Positive Affirmations for Social Anxiety Disorder

Positive Affirmations for Social Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print Using Positive Affirmations to Ease Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on April 08, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 13, 2020 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children d3sign / Getty Images If you suffer from social anxiety disorder (SAD) you probably have a habit of saying negative things to yourself. You might catch yourself thinking such things as: I have nothing to sayPeople think I am weirdEveryone can tell I am nervous Part of the process of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is to learn how to retrain your brain so that you start thinking in more helpful and adaptive ways. Another way to improve your thoughts is by using positive affirmations. What Are Positive Affirmations? Positive affirmations are a method of giving yourself encouraging feedback rather than constantly bombarding your mind with negativity. The words that you say to yourself affect your mood and behavior; changing your thoughts from negative to positive may have an impact on the way that you feel. Effectiveness Do positive affirmations really work? Can changing what you say to yourself change how you feel? Research is mixed about the effectiveness of positive affirmations.  In one study, people who already had high self-esteem felt better after using positive affirmations, while those with low self-esteem felt worse. It seems that there is the potential for positive affirmations to make some people feel worse about themselves; possibly because the new thoughts are so different from how they currently feel that they just highlight their own feelings of inadequacy. How to Choose and Use Them in Daily Life What does this mean if you are choosing to use affirmations? Pick ones that have some basis in fact or that you already somewhat believe in. Instead of telling yourself that you are an amazing public speaker who never feels anxious, say that you are capable and can manage. Below are some tips for using positive affirmations in your daily life. Positive affirmations should be phrased in the present tense. For example, I am confident in social situations.They should be said in the most positive way possible without any negative language. For example, instead of I must stop shaking say I feel calm.Statements should be simple, precise and clear. Keep them short so that you can say them in one breath.In order to construct your affirmations, start with the negative statements that you make to yourself. Then, change them into their positive equivalents. For example, instead of I have nothing to say, repeat I can hold a conversation.Repeat your affirmations throughout the day or make a tape recording that you can listen to periodically. Do this even if you feel awkward or like you dont completely believe them at first. Make them easy to access by keeping cue cards handy. Remember that your goal is to talk to yourself in the same manner as a coach or mentor. Instead of inhibiting your actions or distorting your perceptions, your words and thoughts should uplift you. It will take time and repetition for the affirmations to feel more comfortable and true. Start with statements that are positive but that closely align with how you feel now and gradually move toward bolder statements as you feel more confident. Although you can use general affirmations for social anxiety, those that you create yourself and that are tailored to your own life will be most effective.

Evaluation Of A Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Introduction Affecting around 350 million people around the world (WHO, 2015) and one in five adults in Australia (Reavley et al. 2011), depression is a mental health disorder that presents a high social and economic impact. The World Health Organisation has predicted that depression will be the disorder with the resulting highest level of disability in the world by 2030, making it one of the health topics in their agenda (WHO, 2015). Here in Australia, this disorder costs the economy approximately 12.6 billion dollars per year and is responsible for over six million working days of lost productivity (Manicavasagar, 2012). Preventing depression to appear is a good step to follow to reduce these statistics. This paper will focus on the†¦show more content†¦It goes beyond feeling sad or moody for a few days because for people that suffer depression these feelings can last weeks, months or even years without an apparent reason. Depression symptoms are varied and not equal between every person. Depression usually appears between the ages of 15 and 30 years old and women are more susceptible to suffer from depression. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a well-recognized treatment especially for minor depression. It links the thoughts of a person with its actions and how they influence the person’s feelings. In this therapy, negative thoughts are identified as well as the actions that follow these thoughts, by doing so, they can be changed and depressive feelings can be prevented. (NIMH, 2015) MoodGYM MoodGym webpage describes itself as â€Å"an innovative, interactive web program designed to prevent depression. It consists of five modules, an interactive game, anxiety and depression assessments, downloadable relaxation audio, a workbook and feedback assessment.† It is a web-based program developed by the National Institute for Mental Health Research launched in 2004 and that currently has over 850,000 registered users around the world. (NIMHR, 2015) The program starts with an assessment module consisting of three quizzes for depression, anxiety and warpy thoughts with close answers. These quizzes will be taken also after the

A Comfortable Type Of Native And Carry Congenital Defect

A comfortable type of native and Carry congenital defect Moore National impact square measure currently poignant Department of Education and can still have an effect on education till self-addressed and resolved. Overcrowded building space , deficit of provides, low salaries for educator, broken-down buildings, and high substitute teacher use square measure a couple of of the event negatively poignant shoal clip across the state. even if a couple of of those job are settled, several still stay. These problems square measure determined by the localisation of the college time and also the case of faculty, whether or not non-public, public, or charter. The stream problems in education of explicit vexation to Pine Tree State square measure†¦show more content†¦Finally, the Bit was expected to spring shoal s with the best range of poor youngsters resources, and meant to present all states a bigger flexibility in however their cash was spent. considerably, the main target on these ordered tests once the utilization of the No Shaver Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by calculable Frequency) of noun leave Behind flip raised the didactics of interpretation and arithmetic to an entire new spirit story . With (schoolhouse path) focusing most of its sentence on reading and arithmetic, scores have inflated across the prohibitionist, however an outsized gap among intellect still exists. people who square measure good influence be smarter, however those students United Nations agency struggle still appear to struggle. The pure learning of facts being Edward Teach Underneath these precondition goes to negatively have an effect on students within the futurity upon coming into high school and school, and on their life history efforts. additionally, the profits of the No shaver Left Behind Act square measure currently being debated. Some lecturers and policymakers questioned the flexibility to truly be done and paleness of its goals and dimension frames (No kid Left Behind, 20 04). The expectation of this Act square measure inflicting contention between the nice unwashed a few sure topic thanks to sentence

A charity appeal letter for Action Against Hunger Free Essays

I am the director of a company called Action against Hunger which You may have heard of, I am writing to you to ask your generosity and kindness to those less fortunate than you. I am hoping that you can spare a small amount of time to read my letter, and consider making a donation. You may be thinking that this is just another junk letter asking for money for a worthless cause, but we need your help. We will write a custom essay sample on A charity appeal letter for Action Against Hunger or any similar topic only for you Order Now Firstly, Action against hunger is an organisation that helps children and adults all around the world suffering from malnutrition Action against Hunger’s vision is of a world without hunger. A world in which all children and adults have sufficient food and water, equitable access to the resources that sustain life, and are able to attain these with dignity. Our mission is to save lives by eliminating hunger through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations of conflict, war and natural disaster. From crisis to sustainability, we tackle the underlying causes of malnutrition and its effects. By integrating our programmes with local and national systems we further ensure that short-term interventions become long-term solutions. As you can see, we do a lot of things for people that are less fortunate than us, and we need all the donation we can get to keep this going. Your support is immensely powerful. Regardless of the amount, it enables our field workers to save lives, feeding children on the brink of death, helping isolated and vulnerable communities, and providing families with clean and safe drinking water. You can change a person’s life. So why wait? Furthermore, the expected rains across large areas of the region (including north east Kenya and large parts of Somalia) have failed, leading to an severe food crisis. Thousands of families, including around 70,000 children, have been forced to flee the drought-stricken homes to survive, with many joining overcrowded refugee camps. What if you were in this position? And you were the one begging for food. They do need your help, or the worse could happen. No person was born to die. So help fight global hunger! How to cite A charity appeal letter for Action Against Hunger, Papers

Buddhist Temple Visit free essay sample

Buddhism is religion that is based off of peace and spirituality taught by the teachings of Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gotama. Many who follow its teachings believe Buddhism to be more of a way of life or lifestyle choice rather a religion. Buddha is not a god, but one man that taught his followers a path of enlightenment from his experiences and values. Buddha’s main teachings were the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths were teachings about suffering, pain, disease, happiness, loneliness, and aging.It explained why we as humans can overcome certain obstacles in our lives by looking at the more spiritual side of things such as â€Å"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. † (Dalai Lama). The Eightfold Path is the teachings of being moral, being aware of our actions and thoughts, developing compassion for others, and most importantly gaining wisdom from the understanding of The Four Noble Truths. We will write a custom essay sample on Buddhist Temple Visit or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I visited the Vietnamese Buddhist Center in Sugar Land this past Sunday and it was a sight to behold.The center was surrounded by a green metal fencing with some sort of crest or emblem that looked similar to an steering wheel on an old ship. Driving into the center, the main road was split then split into two smaller roads. The road to the left led to a parking lot, while the road to the right led to a smaller parking lot surrounded by small buildings that seem to be places of worship. The scenery that over hung the roads were statues of lion heads, beautiful trees and flowers in all sorts of colors.The main statue however was a huge tall Buddha in the middle of large pond filled with Koi Fish. There was a small tiled area that visitors could take pictures of the statue in its amazing and beautiful nature. The aura of the place was one of peace and tranquility. The small tiled visitor area was then extended by an overhanging wooden bridge leading to a large tiled courtyard with small trees that was around the perimeter. In the middle of the courtyard was two rows of small trees that were placed vertical to the steps of a large temple, which was the main place of worship.Behind the main temple was another small courtyard was two smaller buildings for worship to the left and the right of the courtyard. Another large building was to the back which looked fairly newly built. It seemed to be a place of serving food that contained no meat but some sort of meat substitute that was not artificially made from what the servers were telling me. Then to the right of that building was a small warehouse that looked to house desks and whiteboards for the weekly Vietnamese classes that are being held there.Outside of the warehouse was a basketball goal for the students that would come for Sunday school, and a small parking lot for more visitors. As I took off my shoes before entering the main temple before the first worship session began, I began to feel a sense of peace within myself as well those that were atten ding the worship session. Inside the main temple was a huge statue of Buddha surrounded with white silhouettes of the Lotus flower, which seems to be the symbol of peace. Tens of incense jars filled with sand litter the alter the room.The room smelled like incense, pleasant and peaceful. There were twenty rows of small cushions that were used for kneeling and sitting, and twenty rows of small raised shelves that were used for holding the prayers that were going to be recited during that session. People were filling the room really quickly, and seats were being taken fast. The elders were given their seats first, and if an elder came a tad late, someone would give them their spot and moved to the side of the room. Everyone was dressed somewhat casually. Most of the older occupants were wearing work clothes like the men wearing slacks and a nice fitted collared shirt, while the women would wear either a dress or slacks and nice top or blouse. The younger occupants, ones of my age or younger, would just be wearing casual school clothes like jeans and a tee shirt. In such a religious place, I have not yet witnessed a young female wearing short-shorts or any revealing outfit for that matter. The room was filled with a mild chatter of Vietnamese and English.Most conversations that I could comprehend were mostly of those catching up with each other and wondering how each other was doing and such. The younger occupants would be talking about the latest craze in music or movies. It suddenly got quiet as there was three loud bangs from striking of the gong to commence the prayers. The head monk for that prayer came out from one of the side doors in a traditional orange robe holding a microphone in his right hand, and prayer sheets in his left. He thanked us all for coming today and briefly explained he prayer we were going to be reciting. The prayer was for those that had lost a loved one, and for them not to be sad as their loved ones have found peace and tranquility as the moved on into the steps of enlightenment and eventually reincarnation. He then turned to the giant Buddha towards the front of the room and began reciting as everyone joined in and recited along. Everyone was on their knees having their hands together as they recited the prayer either from memory or from the pieces of paper that had three pages of prayers in Vietnamese.I could not read the prayers so I just silently glanced at them and tried to make sense of where we were in the prayers. Then one of the monks hit the small drum which everyone bowed for a few short seconds then returned to their original positions. Then a few moments later the drum was struck again, everyone bowed, but now stood up instead of returning to their knees. Then again, the small drum was struck, everyone bowed then returned to being on their knees. The prayer was now being recited faster as a drum was being struck with a beat in quick succession.This was repeated three times and when the prayers were being done recited, the head monk told those that have lost a loved one to follow him into the incense room. I followed about four families into that room. The room had pictures of everyone that had passed away that was a member of the temple. Families that were in that room had a special prayer and ceremony to honor their loved one. The monk said that one member of the family shall come up to the alter, drink a sacred tea and pour a small cup in honor of their loved one.A drum was struck as everyone started to recite a prayer. During the reciting, another monk came and tapped the four members that represented their families with some sort of sacred text. Then the prayer stopped as the four members went to the front, poured their tea, drank it, and poured it for their deceased loved one. Before everyone excited the room, every person was given three incense to pray and let their deceased loved ones know of their prayers today.They would bow three times, pause to pray, went up to the alter, placed their incense into the jar, returned to their spot, and lastly bow three times once more. That was my experience in a Buddhist Temple, the peace and tranquility of the people, and the monks was quite wholesome. Being a young adult, I never really understood the importance of religion and culture, but after visiting a place like this†¦ It really opened my eyes to how a religion can bring peace and everlasting faith within a person.

The tragedy cannot exist in your analysis of Hamlet Essay Example For Students

The tragedy cannot exist in your analysis of Hamlet? Essay In the situation wherein God is dead, then, tragedy of an Aristotelian nature categorically cannot exist, whether in terms of strict form or in terms of audience reaction to the situation presented. Conversely, suppose that God is indeed clearly known: under such circumstances, Hamlet is highly likely to let God judge the fate of Claudius, even to forgive Claudius, thus revenge cannot be exacted, directly violating Freytags Pyramid in that there would be no rising action or climax, meaning that the situation does not become worse for the tragic hero, inhibiting mythos. We will write a custom essay on The tragedy cannot exist in your analysis of Hamlet? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Additionally, the lack of climax would mean the eradication of any feeling of catharsis, a crucial aspect of tragedy. It is the feeling of catharsis, according to Aristotle, which allows the audience to gauge emotions correctly, meaning that he thinks of tragedy as a calibrator of sorts. Fundamentally, the scale of the tragedy witnessed in the play would usually dwarf the problems in the lives of the audience, purging them, theoretically making them feel happier: this cathartic concept in particular central to the primary purpose of tragedy thus, the removal of the cathartic effect and of mimesis through verification of God has a hugely weakening effect on tragedy. However, speaking from a Marxist perspective (which is of course the perspective from which the quote in the title is derived), catharsis is not always desirable. Bertolt Brecht, another Marxist and a prominent dramatist, believed that his plays should be a representation of reality, but not reality itself: he did not want a perfect representation of human emotion, which Constantin Stanislavski endorsed, but instead proposed his own Verfremdungseffetkt or distancing effect theory, making scenes alien to the audience in order to discomfort them: he is scathing of Aristotles idea of catharsis in Poetics in his own theoretic work A Short Organum for the Theatre, saying that the cathartic effect left the audience unconcerned, even apathetic, that what the ancients, following Aristotle, demanded of tragedy is nothing higher or lower than it should entertain people9, rather than making them recognise social injustice and feel a sense of duty to society. Thus the removal of catharsis via the confirmation of Gods existence, while diminishing an Aristotelian aspect of tragedy, may well enhance Marxist tragedy. In the event that God is clearly known, perhaps Claudius does not kill King Hamlet at all, as the ultimate consequences of his actions would be laid bare before him, and the fear of damnation exceeds his greed, meaning the entire plot (mythos, which includes peripateia and nearly all aspects of tragedy) collapses. Even if Hamlet chooses to seek revenge, he would be seen as foolish by the audience (especially the typical Elizabethan audience, who were typically God-fearing and strongly Christian), as he knows that God will unquestionably punish him, and that God would have punished Claudius regardless of Hamlets own actions, again diminishing pathos and with it the overall tragic qualities of the play. However, perhaps tragedy may still exist in a less strict sense if God is dead or clearly known. If God was clearly known, and yet the killing of King Hamlet, who the audience have been told multiple times was a just and honest ruler (So excellent a king that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr10), was allowed to continue, the (short-term, at least) success of evil over good could yet inspire pathos, a feeling of sympathy from the audience towards Hamlet (although this may be more the case for the more emotionally empathetic and less God-fearing modern audience rather than the more devoutly religious Elizabethan audience), as he must then question the morality of God, pondering whether God is necessarily omnibenevolent there would still be scope for uncertainty, even with the verified existence of God. .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c , .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .postImageUrl , .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c , .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:hover , .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:visited , .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:active { border:0!important; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:active , .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6104d77681d377e56f607adee712301c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Critical Analysis Of A Midsummer Nights Dream EssayIn Hamlet, uncertainty is the key to tragedy: it is uncertainty which lends Hamlet his fatal flaw, which results in the mistakes that lead him to his ineluctable death and the collapse of the Danish royal family. Also, ambiguity concerning the nature of the Ghost and its importance relative to God (should God exist) could also inspire procrastination within Hamlet: should he obey his father, his creator, or the ultimate creator? Furthermore, as mentioned above, the apparent declining importance of God in Hamlets motivation and reasoning as the play progresses is indicative of the fact that tragedy can still exist (and no t be hugely impacted at that) without God as a factor. It is therefore possible to achieve aspects of tragedy while categorically affirming or denying the existence of a God. Overall, though, the general ambiguity regarding God is vital in preserving true tragedy. Goldmanns quote may have been borne mainly out of his Marxist tendencies, but its message holds true for Hamlet. And while it has been established that certain facets of tragedy (pathos and hamartia) can remain in the face of hypothetical absolute truth, some components of tragedy are usually lost when God is dead or clearly known, as hope and faith, according to Marxism at least, fuels acceptance of social injustice and perpetuates suffering. BIBLIOGRAPHY Hamlet William Shakespeare Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right Karl Marx Marxist Literary Theory Terry Eagleton Drew Milne Word Count 1615 1 Karl Marx, Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right: (Cambridge University Press, 1970), p. 1 2 William Shakespeare, The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, The Second Quarto 1604-5, (The Arden Shakespeare, 2006), p. 285 3 Shakespeare, Hamlet, p. 176 4 Shakespeare, Hamlet, p. 278 5 Shakespeare, Hamlet, p. 285 6 Marx, Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right, p. 2 7 Marx, Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right, p. 2 8 Shakespeare, Hamlet, p. 176 9 Bertolt Brecht, A Short Organum for the Theatre, in Marxist Literary Theory by Terry Eagleton Drew Milne, (Blackwell Publishers, 1999) p. 110 10 Shakespeare, Hamlet, p. 177.

The Coffered Ceiling in Architecture and Your Home

The Coffered Ceiling in Architecture and Your Home A coffered ceiling is a pattern of indentations or recesses in an overhead surface. In architecture, a coffer is a sunken panel in a ceiling, including the interior surfaces of domes and vaults. If a surface is coffered, it is not smooth. The architectural detail has been popular since Renaissance architects imitated Classical Roman techniques. Modernist architects often play with the depth and shape of the coffer. Key Takeaways: Coffered Ceilings A coffered ceiling is a series of indentations or hollows on the surface of a ceiling. Coffered ceilings decoratively hide ceiling imperfections and create the illusion of height. Historically, the design is considered dignified and formal.Simple coffered ceilings are created by crisscrossing beams that create geometric patterns, usually squares or rectangles. The word coffer comes from the ancient Greek word kophinos, which means basket. The Latin word for basket, cophinus, was adopted by the old French to mean various types of hollowed containers. The words coffer, a chest or strongbox to hold money, and coffin, a box for the dead, are both French derivations. The Latin word capsa, meaning box, evolved into the words caisson (an ammunition chest) and casket (same as coffin). Caisson ceiling is another term used to describe this type of ceiling hollow. The Chinese name for this type of ceiling, zaojing, means a well for plants that grow in water. The Latin word lacus, meaning lake or basin of water, is also used for this type of sunken panel (lacunar) ceiling. Coffers have been used in ceilings for centuries. Sometimes they were used to disguise the architectural engineering, where one beam or brace would be structurally necessary but others were built neaby for visual symmetry and to hide the necessary beam. Although hollows are sometimes used for structural weight distribution, coffers have always been used decoratively. Historically, a coffered ceiling can make a room look larger and more regal, as it does in the Palace of Versaille. Coffered ceilings are sometimes called caisson ceilings, plafond caissons, lacunaria, cross-beamed ceilings, and zaojing. Sometimes the English refer to these ceilings as coffer ceilings but never cougher ceilings. Coffered ceilings are found throughout architecture, from the Pantheon in Rome to the mid-century modern residence called Sunnylands at Rancho Mirage, California. The architect of Sunnylands used coffers inside and outside, to visually connect interior spaces with the outdoors. Exterior Detail at Sunnylands. The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company via flickr.com, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) cropped Coffers are not to be confused with latticework, a particularly important element in Islamic architecture. Like coffers, lattice is created with crisscrossed building materials, often pieces of wood, but lattice is arranged in decorative patterns to allow air through screens and windows, as in mashrabiya and jali. Coffered ceilings also should not be confused with the popular tray ceilings found in many large suburban homes. A tray ceiling is often a feature that enlarges a small kitchen or dining room without manipulating the footprint of the room. A tray ceiling has one, large sunken area in the ceiling, like one coffer, or an inverted tray. Creating Coffers Coffers are the sunken geometric areas in a ceiling, but most ceilings begin as a flat surface. Where do the coffers come from? Coffers can be created in at least two ways: (1) place a roof beam or crossbeam framework that naturally creates a space between the beams - the space appears sunken because the beams protrude; or (2) remove ceiling material, as you would carving a hole, or press into a flat surface to create an indentation, as you might create a sunken imprint into uncured concrete. Choosing the first method will take away ceiling height. Choosing the second method gains extra space for the rooms overall volume. Most coffered ceilings are created using the first method carried out in different ways. Unfinished Coffered Ceiling. Brian Moloney The Finishing Company Richmond via flickr.com, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) cropped Creating the design framework can be handcrafted by a carpenter like Brian Moloney, owner of The Finishing Company in the Richmond, Virginia area. Maloney is a finish carpenter, but that doesnt mean he comes from Finland. In fact, he comes from Ireland. Finishing is just one of the many carpentry skills of a master carpenter. Coffered Ceiling Built by Brian Moloney, Finish Carpenter from Ireland. Brian Moloney The Finishing Company Richmond via flickr.com, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) cropped An easier drop ceiling method is often used by commercial developers, manufacturers, and do-it-yourselfers (DIYs). Companies such as Classic Coffers can be hired to install a grid (sometimes beneath a fixed ceiling), then the panel coffers are placed within the grid. These arent the tacky looking drop ceilings of your grandmothers basement. A coffered drop ceiling can be created to look exactly like the wood finishing of a master carpenter. Only Brian Moloney could tell the difference. The DIY may buy a box of polystyrene foam tiles - faux tin like tiles - that purportedly can be installed right over Pop Corn ceiling. Its your choice. A less well-known method of creating coffers is offered by none other than Michelangelo. The Renaissance master manipulated the illusion of space with trompe loeil, a painting technique that tricks the eye into believing a certain reality. Michelangelo used his artistic skills to paint many of the three-dimensional moldings and crossbeams, creating the illusion of coffers in the most famous ceiling of all time, the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome. Which is wood and which is paint? Detail of Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo. Fotopress/Getty Images (cropped) Photo Credit Tray Ceiling, irina88w/Getty Images