Individuals struggling with a mental health disorder often feel isolated and fight their battle alone. However, mental health disorders do not occur in a vacuum. These diseases impact the lives of all they touch, including friends and family. Mental health experts agree that family members and close friends, in certain circumstances, play a vital role…
There are numerous reasons young Americans choose to enlist in the armed services, including a sense of patriotism, a family tradition of service, education opportunities, and financial incentives. Many recruits are high school graduates with limited options, and enlisting seems like an opportunity to learn skills and have a job. The reality often ends up…
Yoga therapy utilizes yoga poses, breathing exercises, guided imagery, and meditation to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. The holistic nature of yoga encourages the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Yoga therapy incorporates elements of physical therapy and psychotherapy. A growing field, yoga therapy has been widely studied, and this research supports its effectiveness…
Eastern medicine, also called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a system of medicine that has been used for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. These practices are rooted in the belief that qi, the body’s vital energy, flows through channels in the body, keeping a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health…
The holidays are upon us, and Americans are gearing up to prepare for all of the festivities. Though a time of joyousness for most, the holiday season can be fraught with anxiety and depression for millions of Americans. Millions of Americans report experiencing the winter blues, a time of increased depression from Thanksgiving through New…
Seasonal depression is a subtype of major depressive disorder (MMD) that has a seasonal onset. While some people experience seasonal depression during the spring and summer, it is more common in the fall and winter. Seasonal depression is different from the winter blues, a mild form of depression specific to the period between Thanksgiving and…
Rates of substance abuse, addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders are disproportionately higher among people on the LGBTQ+ spectrum than in other sectors of society. Studies show that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are twice as likely as heterosexual or cisgender adults to experience substance use disorders and mental health disorders. Despite growing acceptance, individuals…
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder symptoms. Schizoaffective disorder is divided into two categories based on the type of mood disorder involved: bipolar disorder type and depressive type. There is no cure for schizoaffective disorder, but individuals can learn to manage their symptoms and…
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. PTSD impacts millions of people every year. We are all different, so not everyone who shares the same trauma will develop PTSD. However, anyone can develop PTSD at any age. For most…
Addiction is a complex disease that has a history rooted in stigma. Historically addiction has been viewed as a moral failing of people who actively chose to relinquish self-control. Thankfully, modern science and medical research have proven that addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease, which has helped to alleviate much of the stigma previously…