Seven Tips to Helping Someone who is Unemployed

Many of us will have family or friends who are going through a difficult time during a period of unemployment. In a review of the research on couples with one unemployed spouse, there was no direct correlation between unemployment and marital dissatisfaction (Barling, 1990). This seems counterintuitive, since we might think that unemployment would lead to greater conflicts in a marriage. However, unemployment can also lead to a recognition and appreciation for the support a marriage can bring and some marriages can actually get stronger.

How Can You Help?

1. Talk about it and validate it.

Many unemployed people feel ashamed of their situation.They often feel that other people look down on them, think of them as a burden, and don't want to hear what is going on. They may also feel, "you don't know what I am going through." As a friend of family member it is important to allow time and space for opening up. Suimply saying, "I know this is a rough time for you. I want you to know I am here. If you want to talk I am hear to listen. This is a time I can really be on your side."

For six more tips for turning unemployment into an opportunity to improve a marriage, stay tuned to the South Bay Wellnes Connection Blog, and check out www.stillwatergroup.net for help on other issues affecting families and friends.

Experience Lorraine DiGiovanni,Conversations with the Other Side

Have you ever felt that you have unfinished business with loved ones who are no longer with us?Curious about how they are doing and if they have any wisdom to give you to help you live a happier, more fulfilling life? Need to heal old wounds?

Not sure that this is possible? Skeptical? Believer?

Me, too. All of the above. I can recommend a session with Lorraine DiGiovanni, who is a gifted "spiritualist" and energy practioner. Deeply intuitive, and compassionate, Lorraine takes you through a safe and not scary process that opens a door to the wherever it is we go when we leave our bodies. If you are feeling stuck with a relationship that ended prematurely, this is a way to resolve old issues and move on with your life. Of course, I am a fan of psychotherapy as a path to healing, but sometimes talking directly to that lost someone can reduce the hours on the couch!

Lorraine can be reached at (310)376-3114, or by email at lorraine.digiovanni@verizon.net. Let me know what you think. Virginia Green, PhD, info@creativityunwrapped.com.

Stress and the Dodgers: How to cope with Loss...

The Dodgers are seven games out of first place in the Western Division. What does this have to do with you?

According to today's Daily Breeze, people drink more beer at Dodger Stadium when their team is losing than when they are winning. Why?

1. When we are winning we want to stay with the game -- we don't want to miss anything.


2. When we are losing, the game is at best boring, and maybe even depressing, so we want to escape, but they won't let us go out into the parking lot and run around and come bak.


3. A big margin of loss breed hopelessness, despite the Dodgers' eighth inning theme song, "don't stop believing."
   

As usual, baseball is like life. Success is a wonderful indicator of happiness. The more successful we feel, the happier we are, the more connected, involved, energetic. And success is a state of mind. Baseball has a pretty definite idea of success -- are we winning or not? Life is a little less well defined, thank God.

We get to decide what means success for us, right this minute. Some days getting out of bed and getting in the shower and calling a friend is success. Some days it's nailing that $10,000 project. Somedays it's a sacrifice fly, some days it's a home run. Almost doesn't matter, as long as we experience a little success every day.

How were you successful already today?