Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a diagnosable condition typically triggered by a series of ongoing traumatic events — often during childhood. Depression is much more than feeling the blues. It’s also a diagnosable disorder and it can be associated with C-PTSD. Before we continue, let’s be clear that experiencing chronic trauma is ...

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful tool for women navigating the perinatal period. This innovative approach can help expectant mothers process traumatic memories, recent stressors, and pregnancy-related concerns, bringing them to adaptive resolution. EMDR therapy works by improving internal resources, monitoring psychological distress levels, and enabling access to difficult ...

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a groundbreaking mental health treatment technique. It involves guided eye movements while processing traumatic memories to heal distressing life experiences. Developed in 1989, EMDR has proven effective in numerous clinical trials, often yielding faster results than traditional methods. This innovative approach helps clients release limiting ...

Hypnosis—usually the center of entertainment and misconceptions—is now being recognized by psychologists and health professionals as a powerful tool for therapeutic interventions. With new research constantly being discovered, hypnosis is stepping into a role of mainstream clinical practice, benefiting people from many diverse backgrounds. So how does it work? The Science of Hypnosis At its core, ...

As a parent, you face unique challenges and stressors that can take a toll on your mental health and well-being. The constant demands of caring for children, balancing work and family life, and navigating the complexities of modern parenting can leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Parenthood is often described as a rewarding ...

About 1 in 8 of the people in the world are dealing with a mental illness. The most common of all these conditions is an anxiety disorder. It’s not that anxiety is a bad thing. Without it, none of us would be here. Anxiety is a normal emotion that is designed to alert ...

Have you ever considered how medical experiences can profoundly affect women’s mental health? Medical trauma, often overlooked, can have far-reaching consequences on your psychological well-being. Medical trauma refers to the psychological and emotional distress that can result from medical experiences, procedures, or interactions within the healthcare system. This type of trauma can have ...

As autumn leaves fall and winter looms, many people find their mood taking a nosedive. But how do you know if it’s just a case of the blues or something more serious? Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons. It typically starts and ends ...

Have you ever wondered if your favorite celebrities deal with the same struggles you do? Well, when it comes to OCD, you might be surprised. As it turns out, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars grapple with intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. But here’s the kicker — they’re not letting it hold them back. ...

Social anxiety is a type of anxiety that involves a worry or fear that other people will embarrass, judge, or reject you. This type of anxiety can be difficult to deal with, and it’s not ideal to hide in the comfort of your own home avoiding interacting or making connections with others. Human connection is ...

Receiving a bipolar diagnosis is never easy. While it might be a relief to finally have answers to your symptoms, behaviors, and mood episodes, the diagnosis can cause even more questions. Will you be stigmatized by society? Will you lose your identity when you go through treatment? Is there a way to heal? ...

Post-traumatic stress disorder is not an uncommon term. Many people have a basic understanding of what this disorder is and where it comes from.  When you live through a single traumatic event, if you don’t properly process the situation (thoughts, memories, feelings), it can live in your subconscious and cause PTSD. But what about ...

Have you ever felt like your doctor or nurse was just going through the motions? Healthcare workers are burning out at alarming rates, and it’s not just their problem—it’s yours too. When the people taking care of you are exhausted, stressed, and emotionally drained, your health could be on the line. From missed ...

Anxiety can strike anyone, anytime—often without warning. It’s not just a mental battle; your body reacts too, with symptoms like sweating, racing thoughts, and a pounding heart. While some folks experience anxiety tied to specific triggers, others might feel it creep up for no apparent reason. The good news? You’re not powerless against ...

Let’s face it—quality time with your partner often falls to the bottom of the to-do list between work, kids, and a million other commitments. But maintaining that connection is crucial for a healthy relationship. Remember that dizzying feeling of new love? That electric connection that made even mundane tasks magical? While those initial ...

Anxiety affects millions of people around the world. While anxiety triggers are often unique to each person, there are universal situations that typically lead to anxiety. Understanding your anxiety triggers is the first step toward coping with stress in a healthy way. Here are five common anxiety triggers and how to learn from ...

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition on the planet. When contemplating this fact, many of us don’t think about teenagers. It might seem like young children are more susceptible to irrational fears. Also, adults caught up in the so-called rat race appear more likely to succumb to stressful influences.  Meanwhile, right ...

Life is going to be filled with ups and downs. We can’t truly feel and appreciate the good times without going through some bad times.  In order to navigate this, you’ll likely experience some element of mood swings throughout your days. What isn’t normal is having moods that bounce from one end of the ...

Trust is the foundation for any healthy relationship. It creates a sense of security, strengthens emotional intimacy, and allows for vulnerability. Trust comes with risks, especially if your trust has been broken by someone in the past. Many people in relationships struggle with opening up to their partner. Whether it’s fear of rejection, ...

Perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD. Now, you’re wondering what steps to take next. You know that medication is an option for managing your symptoms, but you might not be enthusiastic about pursuing this route. There are various reasons why people choose not to take medications for ADHD. You may already be taking ...

The teenage years aren’t easy ones. These years bring on internal and external changes that can make it difficult for any person to adjust. Teens may experience changes in their body. Their voice may change. They may experience body hair or odors that they haven’t experienced before. Plus, their brain is in the prime ...

When you think of a healthy relationship, disagreeing with your partner probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But even the healthiest, happiest couples disagree.  It’s how you disagree that makes a difference.  Yes, there are healthy ways to argue. When you choose to disagree with your partner the right way, you can ...

Anxiety can feel overwhelming—like a constant storm of worry and unease that’s difficult to escape. For many, traditional talk therapy or medication can help, but some people need a different approach. That’s where EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) comes in. This unique therapy method works by rewiring the brain’s response to anxiety, ...

If you’ve ever found yourself wide awake at 2 a.m., your mind racing with worries and what-ifs, you’re not alone. Anxiety often feels worse at night when the day’s distractions fade and we’re left alone with our thoughts. The stillness of the evening can amplify concerns, making it hard to relax and drift ...

As parents, honesty is a value we strive to instill in our children from a young age. So, when we catch them lying, it’s normal to feel frustrated, concerned, or even hurt. However, before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to recognize that lying is a common part of child development. Understanding why your ...

Anxiety affects millions of people worldwide. When you’re struggling with it, it’s hard to feel like there’s any kind of silver lining. While it can affect everyone differently, anxiety often causes feelings of extreme worry. It can cause you to withdraw from people you love and activities you enjoy, and it can even ...

Failure can be scary. You spend a great deal of time and effort on a project only to come up short. This can be additionally fueled by social anxiety and experiencing failure in a social setting. Unfortunately, being constantly bogged down by fear can interfere with your willingness to achieve those big goals or ...

Everybody faces negative events in their life. In many cases, these experiences can be traumatizing. In other words, they produce an emotional response that must be processed and resolved. Trauma, regardless of the cause, can create changes in your brain and result in a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Someone with PTSD has not recovered ...

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are two common approaches to therapy that can help people manage their thoughts and behaviors. While they share similarities, they are used to address different mental health issues and work in distinct ways. This article will explain the key differences between CBT and DBT, ...

The idea of setting boundaries often carries negative associations. We set boundaries because something is wrong. Or we feel guilty for being selfish.  The truth of the matter is, boundaries are actually a healthy practice to have with all relationships in your life. They create a guidebook of expectations, help bring you closer together, ...

Psychodynamic therapy is like peeling back the layers of an onion. It helps you explore the depths of your mind to understand why you think, feel, and behave the way you do. This approach involves uncovering unconscious patterns and past experiences shaping your present life. At its heart, psychodynamic therapy believes that the unconscious ...

Everyone struggles with procrastination now and then. Even if you have a large project or an upcoming deadline, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and avoid starting. These feelings can cause you to doubt yourself and your own skills. You may feel like you don’t know where to start or that your work won’t ...

Talking to children about death is one of the most challenging conversations a parent may face. Whether it’s death of a family member, a pet, or simply questions about life or mortality, children are naturally curious and often have lots of questions. As adults, we may feel uncomfortable or unsure about how to ...

Everyone may struggle with anxiety from time to time. It’s a common and normal human emotion. But anxiety can be debilitating — and not everyone may know what it actually feels like. Understanding it can help you cope with anxiety. Let’s learn more about what anxiety actually feels like. Emotional Symptoms Persistent Worry Chronic and excessive worries ...

Relationships should always be considered partnerships. That doesn’t mean you both always have the same responsibilities and expectations. You’re likely to have different strengths and weaknesses, but the relationship itself is equal.  Unfortunately, some relationships struggle with power differentials. One person might start to take over more than the other. That person might think ...

As a parent, you hope that your child is kind and compassionate towards others. But what if you’ve noticed your child being unkind recently? Maybe they’ve been picking on their siblings or bickering with their friends during playdates. Perhaps they’ve said things to you that were hurtful, even if they didn’t fully understand ...

Trust is the most important building block of any relationship. But trust can also be fragile. Trust barriers can drive a wedge between you and your partner, which prevents you from emotionally connecting. Here’s how to break these barriers down so your relationship can grow. Common trust barriers Past betrayals: Many couples have trust issues ...

Ever wonder how many teens are struggling with eating disorders? It’s a question that’s been on the minds of parents, educators, and health professionals alike. The truth is that eating disorders are more common among teenagers than you might think. Understanding the prevalence of these issues is the first step in addressing them. ...

These days, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The good news is that there are effective strategies to manage stress that don’t require drastic life changes. Here are five stress management strategies that actually work and can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. 1. Mindfulness and meditation Mindfulness and meditation are popular stress management techniques ...

Depression has many faces. Sadness, worthlessness, despair, hopelessness…but there is one specific symptom that may override all the others: anhedonia. Anhedonia translates to “without pleasure”, and refers to the inability to experience pleasure from activities that once brought joy. No matter if it’s engaging in a favorite hobby, or spending time with a ...

Technology has changed the way we meet people. It seems like dating apps should make it easier to find a partner, but many people are struggling more than ever to find love. The sheer number of people on the apps can lead to “swipe fatigue” and a sense of disconnection—some start to look ...

These days, it’s hard to be fully present. We’re bombarded with phone notifications, online meetings, and errands that won’t run themselves. When your life is being pulled in one direction after another, you’re probably feeling more and more disconnected from yourself. Mindfulness offers a way to be more peaceful and present in your ...

When it comes to anxiety, there are a wide range of options to help manage it. You want to address what your mind, body, and spirit are going through.  Meditation is one method that has been well-researched in anxiety management. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to tackle symptoms you may be experiencing. Here’s ...

Because it’s considered a disorder, it’s easy to focus on the “negative” aspects of ADHD. When most people think of it, issues like a lack of focus, distractibility, and even forgetfulness come to mind.  It’s not uncommon for people with ADHD to struggle with mental health issues like anxiety or depression because of their ...

It’s natural for some people to be shy. Shyness is a personality trait that makes some people more reserved or slow to warm up in social situations. However, when shyness becomes intense and causes people to avoid social interactions, it could be a sign of something more serious: social anxiety disorder (SAD). Shyness vs. ...

The holidays are right around the corner, and while for many people they are a time of joy, fun, and celebration, there’s no question that they can also be a little overwhelming.  In some cases, they can even cause a lot of anxiety.  Maybe you’re someone who naturally gets anxious when it comes to larger ...

In times of grief, it can feel comfortable — even logical — to isolate oneself. While, of course, some solitude is good for everyone, grief is a tricky, complicated ride. It requires the support of others — even when we feel like withdrawing. Thus, even in the face of your pain, it’s critical ...

Anxiety is a common emotion that can look and feel like uneasiness or fear. It’s the body’s natural response to stressful situations or life events. But when anxiety starts to take over and control other areas of your life like your schoolwork, career, or personal relationships, it can be a sign of a larger ...

Gestalt therapy is a collaborative experience designed to help couples focus on awareness within their relationship. In doing so, they can recognize any underlying and unresolved issues that could be causing trouble.  Awareness includes focusing on the present. Far too often in relationships, we spend a lot of time holding grudges over past hurts, ...

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide, yet many struggle to recognize its symptoms. While it’s normal to feel anxious after trauma, PTSD symptoms persist and intensify over time. Sufferers may relive the trauma through nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive memories. PTSD can strain relationships and ...