Category: Conditions

While fireworks delight celebratory crowds in the summer, for those experiencing PTSD, autism, or sensory-related triggers, these loud and illuminated events can be anxiety-inducing. Understanding how fireworks affect others can help us celebrate holidays safely and with compassion for those around us. Fireworks & your brain The loudness of fireworks isn’t the only reason they… Continue reading Managing Auditory Anxiety Caused by Fireworks

Nearly 65% of girls and women are on birth control in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But this protection can come at a cost, like developing depression. Is it the birth control?  In one study of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 34, researchers examined… Continue reading The Effect of Birth Control on Mental Health

If you suffer from a mood disorder or depressive illness, you are not alone. These challenges are incredibly common and impact about 1 in 4 adults. Though these disorders can be debilitating, studies show that making changes in your diet can positively impact mood and make it easier to manage mania and depression.  Here’s some… Continue reading Nutritional Choices That Help With Mood Disorders

Traveling to a new place can be fun, exciting, and give you the chance to try something new. However, sometimes the only way to get to those new places involves flying. There are a lot of anxieties and stressors that come with flying, including the lack of control over the process, the fear of losing… Continue reading Overcoming Airplane Anxiety

Many of us have heard of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, ADD is no longer considered its own condition. Today, it’s classified under ADHD as the “inattentive” form of the condition while what we traditionally think of as ADHD is the “hyperactive” form.  According to the American Psychiatric Association… Continue reading Attention Deficit Disorder: Inattentive vs. Hyperactive

If you feel anxiety surrounding doctor and dentist appointments, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety impacts around 36% of adults, and many also share a fear of the doctor. This anxiety can be caused by previous traumatic experiences, fear of pain, fear of an unwanted diagnosis, fear of needles, or even nothing at all. So, how… Continue reading Managing Doctor and Dentist Appointment Anxiety

Student-athletes undoubtedly face anxiety while playing their sport. From pressure to make the shot, get the goal, or score the touchdown to the looming demand to play faster, smarter, and better, student-athletes often find themselves stretched to their limits. But what about after the final whistle blows? In reality, the challenges of being a student-athlete… Continue reading Student-Athletes & Mental Health Struggles

While it’s sometimes assumed that the male-to-female ratio of autism diagnoses is 4:1, it’s really closer to 3:1, research shows. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism impacts an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States, but females are at an increased risk of not receiving the proper clinical diagnosis.  Autism, or… Continue reading Identifying Autism in Girls

Studies show that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to be more creative. One well-known artist who suffered from bipolar disorder is Vincent Van Gogh. That is why World Bipolar Day, a day to bring awareness to bipolar disorder and to lessen the stigma around it, is observed on March 30, the artist’s birthday. … Continue reading Creativity & Bipolar Disorder