Ever wonder why your health care providers always ask about your family history in regards to your health? DNA contains a lot of information about your mental and physical health. DNA is like the blueprint of your body. Many medical and psychological disorders have a strong genetic component. Meaning that some conditions are passed down […]
Differences Between a Psychiatrist and Therapist
There comes a time when we need to see a mental health provider. Depending on your circumstance you may be in need of a Psychiatrist or even a mental health counselor. What’s the difference? Well for one it depends on what kind of services you are looking for. Not only that but each profession requires […]
Self-Harm: What it is and Why
Self harm is a difficult and painful topic that can affect everyone and anyone. Some find it difficult to communicate their emotions. Self harm is an unhealthy coping mechanism in which many use to deal with very stressful situations. Why should we be mindful? Well for one if left untreated it can directly result in […]
What You Need to Know About Grief
Grief is a sentiment that can take many years to subside. Grief can be triggered by the upcoming holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and other significant dates. Grief is an emotion that one feels after the recent death/loss of someone they care about. Grief can be a complex emotion depending on the level of the relationship. Most […]
What You May Not Know About Autism
Once upon a time.. Autism was defined by two types: Asperger’s and low functioning. As time progressed researchers have discovered that Autism is a spectrum. What does that mean? Imagine regular blue Crayola crayon instead of just dark blue and light blue. You have an array of mixed shades of blue. Each adult and/or child […]
When Social Use Becomes an Addiction
Substance abuse has been known to be in the mix of mental health disorders. Meaning that individuals who exhibit new behaviors may use substance abuse as an unhealthy coping mechanism. Not only that, but many disregard the potential harm it can cause when consuming it with prescribed medications. Many struggle to find a healthier way […]
Eating Disorders 101
Anorexia and Bulimia Affects millions of individuals around the world. The World Health Organization reported that, “In 2019, 14 million people experienced eating disorders including almost 3 million children and adolescents(WHO,2023)”. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which the individual is severely underweight due to a distorted view of their weight. What does that […]
A Deep Dive on Depression
Depression is a mental health disorder that has the capability of taking control of lives in every aspect. We often associate depression with sadness but, did you know it’s associated with other symptoms as well? Some symptoms differ in different age groups. The Mayo Clinic lists the following depression symptoms that occur within children, adolescents […]
Caffeine, Anxiety, and Addiction
According to the Food Insight organization “Nine in ten (93%) Americans report consuming caffeine (Food Insight, 2022) ”. Can you really blame us? We are constantly moving and we need an extra pick me up to get through the day. Many of us can’t survive without a cup of joe. Now look at the statistics […]
Compassion Burnout
Ever feel like you are tired of caring? You spent so much time providing time, effort, kindness and support to others that you feel like it’s never enough. Well, you are probably wondering what compassion fatigue is? Compassion fatigue is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion and a profound decrease in the ability to empathize […]
You’ll Need These Coping Skills if Your Child Has ADHD
What is ADHD? The American Psychological Association defines ADHD as; “a behavioral condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging”(APA, 2023). Children diagnosed ADHD have difficulty focusing, and tend to be very impulsive. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disorder, we can only treat the various symptoms. Children with this disorder can […]
Conduct Disorder
You hear about all these different types of mental health diagnoses and some providers assume you are an expert. It can be nerve wrecking especially when the diagnosis is for a loved one. Have you ever heard of Conduct disorder? The Child Mind Institute defines Conduct disorder as; “a condition in which children and teenagers […]
FAQ: Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II
Bipolar Disorder Everyday more individuals are diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. There are four types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar 1 Bipolar 2 Cyclothymia Other specified/unspecified related disorders (Cleveland Clinic, 2022) When it comes to bipolar we tend to forget about the other types. You are probably wondering how are they different? The Ashley Addiction Treatment website […]
Addressing Aggressive Behavior in Children
We all have difficult moments, some more than others. As adults we have learned numerous coping mechanisms to treat our negative behaviors. Children, on the other hand, require more simplicity. Meaning that we need to communicate at their level. Aggression is a series of behaviors that can cause physical and/or emotional harm According to Kendra […]
Overcome the Rut in Your Relationship
We reach a moment in our lives where we find love and it’s all good. We feel warmth, happiness, comfort and love. However, sometimes we reach a bump in the road. This “bump” can represent a series of couples’ issues. The most common issues that couples face are; (1) finances (2) intimacy (3) time (4) […]
