Mental Health Topics

“How do I achieve my goals?” This is probably the most common inquiry on Google. People are always looking for tools to help them achieve their greatest goals and dreams. Yet, the best tool for this matter lies within ourselves. It’s our curiosity. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer says that you should…

If you are in recovery from addiction, you know what I’m talking about when I say, “relapse dreams.” This is when you wake up anxious, covered in sweat, because you just had a hyperrealistic dream that you were taking, or about to take, your drug of choice that previously caused…

Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training, or IMST, is exercising the muscles you use to breathe in. And according to researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder, it could improve your physical and mental health. This practice involves breathing in vigorously through a hand-held device. The team found that engaging in…

Most youth football helmets lack sufficient front padding. This, from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, which rated every youth football helmet on the market. Only seven of these helmets received a perfect score for effectively reducing head acceleration during impact. Those with lower ratings typically had front padding that was…

Millions of people in the US alone suffer with specific phobias, or severe irrational fears of a given thing, place, or circumstance. While there is effective treatment out there, of which often centers around cognitive behavioral therapy, not all phobia suffers find relief. Researchers from Wurzburg University Hospital and the…

Are you feeling stressed? Spend 20 minutes outside. Researchers from the University of Michigan say it can help. The team asked participants to spend 10 minutes or more outside, at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Participants chose what time of day and where, but were instructed to…

I work predominantly with “millennials” in New York City; those 20-30 somethings who are openly and honestly seeking therapy, very often for the first time, to address certain issues that are more common among this age group. Many consider this age group to be experiencing a “quarter-life crisis.” These individuals…

Relationship stigma from loved ones is linked to mental health issues. This, from a Pace University study that analyzed 467 adults in same-sex and/or interracial relationships. The team found that relationship stigma from friends was linked to greater depression symptoms and, in turn, poor overall health. Also, relationship stigma from…

Stress is a normal part of life, but when it becomes too much it can cause you to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally. The good news is we have power over many potential external stressors—including the quality of our relationships. We often experience stress when our relationships are suffering, such…

Before I took my leap of faith and adopted my dog, Mila, I surveyed everyone in my life to see what they thought. Did they think I could handle it? Did they think it was a good idea? Did they think I was ready for the responsibility? The overwhelming answer…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that typically appears in the first three years of life. It often impacts a person’s social abilities and interactions and can be accompanied by an assortment of learning problems (though, not always). ASD varies in its severity, and some people develop…

When we feel ashamed of our secrets, we’re more likely to think about them over and over again. We can better cope by shifting away from shame and toward guilt. A Columbia University study asked 1,000 participants questions about their secrets, including how much shame and guilt they associated with…