Even under the most ideal of circumstances, giving birth drastically changes a person’s life. Sustaining the miracle of life requires a huge change in hormonal composition within the body, and physically bringing the child forth via cesarean or vaginal birth is incredibly intense and painful, requiring time to heal after the family is discharged home. [...]
I was six when my grandmother died. She was my best friend, my hero, and my protector in an alcoholic home. Her death was sudden and violent, and it led to my entry into the foster care system and separation from my disabled mother very soon thereafter. Years later, I would still cry whenever my [...]
The World Health Organization reports that more than 700,000 people die each year from suicide and that for each suicide completed, there are 20 attempts. Suicides can be prevented, but often the risk factors are overlooked. This is one of the reasons that the month of September has been declared Suicide Prevention Month, with September [...]
Every time there is a mass shooting in the news, one of the first topics of conversation seems to be mental illness. It is often assumed that a person would not be able to commit violent and horrific crimes unless they were also mentally ill. In reality, however, most people with mental illness are not [...]
Misconceptions about mental health are very common in the United States, especially surrounding children and teenagers. It is important to recognize that these myths are inaccurate and potentially even dangerous. Myth #1: Chronic Sadness in Children Will Go Away on its Own. Many adults believe that children who are depressed will just “get over it” [...]
It just got much easier to get help for people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. On July 16, 2022, a national three-digit number rolled out that guides callers to support for suicidal ideation. The number, 988, will connect anyone who dials it to trained crisis counselors with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline who can help [...]
While social media can provide us with a way to connect with other people and learn new information, it is important to remember that online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Snapchat, and Twitter also have their downsides. One of these is an adverse effect on mental health. How Social Media Hurts Us You have probably [...]
It sometimes seems like the relationship between sleep and mental health is like that of the chicken and the egg. It’s not always possible to decide which came first. Sleep trouble can be an indicator of mental illness, and lack of sleep can also trigger mental health symptoms. How Much Sleep Do We Need? According [...]
We all get disorganized at times. Obligations pile up that temporarily prevent us from keeping our living space tidy. In fact, about 55 percent of Americans find themselves stressed out by the clutter in their homes. Most of us handle this stress by cleaning on a somewhat regular basis, but when clutter is left unchecked, [...]
Mindfulness is the practice of becoming intensely and intentionally aware of yourself and your surroundings in the present moment. This can be achieved in a variety of different ways and has been found to be beneficial for a number of different mental and physical health conditions. Examples of Mindfulness Mindfulness activities can take place in [...]
