Since the COVID-19 pandemic began earlier this year, many are suffering from mental health challenges. Depression and anxiety are at an all-time high, but what about those who have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)? If you suffer from PTSD, then you know that everyday triggers can be debilitating. Triggers are hard enough to cope with, and the pandemic … Read More
5 Tips to Help You Calm Your Mind and Get Better Sleep
Do you have trouble turning your brain off at night and winding down? Do you review the day and think about all the things you wish you had said and done differently when it is bedtime? Or maybe you go back deep into your memory and think about a past event that causes you distress. A busy brain can make … Read More
How Trauma Impacts Your Memory and How to Heal
Have you ever noticed that when you go through a stressful experience, it can be hard to concentrate or remember things? Some people experience brain fog, while others struggle with making and forming new memories. If you’ve been through this, you’re not alone. When you go through trauma or a stressor, it can be hard to remember daily tasks … Read More
Social Anxiety and the Pandemic
It is normal to feel nervous in some social situations. Many people get butterflies before giving a presentation or before new people. But for people who have social anxiety, daily interactions can cause debilitating symptoms. Now that social distancing has limited all our social lives, how are those with social anxiety impacted? Symptoms of Social Anxiety People with social anxiety … Read More
How to Cope with Nightmares
If you’ve experienced a nightmare before, you know how terrifying they can be. Waking up with your heart pounding, unable to get the images out of your mind. As the pandemic drags on, sleep and dreams have become popular topics and many people are experiencing changes in their typical dreaming habits. Knowing what a nightmare is and how to cope … Read More
What You Should Know About Online Therapy
Are you dealing with extra stress or anxiety? Perhaps you are having more trouble sleeping these days. Maybe you’re intrigued by online therapy, but you are not sure if it’s right for you. One of the positives that emerged from COVID-19 is that online therapy has become more accepted and more accessible. And for many types of psychotherapy, therapy online … Read More
Insomnia and Depression: Common Misconceptions and Evidence-Based Treatment
Having trouble sleeping? And feeling depressed? You are not alone. Insomnia and depression are closely connected and also, often misunderstood. It is estimated that 10-15% of the population struggles with chronic insomnia (lasting more than 3 months) and 7-13% have had at least one major depressive episode. These estimates are based on pre-pandemic numbers and likely there are significant increases … Read More
Supporting Your Teen During the Pandemic
Navigating distance learning, dealing with separation from friends, and concern about world events are just some of the issues teens are dealing with right now. Adolescence can be challenging during normal times, but during the pandemic, being a teen is complicated. The National 4-H Council conducted a survey of 1,500 teens between the ages of 13-19 in May. According to … Read More
Can EMDR Be Done Online?
Many of us are feeling overwhelmed right now. Whether you are afraid of the virus, or you are worried about economic uncertainty, the COVID-19 pandemic has far-reaching consequences on our mental health. With more people struggling, therapists are figuring out how to deliver therapy in an online format. Before the pandemic started, I had not thought about practicing EMDR online … Read More
How to Help Your Teen Create a Summer Sleep Schedule
Summer months can bring a change in routine for many teens and their families. With the pandemic, this shift in schedule has lasted months. Many teens are going to bed later and sleeping later. With no reason to be up in the morning, teens are pushing their wake-up time late into the morning or to the afternoon. As a parent, … Read More