Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Research Study Finds People with Less Money Find Greater Pleasure in Relationships, Connectedness by Taylor Bennett on Jan 4, 2018 Just this past weekend, I was playing the classic game of “Would You Rather” with a few close friends when an ever-popular question was proposed: would you rather have a low-paying job that you love or a high-paying job that you hate? Some of us declared our answers immediately, while…
Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics Youth Football Can Impair Mood and Behavior Later in Life by Taylor Bennett on Jan 4, 2018 When my little brother turned 10 years old, he expressed a sudden interest in playing football. This was a shock to say the least, as my siblings and I grew up living and breathing soccer, basketball, even tennis—basically every sport but football. And the unchartered territory made us nervous. Even…
Disorders, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Topics Sociopath vs. Psychopath: What Is the Difference? by Taylor Bennett on Jan 4, 2018 There are a lot of words we throw around nonchalantly: two of those being sociopath and psychopath. Mr. Daron is a psychopath, he made us dissect frogs in class today. She never talks to anybody, she’s a complete sociopath. As you can see, it’s easy to declare someone a sociopath…
Mental Health Topics, Psychology, Self-Improvement 5 Pieces of Professional Advice for the New Year by Taylor Bennett on Dec 28, 2017 The coming of the new year elicits a wide range of emotions: excitement, anxiety, relief, apprehension, happiness, and even fear. Some of us are ready to embark on a new journey and leave the past behind, while others aren’t so sure about what lies ahead. Whatever the case, we could…
Mental Health Topics, Relationships Singing in Groups Could Make You Happier and Boost Your Wellbeing by Taylor Bennett on Dec 27, 2017 Music is an incredible force of nature. It has the power to relieve us of stress, boost our mood, and calm us down when we need it most. Furthermore, it is the backbone of an effective form of therapy: simply called music therapy. Music therapy is an established health profession,…
Family, Mental Health Topics A Father’s Rejection Can Increase Social Anxiety and Loneliness in Children by Taylor Bennett on Dec 22, 2017 Everybody can benefit from some time spent alone—most even desire some peace and quiet to themselves. Too much alone time, however, can result in feelings of loneliness and negatively impact our mental health, as a healthy and happy life demands we maintain loving interpersonal relationships: with friends, old and new;…
Family, Mental Health Topics Spending Time Together in Nature Has Positive Effects on Family Relationships by Taylor Bennett on Dec 22, 2017 An abundance of research has shown that spending time in nature—even just 5 minutes—can yield amazing benefits, such as: stress reduction, mood improvement, increased concentration, and a boost in overall wellbeing. And you don’t have to go to any extremes to reap said benefits either, you can simply go for…
Depression, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Does Winter Make You SAD? A Story of Seasonal Affective Disorder by Taylor Bennett on Dec 22, 2017 Depression Portrait: Seasonal Affective Disorder Emily’s mood darkened. She lost touch with her closest friends. She mixed up the names of the kids she worked with. And at home, she found herself watching way too much television: not her old favorite smart dramas and Comedy Central programs, but reality shows…
Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics, Parenting Kids Should Exercise at Their Own Pace: Doing So Improves Their Ability to Learn by Taylor Bennett on Dec 21, 2017 Some of my favorite memories from grade school wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for P.E. class: tackling Holiday-themed obstacle courses, learning how to play my soon-to-be favorite sport (soccer), and crab-crawling across the floor in a fit of laughter alongside friends. I had a blast in gym class and looked…
Mental Health Topics, Parenting What Is Coddling? Is It Harmful? by Taylor Bennett on Dec 21, 2017 When people go off to college, they’re essentially “leaving the nest.” For the last 18 years they’ve lived in arm’s length of their parents, and then suddenly… it’s time to fly solo. This rang mostly true for me: upon moving into my dorm, I embraced a newfound independence. But I…
Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics Air Pollution Contributes to Bad Behavior Among Teens, Study Says by Taylor Bennett on Dec 21, 2017 If you live in the city—or even a slightly urban area—you can probably look to the sky and point out a cloud of smog: funneling from factories or just hanging out on the rooftops. This is the most obvious and familiar form of air pollution… but it’s not the only…
Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics I Want Counseling, But My Nerves Are Getting the Best of Me by Taylor Bennett on Dec 18, 2017 Therapy—whether it be a more traditional approach like psychotherapy or an abstract approach like art therapy—is designed to help individuals work through their problems and adapt healthier behaviors. Here at Thriveworks, we believe that everyone can benefit from counseling or coaching: a woman whose just been diagnosed with OCD; a…