Welcome to January, aka mental wellness month! In honor of this, we will look briefly at the historical focus on mental illness to modern prevention through mental wellness practices. To begin, consider common responses to problems in nearly all fields. Early efforts are usually focused on finding ways to fix them: But, in response to […]
Recovery is a deeply personal, unique, and transformative process. Whether you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, eating disorder, or other mental health condition, the journey often involves rediscovering your sense of self. It is about finding your way back to a place of peace, and to do that, self-acceptance is an important part of […]
Since the early 2010’s, when the calendar changes, there are a trend of people on social media announcing a “Dry January.” From hashtags to reels, stories of success or quick relapse, these people let us in on their journey to remove alcohol consumption from their routine for the first month of the year. Why Dry […]
A couple of years ago, Academy-award-winning actress and philanthropist Viola Davis shared an image by @haleydrewthis on Instagram. In the image, an anthropomorphized scribble with legs, arms, and wide eyes is labeled “my anxiety.” In the adjacent picture, it is the same scribble but with Christmas lights, labeled “my anxiety in December.” The picture is adorable […]
Today we will take an alternative look at what it means to end the semester “well.” At first, this may feel like an achievement-related question. How can I end with the highest grade? Working the hardest? Sliding into my last final having expended the last of my human-ness so I can collapse into bed immediately […]
Recovery during the winter months can be especially important as the colder weather often brings challenges to our physical and mental wellbeing. While the winter season may be difficult to navigate for some, it can offer unique opportunities for self-care and healing. Here are five quick tips to get you started in flourishing in recovery […]
Years ago, I had a friend who was facing a very difficult time. Her marriage was struggling, and she was also having some challenges at work. As we sat together, she would share a bit of what was bothering her, stop, apologize, say something like, “But other people have it so much worse than I […]
At the end of October, with all of the spooky themes and Halloween fun, it seemed like a good time to talk about dreams, nightmares, and how sleep plays into our mental health. It is generally recommended that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. During the time we are asleep, […]
Election season. It’s a lot. The convergence of many factors in the 21st century has contributed to a rise in election-related stress and anxiety. Since 2016, regardless of party affiliation, over half of Americans have reported elevated anxiety, stress, fear, sleeplessness, etc. related to presidential elections. Although not a comprehensive list, some contributors to this […]
Beginning in 1992, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated October 10th as “World Mental Health Day.” As with many prevention efforts, a unique theme or focus is chosen each year. Past themes have ranged from broader measures such as inclusion and equality to more focused topics such as young people and mental health, mental health […]