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Mental Health

Mental Health Reflection: What Have You Accomplished in 2022?

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Mental health reflection: What have you accomplished in 2022?

Now that we are at the end of the year, it’s time to look back on what you’ve achieved with a mental health reflection for all your mental health accomplishments throughout 2022 – no matter if you made strides through self-care, mental health treatment (ex., individual therapy), or with psychiatry and therapy. What Is Your Mental Health Reflection? You’ve likely heard the statistics on thoughts that humans have around 50,000 daily. Yet many people have trouble remembering their thoughts and don’t realize that most are negative. The reason is that we don’t take the time to reflect. The key to good mental health is to reflect more on the positive things in your life, like your accomplishments in 2022 regarding your mental health. Having good mental health is a process that is constantly evolving. According to the World Health Organization, positive mental health is a state of well-being in which you realize your potential, …

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Getting Through the Holidays with an Eating Disorder

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Getting through the holidays with an eating disorder

Getting through the holidays with an eating disorder can be rough. Millions of people suffer from an eating condition, including 28.8 million in the United States and at least 9% worldwide. Athletes, veterans, LGBTQ+, and many other races, genders, and ages are affected. It’s sad, but among children, 42% of first through third graders reported they want to be thinner. Coping with an eating disorder, especially during food-focused events occurring during the holidays, can be incredibly challenging due to all the constant festivities. For example,  you could have an unofficial office party, hump day happy hour with friends, and a family reunion on the weekend in one week. No wonder someone with an eating disorder may feel stressed and overwhelmed during the holidays. Some may not realize they have an eating disorder and wonder why their thoughts and actions regarding food and their body worsen when they should celebrate and …

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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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Can Anxiety Cause Schizophrenia?

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Can anxiety cause schizophrenia?

Anxiety and schizophrenia are two distinct chronic brain disorders with risk factors, some of which are the same — genetics, for example. However, when exclusively talking about the two, can anxiety cause schizophrenia? If so, what are the symptoms, and what are the triggers? Anxiety and Schizophrenia Risk Factors People who have relatives with anxiety or schizophrenia may be predisposed. Genetics, as the only contributing factor, only happens about 50% of the time, even in twins. The environment in which you live, misusing alcohol or drugs, and early trauma are a few factors that play a role in developing a mental illness. Several studies show childhood stress, even prenatal stress, is a risk factor for schizophrenia. Prenatal stressors can occur when the mother does not gain enough weight during pregnancy. Other factors include emotional, sexual, or physical abuse and lack of nurturing from their parent or caregiver. Also, if the pregnant …

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Depression and How You Can Support Your Partner

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depression

By Ashley Barnes Depression and relationships. Depression often impacts a person’s functioning in several spheres of their lives including but not limited to employment, education, tasks of daily living, and our interpersonal relationships. Romantic relationships in particular can take the brunt of depressive hardship. Many people report that their romantic relationships have become strained as a result of living with depression. This strain may be due to the relationship dynamic being impacted by a combination of depression symptoms and a lack of understanding. Understanding depression. Understanding what your partner experiences, even if you haven’t personally experienced depression, can help foster a deeper sense of empathy. Some people best understand depression through metaphors. One such metaphor is that depression feels like being stuck at the bottom of a well. Your partner, at the bottom of the well, feels stuck, isolated, and too exhausted to climb out. They may try to start …

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