In todays world it’s very easy to get caught up in the day to day of life and the stress that comes with it. We as humans are always on the move, always feeling like we need to be doing something. Eventually over time, that stress can accumulate so much to the point where there’s potential for burnout, which can lead to symptoms of Anxiety and Depression. To avoid this, knowing yourself is key. Understanding when it’s a good time to take a break, when you feel like you need it, and how to go about it with school or work. Most people don’t hesitate to take a sick day when they’re feeling under the weather, but what about mental health? A mental health day consists of taking a break from any responsibilities, work, or school so that you can recharge and fully rest your mind.
The summer season is often a much needed time to slow down. “Back to school” is a phrase that creeps up on us more quickly each year. For many teens, this three word phrase holds a lot of emotion. “Back to school” represents some pretty big transitions for teens. Simply returning to the structure of a school day can be a huge adjustment for teens. In addition, they have the expectation to manage their work in and out of school, balance that with clubs and sports, keep up with their social lives, and maybe even college prep or applications. Our teens have a lot of pressure on them.
Now that the summer is over and we’ve had 3 months of socializing and vacations and barbeques, its time to find the energy to go back to school and work. Some people have naturally smaller “social batteries,” which means they need more time to recuperate from the activities from summer. What is a social battery? It is the amount of energy we expend from different social activities. When that battery gets drained, whether or not it takes a long time to do so or not, we need to find ways to “recharge.” Here are some tips to help us recharge.
When people think of therapy, they often picture one on one sessions with a counselor. While one on one sessions can be and are beneficial for many clients, group therapy can be a great tool in your treatment.
Mental health providers often see new clients reach out to inquire about therapy when they are already in a state of stress or crisis. Dealing with crisis is definitely a great time to reach out for support! However, it is important not to terminate therapy as soon as you’ve worked through a stressful event. This can actually be a wonderful time to continue working with a therapist on self exploration and future goals.
Therapy may be thought of as a space to work through problems, manage crises, and/or decrease harmful behaviors. Therapy can also be a very beneficial space when things in our lives seem to be going smoothly, or there are no urgent issues that need attention. During a time like this, clients can often think, “I met my original goals. This is no longer needed.” Continuing or seeking therapy in the absence of crises can provide its own unique opportunities that may not be as available at other times, like:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Benjamin Franklin once said. Society has created the myth that you have to be going through tough times or crisis to seek therapy. Let's talk about why seeking or staying in therapy is beneficial.
As a parent, you probably have a routine that you have to stick to in order to complete all of the necessary tasks to meet the needs of yourself and your family each day. Teaching your child to have their own routine can help them learn the responsibility of ensuring their own needs are met. This is a skill that can help them thrive throughout their day to day and as they get older and are expected to have more ownership over their school and personal lives.
Anyone can benefit from going to therapy consistently- whether you struggle with a little bit of anxiety or are experiencing troublesome emotions. Going to therapy when life feels calm and collected is absolutely most beneficial. Starting therapy when you’re not in a crisis or experiencing a major life event is the best time to start and the reasons for this include the following…
Perfectionism can serve a purpose in each of our lives, though sometimes it causes problems and contributes to stress. It’s an exhausting pursuit that can stifle healthy risk-taking, growth, progress, and discovery.
Microaggressions come in many different forms, and no matter the form, they all could have a deep, long lasting impact– especially when coming from a loved one. Microaggressions are characterized as covert or overt derogatory language or behavior targeted toward a marginalized group of individuals. In recent years, there has been a growth in research that supports the idea that microaggressions negatively impact LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) individual’s mental health (see Nadal et al., 2011).
Sexual orientation makes up most of our identity, questioning that aspect of self can sometimes be anxiety inducing for a multitude of reasons. Within sexual orientation, the concept and idea of the individual coming to an understanding of who they are as a person and their sexual preference can provoke an identity crisis, which can in turn cause anxiety. It is known that the LGBTQ+ community experiences a higher risk for developing mental health disorders, especially Anxiety and Depression.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are at an increased risk of experiencing disorders such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and dysphoria. One way that we can be mindful of our impact on others is to use gender neutral language instead of assuming we know how an individual identifies. Using inclusive language to refer to others is not something that was taught widely until recent years and is still not prioritized enough outside of the LGBTQIA+ community. Regardless of how you identify your gender, it is important to understand what it means to use inclusive language when referring to others.
June is pride month and focuses on celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. There are probably events in your area to commemorate the month such as family pride picnics, flag-raising, and maybe even a parade. But why are these events and pride so important?
While eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors can impact individuals of all identities, studies repeatedly show that those in the LGBTQ+ community experience these struggles at higher rates than the general population. As sexual and gender minorities, this community faces increased levels of external and internal stressors. These external stressors (bullying, discrimination, violence, micro-aggressions, stereotypes, social pressures to conform, etc.) and internal stressors (internalized homophobia or transphobia, concealment of identity(s), fear of rejection, disclosing/coming out, etc.) are challenges that disproportionately impact this community and are more likely to contribute to feelings of body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction is found to be one of the greatest predictors associated with eating disorders and/or disordered eating behaviors.
As the trees start blooming and the weather begins to get warmer the anticipation of the summer season starts to grow. Some families follow a certain activity of traditions that they look forward to all year. Others may find themselves thinking of how to make the best of the summer months with nothing particular planned other than a brief family vacation. No matter what situation you find yourself in, using structure to make the most of the summer months can help you make the most of your time.
Adolescence is the developmental stage from about ages 12-18. During this period, adolescents are building an understanding of who they are and how they fit into the world. Because of what we know about the developmental stage of adolescence, it is expected that this is a time when comparison to others is more present and body image may waver. This often brings up concerns for kids about what others think of them and if they are living up to societal expectations. When it comes to body type in our culture, there is a societal expectation for bodies to fit the “thin ideal”. This expectation is something that we cannot escape as it is presented to us at every angle whether that be consuming media or what is taught in health classes at school. It is important to understand how to respond to your child when they approach this stage.
Are you finding it difficult to help your kid whose struggling with managing their anger or their acting out behavior? This is very common and this is tough for both the parent and the kid who struggles with anger management. If your kid is experiencing anger outbursts and it’s impacting their daily functioning, it’s important to help them build the emotional tolerance that they need to manage these big feelings. The following are ways that you can help your kid whose struggling with managing their own anger.
The end of the school year could be filled with many different emotions for students and parents alike. It marks the completion of another school year full of growth, successes, and overcoming obstacles. Many may have already grown attached to their routine, classmates and teachers, while others may be eager to move on happily looking forward to the future. In either case, it can be beneficial to intentionally plan on supporting your child so they can get the opportunity to experience a meaningful goodbye.
Have you ever gotten a good night’s sleep but still woke up feeling exhausted? This might be a sign of “rest deficit.” Rest is more than just sleep! Often, we might confuse the two. It’s important that we stop treating rest like a reward, or something we start doing once exhaustion, burnout, or overwhelms finds us.
