How Athletes are Affected by Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Adolescents and young adults who play high school and college sports face unique stressors that can leave them vulnerable to developing substance use and mental health disorders. In this interview, Dominique Jones shares ways that parents, coaches and professionals can support young athletes who are struggling or at risk. Dominique is a primary mental health therapist at High Focus Centers in Sandy Springs, Georgia. A Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, she earned her master’s degree from Clayton State University. Which behavioral health issues are most commonly seen in athletes? There are particular stressors that come along with playing a sport [...]
Long and Short Term Effects of Grief on Mental Health
The short term effects of grief on mental health through the five stages of grief, like self-isolation, anxiety, negative mood and failure to find enjoyment in life.
Understanding and Improving Overall Wellness
You can promote wellness by protecting your sleep, exercising daily, getting fresh air and sunshine, developing healthy coping mechanisms and maintaining social relationships.
How Minority Communities are Affected by Trauma and Stressor Disorders
Understanding the link between racial discrimination and mental health, plus risk factors for minority populations like generational stress and exposure to trauma.
The Meaning of Co-Occurring Disorders
Learn about co-occurring disorders meaning, and the effect that mental illness and substance abuse can have on an individual.
Dealing with Trauma One Step at a Time
Learn how to deal with trauma in five easy steps, including educating yourself on trauma, identifying symptoms and triggers and investing in self-care.
Understanding Common and Uncommon Anxiety Signs
We’ve all been anxious before, whether it’s been a big presentation at work or when the numbers don’t line up in our monthly budget. While we may be faced with intense worry, it usually recedes and we are able to move on with our daily lives. For someone who faces clinical anxiety, that’s not the case. When a person is struggling with one of many anxiety disorders, he or she is unable to move forward and function productively on a day-to-day basis. If you’ve faced anxiety or know someone who might be struggling, here are some signs of anxiety and [...]
Identifying Common Causes of Depression
Claiming nearly 300 million victims worldwide, depression is the most common mental health disorder in the world. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in five women and one in ten men will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States among people aged 15-44 and accounts for almost $210.5 billion of lost earnings per year. If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing depression, you are not alone. Although there is not one standardized cause of depression, understanding the most prevalent depression causes and [...]
Learning to Challenge Negative Thoughts
What are negative thoughts? Well, they are exactly as they sound. Negative thoughts are a form of unhealthy self-talk, even if they aren’t about ourselves, and they can quickly consume all of our thoughts. Negative thoughts are bound to happen every once in a while, especially during periods of depression or stress. If you find yourself struggling with negative thought patterns more often than not, there are steps you can take that will help identify the root cause and decrease them altogether. Speak to yourself as if you were speaking to a friend Think of yourself as your own friend. [...]
How to Listen to What Your Body is Telling You
What does it mean to listen to your body? Your body likely knows something is wrong before you do. Listening to your body requires tuning in to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in addition to being mindful of any symptoms that are unusual for you. How to listen to your body Check in with yourself. How are your stress levels today? Are you feeling too sore to exercise two days in a row? Is your heart rate beating more quickly because of a potential underlying issue, or have you just had too much caffeine today? Have you been getting [...]
A Quick Overview of Trauma Program Levels
If you’ve struggled to recover from terrible events in your life, trauma treatment might be for you. While not everyone’s life difficulties will warrant the same intensity of treatment, if you experience anxiety in daily living or recurring and intrusive thoughts about a past event, it’s time to get connected to help. Deciding to pursue trauma treatment is a brave step. The thought of processing trauma can be daunting, but rest assured that once you start services, you’ll have the compassion and support of healthcare professionals on your side. A decision you don’t have to make alone When you think [...]
4 Steps to Say Goodbye to Work-Related Stress and Anxiety
Any workplace can be riddled with anxiety-provoking events and tasks - public speaking, performance reviews, high-pressure expectations, unhappy customers, tense meetings and coworkers - are everyday stressors. On top of all the chaos of work, figuring out how to manage the anxiety that comes as a result adds another layer to the madness. In this article we’ll look at the top four things you need to be doing to keep anxiety in check and handle it gracefully when it shows up. 1. Get real with yourself about a healthy work-life balance While there are several things you can do to [...]