3 “Harmless” Habits That Cause Insomnia
Insomnia and poor sleep are impacting many people right now. Tossing and turning occasionally is very normal, especially after the last year. But chronic insomnia can take a toll. Insomnia can lead to feelings of anxiety or depression and reduce your overall quality of life. When we experience trouble sleeping, we are often told to try to go to bed
4 Ways to Calm an Active Mind
Do you feel like your mind is always “running”? Maybe you wish there were some kind of “off” switch you could push on occasion, just to find some peace and relax. An active mind is not always a bad thing. But it can be exhausting and overwhelming when it takes over. When that happens, and you feel you can’t control
3 Breathing Exercises You Can Try for Anxiety
Our bodies are amazing. They pay attention and respond instinctively to everything around us, even when we’re not aware of it. As the body takes in physical sensations, it also sends them as messages to the brain, which can affect our emotions and mood. Our body automatically responds to stress and anxiety through the fight-or-flight system. When this happens, automatic
Why It’s Important to Stop Worrying About Your Sleep
Do you find yourself often awake in the middle of the night, staring at the clock at 2:00 a.m., wondering if you will be able to fall asleep again? Or perhaps it takes you hours to fall asleep. Maybe it is at the point that you almost dread going to bed. You are tired of wrestling with your pillow and
Can Anxiety Cause Physical Problems?
The human body and brain are amazingly, intricately linked. What happens in the brain directly impacts the body. The same is true in the opposite direction. Essentially, the body and brain work in a constant feedback loop to regulate both mood and physical state. This interwoven reality of the body and brain is often forgotten, however, in treating mental health
How Can Trauma Impact Your Sleep?
Sleep disruption is one of the most common symptoms of trauma. This is true whether your trauma was due to physical violence, childhood neglect or abuse, sexual assault, a medical condition, or if your symptoms are due to chronic stress. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and it is estimated that up to one-third of adults experience insomnia. In
How to Cope with Anxiety About “Returning to Normal” After the Pandemic
When the COVID-19 first began, many of us had to alter our day-to-day lives. While you may have previously gone out with friends, worked in an office space, and traveled on crowded trains or buses, all of that changed last year. At first, it was hard to adjust to a “new normal,” but more than a year into the pandemic,
3 Reasons Why People with Anxiety Might Avoid Getting Therapy
When people think of mental illness, therapy often comes to mind. This association makes sense — if you have mental health issues, therapy can be an effective treatment. But what happens when you’re struggling with mental health problems, but question whether or not therapy will work? What if you put off getting therapy out of fear? In reality, many people
How Online EMDR Therapy Works and How It Helps with Trauma
It’s never easy to cope with trauma. Many people struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, fear, or panic when they think about their trauma, and it can be incredibly debilitating. There are various ways to work through and treat trauma, and research shows that many types of therapy are effective in treating symptoms of trauma and PTSD. Over the years,
How Are Trauma and Chronic Stress Similar?
When you think of trauma, a few things may come to mind. You may think of specific events that can cause trauma, such as an assault or the death of a loved one. You may also think of the symptoms associated with trauma, such as anxiety, depression, or physical symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may come to mind, as many