Jacob and Hannah’s first son looked as healthy as any baby boy, but when he started growing, the new parents noticed he didn’t respond every time they called him. And he played with the sit-to-stand walker for hours…ignoring them when it was time for dinner or bed. They decided to have him evaluated, and when the diagnosis came back, it …
One in five of Americans provides unpaid care to a child or adult with health problems or special needs. We care for our parents, spouses, kids, grandparents, other relatives, friends and neighbors. The number of unpaid caregivers—including child caregivers—has risen over the past five years. Surveys show that the people we care for have increasingly complicated needs. More of us …
Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). Manic episodes are “up” times, marked by high energy, little sleep and exuberant self-confidence and euphoria. Depressive episodes are marked by low energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety and often hopelessness. We may not understand how much havoc bipolar disorder causes in the lives of affected individuals, who struggle to …
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 …
Signs and Symptoms of a Panic Attack “I feel like my heart is about to explode out of my chest.” “I’m struggling to catch my breath, I feel like I’m being smothered.” “I’m losing control and I feel like I’m going crazy.” Panic attacks are real and can be both emotionally and physically debilitating; in fact, many people who experience …
Hands (and feet) can become cold to the touch when they fail to receive an adequate supply of oxygenated blood. While sometimes cold hands may be the body’s natural response to cold temperatures, other times it can be a symptom of underlying health issues or a side effect of medications. Cold hands, in general, might not be cause for concern. …
5 Common Myths that Surround PTSD It’s been called shell shock, battle fatigue, war strain, soldier’s heart and, now, post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD has been called different things over the years, mostly centered around soldiers and their experiences. Although PTSD treatment has been a reality since the 1980s, there’s quite a bit of public misunderstanding. PTSD is a mental health …
The Importance of a Positive Support System It sounds easy to surround ourselves with positive people and to live a more positive lifestyle. But, sometimes things out of our control can have us feeling trapped by negative influences. It can be daunting to step back from long-term relationships that may have taken a negative turn since we first entered them …
How Therapy Actually Works and How it Can Help Seeking therapy is an individual choice, with patients choosing to come for many different reasons. Sometimes, they need help to deal with long-standing psychological issues or dealing with changes in anxiety disorders or depression. Other times, it’s to ask for help dealing with a divorce or other stressful transition. Working with …
There’s More to Autism than Meets the Eye The following information on autism and its accompanying medical and mental health issues is not meant to diagnose or replace the care of a trained and licensed healthcare professional. This is not meant to be used in place of a personal consultation. There are a number of medical and mental health issues …
