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Coping with Grief During the Holidays

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grief

By Ashley Barnes Recent Events. Grief touches all of us. Many readers are familiar with the recent tragedy at the University of Virginia (UVA). While on a bus returning from a field trip in Washington D.C., three innocent young men lost their lives to gun violence. Headlines like these have become too familiar and the impact of these losses on victims’ loved ones is insurmountable. The Mental Health Center extends our most heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and anyone else who is grieving as we move into the holidays.  What is grief? Though many of us are familiar with grief and the heaviness of emotions that it entails, it can look different for all of us. Hospice Foundation of America describes grief as a reaction to loss, as subjective and varied much like how no snowflake is identical; there is no timetable to grief and we may express our …

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Can Esketamine for Depression Really Help?

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Can esketamine for depression really help?

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with over 280 million people impacted by its symptoms. Depression can cause you to feel sad and blue even though everything in your life seems to be going right. You can feel exhausted even though you get enough sleep. Sometimes, you get too much sleep and aren’t motivated to get out of bed. You aren’t alone. And thankfully, esketamine for depression exists and may be able to help those who feel they have no other options left. Symptoms of Depression Symptoms include weakness, irritability, loss of pleasure in activities you once enjoyed, appetite changes, or a feeling of emptiness. You can have mild, moderate, or severe depression. Depending on the severity, you may have thoughts of suicide. The World Health Organization reports that 700,000 people die by suicide worldwide annually, and it is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. People who …

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November 13th is World Kindness Day!

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grief

By Ashley Barnes Why World Kindness Day? November 13th has been designated as World Kindness Day, an international holiday founded in 1998 to promote kindness throughout the world. The holiday is observed in many countries aside from the United States including Canada, Japan, and Australia. As part of the larger World Kindness Movement, World Kindness Day allows us the opportunity to consider the positive impact that acts of kindness can impart, both large and small. Kind acts can promote unity, positivity, and make a big difference in someone’s life. How to spread kindness. Though there are countless ways we can be kind to others, here are a few ideas to consider in celebration of World Kindness Day: The simple act of smiling at others can promote a sense of safety and compassion. When we smile at someone, we acknowledge their presence in a way that is warm, kind, and inviting. …

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Taking Care of Your Mental Health Around the Holidays

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Taking care of your mental health around the holidays

The holiday season is just around the corner. But are you prepared? Knowing how to take care of your mental health around the holidays should be a priority but is often overlooked by many. You may already feel the pressure to start planning the who, when, where, and what to eat for two major back-to-back holidays. It’s no wonder people report November and December are two of the most stressful months. Statistics from various studies show the most common emotions people feel during the holiday season are fatigue, stress, sadness, and irritability. Studies also show women feel more stressed than men, and their stress triggers include pressure to give gifts, financial strain, time constraints, and weight gain. For some, health is still a concern, even though COVID-19 appears to be a minor issue today. One survey to learn common stressors associated with the holidays found that 75% of respondents have concerns, …

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Supporting Men’s Mental Health

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grief

By Ashley Barnes Why it’s important to discuss men’s mental health. While it is important to be sensitive and attentive to the mental health challenges of all identities and genders, men’s mental health has historically gone unnoticed and unattended to. This is largely in part due to the way that men have been socialized, especially in American culture. Due to gender roles, men are often socialized to be “tough,” and to not show emotions that may communicate any vulnerability. Internalizing. Because expressing deeper feelings of hurt may not be deemed acceptable by society, men may turn toward more socially acceptable ways of expressing their emotions such as anger. Men experience the same emotions that other genders do and it is time we break down the stigma that harms men’s mental health. Statistics. According to statistics recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Women are roughly three times …

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