Parents and their adult children often having clashing expectations in a variety of ways: expectations of seeing each other more (or less), expectations about financial or emotional support, about life changes, about differing concepts of what it means to be family.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy discusses how to handle clashing expectations, how to set boundaries and voice your wishes and how to make peace, not with what could be or might have been, but with what is.
Depression happens for a variety of reasons as one ages and experiences great losses, a decline in health, a loss of mobility or independence or a loss of the structure and purpose one had while working. In this episode, Dr. McCoy discusses how to recognize the signs of depression in an elderly relative or in yourself -- and how to alleviate the pain.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy discusses the necessity and the benefits of time out from caregiving -- whether you're the busy parent of teenagers or a special needs child or of an aging parent, whether you're juggling multiple responsibilities or adjusting to retirement with a 24/7 spouse. Dr. McCoy offers tips for brief respite, even if you feel you don't have the time, in order to replenish your energy to meet all the challenges of your life.
Dr. McCoy gives tips for understanding and dealing with adult children in residence who have yet to launch or who are coming back home after college, divorce or job loss. She offers suggestions for setting limits and ground rules and getting your young adult children successfully launched into the world.
While advice abounds on financial retirement readiness, there isn't nearly as much emphasis as there needs to be on emotional retirement readiness, Dr. McCoy contends. In this episode, she gives five guidelines to prepare emotionally for this major life transition. What do you do when something unforeseen comes between you and your retirement dreams? How do you want to live and who do you want to be after you leave the full-time workforce? When is the best time -- for you -- to call it quits? How do you decide whether to relocate or stay put? Does moving to be closer to the kids and grandkids make sense? How will retirement impact your marriage and your friendships? Dr. McCoy addresses these questions and more in this episode.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy discusses the secrets and special qualities that those in long term love relationships tend to share. In findings based on her clinical experience with a wide variety of couples, Dr. McCoy explores signs that a relationship may not last and the special qualities of those that do last for decades. In learning from long-time loving couples, you can discover ways to help your own relationship endure and to thrive.
As we age, we have so many memories and also some regrets. We may regret some things we did and some things we didn't do, roads not taken. What can you do with regrets? How can you turn these into positives to enhance your current life and relationships?
What can you do when your adult child is having career setbacks, is confused over his or her life direction or is having financial, drug or alcohol issues or marital problems? Dr. McCoy discusses what to do -- and what not to do -- to help. She has specific suggestions on how to help without hindering growth, to encourage without diminishing your adult child's own problem solving skills, and to nurture without rescuing.
Letting go is crucial to growth in midlife. This means letting go of the burdens of youth, of daily responsibility for children, of old dreams and outgrown needs and roles, of judgments, old hurt and anger to make way for new ways to grow and to love.
Taking a close look at the stories we tell ourselves about our lives can give us valuable insights into the themes of our lives. Do we see ourselves as victims? Or as resilient survivors? Do we remember only pain? Or fun and forgiveness and love above all?
Our lives all haves shades of gray, complicated mixes of joy and pain and nuances that are often more apparent to us than to those close to us.
How and what we remember and the stories we tell ourselves can have a major impact on our later lives and on our relationships.
Loneliness can come with losses and life changes, through one's own actions or reactions or changing circumstances. Dr. McCoy discusses seven ways to break through the emotional walls that can grow around our lonely feelings and reconnect with others.
How do you keep New Year's -- or daily -- resolutions to live a healthy lifestyle? How do you deal with temptations to seek toxic solutions to everyday problems? Dr. McCoy shares some experiences and thoughts about being at a crossroads of making a healthy or toxic decision.
As holiday shopping reaches its peak, Dr. McCoy gives a reminder that the greatest gift one can give a loved one is the gift of time -- ordinary, but treasured moments that may be remembered with love years later. She invites listeners to think of such moments in their lives and shares her own treasured memories of special people and their warmly remembered gifts of time.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy explores common reasons for holiday blues and gives suggestions for making this holiday season a happier one.
From blaming parents for past and present difficulties to growing past grudges and disagreements with friends and neighbors in the present, Dr. McCoy discusses how to let go, how to stop feeling victimized and how to start making one's own happiness.
Are your adult children jeopardizing your retirement with requests for money? Are you torn between wanting to help and wanting to maintain your financial security? When is helping really hurting your kids and you? How can you determine when to help and when to say "No" with love? This podcast addresses all of these questions.
This teen special is for teenagers and for the parents who love them, discussing common self-hate traps that plague teens during these years of change: beating oneself up for mistakes, labeling oneself a loser, assuming that others are as aware of your limitations as you are, thinking that if you're not the best, you're nothing -- and other habits and ways of thinking that keep one's self-image negative rather than positive. But one can escape these traps and find new ways of thinking and believing!