PTSD

You’re enjoying a lovely road trip when all of a sudden you think about your car driving off the road or your dog dying. Intrusive thoughts like these can be deeply unsettling, but they’re also common. When unwanted thoughts pop up, it’s natural to wonder where they came from, why…

Have you ever startled awake, wondering, “why are my dreams so violent?” Maybe you had a dream about a creepy clown chasing you, insisting on giving you a shot. Maybe you dreamt about getting in a violent fight with someone you know. Whatever it might be, a scary or violent…

Have you ever paused mid-conversation and wondered if you’re using a mental health term correctly? Maybe you’ve described feeling “triggered” by something at work, or found yourself questioning whether a situation was really “toxic” or just frustrating. These moments of uncertainty have become part of a cultural shift where mental…

There may come a time when someone with a mental health condition—like depression, anxiety, or PTSD—needs your help. While these conditions require proper treatment from a mental health professional, you can provide meaningful support through comfort, reassurance, and simply being present. When a friend or family member says, “I’m feeling…

Hyperfixation is a unique state of mind that goes far beyond a simple hobby or interest. Unlike casual interests, hyperfixations are intense, obsessive, and persistent—often taking precedence over everyday tasks and responsibilities. While commonly linked to conditions like ADHD, hyperfixation can happen to both neurodivergent and neurotypical people, shaping how…

You’re standing in the kitchen, making coffee as you scroll through your Instagram feed and reply to a quick work email. Then—ding!—a reminder about tomorrow’s dentist appointment pops up, immediately followed by a breaking news notification and two direct messages from your boss. Suddenly, the lights seem a little too…

Trauma dumping refers to a situation where an individual shares their traumatic experiences in an overwhelming, often boundary-violating manner without the listener’s consent. While it’s not  always intentional, trauma dumping typically crosses interpersonal boundaries and may cause the listener to feel overwhelmed or trapped.  Learn more about how to spot…

Everyone has a disturbing dream from time to time. However, when these dreams become persistent, they can interfere with one’s everyday life. And when this happens, it could be a sign of nightmare disorder.

After experiencing a traumatic or emotionally scarring event, the fear, pain, and helplessness felt in that moment can linger and affect someone’s life in the weeks and months after it happens. This reaction is completely understandable, as events like those are extremely harmful and can certainly change the life of…

New research finds that people with PTSD who do not receive treatment have a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. This research also finds that veterans diagnosed with PTSD (who are more likely to receive treatment for PTSD compared with the general population) have a reduced risk of…

As September 11 approaches, many Americans brace for impact. After 20 years, we have come to expect the grief, the sadness, the fear, the anger. Or, even an overwhelm of all of these emotions at once. For some—especially those who lost loved ones on this fateful day—it never gets easier;…

The unfortunate reality is that mental illnesses do go undiagnosed, for years or even lifetimes. There are multiple layers to why this occurs, including the individual’s failure to recognize that something is wrong or that the problem requires mental health treatment—additionally, many are hesitant to seek treatment out of fear…