Hello January with your cold, long days and less light than we are used to. Are you over yet?! Many people start the calendar year with a lot of hope for a fresh start, only to hit what feels like quicksand when it comes to motivation and activity. You may have heard the mental health […]
This first month of the year can bring such hope for a fresh start. Maybe you are hoping for a new health routine, a reset on your financial goals, maybe it’s a new approach to self-care or relationships. Perhaps it is that long-awaited goal on the horizon but, you know it’s going to take some […]
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 […]
The casual use of mental health terms is common. But, as central as these terms may be in our everyday vocabulary, it can help with understanding and empathy if we learn more about the specifics associated with some of the most common mental health challenges. We have previously explored anxiety as it presents in different […]
Feelings of loneliness and the experience of isolation is not a new phenomenon during the holidays. It is uncomfortable, but fairly common, to have an experience of feeling alone in a crowd because loneliness and isolation are as much an internal experience as an external one. As we move into the holiday season, crowds, and […]
The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for those in recovery, particularly students who may be returning to homes, friends, or family where their commitment to sobriety may not be known, understood, or welcomed. Whether making their own creative concoctions to avoid conversations they may not be prepared for or are safe, or to […]
Winter days often roll out like the rest of the year, a mix of good and difficult times, positive and challenging experiences, moments of motivation and moments of relaxation. However, what can make the experience of winter more difficult for our mental and emotional health is the expectation or anticipation we tend to hold around […]
The holidays carry a lot of pressure and expectation, no matter what age you are. But, due to common developmental stages and changes, going home for the holidays can be tricky for a college student. While breaks from school are a welcome respite in a warm, restorative environment for some, we know that is not […]
This semester has been particularly difficult on college campuses as we seek to guide and support students impacted by the global unrest and atrocities happening in many areas. From central and north Africa to rising tensions in the Middle East, students with personal connections to those areas, and even those without, are navigating discussions, media […]
When it comes to mental health terms, we sometimes use them in ways that are common in our cultural vernacular but may not be clinically accurate. While the intent is not harmful, the impact may be so if someone’s experience is marginalized and/or someone who is suffering doesn’t have an accurate way to assess what […]