Effective Coping for Emotional Distress

Last updated on: August 13, 2014 at 7:04 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Earlier today I offered some reflections on what people-of-faith need to know about depression. I promised that I’d offer some additional thoughts on effective coping for emotional distress. Effective coping strategies enable a person to gather their psychological, emotional, spiritual, and relational resources so that they can respond to the problems they are facing. By contrast, ineffective coping strategies simply allow a person to escape, withdraw, or numb themselves for a time, but when the “break” is over the person... Read more

Dealing With Depression: Getting the Right Kind of Help Matters

Last updated on: August 13, 2014 at 7:03 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

The news of Robin Williams’ suicide has brought the insidious nature of depression front and center. I know too many Christians who believe that they should be immune from depression because they are Christian. While research shows that some believers can be more resistant to depression and have a somewhat easier time bouncing back when they do get depression, it is also true that some approaches to religion can be associated with higher rates of depression and emotional... Read more

Innocence Restored–Hope for Those Who Have Suffered Indignity and Abuse

Last updated on: August 13, 2014 at 7:05 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

One of the most heartbreaking aspect of my work with victims of abuse–whether verbal, physical, sexual or some combination of all of these–is to hear them talk about how they feel “dirty”, “tainted,” “guilty” and a host of other adjectives that undermine their dignity and worth as persons. Intellectually, most of them know that they bear no blame for the things that were done to them, but the emotional and spiritual wounds run deep. When we’re treated like trash, we... Read more

You’re So Vain (You Probably Think This Quiz Is About You).

Last updated on: August 13, 2014 at 7:06 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

How narcissistic are you? A new study shows that one question can accurately reveal the degree of narcissism you exhibit. Ready…? To what extent do you agree with the following statement, “I am a narcissist”? Not at All True–1 2 3 4 5 6 7 –Very True (A score of 3 is about average. A score of 4 means you’re more narcissistic than about 80% of people taking the quiz) Read the article. Take the actual quiz. Read more

“You Are the Average of the 5 People You Spend the Most Time With.”

Last updated on: August 5, 2014 at 12:32 pm By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Yesterday on More2Life Radio, Lisa an I discussed an assertion of a new book, The Power of No Specifically, that “you are an average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” I haven’t read the whole book, but I was struck by this assertion. It’s really a terrific way of communicating, in simple terms, the Theology of the Body’s claim that the human person is communal and relational by nature. We have a profound impact on the lives of... Read more

Soulmates? Become What You Are.

Last updated on: July 30, 2014 at 2:32 pm By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

A lot of pastors and other marriage ministers have a very strong, negative opinion of the word, “soulmate.” I can understand where they’re coming from. For many couples, finding a soulmate implies that they should never have problems again. Of course, this can become a huge concern if and when this couple hits difficulties in their relationship. After all, soulmates shouldn’t argue–or at least, argue this much–should they? Soulmates Less Happy Than Sojourners Some new research highlights the potential problems... Read more

Parenting Style Affects Children’s Genetics

Last updated on: July 30, 2014 at 8:52 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Most people think of genes as static. For most people, genes are things we’re born with that make up the basic programming that cause things–like traits, preferences & disorders–to happen to us. But genes are actually more dynamic than this. They do make up that basic programming that shapes who we are, but they also can be directly impacted by our environment. Some genes can be turned on or turn off because of environmental factors. Some genes make their presence... Read more

Does God Want YOU to Be Happy? Read Pope Francis’ 10 Point Happiness Plan

Last updated on: July 31, 2014 at 12:09 pm By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

When I ask people, “What do you want?” The #1 answer I get is, “I just want to be happy.” Happiness is a hard enough goal to achieve but Christians have an extra hurdle. Upon expressing a desire for happiness, many of my Catholic clients immediately say, “But I feel guilty because God doesn’t really care about my happiness. He wants me to be holy.” Are Happiness and Holiness Mutually Exclusive? I have often heard the phrase, “God desires our... Read more

Religion is Bad for Marriage (when there’s not enough of it)

Last updated on: July 25, 2014 at 10:52 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Great post over at David French’s blog on the Evangelical Channel on Patheos. The Blue States often sneer at the South because the South claims higher rates of religiousness but ALSO higher divorce rates. Many liberals take this to assume that religious people in general are just a bunch of hypocrites. I’ll let David take it from here. It’s pretty simple: When it comes to marriage, church attendance matters more than church affiliation. I’ve often heard the South described as... Read more

Spanking Decreases Gray Matter in Children’s Brains

Last updated on: July 25, 2014 at 9:44 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

CNN reports one more shocking reason corporal punishment isn’t the answer. …Researchers say physical punishment actually alters the brain — not only in an “I’m traumatized” kind of way but also in an “I literally have less gray matter in my brain” kind of way. “Exposing children to HCP (harsh corporal punishment) may have detrimental effects on trajectories of brain development,” one 2009 study concluded. (Click for link to the study abstract). Harsh corporal punishment in the study was defined as... Read more