Alcohol addiction. Alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder. It goes by several names, but problematic consumption of alcohol affects people of all ages and walks of life. In the US, more than 5% of people age 12 and older have been identified with alcohol use disorder, including nearly 2% of adolescents age 12 to 17. One in ten children live with a …
In ads for depression medication, you can usually tell which people are depressed—they’re the ones who look sad. But in real life, you may not be able to pick someone suffering from depression out of a crowd. Depression isn’t always obvious; it looks different in different people. And some of us experience certain symptoms of depression but not others. What …
When Temple Grandin was two years old, she was diagnosed with brain damage; her parents were advised to institutionalize her. Instead, her mother arranged speech therapy and intensive developmental training. Now, more than 70 years later, she is a scientist with a PhD who advocates for humane treatment of livestock. Dr. Grandin is one of the first adults to publicly …
Stress is part of life. We all experience stressful situations from time to time. But when stress builds beyond your ability to cope, when it starts to affect your mental and physical health, it’s time to find ways to manage it. Causes and Types of Stress Stress has increased globally in recent years. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, 35% of …
Self-reflection has been part of spiritual practices for thousands of years. More recently, therapy and programs like Alcoholic Anonymous have incorporated it to help change undesirable behaviors. As a means of examining our lives, self-reflection offers a great opportunity for transformation. It can lead to insights and new perspectives in how we see ourselves and others, which opens a door …
“Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave. A mental illness, or mental health disorder, is defined as patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving that cause distress or disrupt a person’s ability to function.” (The Mayo Clinic) While the focus is often on teens and adults, preteens also experience mental health …
Our early intimate relationships are marked by hopes and dreams and strong feelings. Due to lack of experience, teens may be blindsided when feelings turn dangerously negative. Teasing, name-calling and little “love taps” might seem like a normal part of dating, but they could be signs of abuse to come. When behaviors escalate into teen dating violence (TDV), young people …
In busy or trying times, it can be difficult to take care of ourselves. Between the demands of work and school, family responsibilities and packed daily schedules, there’s little room to take a breath, much less a daily walk. And if you’re in a role that requires you to give to others—parent, caregiver, healthcare worker—giving back to yourself can be …
The holidays are a special—and unusual—time of year. For up to two weeks, we take time away from work and daily routines to visit friends, get together with family, observe religious holidays, celebrate the start of a new calendar year and relax (in our spare time). “According to a recent survey, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that …
Mental illness affects over 50 million adults in the US every year. That’s one in five people of all races, ethnicities and ages. Serious mental illness affects one in 25 adults. While it occurs in both women and men, fewer men are diagnosed with mental illness. But men are also less likely to seek or receive treatment, which means they …
