Surviving Painful Holiday Emotions

November 25, 2020 By Hilary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW There are many “shoulds” about how families and holidays should be: Families should love each other. Families should get along. Holidays should be fun. Reality, however, is often…

What Does Support Mean to You?

November 23, 2020 By Caitlin C. Regan Support is a word constantly used in the mental health world. We are told to “make sure you have a support network in place” and to “reach out for support during difficult times.” While…

The Remarkable Human-Animal Bond

November 20, 2020 By Katherine Ponte, BA, JD, MBA, CPRP Why do people all over the world find solace from cat videos and dog Instagram accounts? It’s because animals soften our souls, appealing to some purer, loving part of ourselves.…

Quitting Tobacco with A Mental Illness: What You Need to Know

November 19, 2020 Much progress has been made to reduce the use of tobacco in the United States. However, people with mental illness continue to smoke cigarettes at a higher rate than the general population and experience significant…

A Word to the Wise: Caregiver Take Care

November 18, 2020 By Linda Snow-Griffin, Ph.D. What airline passenger truly loves flying in turbulent conditions? My husband, who is a private pilot, likes to remind me that turbulence is like driving on a bumpy country road. While…

My Emotions During My Husband’s Bipolar Episodes

November 09, 2020 By K. Kelly My husband’s bipolar disorder causes him uneven highs, where he has so many new ideas and goals that he can’t even keep track of them all. But he also faces extreme lows,…

The Benefits of Having Positive Social Interactions

November 06, 2020 By Daniel K. Seward Unfortunately, peers with mental illness often have tendencies to isolate. Those of us who are debilitated by schizophrenia may simply withdraw from others. People with depression often do not…

When You Have an Anxiety Disorder, Courage Is Subjective

November 04, 2020 By Gina Perkins "I'm dying. Right here on this sidewalk. Alone. I'm going to die." That was the narrative running through my mind during my first panic attack when I was 20 years old. I had been enjoying dinner…

What Can I Do to Be There for My Loved One with Mental Illness?

November 02, 2020 By Emily Mulligan It’s simple. Be there for them. Treat them like a human being, look them in the eyes, and let them know that their disorders do not define them. Tell them that you love them. Make them…

7 Tools for Managing Traumatic Stress

October 28, 2020 By Adena Bank Lees Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other forms of traumatic stress can make life incredibly difficult and unpredictable. Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks can just show up without a moment’s…