When you think of mental illness, what comes to mind? If you picture crazy people housed in insane asylums, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, you’re also contributing to a dangerous stigma that forces many people from seeking support for and assistance with the mental illness they struggle with every day. The Stigma Against Mental Illness Stereotypically, […]
In order to give yourself the best shot at happiness and success in the coming year, it’s important to stay level and grounded. As your online mental health counselor, I’m here to help you. In honor of the New Year, I’ve put together a few simple tips and suggestions to help you stay grounded. What […]
The holiday season is in full swing, and many of even the strictest dieters have thrown caution to the wind. We’ll pull ourselves together and begin eating responsibly again after January 1, but until then there’s no harm in eating whatever we want… right? Unfortunately, this may not be the case. Studies have shown that […]
December (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, specifically) is the most popular time to pop the question. Thousands of couples all across the States will get engaged this month. With so many new couples preparing to spend the rest of their lives together, I thought it would be appropriate to use this week’s blog to shed […]
Though similar, anxiety and stress are two very different psychological issues. People who are stressed sometimes try to compare themselves to people with anxiety, but anyone who has ever experienced chronic anxiety knows that the two will never be the same. In my practice as an online mental health counselor, I have worked with several […]
When you think of “bullying,” what comes to mind? Many people think of the common displays portrayed in movies and TV shows, where a bigger kid (backed by a gang of other kids) shoves around the smaller children, stealing both their lunch money and their dignity. While these examples unfortunately do play out in real […]
Being grateful is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. According to an article in Forbes Magazine, gratitude has been scientifically proven to offer seven distinct benefits: Opening the door to more relationships Improving physical health Improving psychological health Enhancing empathy and reducing aggression Improving quality of sleep Improving self-esteem Increasing mental […]
We live in a world with literally billions of people – people of countless different cultures, religions, beliefs, values, and experiences. In my opinion, this diversity is something to celebrate. Every time we interact with someone from a different background, we have the opportunity to stretch, grow, and expand our own personal experiences. Unfortunately, not […]
Often, our best learning doesn’t come from textbooks or lectures. Our most memorable lessons almost always come from our role models. Role models come in all different forms, from family members to celebrities. In recognition of the incredible impact these people have on our lives, November is National Inspirational Role Models Month. In honor of […]
Even though we can’t always see it, mental illness is all around us. The father of three amazing, successful adult kids may contemplate taking his life, for example, and the woman you work with who just got a promotion may compulsively make herself vomit after every meal. It’s not always obvious, but it is often […]
In a perfect world, we could count on our family to be there for us, to protect us, and to always have our best interests at heart. Unfortunately, our world is far from perfect. Family members aren’t always there for us the way we need them to be. Sometimes, they are even the primary sources […]
Anyone can struggle with mental health, but some people are more likely to develop disorders as a result of their careers. Certain high-stress positions (such as firefighters, police, and other emergency services) are more likely to cause suicidal tendencies, as well as various mental health disorders like PTSD or depression. Since these issues are becoming […]