Women’s Issues Archives | Plano Christian Counseling

Signs of Emotional Abuse in Women: What to Look for and How to Find Help

Signs of Emotional Abuse in Women: What to Look for and How to Find Help

Melissa Plantz2026-10-28T08:35:36+00:00October 28th, 2026|Featured, Trauma, Women’s Issues|

Emotional abuse is insidious, as it does not leave physical marks on its victims. Instead, victims of emotional abuse carry their scars on the inside, and it affects their behavior in all areas. Although it can happen to men, more women face the signs of emotional abuse. Signs of Emotional Abuse in Women When it comes to women as victims of emotional abuse, it is typically men who are the abusers. However, it is not uncommon for women to experience abuse at the hands of other women, particularly family members. The following is a list of signs of emotional abuse based on what the abuser does, but also how a woman being abused may behave outside of the environment. The abuser isolates her from friends and family An abuser wants his victim to rely on him. He maintains control, and she cannot turn to anyone for help. He may explain why she should not interact with friends and family. He may also have her unfriend other men on her social media. The abuser monitors her social media, phone, and whereabouts The abuser might install a tracker on her cell phone to keep track of her whereabouts or monitor her phone conversations and messages. He may accuse her of infidelity to the point that she avoids any situation where he may question where she has been or who she talked to. The abuser withholds affection to punish When his victim does not do what he wants, the abuser may withhold affection or give her the silent treatment. This is a form of manipulation to make her want to please him. The abuser insults her Her abuser may sling insults or make demeaning comments about her appearance or her intellect. This is to break down her self-confidence and self-esteem so she [...]

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Hidden ADHD Symptoms in Adults

Hidden ADHD Symptoms in Adults

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2026-11-12T07:54:16+00:00October 26th, 2026|ADHD/ADD, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

So many adults are living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and have no idea that this could be part of their struggles. This isn’t happening because ADHD symptoms are rare. It is because the symptoms do not look the way people expect. The hyperactive child bouncing off of classroom walls is the typical image that most people see when they think about ADHD. However, in adults, the ADHD symptoms show up quietly and are often mislabeled as laziness, poor character, or anxiety. For adults who have spent years wondering why life seems harder than it should be, recognizing what ADHD actually looks like becomes life-changing. Why ADHD Symptoms in Adults Look Different The hyperactivity that defines ADHD in children shifts inward as people grow older. Adults tend to experience constant internal restlessness or a mental hum that never quite settles. Sitting through a meeting and trying to follow a conversation to its end or finishing a task before starting another doesn’t come from being disinterested. This happens because the brain has been wired to find stimulation in a different way. The ADHD symptoms in adults are unnoticeable because adults have spent years developing systems, habits, and strategies to work around how much effort it actually requires to complete tasks. The workarounds often show up as success. This increases the difficulty in identifying the symptoms. When a person has quietly restructured their life around ADHD, they may seem to be highly organized and high-achieving. But the scaffold sometimes crashes, and the energy it took to look successful is exposed. A life event that brings changes to the home or work can bring significant damage. This is a time for seeking answers because the old system has given out. The Symptoms That Nobody Mentions Most know that difficulty focusing is part of [...]

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OCD Help: When Hoarding Becomes an Issue

OCD Help: When Hoarding Becomes an Issue

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2026-08-19T08:54:09+00:00July 29th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, OCD, Women’s Issues|

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests in various ways, from commonly known rituals of excessive hand washing or repeatedly checking locks to more subtle, less recognized behaviors. One common symptom of OCD that is often overlooked is hoarding. Hoarding can be a significant and debilitating symptom of the disorder. People with hoarding tendencies experience intense anxiety and distress at the thought of discarding items, leading to the accumulation of possessions, often in a way that disrupts daily life. Hoarding as a symptom of OCD differs from compulsive hoarding disorder, which is a separate condition. In OCD-related hoarding, the behavior is usually linked to obsessions, such as fears of losing important information or items that might be needed in the future. This compulsion to hoard is an attempt to alleviate the distress caused by these obsessions. Despite the seriousness, hoarding related to OCD is not as widely recognized or discussed as other symptoms of this disorder. This can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which can make the behavior more challenging to manage over time. Recognizing your hoarding tendencies before it becomes extreme can help protect your household from accumulating excessive items. Living with hoarding can be challenging, but there are some strategies that can help. Below are a few ways to begin managing hoarding. Managing Hoarding Starting small can make the overwhelming task of decluttering more manageable. If you see your possessions accumulating or notice a tendency to hold on to items unnecessarily, or if you have already accumulated an overwhelming amount of clutter, it’s not too late to act. Find a non-hoarding hero Consider finding someone you trust who doesn’t have hoarding tendencies to help you decide what to keep and what to throw away. Ask the right questions Ask yourself three key questions: Do I want to keep it? Do [...]

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Stress Eating: What It Is and How to Combat It

Stress Eating: What It Is and How to Combat It

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2026-06-17T07:21:33+00:00June 17th, 2026|Eating Disorders, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Stress eating, also known as emotional eating, is using food to help you cope with difficult emotions, manage stress, or fill a void within you that you don’t know how to fill. It is eating to fill your emotional needs rather than satisfy physical hunger and nourish your body. Stress eating can lead you to overeat and/or binge on high-calorie, sweet, and fatty foods that are detrimental to your health and sabotage weight-loss efforts if you are trying to lose. Key Difference Between Physical and Emotional Hunger Biological need versus emotional discomfort Physical hunger is a natural, biological response to the body’s need for nutrients and fuel to enable it to keep going. Emotional hunger, on the other hand, is triggered by how you feel rather than by your body’s physical needs and is an attempt to use food to cope with emotional issues, manage stress, soothe, comfort, relax, or numb. Physical sensations versus emotional triggers Physical hunger is an involuntary sensation triggered by a low energy state and the secretion of hunger hormones. Your brain uses physical signs such as a growling stomach, headache, difficulty concentrating, shakiness, lightheadedness, and/or weakness to communicate your body’s need for food. Emotional hunger, on the other hand, is triggered by emotional cues such as stress, sadness, boredom, loneliness, frustration, or even happiness. Gradual versus sudden Physical hunger tends to come on gradually and increase as your body continues to go without food. Emotional hunger, on the other hand, presents as an intense desire to eat something immediately, even if you have already eaten and are no longer physically hungry. Can wait, if necessary, versus immediate gratification With physical hunger, you can ignore the initial signs if you are busy with other things. Emotional hunger, on the other hand, demands instant gratification. Open [...]

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How Shame Can Make Chemical Dependency Worse

How Shame Can Make Chemical Dependency Worse

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2026-02-23T05:24:33+00:00February 23rd, 2026|Chemical Dependency, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

If you are dealing with chemical dependency, or know someone who is, you will know just how life-altering the struggle can be. There will be moments when it feels as if things could not get any worse, but sobriety often hinges on your mental attitude toward the struggle. Chemical dependency is a complex and often deeply rooted issue. The hook keeping most people from making progress on their journey to getting clean is shame. Shame blocks progress both for those dealing with chemical dependency and those supporting loved ones through it. Many aspects of life are affected and made worse when we feel ashamed of ourselves and our choices, but this feeling is almost always present for addicts and those trying to get clean. As you try to combat feelings of shame and failure, it can feel a lot like you are swimming against the tide. However, because shame is so often a component of addiction, it is possible to conquer both. In fact, it is difficult to get free from chemical dependency without also getting free from the shame you carry. The Chemical Dependency Iceberg Most people only begin to understand chemical dependency when they have personally struggled with substance addiction or know someone who has. It is easy to judge the surface of the issue, where it seems as if people continually make unwise choices until an undesirable lifestyle ensnares them. The same people who judge and shame addicts and alcoholics often have hidden dependencies of their own. Their personal dependencies and addictions might be more socially acceptable or even praiseworthy, such as being a workaholic or fitness addict. Meanwhile, they have developed these habits as ways of coping with deeper issues. There are a variety of reasons that people develop a chemical dependency, and none of these [...]

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6 Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

6 Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2026-01-14T07:23:13+00:00January 14th, 2026|ADHD/ADD, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Finding online research about the symptoms of ADHD in adults can be difficult. While there are plenty of articles about symptoms of ADHD in children, the research for adults is limited. However, based on qualitative findings and some quantitative research, here are six behaviors that can signify ADHD in an adult. Possible Symptoms of ADHD in Adults You struggle with restlessness For children, this may look like hyperactivity. In adults, it often feels like an inability to stop fidgeting or perhaps thoughts that run through your mind at a rapid pace. If you find yourself unable to focus on a task because your task makes you think of something else, and then another thought, and then a different thought, this could be a signal of restlessness. Still, other symptoms also need to be present (and comorbidities ruled out) before an ADHD diagnosis can be confirmed. Other symptoms of restlessness might include a fixation on stressful occurrences in your life or others’ lives, getting easily agitated by everyday concerns, or going from frustrated to extreme anger in a short period of time. Restlessness in adults can be a symptom of other issues, so it’s always best to reach out to a counselor at one of our offices to start the diagnostic process. You misplace items frequently Because focus and attention are typically a struggle, one of the symptoms of ADHD in adults that can change from childhood to adulthood is organization. If you were diagnosed as a child, this may mean you did not turn in projects on time, you frequently lost important homework or books, or you had a hard time keeping your room clean. For adults, the struggle with organization can be masked. However, it may be easier for you to recognize if the following “I” statements sound [...]

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Fighting Negative Body Image

Fighting Negative Body Image

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2025-12-20T06:39:45+00:00December 22nd, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Women’s Issues|

Perfect bodies. Perfect hair. Perfect clothing. Everywhere we look, we see society’s ideals of beauty and health. Yet, these ideals are unrealistic. Often, images are edited, filtered, touched up, or created by AI. But the outcome can leave us feeling inadequate and unattractive. Negative body image results in low self-esteem, poor self-confidence, and a dislike of the body and appearance. We stop taking opportunities because of self-consciousness. However, you can learn to fight negative body image and boost body positivity. What is negative body image? Negative body image is how you perceive yourself, often comparing yourself to others or society’s ideals, or listening to judgmental voices of other people. Negative body image can have a major impact on a person’s mental health. It can trigger anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and a loss of confidence. People with a negative body image may also find it difficult to maintain relationships, especially intimate ones. They may form toxic relationships or distance themselves from their spouse because they feel uncomfortable. Negative body image also contributes to extreme behavior, such as looking at oneself in the mirror excessively and having extreme or numerous cosmetic surgeries to attain a particular look. Even after all of these changes, an individual with negative body image may still feel unattractive. Overcoming negative body image requires acknowledging that there may be something missing, some deeper reason behind the thoughts and fears. Boost positive body image To overcome negative body image, we need to boost positive body image. A positive body image appreciates the body that you have, right now. It acknowledges the body’s capabilities and usefulness. It also makes us more aware of who we are aside from our appearance. When you appreciate your body for where it is now, you feel a sense of confidence and worth. You [...]

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Help for Single Moms: Ways to Find Support

Help for Single Moms: Ways to Find Support

D. Nicole Ready, Kate Motaung2026-03-27T10:13:00+00:00November 25th, 2025|Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Women’s Issues|

Being a parent brings many ups and downs. Children can bring loads of joy, but they also come with their fair share of strain and hardship. The cost of raising a child to adulthood in the United States was approximately $267,233 in 2021, according to a report by US News and World. Paid maternity leave, subsidized health and childcare, and universal preschool can help if you have access, but, regardless, raising children can cause incredible financial pressure to parents. How much more of a strain can it be if you are a single parent! Single moms face not only financial challenges, but also other unique difficulties. Besides being exciting and life-altering, motherhood also gives self-doubt, sleepless nights, and endless worries. Motherhood requires a great amount of patience and selflessness, and let’s be honest, every mother needs help along the way. The more support you have, the better. Whether you are a single mom who is looking for ways to flourish or you are someone seeking to be helpful to a single mom, this article is for you. We all need support from others to live our best lives, and in this, single moms are no different. If You Know a Single Mom If you have a single mama in your world, there are several things that you can do to help lighten her load. Some of these will take some emotional and financial investment, while others will require that you simply give of your time and thoughtfulness. Don’t require a backstory before you decide to help out The journey to someone being a single mom doesn’t look the same for everyone, and there are many reasons why someone may be a single mom. Whatever path has led her to being a single mom, you don’t need to know the [...]

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Signs That You Need Help for Alcohol Dependence

Signs That You Need Help for Alcohol Dependence

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2026-03-31T08:07:19+00:00June 20th, 2025|Chemical Dependency, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

🎧 Listen to this article https://planochristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Plano-Christian-Counseling-Signs-That-You-Need-Help-for-Alcohol-Dependence-1.mp3 Many people have a complicated relationship with alcohol. In one person’s experience, it may be related to happy and enjoyable memories, while for another, it’s associated with dark and painful ones. Each person must navigate how they will deal with alcohol, and it helps to be informed about some of the ways it can negatively affect someone. Various substances, such as prescription and recreational drugs, affect the brain. Likewise, alcohol can produce pleasurable feelings and also blunt negative ones. It has a powerful effect on the brain, which can make it appealing. This temporary relief can motivate someone to turn to alcohol again and again, even when it poses possible significant risks to their health and overall well-being. You can become dependent on alcohol even without recognizing it. What is alcohol dependence? When you depend on something, it means that it plays a significant role in your life. When a person is dependent on alcohol, they may feel as though they cannot function without consuming alcohol. Alcohol assumes an important role in their life, and often, they have to drink more and more of it in order to obtain the same effect as before. Alcohol becomes a priority, superseding other activities or obligations. When a person is dependent on alcohol, they may not only prioritize alcohol over other things like family or work, but they may continue to consume alcohol even when it becomes destructive. Even if they’ve begun experiencing the harmful consequences of drinking, such as getting a DUI, losing their job, being diagnosed with liver disease, or other mental health challenges, they will continue to drink. Alcohol dependence is marked by the impaired ability to stop or control one’s intake and use of alcohol. Alcohol dependence is one of a [...]

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Binge Eating Treatment Options: How to Help Women Recover

Binge Eating Treatment Options: How to Help Women Recover

Cyndi Kay Green2025-09-29T13:08:01+00:00May 26th, 2025|Eating Disorders, Featured, Individual Counseling, Women’s Issues|

Eating disorders have been responsible for a vast number of health issues in women for many years. One of these disorders is binge eating, which is the consumption of large amounts of food in a short time. It is common for these episodes to be done secretly or discreetly. Binge eating involves eating a large amount of food until miserably full, feeling disgusted after eating, and eating when not hungry. However, binge eating treatment options are available. Binge eating does not involve purging, so most individuals will gain weight. Most binge eaters may be obese, but that doesn’t mean that obese individuals engage in binge eating. This is one of the most common eating disorders among women, but men are also susceptible to struggling with binge eating disorder. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. – Zephaniah 3:17, ESV What creates the struggle with binge eating? Various factors play into the struggle with binge eating. The trigger for one woman may not be the same as for another, but most of the factors associated with binge eating disorder are common. It is not uncommon for women who struggle with binge eating to use it to escape pain. A family pattern of eating disorders A pattern of dysfunctional emotional coping History of trauma or abuse The presence of a mood disorder ADHD Food insecurity Anxiety Substance abuse Body dysmorphic disorder Identifying the Symptoms Women who struggle with binge eating disorder don’t have symptoms that are readily identified. They typically do not purge, fast, or engage in intense exercise after eating. This disorder is not the same as overeating on occasion. It [...]

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