Disenfranchised grief is a type of grief that isn’t accepted or acknowledged by society. (This makes sense, as Merriam-Webster defines “disenfranchised” as being “deprived of some right, privilege, or immunity.”) For example, people may tell the grieving person that they should be “over it” by now. Unfortunately, when someone’s grief isn’t validated by those around them, they may not get...[ read more ]
In many cases, grief occurs when someone has already suffered a loss. But grief can also result from a loss that is impending but hasn’t yet occurred. When this happens, it’s referred to as “anticipatory grief” or “preparatory grief.”Anticipatory grief commonly affects individuals who are expecting to lose someone or something important in the near future. For example, you may...[ read more ]
Bipolar Disorder (previously referred to as “manic depression”) is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings. Someone’s mood can shift from extreme highs (mania or hypomania) to extreme lows (depression). The frequency of these shifts varies from one person to another.What Causes Bipolar Disorder?Researchers are still trying to determine exactly what causes bipolar disorder. With that said, studies...[ read more ]
Does your career often leave you feeling stressed? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by the American Institute of Stress, 40% of workers reported that their job was very or extremely stressful, and 25% viewed their job as the No. 1 stressor in their life. And because stress can make it difficult for you to focus, it...[ read more ]
Anxiety can greatly impact a person’s overall health and well-being, and if you struggle with this condition, you may be willing to do almost anything to relieve your symptoms. There are numerous lifestyle changes you can make to help manage your anxiety—for example, you could try meditating, exercising, sleeping more, and reducing your caffeine and alcohol consumption—but did you know...[ read more ]
Do you tend to start feeling unhappy around the same time each year? If so, you might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that the American Psychiatric Association estimates affects about 5% of U.S. adults. Below, we explore what causes SAD and describe the symptoms that it often produces.What Causes SAD?Researchers are still working to determine exactly...[ read more ]
If you regularly experience anxiety, you may have researched ways to relieve your symptoms and come across a coping mechanism known as the “333 rule.” But how does it work? The next time you’re feeling anxious, try:Naming three things you seeNaming three sounds you hearMoving three body partsHow Does the 333 Rule Reduce Anxiety?Although the 333 rule doesn’t work in...[ read more ]
Sometimes referred to as “sleep terrors,” night terrors are a type of parasomnia that can cause someone to scream, cry, breathe heavily, have an increased heart rate, sweat, stare, sit up in bed, thrash around, or wave their arms and legs. It can be difficult to wake someone who’s experiencing night terrors, and they may be confused and hard to...[ read more ]
The sun’s out, the temperature is rising, and… you’re feeling depressed. While people typically experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the fall and winter months, this condition can also cause some individuals to feel depressed in the spring and summer. Whether you have SAD or you’re feeling depressed for another reason, here are five activities you should...[ read more ]
You’ve probably heard of “self-care Sunday,” a recent trend that involves devoting one day a week to nourishing your mind and body. Whether you want to start practicing self-care on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays—or every day—good for you! Depending on the practices you adopt, self-care can boost your mental and emotional health, enhance your physical health, strengthen your relationships, and improve...[ read more ]
