The complex relationship between depression and sleep: Insights and solutions by Hannah DeWitt | Jun 6, 2024 | Depression, Mental Health Topics, Sleep Depression has many noticeable symptoms, including feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating. One of the more impactful depression symptoms is sleep disturbances. Those struggling with depression may sleep too much or not enough, and these sleep disturbances can exacerbate other depression symptoms. Read on to learn more…
What is gratitude? Examining benefits, best practices, and more by Jason Crosby | Sep 15, 2023 | Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics Gratitude is a powerful and transformative emotion that can greatly enrich our lives. This simple, yet profound practice holds a vital place in our personal and social well-being. Gratitude, at its core, is more than just a polite gesture or a perfunctory “thank you.” It is a deeply felt appreciation…
Sleep divorce: Relationship doom or sleep hygiene? Why sleeping apart can be both good and bad by Theresa Lupcho, LPC | Feb 15, 2023 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Sleep Despite what it sounds like, sleep divorce doesn’t always spell the end of a relationship. It’s what happens when one or both partners decide to sleep in separate beds. As controversial as it sounds, it’s actually pretty common. But does sleep divorce truly spell the end of a relationship? And…
6 positive effects playing sports can have on a child’s health by Taylor Bennett | Aug 23, 2022 | Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics, Parenting Growing up, my brother and I were both very active (and yes, our parents were very busy). I played soccer, basketball, and tennis, and even danced for a while. Meanwhile, my brother also played soccer, basketball, and tennis, as well as baseball and track. Needless to say, we were practicing,…
The unintended side effects of spending too much time on social media by Austin Fabel | Aug 1, 2022 | Media Use, Mental Health Topics In late 2010, Steve Jobs was still at the head of Apple and had recently unveiled the first iPad. Jobs was well known for his personality and would often call reporters to let them know how he felt about their reviews. At times, these conversations would involve a pat on…
Biohacking and neurohacking: Is the human body due for an upgrade? by Wistar Murray | Mar 3, 2022 | Health & Exercise, Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement You start feeling tired during the day, so you order a wearable device that tracks your sleep. The data indicates that you’re not spending long enough in your REM cycle, so you begin researching natural sleep aids. You discover an online community of amateur biologists who not only recommend avoiding…
Syncing your body with sunlight: How to undo chronodisruption this fall and winter by Wistar Murray | Nov 9, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Sleep If a supervillain in a superhero movie declared that their ultimate evil plan was “global chronodisruption”, it would sound terrifying. The folks in tights would have to do everything in their power to stop the threat. But since the invention of the electric light, we humans (and some of our…
Meditation doesn’t do the dishes: Self-care tips for parents with burnout by Wistar Murray | Sep 14, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Parenting, Self-Care This is not a parenting advice column. Most parents don’t need more parenting tips. They just need a break from taking care of their kids. I took an informal poll over the weekend, asking my parent-friends how they practice self-care. Their answers: They drink, they smoke weed, they play video…
The connection between smartwatches and health anxiety: Does this technology actually make us more stressed out? by Jason Crosby | Aug 18, 2021 | Anxiety, Media Use, Mental Health Topics For the seventh time this morning, I ogle at my wrist, shuffling through the features on my smartwatch until I can see my heart rate. It’s bumping along at a cool 102 bpm. I’m sweating slightly, nervously tapping my foot against the carpet. Whether it’s from this third cup of…
Coping with climate anxiety and extreme heat: A field guide by Jason Crosby | Aug 4, 2021 | Anxiety, Coping Skills, Mental Health Topics I’m stuck in four lanes of traffic for the next two miles. It’s late July in Texas, and not a single car is moving. It’s 93 degrees outside, plus 70% humidity to top things off. Sweating, frustrated, and frankly quite angry, I lean into my car horn, uttering a few…
Our pets love us unconditionally: They bring us endless fun, joy, and comfort which all prove beneficial to our mental health by Taylor Bennett | Aug 27, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Pets can bring an overwhelming amount of fun, joy, and love to our lives—additionally, they can help to soothe any feelings of loneliness. Dogs, cats, and other pets love their owners unconditionally and in showing this love are able to help us feel happy again. The positive impact doesn’t stop…
Counseling for men—It’s okay to ask for help by Anthony Centore, PhD | Jun 12, 2019 | Beginning Therapy, Men's Issues, Mental Health Topics It’s difficult for many people to admit they need help and then to actually seek out that help—it’s sometimes even more difficult for men. That said, it’s important that men (as well as women) ask for and seek professional mental health help when they need it, as counseling can help…