Midsummer is approaching, and with it the potential for falling in love and experiencing madness. Source: Alexander Maas/Used with permission Shakespeare seemed to know that mental illness spikes in April, May, and…
Movement Is Medicine: Exercise for Well-Being
Source: Ray_Shrewsberry/1978 Images/Pixabay I’m giving a talk next week on men and mental health for International Men’s Health Week (10-16 June) and I have been told, in no uncertain terms, to devote…
Do You Know These 5 Unconventional Tools to Reduce Anxiety?
Source: Johnathan Larson / Unsplash I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder. On the whole, I live symptom-free. I’m extremely lucky. But chronic mental illness is,…
Leaning Into Slowing Down |
I am someone who likes to complete tasks right away and who tends to work ahead if possible. Even if I don’t technically have tasks to complete on a Friday evening, for…
What We Tell Ourselves Hard Experiences “Mean” Matters a Lot
Two recent exasperating experiences in a totally new city, both on the same day, underscored the fact that challenging experiences build our resilience when we look back on them and reframe their…
The Power of Never Giving Up
Source: Gerd Altmann / Pixabay Winston Churchill, known for his powerful speeches and writings, once said, “Never, never, in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions…
The Normalization of Anxiety Medication: What Is the Impact?
Source: Artem Podrez / Pexels In recent years, the normalization of anxiety medication has significantly reshaped the landscape of mental health treatment. Previously, discussions about psychotropic medication were often shrouded in stigma,…
When Anxiety Gets Physical |
A few years ago, I traveled to a nature area in Missouri called Johnson Shut Inns, a park featuring a river, slippery rocks to climb on, and hiking trails. It’s beautiful. And…
The Power of Metaphor in OCD Treatment
Source: Steve Johnson/Pexels Beth agonized over whether her boyfriend was the right partner. Was he reliable, smart, kind, strong? You name the adjective, and it made it onto her ever-shifting list, boiled…
Choosing a Meditation That Works for You
Over the past few months, I’ve been hearing more and more accounts of people using meditation to successfully manage their worries or distress. There’s also plenty of research support for the effectiveness…