In the midst of tragedy — or an event that causes great suffering and distress — parents have the difficult job of talking to their children about it. While the topic should often be avoided with kids under 7 years of age who are too young to understand tragedy, it…
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder characterized by impaired functioning, serious personality changes, and emotional lability People with this condition typically struggle to maintain stable relationships and self-image. BPD is associated with numerous other psychiatric conditions, including depression, substance use disorder, and anxiety disorders. Environmental and social factors…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This year, it provides the opportunity to celebrate and reinforce decreased stigmatization of mental health. Mental Health Awareness Month also serves to bring attention to the groups most susceptible to mental health conditions, including young women, people of color, and frontline and healthcare workers….
If you want to get a quick picture of what a refugee or asylum seeker might feel, put yourself in their shoes for a moment: What would you carry if you had to leave your home abruptly, perhaps forever? Everyone is one major humanitarian crisis away from refugee status, no…
Grief can unfold differently for each individual mourning a difficult loss, but a common emotion that arises is anger. If you feel angry after losing a loved one, you should first ask yourself where that anger might stem from: Are you angry at the situation, the person, maybe a spiritual…
Mental disorders (aka mental illnesses) are health conditions that involve changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior—or some combination of the three. Mental disorders are connected with distress and/or impairment in functioning, whether that be socially, occupationally, or in some other dimension of life. According to the National Institute of Mental…
Any kind of abuse—whether it be physical, emotional, mental, sexual, etc.—can lead to PTSD, as abuse is a highly emotionally distressing experience. The overactivation of stress hormones causes the victim of abuse to experience a fight, flight or freeze response, which makes it near impossible for the individual to focus…
Sometimes, we are so invested in our favorite sports teams that we experience symptoms of depression when they lose a big game or when the season comes to a close. These symptoms can cause serious harm, but the good news is that there are effective techniques for recovering from sports…
While moving can be a positive experience for a family, moving with kids often has some negative implications for the children involved. Moving has the most profound impact on kids over the age of 5, as it’s particularly difficult for them to leave behind friends and adjust in a new…
When the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was released, it no longer included a “bereavement exclusion” for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Clinicians acknowledged that though there is such a thing as “normal grief”, or “uncomplicated bereavement”, that doesn’t mean grief…
Depression is an unpleasant mental health condition that many people experiences; fortunately, the best pets for depression can help us resolve those lonely, painful feelings. Dogs often prove to be great pets and they come with mental health benefits including stress and anxiety reduction, a boost in self-esteem, and improved…
Many people begin feeling lonely with they don’t have a significant other to spend time and share in life with. That being said, you don’t need another to fulfill you: you can enjoy the single life and find fulfillment without a romantic partner. If you’re feeling lonely while single, think…