Mental health challenges in teenagers are real and widespread. Teens have endured unprecedented rates of anxiety and depression the past couple years. Besides the obvious emotional toll of covid-19, remote learning and isolation, there’s the deficits in social skills, too much social media, and too many self-diagnoses of social anxiety. And then there’s the parents. […]
All The Psychology
22 Simple Mental Health Tips for 2022
Happy New Year, friends! It’s been a minute, but here’s some tried and true mental health tips to increase emotional and physical well-being. The thing about mental wellness is you don’t need a lot of strategies, just the right ones practiced with commitment and consistency. And you can do hard things. We all can. Regardless […]
Journal Your Way Toward Improved Mental Health
“Dear Diary…” When you think of “journaling,” you might envision a teen girl sitting on her bed and pouring her heart and soul into a notebook. You may have been this kid. But expressive writing is much more. Journaling is a powerful tool for adults, too. It’s a form of self-expression that can bring words, […]
What If 2020 Is Only the Beginning?
The following is inspired by a therapy client who recently left counseling. Permission was granted to share a portion of our last session together. I hope this helps you cope with uncertainty, too. Obvious and tragic reasons aside, 2020 has been devastating. When we’re overwhelmed with uncertainty, identifying themes can help us narrow the focus and […]
Coping with Anticipatory Anxiety and Uncertainty
Anticipatory anxiety occurs when you feel dread and fear about an upcoming event, and limited information is available to you. While not a stand-alone mental health diagnosis, anticipatory anxiety is a symptom of other conditions including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The good news is anxiety is highly treatable. Create a Calm Plan and […]
12 Resources to Get You Through a Mental Health Tsunami
March 16, 2020 marks the day the world as we knew it, changed. Nearly 7 months later, not much has changed. And everything has changed. No vaccine exists for COVID-19. Racial injustices, police brutality, politicking, protesting and divisiveness pervades society. The point is not to tell you what you already know, or don’t know. We […]
The Undisputed Truth About Human Behavior and COVID-19
“My coronavirus anxiety is off the charts! My family has fallen apart and no one agrees on conditions for gatherings.” “I fear I won’t see my in-laws because my mother won’t babysit anymore if I visit their home.” “What can I do when my aunt refuses to leave her house?” A snapshot of common concerns […]
How Healthy Anxious People Harness Anxiety
“At the end of the day, anxious people get the job done,” is a phrase I often share with my worrisome clients. Because at the end of the day, we’re not working on a vaccine for COVID-19. Humor and perspective always help. Benefits do exist from occupying an overactive central nervous system. Namely, you will […]
19 Ways to Support Your Mental Health During COVID-19
1. Don’t allow COVID-19 to distract you from your mental health issues. We all have mental health, and 1 in 4 of us suffers from a mental health condition. Or as my grad school professor wisely said, “It’s not us (therapists) versus you (clients). We’re all in this together and we’re all on the spectrum […]
The Anxiety Angle Nobody Talks About (but Should)
Whether scrambling to meet a work deadline or cramming for the MCAT, how you interpret the anxiety-provoking event will determine its outcome. One thing is certain, anxiety is hard to ignore. When a stressful situation arises, the fight-or-flight response hijacks your body and within seconds, a succession of catastrophic thoughts invade your mind. The physical […]