Mental Health Topics

Anger is a natural emotion that stems from a perceived threat—to our physical or emotional wellbeing; our self-esteem or self-worth; our resources such as our finances, time or belongings; or those we love. Additionally, it’s a reaction to and a distraction from other negative feelings such as anxiety, fear, shame,…

Dealing with an angry child can lead to all sorts of frustrations—however, it’s important that parents address these angry outbursts properly. Fortunately there’s a 3D model that works to build a child’s self-esteem, encourage their healthy expression of their feelings, and cultivate a healthy parent-child relationship. First, parents should cast…

There are only a few things that truly and wholly fascinate me outside of my normal realm (that is writing, reading, and exercising). This small list includes astronomy, psychology, and cooking… but at the top of that list is sleep! Sleep is perplexing—we essentially shut off our brains and our…

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…

Many of us struggle to find the motivation to work out, especially in the winter; however, it is possible to implement an effective plan for working out during this cold season. First, you should build your exercise plan into your schedule—instead of loosely saying you’ll exercise today, block out a…

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…