Mental Health

1 in 5 kids have mental disorder

Kristen Fischer — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:48:00 -0700

A CDC report notes that up to 1 in 5 children have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

Simple ways to clear your mental clutter

Sarah W. Caron — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Tired of being so stressed out? May is Mental Health Month, and we've got helpful ways to clear the mental clutter and ease your mind.

Teen suicide: How to help the survivors

Sherri Kuhn — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

When a teen commits suicide, the family members of the victim aren’t the only ones who are grappling for answers. Many teens who commit suicide leave behind friends and classmates who struggle to make sense of the loss. Teens may have a hard time dealing with the aftermath and be left wondering if their own sad thoughts make them suicidal. How can we help those left behind?

Meet mental health pioneer Katherine Stone

Maria Mora — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:00:00 -0700

Blogger Katherine Stone devotes her time and talents to raising awareness of postpartum depression. We talk to Katherine about her battle with PPD and how she fights for the mental health of other moms.

Mental Health Month: What is postpartum anxiety?

Maria Mora — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Most moms are aware of the risks and warning signs of postpartum depression, but what about its lesser-known, related disorder, postpartum anxiety? Find out what to look out for and how you can get help and support.

How to get your groove back after having a baby

Guest Author — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0700

During pregnancy you prepare by researching and buying gadgets and gizmos that sound fantastic for your baby’s development. But nothing can truly prepare you for the moment your baby is passed to you. Just like that…with the flip of a switch your life is forever changed.

Do you have emotional anorexia?

Jessica Collins Grimes — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:10:00 -0700

As the name implies, emotional anorexia involves a feeling of hunger, but instead of food, it’s a denial of one’s emotional and spiritual needs and desires. Sound familiar? Learn more about this surprisingly common condition.

Eating disorders and dating: Do you tell or keep it secret?

Colleen Crane, MSW, LCSW — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:30:00 -0800

Dealing with an eating disorder can be anxiety-inducing enough, but what do you do when you are in a relationship? Revealing your eating disorder on the first date is a big no-no, but sharing it with Mr. Right is the right thing to do. Here’s how sharing with your partner can help put you on the path to healing.

Is reality TV good for women’s health?

Tracy E. Hopkins — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:49:00 -0800

Shows like The Real Housewives franchise provide an entertaining escape from our own reality, but what effect does watching women behave badly have on us?

Orthorexia: Unhealthy consequences of eating too healthy

Michele Borboa, MS — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:29:00 -0800

Orthorexia is a subclinical eating disorder characterized by an obsession of eating healthy. Even though you may think your religiously followed balanced diet is good for you, your fixation on it can result in unhealthy consequences. Should your life be ruled by what you eat?

Orthorexia: Is your healthy eating unhealthy?

Michele Borboa, MS — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:25:00 -0800

A healthy diet is widely encouraged to combat obesity, ward off chronic and even deadly diseases, delay the aging process and help you feel and look your best. But when healthy eating becomes an obsession, it can have unhealthy consequences. Orthorexia is a subclinical eating disorder that hides behind the apron of health. Take this quiz to see if your goal of a healthy diet is too extreme.

Healing after a pet's death

Colleen Crane, MSW, LCSW — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:35:00 -0800

We picked Annie out when my daughter was about a year old. We knew she was the dog for us when we walked by her cage at our local animal shelter and Annie nuzzled her face against the gate, asking for love. We had never considered getting an older dog, but once we witnessed the loving exchange between my daughter and Annie, we knew we had to take her home. We had Annie for about three years, and then had to make the choice to let her go.

Broken heart? How to start healing today

Colleen Crane, MSW, LCSW — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:49:00 -0800

Even though Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, broken hearts and broken relationships are actually a common theme this time of year. The major holidays are over, and many people take the opportunity to end a relationship and start the new year fresh and single. Is your heart broken right now? If so, there is hope. The following tips can help the healing start today.

How stress distorts your self-image and ways to break the vicious cycle

Colleen Crane, MSW, LCSW — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 04:08:00 -0800

There are plenty of reasons why stress is not good for your physical health, but it's also not good for your mental health. When your body is suffering from chronic stress, it sends signals to your brain to move into panic mode and puts your body in a chronic fight-or-flight mode. This results in the shut-down of the thinking or reasoning parts of your brain. You start to see a distorted view of yourself, which only makes your stress escalate.

Does my child need therapy?

Maria Mora — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 -0800

When a child’s life becomes complicated for any reason, it may be helpful to visit a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in family issues. Learn what kinds of situations may warrant extra assistance from a professional and how to find the right counselor.

Are you addicted to the gym? When exercise becomes unhealthy

Jessica Padykula — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:32:00 -0800

Is there such thing as too much exercise? We're delving into what's healthy, what isn’t and what happens when you hit the gym too much.

Parents terrified of becoming Adam Lanza's mother

Maureen Wallace — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:00:00 -0800

When 20 children are gunned down in their classrooms, nothing is certain but that emotions and accusations will ricochet globally, penetrating hearts and minds like bullets. Parents will say unreasonable, irrational things. Experts will theorize and analyze and dramatize. What will stick through the clutter? Possibly, Liza Long and her story. Possibly, because the world is full of many parents who could be Adam Lanza’s mother.

Attitude is the key to managing your weight

Heather Barnett — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:58:00 -0800

Adam Levine once claimed it wasn’t all “rainbows and butterflies,” but a recent study by Special K may prove everyone’s favorite outspoken pop star wrong. As it turns out, how you think about your weight may play a key role in your success losing it and managing it.

5 Things you don't know about women's magazines

Jennifer Nelson — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 05:45:00 -0800

Many of us page through a favorite glossy magazine every month. Harmless enough, right? Maybe not. Women can have self-worth issues or body image problems after viewing all the airbrushed images, subliminal messaging and the youthful ideal in the pages of women’s magazines. Here are some other things you may not know about your favorite chick slick.

How cancer changes caregivers

Deborah Cornwall — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:14:00 -0800

You may feel that it goes without saying that caring for a cancer patient changes your life. Yet the breadth and magnitude of the changes is something that cannot be underestimated. Through interviews with 86 caregivers and many more informal conversations with caregivers, I found the following profound changes that resulted from their caregiving experiences.

5 Ways to find peace in the holiday chaos

Rev. George McLaird — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:06:00 -0800

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but the holiday season seems to be the most stressful time of the year. Instead of accepting stress as part of the holiday theme, ask yourself "What are the healthiest things I can do for myself?" You're not being selfish, you're simply taking the right steps to the most peaceful and enjoyable holiday season of your life—and you can be an inspiration for others to do the same. Here are five ways to find peace in the holiday chaos.