We’re all shaken by the events in Washington, DC this week. As kids of all ages look to us for guidance, here are some ways to help them understand what’s going on and deal with any anxiety they may be feeling. It may seem like you need to jump in and address things right
While meeting my first client as a peer coach, I was nervous. Steve, my client, was in his 60s and could barely mumble “good” after I asked how he was. He has schizophrenia as well as cognitive disabilities. Even though I struggled with my own paranoia and delusions, I felt intimidated by him at
“Sam,” my boyfriend says quietly. “Life still has to go on. And we need food.” I know that they’re right. We’d held out in self-quarantine for as long as we could. Now, staring down nearly empty cupboards, it was time to put some social distancing into practice and restock. Except the idea of leaving
While many of us might think of “grief” as being a response to losing someone we love, grief is actually a much more complex phenomenon. Grappling with any kind of loss can involve a grief process, even if that loss isn’t exactly tangible. There’s a lot to be grieving right now with the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
When you have a headache, you know there are many possible causes, ranging from the mild to the very serious. When you see your doctor, she will likely ask you detailed questions about how long the headaches have been taking place, what type of pain you are feeling, when they occur, and what other
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other forms of traumatic stress can make life incredibly difficult and unpredictable. Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks can just show up without a moment’s notice, affecting your ability to function. Staying away from the people, places and situations that trigger these thoughts and memories can be appropriate and helpful at times. However,
Unfortunately, peers with mental illness often have tendencies to isolate. Those of us who are debilitated by schizophrenia may simply withdraw from others. People with depression often do not feel up to the rigors of being social. And people with bipolar disorder can sometimes alienate others by the inconsistent behavior they display. Peers with
Have you ever been driving and suddenly realized you didn’t remember the last ten minutes of your drive? Have you ever been in a conversation and recognize you haven’t heard a word the other person just said? Ever daydreamed through a lecture at school? Almost everyone has had their “autopilot” activated at some point
People tend to fear the unknown. While there is prejudice associated with most mental health conditions, psychosis is arguably the symptom the average person finds the most frightening. Psychosis refers to a cluster of symptoms involving hallucinations, delusions and/or profound disorganization. It can occur in primary psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and also in
In some ways, I long for the days when I thought I was “just” anxious — when my anxiety simply fueled my perfectionism. Sure, I’d have plenty of late nights completing school projects at the last minute due to the weight of my own high expectations. But overall, it felt like my anxiety helped me. It