While this time of year can be merry and bright, it can also be an understandably stressful time – not only with the social pressure and economic strain of gift giving, but with crowds, time constraints, and family tensions. Not to mention, 1 in 5 of us also struggle with mental illness, grief, depression or anxiety, which can become worse during the holidays and winter months. Thus, it becomes increasingly important for us to manage stress and practice self-care during this time of year. It seems like the perfect time for us to share some tips to help you to reduce holiday stress and keep yourself grounded!

The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for those struggling with eating disorders or disordered eating issues. Experiencing an increase in thoughts about food, weight and body is very common for these individuals during this time and can be related to emotions activated around family members, or the hyper focus on food and weight perpetuated by diet culture. Whatever the source of the eating disorder or disordered eating, here are 5 tips to reduce the chance of spiraling into eating disorder thoughts and behaviors over the holidays.

It’s not surprising that animals have made their way into the psychotherapeutic process. When we bond with an animal, we create a beautiful unspoken connection. This connection can help us to heal. Animal-assisted psychotherapy works to guide clients and animals through interactions that will help the client find healing, adopt desired behaviors, overcome obstacles, and improve mental and physical well-being.

Following 9/11, many young men and women joined the military, inspired to be a part of something bigger than themselves and protect our country from further attacks of terrorism. Little did they know that the “War on Terror” would last another 20 years.  The traumatic experiences that our soldiers endure in wartime, is something that most of us cannot completely comprehend. Just because our troops are home does not mean that the war is over for them. We cannot simply thank our soldiers for their service and move on, we must provide them ongoing support in any way that we can. Most importantly, we must ensure that our soldiers have the mental health support that they need help them process their experiences and acclimate to civilian life.

Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone or something that we love. It can be extremely difficult and affect us any many ways; emotionally, spiritually, cognitively and physically. There are many types of grief, and our grief journey is just as varied and unique. For most of us, over time, we can eventually accept our loss, process our grief, and find coping mechanisms to help us move forward and embrace happiness again. But for some, their broken heart refuses to heal and they remain engulfed in the acute pain of their loss. They are unable to find happiness in life or hope for the future. This is called complicated grief, and it is a cause for concern, often requiring treatment. 

Most people know the stages of grief or have at least heard of them. These are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In a perfect world, we would move through these stages in an orderly and timely fashion and at some point, be “done” with grieving. The truth of the matter is there is no right way to grieve. There is no straightforward process. There is not an end where you think to yourself, “Okay, I am done grieving.” You may completely miss stages, revisit stages, or experience a stage that is not listed or known. We are all unique individuals.  But, there is hope and you can find peace and healing.

Grief is THE most complex, hardest to navigate; one step forward, three steps back… non-linear process we can go through as human beings. I tell myself, how fortunate I am to have experienced/be experiencing grief… because it means I loved beyond measure; and that’s what it is all about. But you want to know something? Death - the healing process - is hard. Strange. And weird. And something I’ve learned over the past 2 years? You can’t push someone to “be ready” to take the next step, feel a certain way, or grieve like you are.

Unfortunately, grief is inevitable. It is something that we all experience, at some point - every single one of us. And, sadly, no matter the circumstances, it is something we can never truly prepare ourselves for. So why do we not talk more openly about our grief? Granted, loss is relative, and deeply personal, but LOVE and LOSS could be two of the only human experiences that could bring us together. So, let's start the conversation...

As American tax refunds begin to bolster bank accounts, the U.S. government passed legislation authorizing a third round of economic stimulus and stability money for millions of citizens – creating a prime opportunity to invest in our mental health! Learn how you can use these funds to reduce stress, improve mood and overall well-being through mindful spending.

There are many myths and misconceptions about mental illness and substance use and abuse which continue to abound even in our “enlightened” society. Some myths are so stubborn that they reappear even after the facts have been present for years. Let's take a look at four common myths associated with mental health and addiction.