Latest news with #CherylGroskopf
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘I'm a Therapist—This Is How I Calm My Anxiety in Seconds'
In small amounts, anxiety is good for you. It keeps you alert in risky situations and can motivate you to prioritize deadlines and pressing tasks on your to-do list. The problem is when you're feeling anxious about situations that shouldn't feel so daunting, like making plans with friends, driving to a new place or eating alone at a should you do when anxiety spirals cause your heart to pound and make it hard to focus? Parade spoke with therapists about how they manage those overwhelming moments—and the quickest ways to calm anxiety fast. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC, an anxiety, trauma and attachment therapist at Evolution To Healing, says the first thing she teaches her clients when anxiety begins is not to resist it. It might sound counterintuitive at first: If anxiety is causing these awful feelings of dread, why wouldn't you want to fight it? This goes back to the purpose of anxiety: it evolved to keep human ancestors alert enough to escape potential threats, like a nearby lion (also known as "fight orflight"). While most people nowadays aren't battling predators in the wild, anxiety still appears because it is telling the body there's a problem to solve. "Most people treat anxiety like an enemy," explains Groskopf. "I help my clients treat it like a message." Instead of going to battle with anxiety, Groskopf recommends the following steps when you're feeling anxious. Related: First, name what's happening. It can be something as simple as saying these words out loud: "I'm noticing anxiety." A quick acknowledgment and pause after you speak puts distance between you and the anxious feeling. "It signals to your brain that there's no emergency—just a pattern running," says Groskopf. Next, drop into your body, not your brain. An anxious mind tends to race with worst-case scenarios and endless 'what ifs,' but Groskopf says those thoughts often misinterpret what the body is actually trying to of getting caught up in them, she recommends doing a body scan. Gently bring your attention to different parts of your body, and ask yourself: Where do I feel the anxiety? What exactly does it feel like?Then, see if you can let the sensation just be there—without trying to fix or solve Third, try getting curious instead of reactive. Rather than focusing on everything that's going wrong, ask yourself if there's another way to look at the situation—or think about what you'd tell a friend if they were in your shoes."Even something simple like, 'This is uncomfortable, but I've gotten through things like this before,' can make a difference," says , a therapist at Reframe Don't underestimate the power of breathing. Taking in a few intentional breaths sends a message to the brain that you're not actually in any danger."It puts oxygen into our blood, lowers our heart rate and it calms our body and therefore our nervous system," says , a clinical therapist and founder of Rocky Mountain Counseling Collective. "It doesn't have to be the only tool you use, but it is a good place to by breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Slowing your breath as you inhale and exhale can help calm anxiety more effectively. Hingsbergen recommends this simple pattern: Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four and hold again for four. Repeat for a minute or two and notice how your body begins to Breathwork for Anxiety: What Is It, and Does It Work? If you're feeling anxious in public, you might not feel comfortable talking to yourself or taking big, noticeable breaths. A more discreet option? Progressive muscle relaxation. Starting at the top of your head, Reid-Vanas suggests gently tensing and then releasing each muscle group as you move down your body—all the way to your toes."It is a strategy when anxiety comes on in the moment and can be done anywhere in the hallway, office, bathroom, etc.," says Reid-Vanas. "Likely, no one will even know you are doing this." Finally,Reid-Vanas encourages his clients to think of a specific place or moment when they felt truly happy. 'It could be lying in bed under a cozy comforter, or a fun vacation with family or friends when you felt carefree,' he says. The goal is to take a mental break from the overwhelm by going there—if only in your mind. Imagining your happy place acts as a reminder that the overwhelming feelings you're experiencing won't last forever. If you're having trouble visualizing, try closing your eyes—especially if the source of your anxiety is right in front of you. Once you're grounded, Reid-Vanas says, you'll likely feel more clear-headed and better equipped to face the situation. Up NextCheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC is an anxiety, trauma and attachment therapist at Evolution To Healing. Julie Hingsbergen, MS, LMFT is a marriage and family therapist at Reframe CBT. Cory Reid-Vanas, MA, LMFT is a clinical therapist and founder of Rocky Mountain Counseling Collective.
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
Why Type C parenting is taking over TikTok and what it says about parenting today
If you've ever found your kid's favorite shirt in the dryer, rinsed a single fork for dinner or scheduled nap time like your life depended on it while forgetting where your debit card is, you might just be a Type C parent. The term, popularized by TikTok creator Ashleigh Surratt, is resonating with millions of parents online. Her viral video capturing the chaotic-yet-capable nature of this parenting personality has racked up over 4.5 million views, with other creators jumping in to share their own "Type C" moments. One mom confessed she was already planning her 3-month-old's first birthday party, while another showed off her well-stocked first aid kit, right before admitting she was too tired to make the bed. It's content that feels incredibly real for modern parents trying to balance it all, without pretending to have it all together. What is a Type C parent, exactly? Most of us are familiar with the classic Type A and Type B personality types. Type A is highly organized, structured and punctual. Type B tends to be more relaxed, spontaneous and flexible. Type C parents? They're a mashup of both, often juggling the intensity of Type A energy with the messy realities of everyday life. "Being a Type C mom is the worst because in your soul you're Type A but life never lets you get there," one commenter joked. Marriage and family therapist Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC, told "Good Morning America" this parenting style is intentional, not accidental. "You're choosing to loosen up in certain areas -- maybe the house isn't spotless, maybe dinner's frozen -- because you've realized that connection matters more than control," Groskopf said. "You still care. You're still showing up, just in a way that actually works for your real life." Why so many parents identify with it Tara Clark, podcast host and creator of Modern Mom Probs on Instagram, told "GMA" the Type C trend resonates deeply with her. "I can proudly say that I am a Type C because it's a more realistic approach and allows us to be human," she said. "No parent is perfect. No child is perfect. Being Type C allows for that flexibility. Of course, we have high standards but not at the cost of our child's mental health or our own." Clark added that she's experienced both ends of the spectrum. "When my son was a toddler, I was a total helicopter mom," she said. "Over time, I realized that it wasn't sustainable or healthy for either of us. Now, I am more laid-back in my approach and prioritize empowering my child. My favorite motto is 'step back, so they can step in.' It really strengthened our relationship and improved my confidence as a parent." She admitted she still experiences moments of uncertainty. "I've always had a strong handle on my son's schedule and commitments, but I definitely feel like I'm winging it when it comes to puberty, the tween dynamic, and that middle school life," she said. Type C vs. burnout: What's the difference? It's easy to confuse a laid-back parenting approach with being overwhelmed or checked out, but Groskopf said there's a critical difference. "This comes down to one thing," she said. "Are you letting go on purpose, or because you're out of fuel?" She continued, "Type C parenting is about choosing what matters and letting the rest be good enough. Burnout, on the other hand, is when you're so emotionally and physically depleted that even the basics feel impossible. You're not lowering the bar for peace, you're barely keeping your head above water." The simplest way to tell? "Can you still show up emotionally? If you're still connecting and responding with care, even when it's messy, that's Type C," Groskopf said. "If you feel numb or like you're disappearing, that's burnout." Why structure and emotional flexibility work Groskopf said the magic of Type C parenting lies in balancing consistency with compassion. "Structure tells kids, 'You're safe. I've got you.' Emotional flexibility tells them, 'You're allowed to be human.' When you blend both, kids learn they don't have to be perfect to be loved, and that builds real trust." Too much structure without empathy can lead to shame or anxiety. Too much flexibility without predictability can create confusion. "The balance teaches kids that the world can be unpredictable and still safe," Groskopf said. "You're not raising a robot. You're raising a human who knows how to adapt, feel and stay connected, because they saw you do it." What to do with that 'Type A in a Type C World' tension Feeling like you're stuck between who you want to be and who you actually are as a parent? That's normal. And according to Groskopf, it's something to honor, not fight. "If you're someone who thrives on order and control, parenting can feel like constant failure," she said. "But you're not failing, you're in a new season that requires different tools." Her advice? Grieve the fantasy of what you thought parenting would look like. "Letting go of that fantasy doesn't mean you're giving up," she said. "It means you're making space for what's real in the moment." That doesn't mean giving up your strengths. "Your Type A side doesn't have to disappear," she said. "Let it help where it helps, making systems, solving problems, but don't let it run the whole show. Blend it with compassion and flexibility." Type C parenting isn't a failure or a fallback, it's often the most balanced approach of all. It's about creating safety without rigidity, showing up without burning out, and giving your kids (and yourself) room to be real. As Groskopf put it, "Think of it as a mix of intentional structure and emotional flexibility, which, by the way, is basically the holy grail of good-enough parenting." So if your laundry is still in the dryer, your kid's bedtime is nonnegotiable, and you're surviving on snacks and grace? Congratulations. You might just be a Type C parent, and you're doing better than you think.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bridesmaid Applauded for Outburst at Bachelorette That Got Wedding Canceled
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. What was supposed to be a celebratory bachelorette party turned into the breaking point of a years-long toxic relationship—and now the internet is rallying behind the woman who spoke up. In a viral Reddit post, a 27-year-old woman shared how her outburst at her best friend's bachelorette party led to the wedding being called off—and possibly saved her friend from an emotionally abusive marriage. Since the post was published, it has already received 37,000 upvotes. Newsweek spoke to marriage and family Therapist and professional clinical counselor, Cheryl Groskopf, about the situation and whether or not the poster did, indeed, save the day by "ruining" it. Two friends argue in a kitchen. Two friends argue in a kitchen. shironosov/Getty Images The poster, who's been best friends with the bride-to-be for years, described her growing concerns about her friend's fiancé. "Honestly, he is a walking red flag," she wrote. "He is super controlling, jealous and always checking her location. Once, he called her nine times while we were just shopping at Target." Her friend always brushed off the behavior, saying her partner acted that way because he "cares so much." But at the bachelorette party, things escalated. He reportedly texted, FaceTimed and accused her of "acting single," disrupting what should've been a carefree night. She left the table multiple times, crying and apologizing to him. After the fourth interruption, her best friend finally snapped. "When she came back, I said loud enough for the whole table to hear, 'You are not marrying a husband, you are signing up for a lifetime of being babysat by a jealous man-child,'" the poster wrote. Her friend then ran out in tears. But that night, the bride's mom actually called the woman to thank her. "Apparently, they have all been worried... but did not know how to stop the wedding," she wrote. Her friend's parents then told her they would not pay for the wedding if she went ahead. Now, the former-bride has blocked her ex-fiancé, moved out of their shared apartment and returned to her parents' home. She also blocked her best friend—for now. Reddit comments came in with strong support: "No good deed goes unpunished," one person wrote. "You did the right thing. She was going to be in for a lifetime of misery. But that doesn't mean she is going to like you for it." "If your friendship with her is true, she'll realize you did the right thing," another shared. "You were right. She was signing up for years of abuse." An Expert Opinion Groskopf told Newsweek the behavior described in the post fits a pattern she often sees in controlling relationships. "Controlling or emotionally abusive relationships don't always start loud and obvious," Groskopf explained. "Often, they look like constant 'check-ins' that are really surveillance. Like in this post—FaceTiming repeatedly, needing proof she's 'not acting single,' that's not love. That's fear and control dressed up as concern." She added, "If someone's whole life starts shrinking around their partner's needs, that's a red flag. The nervous system literally stays in a state of survival—walking on eggshells, trying not to 'cause' another outburst." While Groskopf doesn't recommend public confrontations as the first step, she acknowledged that "sometimes honesty cuts through the fog." As for what to do now that the ex-bride has gone no-contact with her former best friend, Groskopf recommended gentleness and patience. "Don't force the door open," she said. "Leave it cracked with warmth and zero pressure." Newsweek reached out to u/FrostGlistenss for comment via Reddit.
