Definition of Anxiety and Common Symptoms of Typical and Problematic Anxiety A simple definition for anxiety is apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or expected event. Experiencing anxiety is a typical part of life and is often considered a positive expression of emotion. Our brain is wired to have an innate fear response […]
I’m Stressed Out all the Time: Impacts of Chronic Stress and Burnout
Stress: We All Experience It Stress, as a psychological concept, may be relatively new, but its impact upon us isn’t. As part of human evolution, we developed a natural response to protect our survival and be able to react quickly to danger. We all experience stress, whether it’s everyday responsibilities or something more traumatic such […]
10 Common Mistakes Parents Make in Connecting to and Communicating with Your Teen
The Teen Years: A Time of Great Growth and Development Along with Increased Conflict The teen years are a time of great brain development in which they are learning self-control and self-regulation skills. Oftentimes, they are not yet skilled in the ability to take other’s points of view, are still developing critical thinking skills, and […]
I Want to Feel Something: Depression and Its Association with Self-Harm and Suicide in Teens and Young Adults
Definition of Depression and How Common It is in Teens and Young Adults According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, depression is “a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies.” It’s […]
The Year’s Over and I Can’t Shake Feeling Sad. Could I Have the “Holiday Blues?”
New Year Joy or “Holiday Blues/Holiday Depression” The beginning of the year brings hope, joy, a new attitude, and thoughts of the future for many. At least that’s the story we’re told in movies, on television, and social media. But what if that story isn’t ours and we look at that time as full of […]
Magic, Drownings, Exorcisms, Burnings, and “Lunatic Asylums”: The Infinite Melancholia to Depression. A Brief History.
Depression: Modern Epidemic with Upward Trend or Ongoing Human Health Issue Depression has become epidemic worldwide and reports are common in news and social media. In fact, a World Health Organization published in 2017, estimated approximately 4% of the world’s population has depression and it is the leading global disability. Trends show that depression rates […]
Crying all the Time, Lazy, and Weak: Myths About Childhood/Pediatric Depression
Current State of Depression in Children in the U.S. According to the CDC, 3.2% of children (approximately 1.9 million) ages 3-17 have diagnosed depression. For a summary of statistics, symptoms, causes, and contributing factors to childhood depression, please see my previous blog (insert link to Sadness and Depression in Children 12 and Under: Facts, Causes, […]
Sadness and Depression in Children 12 and Under: Facts, Causes, Contributing Factors, and Symptoms
Sadness vs. Depression in Children Feeling sad is a normal part of life and can help teach children how to regulate emotions. It might be what you think of as a “case of the Mondays,” meaning it’s temporary unhappiness or feeling down within the context of discouragement, disappointment, or grief. When sadness sets in for […]
My Child, Teen, or Young Adult is Having Symptoms of Depression Thanksgiving Letdown: Post-Parting Depression and Their Emotional Well-Being
November – Start of The Holiday Season and Emotional Highs and Lows November begins approximately 2 months of holiday festivities, traditions, and get togethers that we oftentimes look forward to all year long. During this time, we may be able to spend time with family members or friends we seldomly see in person. Each year, […]
Smell This! Do You Have a Teen or Young Adult Wanting a Natural Coping Method? Scents to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Feelings of Happiness
Do Smells Take You Back to Good Memories, Feelings, or Moments? All of us have smells, scents, or fragrances that transport us back in time, bring up fond memories, or evoke powerful emotions. The smell of vanilla and an apple pie with cinnamon baking reminds me of home and spending time with my mother. It’s […]