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 [...]
Boost Your Mental Health with These 4 Workouts
Ever feel like your emotions are running the show? Get control over your life and regulate your mood by adding regular exercise to your routine. When you partake in physical activity you’ll experience benefits for your mind and body. Here are our top four recommended exercises to help you regulate emotions, feel better in your body and have fun in the process. 1. Weight training Weight training is any exercise that involves repetitive movements using some form of resistance. These workouts build and tone muscles, and with strength training, it’s easy to target a certain area of the body. According [...]
Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosing and Treating Panic Disorder
Do you ever feel like you’re living in fear…of fear? If you’re looking for an overview of panic attacks and the best panic disorder treatment, you’ve come to the right place. Learn more about diagnosing the panic disorder, its most common symptoms and your therapy and medication options below. What is panic disorder? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (fifth edition), or DSM V, is the tool compiled by the American Psychiatric Association and used by medical and mental health professionals to recognize and treat conditions like panic disorder. The manual lists the following criteria to identify a [...]
Preparing for Mental Health Teletherapy
Finding mental health teletherapy Teletherapy has been an accepted treatment modality for the last several years, but it has gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health counseling via teletherapy is particularly valuable because it provides access to treatment and convenience factors that are not available with traditional in-person therapy. In addition to online mental health counseling, several other types of therapy can be made available on a telehealth platform: Addiction counseling: Online addiction counseling is a great medium for those in recovery who are still looking for outpatient support. A teletherapist specializing in online addiction counseling can provide treatment [...]
What Types of Therapy Are Helpful For Depression?
Depression is a potentially debilitating mental health disorder. It’s also one of the most common. The CDC states almost 5% of adults report suffering from depression each year. However, cases may be underreported. Other sources place the actual number of individuals living with the disorder much higher. There is good news: depression is highly treatable. Each year we continue to learn more about mental health disorders and effective methods for treating them. Therapy is one such depression treatment. Therapists use a range of therapeutic techniques to help their patients overcome depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, [...]
Using Radical Acceptance to Cope with Difficult Times
As many people have come to experience since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard to cope during difficult times. As we face challenges, whether it’s a pandemic, a struggling relationship, or other personal hardships, it’s important for our mental health and physical wellbeing that we find healthy ways to cope with our emotions. Radical acceptance is a distress tolerance skill that can be used during challenging times to better cope with and process our emotions. What Is Radical Acceptance Therapy? Radical acceptance is a distress tolerance skill that helps individuals facing difficult experiences and painful emotions [...]
Common Mental Health Issues Affecting LGBTQ Individuals
Reviewed by Dara Gasior, PsyD Director of Assessment and Training for High Focus Centers Research indicates that individuals who identify as LGBTQ have a greater risk for mental health struggles. This is likely due to a variety of factors, such as discrimination, rejection, and the stress of the coming out process. It’s important to be aware of common mental health issues that LGBTQ people may experience so you can identify any struggles in yourself or a loved one. Trauma Disorders Members of the LGBTQ community are more likely to live through traumatic events like bullying, discrimination, harrassment, and even hate [...]
How to Teach Your Kids Healthy Coping Skills
Childhood is thought of as a carefree time, but kids have just as many challenges as adults. They may even become overwhelmed by their emotions at times. As a parent, you can teach your child how to handle these situations by using healthy coping skills. What Are Coping Skills? Coping skills are strategies we use to manage difficult emotions. Your child probably already uses certain coping skills; they just might not be aware of it. Work with your son or daughter to identify the strategies they use right now and whether or not these strategies are healthy. Healthy vs. Unhealthy [...]