and everyone has different ways of achieving emotional fulfillment. In Psychology Today, Barton Goldsmith covered a list of tips to help find happiness. Here’s the top 10 ways to find happiness and harness the true power of your emotions:

1. Be with others who make you smile: Don’t waste your time with those who break you down. Studies show that we tend to be happiest around others who have a positive mentality.
2. Hold on to your values: Stick to your guns. Do what you believe is right. Over time, the longer you hang on to your beliefs, the better you will feel.
3. Accept the good: Look at yourself from an outside perspective and figure out what’s working and don’t push away something just because it isn’t perfect.
4. Imagine the best: Have high hopes for the future. Don’t be afraid to reach for your dreams. The truth is imagining getting what you want is a big part of achieving it.
5. Do things you love: Take a break from reality and go do the things you love. If you like to travel why not treat yourself once in awhile.
6. Find purpose: Those who feel like they contribute to the well-being of society tend to feel better about their lives. It’s fulfilling to be part of something greater then yourself.
7. Listen to your heart: You’re the only one who knows what makes you feel full and complete. Trust yourself and follow your intuition.
8. Push yourself, not others: You are the change you wish to see. It’s easy to blame others for your problems but it’s your responsibility to push forward and succeed.
9. Be open to change: Change is always one thing you can count on. Change always happens, you can’t ignore it. Keep your head up and move on.
10. Bask in the simple pleasures: Be around those you love. Cherish great memories. Tell silly jokes. Stare at the stars. These are the hidden treasures that keep on giving.

Pasadena Villa is an adult residential treatment facility that caters to individuals with challenging mental illnesses. Our mental health programs strongly feature our internally developed Social Integration Model, which immerses clients into real life activities within the community. We also offer medication management as well as traditional and group therapies. Pasadena Villa’s mental health facilities include adult residential treatment centers in Orlando and Tennessee, as well as transitional living. Please call 877.845.5235 or contact us online to speak to someone today.

When life gets you down what do you do to rid yourself of negative energy and stay positive? According to Carolyn Anderson, practicing positive thinking everyday can lead you down the road to a happier life. Here’s a list of 10 ways you can exercise positive thinking:

1. Get some fresh air: Get up early and take a walk around the block. Give yourself a chance to enjoy the morning breeze and appreciate the little pleasures of nature and life.
2. Be thankful: Take a second to appreciate the good things in your life and don’t forget to thank others for their help. Having a cheerful outlook radiates positive energy. Saying thank you is one of the simplest ways to boost your sprit.
3. Make a list: Jot down a list of all things you like or want to accomplish. If you like to go to the beach, try to make a point to visit once a month. It can be a rewarding to check off each objective along the way.
4. Use positive words: Instead of saying, “I can’t” or “I won’t,” try using encouraging words that reflect good outcomes. Have a “can do” attitude.
5. Help out others: Give back to those in need and do something nice for your fellow friend, co-worker, or family member. You’ll find that giving to others brings a sense of gratification.
6. Find inspiration: Do what makes you happy. If you like to listen to music, then create a playlist of your favorite songs and play them in the car on the way to work.
7. Laugh more: You’ve probably heard the quote that “laughter is the best medicine” and it’s true! When you’re feeling down watch a funny movie or video clip.
8. Meditate: Give yourself some alone time to let your worries drift away. Aside from relieving stress, meditation also helps you develop awareness for your self and your thoughts.
9. Find positive influencers: Get along with others who think positive. Having positive influences around can help lighten up your day.
10. Choose happiness: Happiness is a choice. At times the world maybe stressful but learn to overcome the trials of everyday life as a constant problem solver.  

Pasadena Villa is an adult residential treatment facility that caters to individuals with challenging mental illnesses. Our mental health programs strongly feature our internally developed Social Integration Model, which immerses clients into real life activities within the community. We also offer medication management as well as traditional and group therapies. Pasadena Villa’s mental health facilities include adult residential treatment centers in Orlando and Tennessee, as well as transitional living. Please call 877.845.5235 or contact us online to speak to someone today.