Mental Health Topics

We’re standing on opposite sides of the kitchen island. My heart rate is a beat quicker and there are more bumps than usual on my arms, I notice. He’s looking curiously into my eyes, silently snooping around my mind. Finally, I escape the trance and announce that I must find…

Sleepwalking is a strange phenomenon. It’s like two world are colliding—your awake and your asleep self. So, what exactly causes it? Why do some people get up and roam around in their sleep? Why Do People Sleepwalk? Chris Brantner, Certified Sleep Science Coach at SleepZoo.com, says sleepwalking has to do…

When I was in college, I studied abroad for a semester. The first two months were spent in Switzerland—although, each weekend I traveled to a new-to-me city in Europe—and the last month was spent in Rwanda. When it was finally time to come home at the end of the most…

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes an individual to experience uncomfortable sensations in their legs, of which can typically be alleviated by movement. These sensations usually occur at night, when the individual is sitting or lying down and can have serious implications on their sleep quality. RLS is currently classified as…

Back in my college days, there was a period of time—maybe two to three weeks—when I couldn’t sleep. I’d lay down, pull the covers up to my chin, and close my eyes tight. But nothing would happen. Or, at least, what I wanted to happen wouldn’t happen. Instead of drifting…

There’s a man chasing me through the woods. I hear him gaining on me with every step I take. Then suddenly, I hear nothing. The footsteps are gone. I decide to take a moment to catch my breath before carrying on… except, wait, where am I? And where am I…

Socializing plays a huge role in our health and wellbeing—unfortunately, many of us fail to fulfill our social needs in the cold days of winter. Why is socializing so important? Because it brings us pleasure, helps us stay active (which is also important to overall health and wellbeing), and fights…

While some of us simply despise the cold weather characteristic of winter, others actually suffer significantly from a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. This particular type of depression is thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight; symptoms include feelings of despair, difficulty sleeping, and…

New research shows that if parents want to successfully reduce their children’s screen-time, they should cut back on their own screen-time. Kids are spending more and more time playing on iPads and sitting in front of the TV, which feeds an increase in obesity among children. The researchers sought to…

Many of us struggle during the winter months with stress and anxiety, which stems greatly from deviation in routine. Fortunately, if we take a few extra steps to take care our mental health and wellbeing, we can get back to a happy place. You should start by making self-care a…

Hallmarks of Sex Addiction While people are starting to recognize the prevalence and problems created by excessive sexualized activities and pornography, what is broadly termed “sex addiction” remains cloaked in mystery, even for many therapists. One of the challenges in defining and treating sex addiction is the fact that sex…

Between shopping for gifts, preparing for lavish dinners, and having visiting relatives and friends, the holiday season creates more stress than we might realize. This can lead to feeling burned out, tired, cranky and it might even make us miss out on the joy that is supposed to accompany this…