How do you know if you’re just feeling “a little down,” or if there is something more serious going on? There are many different causes of depression: •Situational (difficult life events, grief/loss-including loss of significant relationships, cumulative stressors over a period of time) •Biological (brain chemistry) •Medical (co-occurring with other illnesses, or following significant medicalRead More
Getting Help
Turning Away from Stigma to Embrace Better Mental Health
The stigma associated with mental illness may be one of the leading reasons why people avoid seeking the support of close family and friends, and even the help of mental health professionals. Stigma perpetuates fear which leads to avoidance, unfair judgment, and isolation. This takes us further and further away from the things we reallyRead More
Schizophrenia: Decoding the Myth
Schizophrenia–a disorder marked by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech and behavior– has a prevalence of about 1 in 100 people. Many of us are more likely to have heard about or seen a portrayal of schizophrenia in the media than know someone who has actually been diagnosed with the disorder. It’s no wonder that mythsRead More
Caring for Aging Parents: How to Cope when the Roles Reverse
Seeing your parent gradually or suddenly become a person dependent upon your care is a life experience that most people do not imagine when they think about their future, adult lives. Caring for aging parents is not easy, but if we can identify what makes this role reversal so challenging, maybe we can begin toRead More
The Invisible Wound–PTSD and the Men and Women of the Armed Forces
Somewhere there’s a man who can’t sleep at night without medication—his night terrors won’t allow it. In another house, there’s a woman who is scared to hug her children, she’s afraid she may harm them. Let’s not forget the wife who is terrified in her home; when her husband has flashbacks he gets violent. Post-TraumaticRead More
Six Truths about Sexual Assault You Need to Know
Every 2 minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted. A staggering 80% of those sexual assault victims are under the age of 30, and 44% are under 18. 60% of sexual assaults are never reported to the police. 97% of rapist never spend a day in jail.* April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). InRead More