Blogs

Have you ever watched a horror movie and felt your heart racing, creating a symphony of thumps and thuds? If you have, rest assured, you're not alone. This is a pretty typical reaction to a spine-tingling horror flick. But what causes one person to embrace the thrill while another shudders at the mere thought of it? You probably know folks on both sides of the spooky spectrum, and you might even be a horror enthusiast yourself. Despite the acts of evil, murder, and sometimes torture depicted in these movies, something about them bewitches certain people. Yet, others can't bear to sit through them. Let's dig into the captivating mystery of why some love horror while others recoil from it. After all, 'tis the season to explore the psychology of horror for a Halloween treat.
Understanding the Eerie Essence of Horror
First things first, what exactly is horror? In a general sense, horror is "an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust." In the world of cinema, it's a genre that aims to evoke these spine-chilling reactions. Horror movies achieve this by delving into the depths of physical and psychological terror, which sends viewers on a rollercoaster of intense fear, shock, or disgust. Some films even manage to blend all three into a chilling cocktail.
Unraveling the Psychological Enigma of Horror
The psychology of horror movies is a curious journey into the reasons behind our desire for spine-tingling fear. When confronted with fear, the human body kicks into gear, releasing a flurry of chemicals in what's commonly known as the "fight or flight" response. Simultaneously, moviegoers can discern that they are not in any real danger.
As the harrowing tale unfolds on screen, the body experiences a rush of cortisol, adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine. These chemicals set off a chain reaction in the body that's almost as automatic as turning out the lights. The heart races, blood pressure surges, and our inner hero or heroine prepares for action.
Once the heart-pounding experience ends, there's an overwhelming sense of relief, and the brain bathes in a surge of "feel-good" chemicals. Some people revel in these biological responses, though they might not fully grasp why. The psychology of horror movies delves into the intricate reasons behind why some people feel a thrill from these films while others avoid them like the plague.
The Conditions that Allow the Thrill
Several conditions need to be in place for horror enthusiasts to enjoy their hair-raising adventures. These conditions are always present in horror movies.
Physical Safety: Those indulging in a horror flick need to be certain that no harm will come to them. The key is knowing that the movie is just fiction, which helps maintain a healthy perspective. Psychological Protection: Some horror buffs may find solace in the artistry of special effects and film production. In such cases, the film isn't terrifying because it's admired as an art form. Sense of Bodily Control: Viewers must feel in control of their own bodies. If something gets too intense on the screen, they can always look away or leave the room. Having that sense of control is vital. The Thrill Seekers and the Fear Averse
Why do some people gravitate toward horror movies while others choose to steer clear? It likely has to do with a combination of psychological and biological factors. These factors influence whether someone craves a dose of fear or shies away from it.
Sensation-Seeking: Some viewers relish the sensory rush that horror films provide. Studies suggest they may be more inclined toward thrill-seeking and excitement. The Intensity of Horror: For some, the more potent the emotional rollercoaster, the greater the relief afterward. The stronger the emotions, the more profound the sense of relief. After all, it's that relief that can become addictive. Curiosity: Just like the rubbernecking at a car accident, some can't resist the allure of the unknown. Hearing about the horror genre from others can pique their curiosity. Desire for New Experiences: High levels of openness to new experiences can draw people toward horror. They have a greater appetite for novelty and the unknown. Biological Reactivity: Everyone's wired differently. Some people are more attuned to the physical sensation horror movies induce. For some, it's a fascination, while for others, it's overwhelming. Social Connection Influence: We learn from our social circles. Growing up in a family with a affinity for fear may make someone more susceptible to horror movies. Empathy Level: Highly empathetic individuals often find horror movies distressing, as they experience negative emotions when witnessing harm. Those with lower empathy levels may be more at ease. Gender and Age: Research suggests that younger folks are more likely to embrace horror movies. Additionally, men tend to be bigger fans of the genre than women. Past Trauma: Oddly enough, those who've experienced past trauma may turn to horror as a coping mechanism. It's a release of endorphins that brings a peculiar kind of comfort to some. So, whether you're intrigued by the eerie unknown or simply enjoy the crisp autumn air, the psychology of horror is as complex as the Halloween costumes that fill our streets. Whether you seek the thrill or prefer to steer clear, remember that in the world of horror, there's room for both the trick and the treat. Happy Halloween! 

It’s estimated that 9% of people in the US will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime; the numbers are much higher for veterans of military service: between 11 and 20% are diagnosed with this debilitating condition. And it’s no wonder - PTSD is a mental health disorder that occurs in response to experiencing or witnessing disturbing and distressing traumatic events - which is common to most vets who have seen combat. By way of detailed explanation, Matthew Friedman, MD, Ph.D., Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, says that PTSD is common, especially among recent veterans, because deployed military personnel “have at some point felt helpless to alter the course of potentially lethal events; been exposed to severe combat in which buddies were killed or injured; been exposed to uncontrollable and unpredictable life-threatening attacks such as roadside bombs; or experienced exposure to the consequences of combat, such as observing or handling remains of civilians, enemy soldiers, or US and allied personnel.” We can all agree that that’s a significant amount of trauma for an individual to experience.
Thankfully there is hope for those who are seeking treatment for PTSD. Due to the many military veterans living with PTSD (and more diagnosed every year), scientists at government and educational institutions are constantly researching new ways to help those living with this mental health condition. Our goal is to shed light on some of the latest PTSD treatments that have been found to be effective.
Traditional Treatment For PTSD: One Size Does Not Fit All
A few months ago, we wrote about the science of PTSD; how experiencing trauma impacts different parts of the brain and ultimately changes it, causing the parts of the brain responsible for thinking and memory to stop functioning correctly. When this occurs, it’s hard to separate safe and “normal” events happening in the present from traumatic events that happened in the past. Because of this, PTSD can impact daily routines, making it difficult to do normal tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating. It can significantly impact work and relationships and left untreated, it can cause dependence on drugs or alcohol.
Traditional treatment for PTSD has been a combination of medication and therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). These treatment methods are an attempt to help minimize, or even eliminate, the distressing symptoms that people with PTSD experience.
However, a 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a “one-size-fits-all” treatment prescription for PTSD does not work. It may be that traditional therapies work for one individual, but newer, innovative therapies work better for the next. The study concluded that it is vitally important that each patient is evaluated within the context of their unique set of PTSD causes and symptoms, and that their behavioral health professionals help them find the right combination of treatments that work for them, rather than use a one-size-fits-all approach. Further, it’s important for patients and medical professionals to keep trying different treatments until they find one that works - something that isn’t often done, as many sufferers give up after trying one or two treatment attempts.
What Are The Latest PTSD Treatment Options For Veterans?
Below are just some of the latest evidence-based treatments for PTSD. This list is by no means exhaustive. To keep up on treatment developments, watch the news or subscribe to military and scientific / health journals, some of which you can find here.
Non-Traditional Approaches Like Meditation & Acupuncture
Researchers have found that non-traditional treatments like yoga, meditation, acupuncture,  acupressure, and doing repetitive, peaceful tasks such as sanding wood, knitting, crocheting, restoring cars, or tying fly-fishing flies can be very effective tools in managing trauma symptoms. Horseback riding or having a service or companion dog can also help some PTSD patients. 
Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy
A 2021 study published in Biological Psychiatry showed that trauma-focused psychotherapy can significantly reduce the symptoms of PTSD. This treatment, used specifically for PTSD, involves techniques such as "in vivo exposure," which involves directly facing a feared object, situation, or activity in real life, and "imaginal exposure," which involves facing the trauma memory. A person who is afraid of crowds, for example, may be repeatedly exposed to large gatherings. After a while, the person recognizes there is no actual danger, so this process eventually promotes new learnings in the brain.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
You may have recently seen Prince Harry, on his mental health series The Me You Can’t See, undergoing this kind of therapy on camera in an attempt to show us (and de-stigmatize) how he is healing from childhood trauma and loss. EMDR works by having the individual with PTSD pay attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like following a moving finger, a flashing light, or a tone that beeps in one ear) while calling to mind the upsetting memory – until shifts occur in the way that the memory is experienced. A similar therapy is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as ‘tapping’.
 Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
This treatment involves a shot of local anesthetic in either the stellate or C6 ganglions on the side of the neck, which numbs the nerves for 8 hours. When the numbness wears off, patients report immediate relief of PTSD symptoms. A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that SGB therapy significantly reduced the severity of PTSD symptoms over a period of 8 weeks.
 Three Key Takeaways
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with PTSD, know that there are multiple proven treatment options available. Perhaps some of these newer therapies may work for you. And remember, it’s likely that your medical professional will recommend a combination of more than one therapy to reduce your symptoms.
 In summary, the three most important learnings to take away from this post are:
 One size does not fit all when it comes to treating PTSD; what works for one person may not work for the next. Mental health specialists must view each patient as unique, requiring highly individualized therapy combinations.
The most effective PTSD treatment may actually be a combination of several therapies and medications; rather than just one.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again: Keep trying different treatments until you find the ones that work. It may feel like a slow healing process, but persist and you’ll find the combination that’s right for you.
 Please note that any treatment must be done in conjunction with a trained mental health or medical specialist and not attempted outside of medical care.
Sources
American Psychiatric Association
National Institutes of Health
Journal of the American Medical Association
 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a ‘new work normal’ for many of us. While around 7% of Americans worked from home regularly before the pandemic, now 33-50% regularly work from home. Working remotely seems great on the surface, as we get to avoid lengthy morning routines (especially if you’re also getting other family members ready for the day), long commutes, and common office distractions, like the cubemate who talks loudly on the phone. However, many of us have found that when those lines of separation between work, family time, and relaxation are blurred, it can actually lead to more stress. 
Why is this? Mental health professionals say that things like lack of social contact with others, overworking, and loss of good sleep and eating habits - all of which can happen when we work from home - contribute to a more stressful work experience. They advise that in order to work smarter, and to reduce the chances of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, we should adopt a set of boundaries and routines when working remotely.
Tips to maintain a healthy work-life balance while working from home
The most important tip is to separate “work” and “life”. This means both dedicating a physical space to do your work that isn’t your bedroom, and separating your work and home activities throughout the day. For example, it can be tempting to use the time between meetings to do the dishes or the laundry, but this can ultimately lead to burnout.
Other tips include:
Establishing a routine. Routines and schedules help us feel a sense of control - so  when work routines are significantly altered, it can feel like we don’t know where to begin or how to be productive. Creating a new schedule can be a good way to regain that sense of control. Start with a robust morning routine – take a shower, meditate, get dressed, etc.  - before logging on for the day. And just like before the pandemic, it pays to remain flexible, as sometimes routines can change. 
Taking regular breaks. In a normal in-office workday, you probably would have stopped to chat with a coworker, gotten up to refill your coffee or tea, or left the office for lunch. When you’re working from home it can be more difficult to find those break times. So try to schedule breaks on your calendar and hold yourself accountable to those times. During a break, you could go for a quick walk, play with your dog, or meditate if you are so inclined. By regularly removing yourself from the work environment for 10 or 15 minutes, you’ll feel refreshed and productive instead of feeling exhausted and unable to focus.
Keeping a consistent sleep schedule. Even if you don’t have a meeting until 10am, get up on time anyway. Resist the urge to binge-watch Netflix late at night. The same wake and bedtimes are critical to self-care because they contribute to better overall sleep quality. Otherwise, you may find yourself feeling groggy during the day, or with fluctuations in energy. (And if that happens, it's much more productive to go outside and take a brief, brisk walk instead of taking a nap.)
Eating healthy food. Stay hydrated throughout the day by filling up a water bottle and keeping it next to you at your desk. Resist the urge to snack all day long - it's so easy  to keep running to the fridge - especially if you are stressed. But if you're particularly challenged by this, consider making your lunch in advance, just as you would have for the office. And be sure to have lots of healthy snacks and less junk food in the house.
Having a clock-out time. It’s very easy when you work from home to keep working into the evening - to “just answer an email or two to get caught up”. But that can lead to burnout over time. To be as effective as possible at your job, know when to start and to quit for the day. Set your ‘do not disturb’ notifications between 5pm and 8am for example. Resist the urge to check email in the evening and on weekends. Turn off the sound on your phone or laptop so you don't hear the email and message notifications as they come in.
Making an appointment for “you time”. Self-care isn’t just about long baths and glasses of wine. It means prioritizing the things that you love - whether that’s reading, hiking, visiting with friends, or whatever makes you feel happy and relaxed. It's about finding healthy ways to comfort yourself, setting priorities, staying connected, and creating structure. In this way, you build a stronger foundation for yourself and your career. 
If you or someone you love shows signs of too much stress or anxiety, consider consulting a behavioral health professional
If you’re a client, request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today! If you’re a behavioral health provider looking to join our network, see all the benefits and learn how to apply here.
Sources
Wall Street Journal
The National Sleep Foundation
Griffis, Hailley

Are you one of the many people who have a hard time saying “no”? You’re not alone! There are many reasons experts say we don’t always set the boundaries that we need for good mental health - including wanting to people-please, playing the role of ‘rescuer’, feeling manipulated, or being put on the spot. In this week’s article, we explore ways to set healthy boundaries for better mental health, and why setting boundaries is important for self-care.
What are boundaries and why set them?
A boundary is a limit or space between you and another person, or persons; a clear place where you begin and the other person ends. Setting boundaries is an important part of establishing one’s identity and is a crucial aspect of well-being. Boundaries help us feel safer and more comfortable. Boundaries can be physical or emotional, and they can range from loose to rigid, with healthy boundaries often falling somewhere in between. When healthy boundaries are not present, people may feel angry or sad due to interactions that create a feeling of being taken advantage of, devalued, or unappreciated. In addition, we often feel exhausted by the responsibilities brought on by saying “yes” all the time - leading to what some experts call the “treadmill of over-commitment”.
So why don’t we set boundaries more firmly and frequently? Sometimes we think that saying “yes” will make other people happy regardless of our own feelings. Sometimes, we think saying “yes” all the time confirms that we are needed. And sometimes we respond to the guilt that others may employ to try to break down our boundaries. When we say “yes” for these reasons, we’re out of balance - we’ve inadvertently placed more value on the needs of others than on ourselves.
How to set healthy boundaries
First, know the characteristics of effective boundaries:
Limits are clear and decisive, yet reasonable Value is placed on your needs The focus is on authenticity and self-care, not on pleasing others or playing the rescuer Next, give yourself permission to set personal limits with people. If you feel that love and approval are tied to pleasing others, or that you’re somehow being selfish for setting boundaries, or if it feels “risky” to set boundaries, then consider consulting with a mental health professional who can help you see that it's not selfish to take care of your own needs. 
Next, define your boundaries. This might include things like:
How you will and won’t spend your time and energy Who you will or won’t engage with and when What types of interactions you will or won’t engage in What activities and projects you will or won’t participate in You may find it helpful to practice communicating your boundaries beforehand. Practice staying calm in the face of others’ reactions to your boundary-setting. They may be surprised at first especially if they have come to believe you will always say “yes”, but don't let that stop you! It may feel uncomfortable in the short-term, but there’s definitely a long-term payoff.
And finally, heed the warning signs - and stay away from those who repeatedly don’t respect boundaries you’ve set; who may be invading your space for their own end. 
If you find this all difficult to do, you’re not alone. It’s a big - but very positive step - to take for better mental health. Qualified behavioral health counselors can help with things like learning how to set and maintain boundaries, and recognizing when and what to do when others try to cross those boundaries. As part of improving self-care, consider getting guidance about this from a mental health professional.
Sources
Forbes: The Importance Of Setting Healthy Boundaries
Harvard Business Review: Set Better Boundaries
Psychology Today: 7 Tips to Create Healthy Boundaries

We spend an average of 2.5 hours per day on social media in the US. And that’s up 31% from 2015. According to the Pew Research Center, 70% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. use social media daily. And of course, we all post our best - the best vacation pics, the best party pics, the best outfit pics - it's a recipe for unrealistic comparison on a daily basis. 
Why do we do it? To boost self-esteem and feel a sense of belonging in our social circles, we post with the hope of receiving positive feedback. But there’s a downside - research shows that time spent on social media has an adverse effect on mental health. The effort spent to achieve and maintain the ideal body so that we look “as good as” others we see on social media, can trigger significant anxiety and depression. In this article, we dig into the research and share suggestions to mitigate the negative impact of social media.
What the science says about social media and mental health
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and more recently TikTok (whose use is up 800% in the US since 2018) - all provide an easy means to post, view, and compare ourselves to others, 24/7. Filters that provide the ability to airbrush photos, whiten teeth, and more, are easy to find and use. Now, it’s not only celebrities who look perfect—it’s everyone. In fact, plastic surgeons have seen an uptick in requests in recent years from patients who want to look like their (unrealistic) filtered Snapchat or Instagram photos.
Logically, we know this can’t be healthy behavior. And the science backs this up. Research has linked social media use to decreased sleep, increased anxiety and depression, and significant body dysmorphia - which often leads to eating disorders. 
One study, published by the Public Library of Open Science (PLoS One), found the prevalence of depression and anxiety to be over 48%, for those of all ages and genders who looked at social media frequently. Another study, published in Computers and Human Behavior, found that individuals who used social media over 2 hours per day reported significantly higher body image concerns and internalizing symptoms than peers reporting no use of social media. A 2018 British study tied social media use to decreased or disrupted sleep, which can be associated with depression, memory loss, and poor work or academic performance.
One study, published by the Public Library of Open Science (PLoS One), found the prevalence of depression and anxiety to be over 48%, for those of all ages and genders who looked at social media frequently. Another study, published in Computers and Human Behavior, found that individuals who used social media over 2 hours per day reported significantly higher body image concerns and internalizing symptoms than peers reporting no use of social media. A 2018 British study tied social media use to decreased or disrupted sleep, which can be associated with depression, memory loss, and poor work or academic performance.
How social media’s ‘ideal body image’ portrayal impacts different communities
Some communities are impacted more than others - for various reasons they are more likely to feel pressure to look good on social media and/or more vulnerable to the effects of constant comparison. For example, studies have found that social media use has been linked to higher rates of depression in teens, which in turn has lead to a higher suicide rate among the age group. When there’s a ‘filter’ applied to the digital images, it can be hard for teens to tell what’s real and what isn’t, which comes at an already difficult time for them physically and emotionally.
A Pew Research study of teens, technology, and friendships revealed a range of social media-induced stressors:
Feeling pressure to post attractive content about yourself
Feeling pressure to get comments and likes on your posts
Seeing people post about events to which you weren’t invited
Having someone post things about you that you cannot change or control
Another community adversely affected by the need to achieve a perfect body for social media is the LGBTQ community. For example, research published out of Dalhousie University found that social demands placed on gay men, based on social media images, to achieve a perfect body, have serious mental health consequences. The men in this study talked about how “constantly thinking about food and body ideals often lead to losing themselves in feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression.” The National Eating Disorder Association similarly found that those who identify as LGBTQ+ experience unique stressors that may contribute to the development of eating disorders - these stressors include the inability to meet body image ideals within LGBTQ+ cultural contexts that are promoted in social media.
Women in general, and young black women in particular, are also at greater risk for developing mental health issues due to unrealistic body image portrayals on social media. One study found that celebrity culture, as portrayed on social media, perpetuates the ideology that young black women can only achieve beauty through changes in skin color, extended artificial weaves, and a thin body frame. Another study out of Yale University School of Medicine found that as black teen girls navigate social media, “they are aware that they are seen as less desirable than their white teen counterparts.” Of course, all of this leads to significant mental health issues.
How to mitigate the negatives effects of social media
Can anything be done to mitigate the downsides of social media? While the biggest changes need to come at a societal level, it turns out that there are some tactics that individuals and families can take - starting with something as simple as monitoring social media use. In an article from Harvard’s McLean Hospital, psychologist Jacqueline Sperling, Ph.D., says “it’s probably unrealistic for most social media users to quit completely. However, they can monitor their behavior to see how their use impacts them.” She adds, “if someone notices that they feel less happy after using social media, they might consider changing how they use the sites, such as viewing them for less time and doing other activities that they enjoy instead.” 
Experts also suggest the following options:
 
Find and follow body-positive accounts and influencers, or join support groups - this can help shift our mindset about the ideal body image set by society.
Take an ethical stand and refuse to read, or view media, or buy advertised products that do not promote a healthy and diverse body image.
Use your own social media accounts to become an advocate for positive body image. Give a shout-out to retailers, advertisers, or celebrities who promote natural looks, healthy body size, and diverse body shapes.
Consult with a behavioral health specialist if you or someone you love is finding it hard to disconnect from social media overuse.
If you recognize some of these signs for anxiety or depression, consider consulting a behavioral health professional
Request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today. Our mental health professionals understand the link between social media and mental health. Seeking a meaningful career in behavioral health? Consider joining our national team of providers making a real impact on the lives of thousands, learn more about the benefits here.

Much has been written about returning military personnel and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) because it’s important to raise awareness of this issue as so many of our men and women who have served overseas live with the lingering effects of serious head injuries. And depending on what part of the brain is injured, TBI is often correlated with mental health problems. In fact, studies show that when people without any prior mental health issues or history of mental illness suffer a TBI, their risk for depression and other mental health issues increases significantly – up to two to five times higher than the general population. In this post, we review the link between TBI and mental health, how to look out for symptoms, and treat them if they develop.
What Is Traumatic Brain Injury & Why Do So Many Military Personnel Get Them?
The TBI Centers of Excellence (part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense) reports nearly 450,000 TBIs among U.S. service members from all branches between 2000 and 2020 - that’s a significant number of our service men and women living with the repercussions of a serious head injury. The CDC defines a TBI as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a penetrating object. Military service members are especially at risk from explosions experienced during combat or training exercises, and in fact, currently, approximately 80% of new military TBI cases occur in non-deployed settings, most often sustained during training activities.
TBIs have persistent, and sometimes progressive, long-term debilitating physical and emotional effects. Typical physical symptoms include headaches, seizures, weakness, numbness and loss of coordination, to name just a few. A TBI may also trigger cognitive symptoms including confusion, frequent mood changes, memory loss, executive dysfunction, behavioral changes and difficulty reasoning or learning.
The Link Between TBI & Mental Health Disorders
Scientists have found that living with a TBI may also lead to mental health disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder (most common), PTSD (second most common), Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and to a lesser extent, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia – all most likely caused by damage to brain tissue during the original head injury.
Following Is More Detail About The Two Most Common Mental Health Disorders Associated With TBI
Major Depressive Disorder — The prevalence of depression within the first year after brain injury is 33%–42%, and within the first 7 years is 61%. Depression may slow the pace of cognitive recovery, impact social functioning, and lower overall health-related quality of life. In addition, people recovering from TBI who also have depression are 3 times less likely to stay on their prescribed medication. They also report more severe physical symptoms (like headache, blurred vision, and dizziness) compared to non-depressed TBI patients. Depression after TBI may result in part from direct or secondary injury to brain tissue, and it also may result in part from the TBI patient’s frustration with the pace of recovery and loss of “normal” routine and ability to participate in activities of daily life.
PTSD — Studies show that military personnel who suffer a TBI are almost twice as likely to have developed PTSD one year later than those with no TBI. One of the problems in diagnosing PTSD in these situations though, is that post-acute symptoms following TBI overlap somewhat with those associated with PTSD itself. Fortunately, clinicians with solid experience treating PTSD are more apt to be able to tell the difference. Scientists believe that PTSD may develop following TBI due to several factors: unconscious or conscious “encoding” in the brain of sensory factors (the sights and smells) associated with the event that caused the TBI, reconstruction of the trauma memory from secondary sources (for example, other people who were there), and memory of circumstances surrounding the event that also may be emotionally traumatic (like seeing others hurt).
Looking at this issue from another perspective, researchers have also found that veterans seeking help from the VA for mental health issues, were found to have undiagnosed TBI in 45% of the cases studied. In other words, symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders were the tip-off that something was significantly wrong medically; in this case, the patients had suffered a TBI at some point in their military service that had not been diagnosed or treated.
Watch For Symptoms Of Mental Health Disorders If You Have Been Diagnosed With A TBI
Making progress in rehabilitation from a TBI can be especially challenging when it’s complicated by an undiagnosed mental health disorder. That’s why it’s so important for people with TBI to be screened for mental health disorders too, and for loved ones and clinicians to watch for signs of mental health problems after TBI. If you see general symptoms such as the following, consult with a qualified mental health provider (and when in doubt, go ahead and get checked out):
Feeling especially sad or down
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
Extreme mood changes
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Detachment from reality, paranoia, or hallucinations
Inability to cope with daily problems
Problems with alcohol or drug use
Excessive anger, hostility, or violence
Suicidal thinking
Mental Health Disorders Associated With TBI Are Treatable
For people with a TBI who are also diagnosed with a mental health disorder, it’s important that treatment for that disorder be integrated into the overall TBI rehabilitation treatment plan as prescribed by a qualified mental health provider. Treatment may include a combination of medications and therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) — treatment options similar to those recommended for people who are not dealing with a TBI. So, the good news is that mental health disorders associated with TBI are treatable, but it’s critical to be on the lookout for symptoms so they’re not missed.
Sources
Journal of Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
Centers for Disease Control
Journal of Neuropsychiatry

Most of us know that a good night’s sleep is important to good health. It’s critical to maintaining brain cognition, concentration, and productivity. Sleep also improves immune function, staves off serious conditions like diabetes and stroke, and maintains our ability to deal with the challenges of everyday life. A new study has also found that many of us could be coping with concussion-like symptoms such as confusion, low energy, and memory loss due to a lack of sleep and compounded stress. 
Participants Included Cadets From U.S. Military Academies & College Athletes
The research published in the January issue of Journal Sports Medicine was conducted by the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium, a founding alliance between the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense. Participants included cadets within U.S. military service academies – who undergo rigorous training and are required to participate in athletics – and students who competed in NCAA sports at 26 U.S. colleges.
Study Results
Researchers found between 11% and 17% of healthy college or military academy athletes with no history of recent concussion were reporting multiple symptoms – such as memory loss, low energy, and dizziness – that met the criteria for post-concussion syndrome (also known as PCS). The study found lack of sleep, pre-existing mental health conditions, and stress were the most common predictors for these concussion-like symptoms. Furthermore, between 50% and 75% of the athletes surveyed had at least one concussion symptom, with the most common being fatigue, low energy, or drowsiness.
Women who participated in the study reported more symptoms than men: among cadets, 17.8% of men and 27.6% of women experienced concussion-like symptoms, and among NCAA athletes, 11.4% of men and 20% of women. The study concluded that a history of depression or ADHD were key contributing factors for NCAA athletes who experienced PCS-like symptoms.
"The numbers were high, and were consistent with previous research in this area, but it is quite shocking," said lead researcher Jaclyn Caccese, assistant professor at The Ohio State University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. "These are elite athletes who are physically fit, and they are experiencing that many symptoms commonly reported following concussion. So looking across the general population, they'd probably experience even more."
What Are Typical Symptoms?
A concussion can affect your memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, energy level, balance, and muscle coordination. Individuals who have had a recent concussion or are experiencing PCS-like conditions may act confused or dazed. Other symptoms can include:
Headaches
Nausea or vomiting
Memory loss
Ringing ears
Difficulty concentrating
Sensitivity to light
Loss of smell or taste
Fatigue and drowsiness
A key takeaway related to those who have not had a recent concussion may be experiencing identical symptoms due to lack of sleep and/or the burden of stress being carried.
What Do Experts Recommend?
The research was originally designed to gather additional information regarding the effects and recovery of concussion for student-athletes at colleges and military service academies. Concussions are a known problem in sports, particularly contact sports such as football. 
Scientists who performed the research stated the results have implications for how we treat concussions in college athletes as well as how the general population manages sleep and stress.     For example, they suggest athletes recovering from concussions be assessed and treated on a highly individualized basis. In addition, knowing athletes' medical history and baseline symptoms can help clinicians predict which pre-existing factors contribute to concussion recovery times, and ultimately improve treatment and recovery.
For those of us who’re not college athletes, self-awareness and recognizing when our sleep cycle is being disrupted or how stress has been negatively impacting our daily lives is essential. Place greater emphasis on addressing the issues as they arise or develop healthier mechanisms for coping with the guidance of a mental health therapist. Difficulty sleeping or stress related to underlying mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression should always be diagnosed by a qualified and licensed behavioral health specialist.  
Consider Telebehavioral Health
Telemynd offers patients the ability to connect with providers from the safety and convenience of their homes. If you’re someone seeking mental health services, request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today! If you’re a behavioral health provider wanting to join our network, apply online. 
Sources
Journal Sports Medicine, 01.11.21: Factors Associated with Symptom Reporting in U.S. Service Academy Cadets and NCAA Student-Athletes without Concussion: Findings from the CARE Consortium
Concussion Legacy Foundation: What is Post-Concussion Syndrome

I believe it is safe to say that Covid-19 has caused widespread disruption to life as we knew it. School, work, travel, relationships - all shaken up during the pandemic - and with it, our mental health. Some of the latest research has found that 25% of US adults are experiencing significantly more anxiety this year than in the past, and 20% are experiencing more symptoms of depression now than in the past. The research also shows that the volume of calls to helplines has increased significantly over the past year.
The disruptions to everyday life have increased the need for behavioral health care – which has put an even greater demand on what was an already limited supply of mental health providers. Here at Telemynd, we’ve found that providing mental health care virtually, also known as telebehavioral health, has proved to be an effective way to make sure everyone seeking quality care has access. In fact, we believe that if there’s a silver lining to the pandemic, it’s that the adoption of telemedicine by the industry and consumers alike, has been accelerated by at least 5 years. Every indication points to telebehavioral health being here to stay, and if you’re a provider, there may be no need to return to your brick and mortar office.
Research Supports Overall Satisfaction & Effectiveness For Patients & Providers
One study published in JIMR Formative Research suggests that more than half of people using telehealth want to keep receiving that care virtually post-pandemic. Another study found that 78% of patients who use telebehavioral health are very or extremely satisfied with their telehealth experiences, and 75% are more likely to continue to use it after the pandemic.
In addition, in a recent survey of employers who offer healthcare benefits, 90% report that their focus on telemedicine increased during the pandemic, and 52% say virtual medicine will continue to be an important priority within their organization’s health care activities following the pandemic.
It’s clear that the demand is there for telebehavioral health - but is it effective? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. A published literature review found without question that “behavioral health virtual visits deliver the same outcomes as in-person visits for many conditions, and meet the same standards of care set by the National Committee for Quality Association.” 
Our Own Data Shows Record Growth Levels Beyond The Pandemic

At Telemynd, we’re seeing strong indications from payors and patients that telemedicine is their preferred method for the delivery of behavioral health care services. Between third quarter 2020 and second quarter 2021 we experienced 4X growth in new patients seeking mental health services, an upward trend we continued to see as we move through 2021 at a record-setting 61% increase in demand. Both clinicians and patients have demonstrated their ability to quickly adapt to telemedicine with no sign of slowing down, even in a post-pandemic world. 
Telebehavioral Health Benefits — For Patients & Clinicians
Many challenges have been addressed through the implementation of telebehavioral health, including:
Minimal wait to connect with a quality mental health professional
Expanded access for patients who may live in a rural area, have limited mobility, or reside in long-term care facilities
Saving time with virtual screenings and evaluations
Better treatment for chronic conditions and medication management
Personalized care from home, which promotes willingness to share in settings they’re already comfortable in
Eliminating the stigma often associated with seeking mental health services and providing additional patient privacy
For clinicians, telebehavioral health has many benefits as well, such as:
Removing the overhead and upkeep of a physical location
More flexibility to schedule clients at a pace and level that supports your needs
Added freedom to travel while seeing patients anywhere in the country
Simple and reliable weekly income direct deposited with complete remittance reports from our finance team
All of these benefits lead to a true work-life balance. Telebehavioral health is a win-win for clinicians and their patients!
Telebehavioral Health Allows Clinicians To Be Better At What They Do
With all the benefits and studies showing adoption and effectiveness, telebehavioral health can now be considered a fundamental component of our healthcare environment – in other words, it’s here to stay. Telemynd helps each provider who joins to expand their practice and eliminate the administrative burden. Giving reliable income and the ability to focus on what matters most — delivering quality mental health care to patients.
Sources
Futurity
Willis Towers Watson
American Psychological Association
Journal of Internal Medicine

Where is telehealth in 2022? The pandemic showed how telemedicine could change how we think about health care interactions, with virtual visits increasing almost 40 times, according to data from McKinsey. Today, telehealth utilization has stabilized at levels 38 times (yes, that’s 38 times!) higher than before the pandemic. And consumer and provider attitudes toward telehealth have also improved since before the pandemic. Telemynd’s CEO, Patrick Herguth, said only 6 months ago, “between third quarter 2020 and second quarter 2021 we experienced 4X growth in new patients seeking mental health services, an upward trend we continued to see as we move through 2021 at a record-setting 61% increase in demand. Both clinicians and patients have demonstrated their ability to quickly adapt to telemedicine with no sign of slowing down.” 
In this article, we look at the most recent trends, why telebehavioral health works, how to address any remaining barriers, and predictions for the future.
Consumer demand for virtual health care remains high going into 2022
One study found that 78% of patients who currently use telebehavioral health are very or extremely satisfied with their telehealth experiences, and 75% are more likely to continue to use it going forward. In another recent study, 40% of surveyed consumers (including those who have never used telehealth) said they would try it or continue using it — up from 11% prior to the pandemic.
Why has telebehavioral health been so successful?
For providers, it remains a convenient, cost-effective way to diagnose and treat many behavioral health issues. As well, it removes the overhead and upkeep of a physical location.
Consumers continue to see the following benefits of telebehavioral health:
Creates unprecedented convenience - appointments can be done wherever and whenever is most convenient. Removes the stigma associated with physically going to an office or treatment facility. Saves time with virtual screenings and evaluations. Expands access for those who live in a rural area, have limited mobility, or reside in long-term care facilities. Shortens delays to meet with providers. What’s the future of telebehavioral health?
Most experts who study trends in health care see telebehavioral health expanding further in the future, where it makes sense. The American Medical Association says that providers and practices “have built successful telehealth systems that are making care more accessible and convenient for patients—there should be no turning back now.” Telemynd’s Patrick Herguth says, “The pandemic exposed and exacerbated the mental health crisis. It is a highly personal matter that requires a real human connection in order to succeed. Telemedicine expands our ability to match the right provider to patients, irrespective of where they’re located. People-oriented technology advancements will lead to even greater innovative care models that improve outcomes while lowering the cost of care for everyone.”
Telehealth issues like the following will need continued work to create an even better experience for providers and consumers:
technology security care payment mechanisms patient feedback methods  education and promotion so that more Americans know they can access telehealth As long as we continue to address these, what started off as just ‘a necessity’ during the pandemic will become the norm for health care even beyond 2022. 
If you need help with mental health issues, consider contacting a qualified telebehavioral health professional
If you’re a client, request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today. Our mental health professionals are trained in multiple mental health disorders and have experience treating them via online appointments - from the convenience and privacy of your home or wherever works for you. If you’re a behavioral health provider looking to join our network, see all the benefits and learn how to apply here.
Sources
McKinsey
TechCrunch
Yale Medicine

Telemynd is pleased to announce we are among the winners of the annual Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards, a list of the Best Places to Work in 2023.
Unlike other workplace awards, there is no self-nomination or application process, instead it’s entirely based on the feedback our team has voluntarily and anonymously shared on Glassdoor. To determine the winners of the awards, Glassdoor evaluates company reviews shared by current and former team members over the past year. This year, we are proud to be recognized as a Best Place to Work among U.S. companies with fewer than 1,000 team members.
A huge thank you goes out to everyone on our team who took the time to share their perspective on what it’s like to work here. We appreciate all the valuable feedback as it only helps us improve.
 A Statement from Telemynd CEO, Patrick Herguth
"As a people-first organization, we are proud to be recognized by our employees and behavioral health providers as being a place they choose to spend their valuable time. We know that high-quality behavioral health always starts with a person. The Telemynd team - from the patient service representatives on the phone helping our clients, to the clinicians providing these valuable services, to the billing team that helps a patient navigate the complexity of their insurance plans – is a mission-driven group that shows up every day to make a difference. This is recognition for everyone on the team and a testament to the culture we have built."
 
Below are just a few words employees shared on Glassdoor that contributed toward the award and make us feel incredibly honored
 
Innovative and Supportive, Clinical Care Manager 
“Telemynd has been incredibly supportive since I started about a year and a half ago. They are a company who cares about their clients, employees and care providers. Genuinely interested in making their own footprint in the teletherapy world and bridging gaps in underserved communities. While the company may be virtual it feels anything but. Everyone is very connected and there is an emphasis on human connection and that personal touch.”
Best Company I Have Worked For, Mental Health Clinician
“Develop your own schedule. Once the Client is assigned, you reschedule yourself keeping your clients happy as you can choose if you want to work outside of the hours you posted to the scheduling department. Pay is very reasonable and as with any self-employed position it takes a while to build your caseload, so expect it. The pay has always been on time and I have found no inaccuracies. The advertisements are accurate, not like some platforms, that offer a certain amount per hour and then in the fine print only pay you the advertised amount when you work over a certain amount of hours. Support staff are professional, polite and extremely helpful. Also the medication providers can see your documentation and you can see theirs! This is such a plus, to keep the team running efficiently. BRAVO TELEMYND.”
Professional and Pleasant Working Environment, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
“I very much enjoy working with Telemynd as an independent contractor, very professional and caring staff, quick response to questions, very supportive to both patients and therapists, I highly recommend this company to those who have the love and passion for treating patients toward their healing process.”
Great Work/Life Balance, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
“I love working for Telemynd! The people are great and I am able to schedule my own appointments and see as many clients or as few as I wish. I am not stuck in an 8-6 setting seeing clients every hour and then working until late at night to get my notes done (sound familiar?). If you value your work/life balance and want to work for a company that truly appreciates your contribution to the mental health field, please consider Telemynd.”

Anxiety is a common disorder - an estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience anxiety at some time in their lives. In our previous post, we defined Anxiety Disorders as “6 months or more of chronic, exaggerated worry and tension that is unfounded, or much more severe than the normal, everyday worry most people experience”. This can manifest in symptoms such as feeling restless, irritable, or on edge’, having a hard time concentrating, feeling tired all the time, and experiencing headaches stomaches, or other muscle aches.
Women Are Diagnosed With Anxiety Disorders At 2X The Rate Of Men
Multiple studies have found that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder — and this holds true for adult women as well as girls under 18. In addition, women diagnosed with one type of Anxiety Disorder are more likely than men to be diagnosed with an additional Anxiety Disorder.
Researchers have also found differences in the way women experience anxiety:
Women report more body-based symptoms - specifically, women who have panic attacks report more shortness of breath and faintness.
Panic Disorder, a type of Anxiety Disorder, appears to be more chronic in women.
Women report a greater number of worries and more separation anxiety than men.
Women tend to deal with their anxiety by avoidance, while men more often turn to substance abuse.
Multiple Theories As To Why Women Are Diagnosed More Than Men
Some researchers theorize that women’s monthly cycle can affect anxiety levels, or that female hormones may contribute to a more quickly activated, longer-acting fight-or-flight response, or that the hormone testosterone — more abundant in males — may help ease anxiety symptoms for men. Other studies revealed women are more likely to experience physical and mental abuse (as children and as adults) than men, and abuse is commonly linked to the development of anxiety disorders. 
Digging Deeper Into The Anxiety Gender Gap
However, one of the biggest differences researchers found is that women are more likely than men to seek help when they experience symptoms of anxiety, and therefore get diagnosed. So the question becomes: are women actually experiencing anxiety more often, or are they more likely to discuss their symptoms with a health professional than men ? In other words, is there a societal influence on the levels of Anxiety Disorder diagnoses between genders?
In his book, Invisible Men: Men's Inner Lives and the Consequences of Silence, author and professor of psychology at Clark University, Michael Addis postulates that "when men struggle with fear, and depression, it can tend to come out more as anger and aggression. And men in our culture are more encouraged to use, let's say, strategies such as substance use... to suppress those emotions...They are more encouraged to talk to their friend and to bottle it up, and to perhaps kind of withdraw and become passive” rather than reporting symptoms to a medical professional.
In fact, a recent study looked at whether male leaders within organizations are penalized by asking for help, and found that in fact, sometimes men “may face backlash when they don’t adhere to masculine gender stereotypes — when they show vulnerability, act nicer, display empathy, or express sadness.” Unfortunately, this may play out by by impeding mens access to treatment, and therefore their overall mental health.
Ultimately, whether in men or women, early recognition of anxiety symptoms is important so that treatment can start. A combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, medication and lifestyle changes (more physical activity, improved eating and sleeping habits) has been shown to be effective in reducing most symptoms of anxiety. 
Considering A Career In Telebehavioral Health Or Want To Access Virtual Care With A Licensed Professional?
Telemynd offers patients the ability to connect with providers from the safety and convenience of their homes. Providers can join our network by applying online. If you’re a patient, choose your current insurance provider to request an appointment or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today!
Sources
National Center for Biotechnology Information - National Institutes of Health: Gender Differences in Anxiety Disorders: Prevalence, Course of Illness, Comorbidity and Burden of Illness
Journal of Brain and Behavior: A systematic review of reviews on the prevalence of anxiety disorders in adult populations
NPR: Understanding How Anxiety Might Be Different For Men

In today's fast-paced world, communication has taken on various forms, from social media posts to instant messaging. However, the essence of truly connecting with others often lies in something more fundamental: active listening. Active listening is a powerful skill that not only strengthens relationships but also promotes understanding and empathy. In this blog, we will delve into why active listening is important, when to use it, and offer valuable tips on how to integrate it into all aspects of your life.
The Importance of Active Listening
Active listening goes beyond merely hearing words; it involves engaging fully with the speaker's thoughts, emotions, and intentions. It demonstrates respect, validates the speaker's feelings, and fosters a deeper level of connection. Here are some key reasons why active listening is crucial:
Enhances Relationships: At the core of every strong relationship lies effective communication, and active listening is a foundational component of this. When you actively listen, you show others that you value their opinions and care about their experiences. This builds trust and strengthens the bond between individuals. Promotes Understanding: Listening actively allows you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the speaker's perspective. This understanding is crucial for resolving conflicts, making informed decisions, and collaborating effectively. Fosters Empathy: Empathy, the ability to understand and share another person's feelings, is nurtured through active listening. When you engage with someone's words and emotions, you step into their shoes and experience the world from their vantage point. Reduces Misunderstandings: Misunderstandings often arise due to misinterpretations or incomplete information. Active listening minimizes these occurrences by ensuring that both parties are on the same page. When you actively listen, you can clarify any points of confusion and ensure that the intended message is accurately received. Enhances Personal Growth: Active listening is not only about hearing others but also about self-awareness. As you practice this skill, you become more attuned to your own biases, assumptions, and listening habits. Tips for Practicing Active Listening
Mastering active listening requires intention and practice. Here are some valuable tips to help you become a more adept active listener:
Give Your Full Attention: When someone is speaking, give them your undivided attention. Put away distractions like phones or other devices and maintain eye contact. This not only shows respect but also enables you to pick up on nonverbal cues. Avoid Interrupting: Interrupting the speaker can convey a lack of interest or impatience. Allow the speaker to express themselves fully before offering your thoughts. This not only demonstrates respect but also ensures that you understand their message completely. Show Nonverbal Cues: Your body language plays a significant role in active listening. Nodding, smiling, and using facial expressions that match the speaker's emotions show that you are engaged and empathetic. Reflect and Clarify: Periodically summarize or paraphrase the speaker's points to ensure you understand correctly. This gives them a chance to correct any misconceptions and confirms that you are actively processing their message. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage deeper conversation by asking open-ended questions that can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." This invites the speaker to elaborate and share more of their thoughts and feelings. Manage Your Internal Dialogue: While the speaker is talking, it's natural for your mind to formulate responses. However, try to minimize this internal dialogue during their speaking time. This allows you to be fully present and engaged in what they are saying. Practice Empathy: Put yourself in the speaker's shoes and try to understand their emotions and experiences. This helps you connect with them on a deeper level and respond in a more empathetic manner. Avoid Judgments and Assumptions: Keep an open mind and refrain from making judgments or assumptions about the speaker's words. Everyone's experiences and perspectives are unique, so approach each conversation with curiosity and an eagerness to learn. Integrating Active Listening into All Aspects of Your Life
Enhance Professional Communication:
In the realm of professional pursuits, actively listening to colleagues, clients, and superiors can foster effective collaborations and cultivate a workplace culture of respect and understanding. Active listening enables one to grasp intricate details, glean valuable insights, and make informed decisions. Furthermore, by demonstrating a genuine interest in the perspectives of others, professionals can build rapport, strengthen team dynamics, and position themselves as reliable and empathetic leaders
Relationships With a Partner
Within the realm of romantic relationships, active listening becomes a heartfelt bridge that deepens connections between partners. By genuinely absorbing each other's words, emotions, and desires, couples demonstrate a commitment to understanding one another. This level of attentive engagement fosters an environment where both partners feel heard, valued, and supported. Through active listening, couples can navigate challenges more effectively, celebrate triumphs more intimately, and sustain a sense of emotional intimacy.
Parent Child Relationships
Active listening serves as a cornerstone in nurturing strong bonds between parents and children. When parents actively listen to their children's thoughts, concerns, and stories, they demonstrate that their feelings and experiences matter. This open and empathetic communication builds a foundation of trust, allowing children to feel valued and understood. Active listening not only enhances the parent-child relationship but also instills in children the importance of respectful communication, empathy, and emotional expression, leading to a lifetime of healthier interactions.
In Conclusion
Active listening is a timeless skill that holds the power to transform your relationships, enrich your understanding of others, and foster a deeper connection with the world around you. By prioritizing active listening and integrating it into all aspects of your life, you not only become a better communicator but also a more empathetic and well-rounded individual. So, the next time someone speaks, remember that your attentive ear has the potential to create ripples of positive change.
 

Many people wonder, “Does eating healthy make you feel better?” In the case of the food and mood connection, the simple answer is yes. In fact, food is the fuel that drives all the body’s processes, so it makes sense that providing the body with the highest quality of fuel can make you feel your best, both physically and mentally. Read on to learn about the relationship between food and mood, as well as how to cultivate healthy eating habits one meal at a time.
The Importance of Healthy Eating Habits
Being mindful of food consumption can play a big role in overall well-being. This is because mindful nutrition can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Healthy eating habits can lower your risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Eating healthy foods can also increase your immunity and help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, both of which help maximize wellness.
The Connection Between Healthy Eating and Mood
The benefits of eating nutritious food transcend the effects on the physical body. Beyond helping you avoid chronic disease and excess body weight, eating healthy foods can also improve energy levels, focus, and mood. In fact, researchers have found that people who follow a healthy eating pattern have better mental health than those who adhere to less healthy diets. The converse is also true: Fueling the body with poor-quality food can negatively impact mental health.
Researchers are uncertain why there is a food and mood connection, but it may be related to the small microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract (the “gut microbiome”) and their influence on mood and behavior. Healthy eating patterns can also reduce underlying inflammation within the body, which may improve mood disorders. Another proposed mechanism is that eating a healthy and consistent diet can minimize wild swings in blood sugar levels, which may be a factor in conditions of low mood.
Tips for How to Cultivate Healthy Eating Habits
It’s one thing to know the importance of creating healthy eating habits. It’s quite another challenge to maintain those habits over the long term. Here are some helpful tips for how to cultivate healthy eating habits.
Tip #1: Meal Plan in Advance
Having an eating plan in place in advance can help you avoid a situation in which you are super hungry and tempted to give in to cravings for unhealthy food choices. Meal planning can be a helpful way to start cultivating healthy eating habits.
Start by writing down what you typically eat in a given week, broken down by each meal. Then, evaluate where you can start making changes. This may be as small as making a big batch of oatmeal over the weekend and progressively eating it for breakfast during the week instead of relying on whatever's around at the office for grazing.
Gradually, you can ramp up your meal planning so that you're being deliberate or mindful for the majority of meals each week. If you know in advance that you will have a particularly busy or hectic day, take that into consideration when food prepping so that you have a quick and easy meal planned or, even better, plenty of leftovers available from the day before.
Tip #2: Make the Mood Food Connection Fun
Parents across the board are used to using various strategies to make healthy eating more appealing to kids (i.e., “ants on a log” to get children to consume celery, peanut butter, and raisins). The same strategy can be applied to adults of all ages as well.
Eating healthy foods does not have to be boring. Instead, look for a fun and easy cookbook or search for fun and easy recipes on Pinterest to help stay motivated. Experimenting with food shapes (star-shaped cucumbers, anyone?) and creative dips can trick the brain into being excited about eating foods that may feel less thrilling at first blush.
Tip #3: Avoid Absolute Restriction
Trying to cut certain “temptation” foods completely out of the diet is very difficult to do and maintain. You may have a string of healthy eating days and then go completely off the rails when you lose willpower or have a “cheat day.”
Nothing can derail a balanced diet like bouncing back and forth between super-healthy meals and meals that are completely void of any nutrition at all. Instead, you should avoid absolute restriction and permit yourself to eat what you enjoy in moderation, while also eating healthy foods.
Tip #4: Stay Well Hydrated
Part of a healthy eating plan includes staying well hydrated. Sometimes you may feel hungry when you’re actually just thirsty, which is why it’s important to keep up with daily water intake requirements (3.7 liters for the average man and 2.7 liters for the average woman). Some studies have even shown that drinking water before a meal may reduce the amount that a person eats during the meal, so staying well hydrated may also help with portion control.
Tip #5: Experiment With Spices
Eating healthy means eating a rainbow of different-colored fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats. Adding a number of new fruits and vegetables into the diet may be enough to spice things up, but if you are struggling to stick to a healthy eating habit, adding more spices can help too. Healthy herbs and spices can keep new foods interesting and fun to experiment with, and many herbs and spices have wellness-boosting properties themselves.
Tip #6: Don’t Get Too Ambitious
When you have early success with mindful eating, you should pat yourself on the back and applaud your efforts. And it’s equally important to not get over-ambitious with trying a new recipe every night because this can lead to burnout. Instead, work on perfecting a few new easy recipes for the arsenal and incorporating these into your daily life. Gradually building in a new dish here and there can help mix things up without feeling too overwhelming and making you vulnerable to giving up altogether.
Common Challenges of Healthy Eating Habits
In today’s world, it’s not always easy to eat healthy, even when you know it's the best way to keep yourself firing on all cylinders. The following challenges are common, but some workarounds can help sustain healthy eating habits.
Challenge #1: Eating Healthy Can Be Expensive
Shopping exclusively at a farmer’s market or high-end grocery is a recipe for financial distress. People often find it challenging to change their eating habits because fresh, healthy produce tends to be more pricey than processed foods that are more shelf-stable. While this is a real challenge, it doesn’t have to get in the way of embracing the food and mood connection.
To stay within budget, try to buy healthy foods in bulk, and shop during sales whenever possible. One way to do this is to eat the fresh produce that is in season at any given time of year. Buying frozen produce can also help save money while still maximizing nutritional benefits.
Challenge #2: Eating Healthy Can Be Time-Consuming
Another challenge when it comes to making healthy food choices is that it can initially take more time and effort to eat healthy than it does to make last-minute food decisions and pick up dinner from the drive-through on the way home.
It takes real cognitive work to plan out meals, shop for ingredients, and then prepare those meals, compared to eating out or buying ready-made meals. However, once you get into a pattern of eating healthy, it's simple to find workarounds to reduce the amount of time required.
Meal prepping in advance, so that you have easy, ready-to-go snacks, lunches, or dinners, can go a long way in cutting down on preparation time. Also, seek out recipes with just a few ingredients and meals that can be prepared on "auto pilot" — such as one pot meals, sheet pan meals, or slow cooker meals.
Challenge #3: Eating Healthy Can Make It Hard to Socialize
It may be intimidating to make changes to a nutrition plan if you're worried about the social implications. If eating out or frequent dinners are part of your work culture or social life, you may feel self-conscious about not ordering pizza with the group or eating a salad instead of digging into the burger and fries.
However, healthy eating options are typically available everywhere, once you start to look. Taking a peek at the menu online ahead of time can help reduce decision-related stress in the moment and make it more likely that you will stick to the plan. Sometimes, just choosing the healthier option in a social setting, or the lesser evil, can go a long way in sticking to a balanced diet.
Embracing the Food-Mood Connection
The undeniable connection between food and mood highlights the importance of healthy eating habits for both physical and mental well-being. Nourishing our bodies with high-quality fuel can lead to increased energy, focus, and better mental health. Strategies like meal planning, creative food choices, moderation, hydration, and flavor experimentation aid in cultivating these habits. Despite challenges, embracing this relationship empowers us to enhance our overall wellness, meal by mindful meal.

According to the Department of Defense, 37% of active-duty military families have children, and like their active-duty parents, military kids make sacrifices in their own ways too. From coping with the challenges of a parent’s deployment to starting a new school to accommodate a recent move (known as a Permanent Change of Station or PCS), military kids commonly experience stressors that can impact their mental health. On average, military kids attend up to nine different schools before graduating high school due to relocations. What kind of impact do these frequent moves have on the mental health of military kids and their families? And what are some ways to cope with the stress?
Military Kids Move Every Two to Four Years, On Average 
Military families typically make a PCS move every two to four years (this is over 3 times the civilian family average), which means that the kids are constantly adjusting to new schools and environments, making new friends, and leaving old ones behind. In some cases, PCS moves can occur quickly and unexpectedly, leaving little time for closure, for kids to fully process what is happening to them, or to say goodbye. 
Multiple studies have been conducted to measure the impact on mental health of PCS moves. The Journal of Adolescent Health published findings that military kids who move frequently were significantly more likely to have a mental health issue. In addition, it found that age was a powerful predictor of the impact on mental health, i.e., military kids aged 12-17 were four times as likely to need help from a mental health professional as military kids aged 6-11. This makes sense intuitively, as teens are already going through the changes and stresses of puberty. Add in the need to rebuild their social connections and form new friendships, and one can see why PCS moves impact teens harder.
The stress of PCS moves affects parents too. Another study by the School Psychology Review found moving increases tension in the home in general. Kids reported feeling anger or resentment toward their parents and the military because of the disruption to their lives. Some kids reported telling their parents that they refused to move or would run away to avoid moving entirely. 
Ways The Disruption Of A PCS Move Causes Stress
What is it about frequent moves that causes so much burden? First, change itself is stressful to us all, as numerous studies have found over the years. And when families make a PCS move, they must adjust to a new home, new school, address, neighborhood, friends, teachers, religious community, routines, and potentially new local culture and weather. That’s a lot of change! In addition:
Students involved in sports who move later in the year can miss team tryouts, or the new school may not offer the same athletic programs.
They may feel the loss of having to end close relationships with friends at a previous school.
It’s more difficult to gain acceptance in a new school where cliques and social networks are already established.
Because of potentially limited experience with military families, civilian school staff may have a knowledge gap that affects their effectiveness working with military students.
Parents themselves are swamped with new jobs and to-do lists, and may not have the patience or time to consider a kid having trouble with the transition.
If one parent is deployed or at risk of being deployed, kids may experience further stress from the constant fear for a parent’s safety.
All can lead to considerable stress, as kids find they lack a feeling of connection to others in their new community. As a result, symptoms of depression and anxiety can appear, such as separation anxiety, excessive worry, sleep problems, and physical complaints such as headaches or stomach pain. 
Tips For Coping With The Stress Of A PCS Move
PCS moves are not all doom and gloom. Research suggests that many kids develop strength and resilience from adapting to frequent military moves. And there are steps parents and schools can take to support them through the moves in order to reduce the impact on their mental health. Number one is simply to be aware of the potential mental health impacts and to watch for signs and symptoms of distress. Our previous release discussing different symptoms of mental health conditions is really helpful. Parents can read up on the impact of PCS moves, and educate themselves on ways to support kids during the transition. And as with all mental health issues, the earlier that symptoms are noticed for intervention and treatment to begin, the better the prognosis and outcomes.
Experts Suggest These Tips For Coping With The Stress Of PCS Moves
Keep up established routines and rituals as much as possible, and start new rituals in the new place that encourage parent-child bonding time.
Talk about the move as much as possible and give kids the opportunity to vent their negative feelings (and help them find positive ones too). Parents are advised to let kids in on a little of their own misgivings about the move and to find ways to address them as a family. This provides more positive feelings of validation and control.
Connect with other military children and families when possible. As well, in the military community itself, most installations have a resource officer or School Liaison Officer who may be able to suggest appropriate resources.
Even in a civilian school where there are few military kids, school guidance counselors are the best place to start a conversation between the family and the new school, as they are the gatekeepers to community mental health resources. Even if the counselor does not have experience with military students, he or she may be able to suggest local resources with more expertise.
Finally, although it may seem simple, making sure that kids get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and get out and exercise will go a long way toward maintaining better mental health. And when kids do exhibit symptoms of transition distress, seek out a mental health professional as early as possible.
Sources
Military Spouse
Journal of Adolescent Health
School Psychology Review

A few months ago, we wrote about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, a mental health disorder that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, accident, assault, terroristic act, or military combat. 
Common symptoms of PTSD involve re-experiencing the trauma (e.g., nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional flooding), attempts to avoid reminders of the event, hyperarousal (e.g., feeling constantly on edge), and distressing thoughts or emotional reactions. In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, symptoms need to last for at least two weeks and interfere with daily functioning. It’s estimated that almost 4% of the general US population is affected by PTSD — a number that rises to 55% of those who are serving or have served in the military.
For those experiencing, living with, or treating someone with PTSD, it may be helpful to learn how trauma affects specific parts of the brain in order to better understand the symptoms and treatment options.
PTSD Is Unique Among Psychiatric Diagnoses
First, it's important to note that PTSD is unique among psychiatric diagnoses because of the significance placed on the cause of the condition (i.e., the trauma itself - more on that below), rather than merely the condition. In fact, with the advent of DSM-5, PTSD is no longer classified as a type of Anxiety Disorder but its own designation: Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders — which acknowledges that its onset is preceded by “exposure to a traumatic or otherwise catastrophic, adverse environmental event”.
Start By Understanding How Trauma Affects The Brain
Over the past several decades, research using neuroimaging has enabled scientists to see that PTSD causes distinct biological changes in the brain; and in fact, functioning is impaired in areas responsible for threat detection and response, and emotion regulation — which accounts for most outward PTSD symptoms. Not everybody with PTSD has exactly the same symptoms or same brain changes, but there are definite “typical” observable patterns that can be seen and treated.
To put it simply, when trauma first occurs, our “reptilian brain” takes over — that part of the brain known as the brain stem which is responsible for the most vital functions of life (breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.). The brain stem kicks in the “fight or flight" response and all nonessential body and mind functions are shut down so that we can focus only on what we need to survive. Then, when the threat ceases, the parasympathetic nervous system steps in again and resumes those higher functions that were recently shut down. 
However, for some trauma survivors, after effects remain, which we now know is PTSD. In these people, the brain’s “threat and alarm system” becomes overly sensitive and triggers easily, which in turn causes the parts of the brain responsible for thinking and memory to stop functioning correctly. When this occurs, it’s hard to separate safe and “normal” events happening in the present from dangerous events that happened in the past.
PTSD Impacts Three Parts Of The Brain Significantly, Causing Disruption To Normal Life
Research shows PTSD mostly impacts three parts of the brain: the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Here’s how these three parts of the brain work (or don’t work) together to cause symptoms of PTSD:
Amygdala: a collection of nuclei located deep within the temporal lobe (the lobe of the brain closest to the ear). The amygdala is designed to detect threats in the environment and activate the “fight or flight” response, and then activate the sympathetic nervous system to help deal with the threat. Those with PTSD tend to have an overactive amygdala, causing irrational thoughts and primal reactions. For example, a harmless loud noise could instantly trigger panic. 
Prefrontal Cortex: covers the front part of the frontal lobe located just behind the forehead. The PFC is designed to regulate attention and awareness, make decisions about the best response to a situation, determine the meaning and emotional significance of events, regulate emotions, and inhibit dysfunctional reactions. In those with PTSD, the PFC is underactive, meaning that regulation of emotion and dysfunctional reactions does not occur when it should. An overactive amygdala combined with an underactive prefrontal cortex creates a perfect storm, causing those with PTSD to feel anxious around anything even slightly related to the original trauma, and/or have strong physical reactions to situations that shouldn’t provoke a fear reaction.
Hippocampus: a complex brain structure also located deep in the temporal lobe. The hippocampus regulates the storage and retrieval of memories, as well as differentiating between past and present experiences. After a trauma, the hippocampus works to remember the event accurately and make sense of it. But because trauma is typically overwhelming, all the information doesn't get coded correctly, meaning that someone with PTSD may have trouble remembering important details of the event and/or find themselves overthinking a lot about what happened because the hippocampus is working so hard to try to make sense of it.
Consequences Of PTSD Brain Dysfunction On Quality Of Life
Understanding how the after-effects of trauma impact the brain so significantly helps explain why PTSD causes such serious disruption in daily functioning. PTSD often affects the ability to have healthy, satisfying relationships or tolerate uncertainty and rejections without excess distress. It causes sleep disturbances, negative mood, anxiety, and attention/concentration difficulties that often interfere with academic or career success. 
Other Disruptive Symptoms Of PTSD Include:
Extreme startle response
Heart Palpitations
Shaking 
Nightmares
Hypervigilance
Hyperarousal
Reactive Anger
Impulsivity
Increased Fear
Decreased Positive Emotions
Self-Blame
Detachment From Others
PTSD also often occurs with other related mental and physical health conditions, such as depression, substance use, and memory problems.
PTSD Is Treatable
The good news is that PTSD is treatable by trained behavioral health professionals. Treatment may include a combination of medications and behavioral therapies which have been proven effective on those with PTSD. And it goes without saying that each PTSD treatment and management plan should be tailored to meet an individual's specific needs since everyone is impacted differently. 
The important thing to take away is that PTSD is real, it is explained by highly-studied changes in the brain, and that millions suffer from it.
Considering A Career In Telebehavioral Health Or Know Someone Who Could Benefit From Virtual Access To Licensed Behavioral Health Professionals
Telemynd offers patients the ability to connect with providers from the safety and convenience of their homes. Providers can join our network by applying online. If you’re a patient, choose your current insurance provider to request an appointment or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today!
Sources
National Center for Biotechnology Information - National Institutes of Health (NCBI - NIH): Traumatic stress: effects on the brain
American Psychiatric Association: What is PTSD?
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs: PTSD History and Overview

This week, we continue our mental health resources series by curating 8 inspiring and engaging films about mental health topics - from PTSD to depression to bipolar disease and more. We think these films are sensitive and worthy portrayals that explore the nature of mental illness - and ultimately help us get the word out - and more exposure equals greater understanding. 
Most of these films can be found on the major streaming networks. Share the list with friends and family, or if you are a clinician, with patients who may also benefit. Then grab the popcorn (and possibly a box of tissues) and start watching.
 
Silver Linings Playbook - This popular, Oscar-winning 2012 romantic comedy is based on Matthew Quick's novel of the same name, and follows two main characters dealing with mental illness. Bradley Cooper plays Pat who is diagnosed with bipolar disease, and Jennifer Lawrence plays a widow dealing with her own mental illness in the aftermath of her husband's death.
 
 
 
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - 2012 was a good year for quality films addressing mental health issues and this one continues the trend: it explores the social-psychological effects PTSD has on young adults and how love can help heal the wounds. Based on a novel of the same name.
 
 
 
 
Girl Interrupted - This best-selling memoir turned movie is a firsthand account of a young woman's experience inside an American psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. Care wasn’t as good as it is now - which is hard to watch in the film - and although we still have a long way to go, it's good to see how much treatment for mental illness has improved. 
 
 
 

Good Will Hunting - The main character (Will - played by Matt Damon, who also wrote the screenplay with friend Ben Affleck) was abandoned as a young boy and suffers from attachment disorder because of it. The film details how his mental health has an impact on the choices he makes - he’s clearly a genius who belongs inside the classrooms that he cleans for a living at MIT. The success of his work with a local therapist ultimately gives viewers hope for the future.
 
 
 
A Beautiful Mind - Tells the true-life story of brilliant mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe), a Nobel Laureate in Economics and Abel Prize winner, who develops paranoid schizophrenia and endures delusional episodes while watching the burden his condition brings on his family and friends.
 
 
 
 
The Soloist - A Los Angeles Times columnist (Steve Lopez) finds and writes about a homeless street musician (Nathanial Ayers) who possesses extraordinary talent. In his attempt to help Ayers, Lopez has to also deal with the mental illness that landed Ayers on the street in the first place, as well as the stigma against those with mental health issues.
 
 
 
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story - Deals sensitively with addiction. Winona Ryder plays the wife of the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, who made it big on Wall Street before the Crash of 1929 - which wreaked havoc on his sense of worth  - and founded Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935 after getting sober himself. Lois Wilson later founded Al-Anon to help the loved ones of those struggling with addiction.
 
 
 
Cyberbully - Takes a realistic and thoughtful approach to the issue of online bullying as seen through the eyes of a teen victim who attempts suicide. Ultimately has positive messages about tolerance, resilience, getting help and support, and standing up to peer pressure. This would be a good film to start a discussion with any teens in your life.
 
 
 
Are there any films that you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments.
If you or a loved one need help with mental health issues, consider contacting a qualified telebehavioral health professional
If you’re a client, request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today. Our mental health professionals are trained in multiple mental health disorders and have experience treating them via online appointments - from the convenience and privacy of your home or wherever works for you. If you’re a behavioral health provider looking to join our network, see all the benefits and learn how to apply here.

With August right around the corner, we know that the days of carefree summer adventures with your kids are drawing to a close. However, there's still time to make the most of this season before school starts again. Summer for kids is all about relaxation, with no school schedules to worry about. They can stay up late, enjoy family trips, and engage in creative activities.
This time presents a wonderful opportunity for kids to explore new things, discover their local surroundings, and create lasting memories during family outings. As parents, we all want to ensure that summer adventures with our kids are enjoyable for everyone involved.
Yet, we understand that summer can be a bit overwhelming for parents, as we try to keep our kids fed and entertained. The days might feel never-ending, and the bickering over toys and screen time can add to the stress. It's not uncommon for the craft ideas we find online to end up causing more mess and frustration than anticipated.
For parents seeking a stress-free summer experience with their kids, it's essential to plan ahead with kid-friendly activities and family outings. While there's no guarantee of a perfect, stress-free day, we've found that by preparing in advance, staying flexible, and involving our children in the planning process, we are more likely to have successful and enjoyable summer adventures with the little ones.
If you're looking for stress-free activities to enjoy with your kids during these last days of summer, we've put together some helpful tips for you. Let's make the most of this time and create wonderful memories with our children
Planning Summer Activities With Children
When preparing for summer adventures with children, parents can take steps to set themselves up for success. It’s important for parents to consider their child(ren)’s age and be realistic about what activities are the best fit for their schedule and budget.
The best activities are those parents can set up and demonstrate for their child, which they can enjoy safely with minimal supervision. Open-ended play will keep kids entertained for a long period of time while developing their problem-solving or creative abilities.
To keep summer activities running smoothly and stress-free, parents should follow these tips for kid-friendly summer adventures.
Create a Schedule
Kids can make the most of summer activities when they have a predictable schedule to follow. Children with predictable routines are generally calmer and find it easier to adjust between activities. This doesn’t mean parents need to plan every minute of the day. But they should give kids of all ages some structure for the day. Some ideas for a summer schedule include:
Do chores right after breakfast Go outside to play in the morning Do 20 minutes of reading Quiet time after lunch Complete workbook activities before screen time Go to the pool on Saturday afternoons If a child is still learning to read, parents can use color-coded papers or pictures to display the schedule for their child.
Practice Flexibility and Embrace Unpredictability
Yes, schedules and structure are important. But life won’t look the same every single day of the summer. Children love when little unexpected events change their regular routines.
Embrace the flexibility of summer days with these simple, stress-free adventures for children:
Let kids pick out a treat at the grocery store Attend kid craft activities at the library After kids earn allowance from chores, take them out for ice cream or snow cones Fill up water balloons on a hot afternoon Spin a wheel of possible activities for the day Stay up late to catch fireflies Summer allows for more flexible schedules, so be sure to do simple unpredictable summer activities with kids to make the best memories.
Involve Kids in the Planning Process
Kids of any age can get involved in planning family-friendly summer activities. Parents who involve their kids in making summer plans will enjoy several benefits.
Kids who help plan activities are more likely to participate and enjoy with a willing attitude. Parents who ask their kids for ideas are empowering their children to make choices. The whole family can benefit from the unique perspective and ideas kids have. Older children can do research on local places they would like to visit or activities related to their own areas of interest.
Younger children can draw inspiration from the letters of the alphabet. Invite them to think of crafts, activities, and food related to a different letter each day.
When planning a family vacation, get input from everyone, including young children. Try to ensure there is something for each person to look forward to and enjoy about a trip.
Kid-Friendly Summer Adventures
Parents always need ideas for stress-free summer activities with kids. Some find it’s best to stockpile summer activity inspiration so they always have a suggestion for a rainy day or when a kid complains, “I’m bored.”
Many parents make a Summer Bucket List of fun things to do with kids and display it on the wall where kids can choose activities each day. Another idea is to make a Bored Jar with small cards listing activities kids can do on their own throughout the summer. Once a child can read, they select an item from the jar and enjoy the prompt activity for the next hour.
Having fresh, creative ideas for summer activities will get parents through the long, hot days of summer. Parents can add these family-friendly summer activities with kids to the schedule:
Outside Activities
Turn on the hose and sprinklers Fill up a baby pool and add floating toys Read a book in the shade Create sidewalk chalk art Mix a bucket of bubble solution, dip tennis rackets and string loops in to make giant bubbles Hang up a sheet and use a projector to make a drive-in movie Make a muffin-tin picnic, with assorted snacks and finger foods in muffin tin cups Hands-On Crafts
Draw and paint with finger paint or cornstarch chalk, using cut fruit or vegetable pieces as stamps Set up simple age-appropriate science experiments Play with modeling clay, using household objects to make imprints or cut shapes Plant flowers or vegetables so kids can water them and watch for blooms Let kids choose a new skill to learn, like baking, sewing, photography, etc. Go on a nature walk, collect plants to press and trace Local Outings
Go to a park, playground, or sports field Play at a kid-friendly splash pad Swim at a public pool Visit the library for story-time, themed activities, or Summer Reading programs Ride bikes on a park path or trail Taste-test local sweet treats until you find a family favorite Tips for Stress-Free Family Outings
Planning summer adventures for the family can be fun and lead to great memories! But going anywhere with kids can be a recipe for stress and exhaustion, especially if parents find themselves unprepared. It’s important to plan ahead and take care of the parents’ needs, too, so the whole family can have a successful trip.
Parents planning a local day trip or a bigger week-long adventure can practice these vacation tips for families.
When Packing, Be Overprepared
For a stress-free family outing, parents need to plan ahead and prepare for the unexpected. This means making an itinerary with flexibility for kids getting tired of walking or needing a midday nap. Pack layers of clothing so everyone is prepared for cold or rainy days. Parents should bring plenty of snacks and water to fuel kids through summer adventures.
During family outings, many parents bring a basic first aid kit with sunscreen, band-aids, anti-itch ointment, sunburn relief, and children’s fever medicine. That way, they are prepared to help a child feel better immediately without losing time searching for a store.
Parents should also take time to prepare their child for travel during family vacations. When kids don’t understand where they are going or what the plan is for their trip, they may feel more anxious about the family outing. When parents discuss travel details with their kids and answer their questions, it helps kids relax and enjoy the adventure.
Self-Care for Stress-Free Family Vacations
One of the most important vacation tips for families is for parents to remember their own self-care throughout the summer. It’s important for adults to take care of themselves, especially if they are caring for young children. Parents who are nourished, well-rested, and feel emotionally supported will find it easier to relax and be patient during family activities in summer.
That’s why parents should consider their own self-care before and during family outings. Instead of staying up late packing or eating fast food during a road trip, parents can plan small moments and routines that help them relax throughout the summer.
Self-care for parents in summer might include:
Waking up before their kids to enjoy a relaxing morning ritual Walking in nature daily to be rejuvenated Planning time to exercise or be active Staying hydrated, especially on hot summer days Eating fresh produce to get vitamins and fiber Building daily quiet time into their kids’ schedule Engaging socially—in person or via text—with supportive people Going to bed early enough to feel refreshed the next day Taking time to be in the moment and soak it all in When parents take care of themselves and their own basic care needs, they will be better prepared to handle family outings with kids.
Stress-Free Summer Adventures With Kids
Parents who want to reduce their stress and enjoy fun summer activities with kids should focus on planning ahead while providing both structure and flexibility. They can make a list of the best age-appropriate activities for their child. When preparing for outings or family vacations this summer, parents should pack for possible challenges. And finally, parents should tend to their own self-care so they’re better able to enjoy summer adventures as a family.

At Telemynd, we are deeply committed to addressing the unique and profound mental health challenges faced by women veterans. Our mission is to transform mental health care, ensuring it is accessible, compassionate, and tailored to the specific needs of those who have served our country. Recent studies, including a pivotal report by Disabled American Veterans (DAV), have illuminated a troubling reality: women veterans are at a significantly higher risk for mental health issues, including suicide, when compared to their male counterparts.
The Urgency for Tailored Screening and Treatment
The suicide rate among women veterans has risen alarmingly, with a notable increase nearly four times higher than that among male veterans. This increase underscores the critical need for mental health services that address experiences unique to women in the military, such as military sexual trauma (MST), intimate partner violence (IPV), and the challenges associated with pregnancy and menopause.
Telemynd's Commitment to Women Veterans
Our virtual mental health services are designed to bridge the gap in care. We offer comprehensive support through virtual medication consultations and therapy sessions, specifically tailored to the experiences of women veterans. Our approach includes:
Enhanced Screening: Early identification and intervention for MST, IPV, Suicidal Ideation and other risk factors are crucial. We have implemented comprehensive screening processes to ensure that these issues do not go unnoticed. Maternity and Post-Partum Support: Recognizing the vulnerability of expecting and new mothers, we provide programs (I would say services instead of programs) specifically designed to address their mental health needs during pregnancy and the post-partum period. Menopause and Mental Health: Collaborating with experts, we aim to develop targeted strategies that address the link between menopause and mental health, reducing the risk of depression and suicide. A Call for Systemic Change
The journey towards equitable mental health care for women veterans is ongoing, and Telemynd is dedicated to leading this charge. By advocating for systemic changes and providing immediate support, we are working towards a future where mental health care is inclusive and effective for all who have served.
Our Collective Responsibility
At Telemynd, we understand the profound impact of providing care that recognizes and addresses the individual experiences of each veteran. Our collective responsibility lies in offering tailored treatment plans and screenings uniquely designed to meet the specific needs of each person we serve. This personalized approach is crucial in addressing the diverse challenges faced by women veterans, ensuring that every aspect of their mental health care is as unique as their service and life experiences.
Telemynd stands at the forefront of this transformation, advocating for a shift towards mental health care that truly understands and caters to the individual. Our dedication to the military community reflects our belief in the importance of accessible, empathetic, and personalized mental health services. Together, we can make a significant difference, ensuring that every veteran, regardless of their unique challenges and experiences, has the opportunity to heal.  
Requesting Care
To request care through Telemynd, start by contacting your local VA and request a behavioral health authorization specifically for Telemynd. The VA will process this request and send an authorization code directly to both Telemynd and you. If you receive the authorization code, simply call us; we will verify the code and take care of any necessary paperwork for you. In cases where you don't have the authorization code in hand, don't worry—the VA will forward your request along with the authorization to us directly. Upon receiving this, Telemynd will reach out to you to coordinate your first appointment, setting the stage for your journey towards personalized and compassionate care.

Health care providers in the medical and behavioral health fields are increasingly recognizing that experiences of past trauma significantly influence our overall health, our relationships, school, work, and our ability to adopt healthy behaviors. And while we often associate trauma with things like soldiers in war settings, victims of crime, or the death of a loved one, it turns out that multiple life experiences clinically qualify as traumatic. In this article, we explore how the concept of holistic, trauma-informed care can improve the outcomes of mental health treatment.
What is meant by ‘trauma’?
Recent studies show that by the time they reach college, 66-85% of 18 year-olds report lifetime traumatic event exposure, with many reporting multiple exposures. That’s a lot. According to the American Psychological Association, trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. But a person may experience trauma as a response to any event they find physically or emotionally threatening or harmful - for example, bullying and other character attacks; loss of a friend or loved one whether through death, moving, or a break-up; emotional, physical or sexual abuse; or even seeing something violent or disturbing. What matters is how the individual perceives an event, not how society judges how an individual should perceive an event.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “the effects of traumatic events place a heavy burden on individuals, families and communities. Although many people who experience a traumatic event will go on without lasting negative effects, others will have more difficulty. Emerging research has documented the relationships among exposure to traumatic events, impaired neurodevelopmental and immune systems responses and subsequent health risk behaviors resulting in chronic physical or behavioral health disorders.”
What is a trauma-informed approach to care?
Trauma-informed care changes the opening question for those seeking mental health services from “what is wrong with you?” (i.e., patient or consumer) to “what has happened to you?” (i.e., survivor). Trauma-informed care is based on the assumption that every patient seeking services is a trauma survivor who can inform his or her own path to healing, facilitated by support and mentoring from a mental health provider.  A trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges that providers “need to have a complete picture of a patient’s life situation — past and present — in order to provide effective health care services with a healing orientation.”
The six key principles of a trauma-informed approach are:
Safety Trustworthiness and transparency Peer support Collaboration and mutuality Empowerment, voice, and choice Humility and responsiveness In addition, potential biases and stereotypes based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age are recognized and addressed within the context of trauma-based care.
Clinicians who train in trauma-based care also learn there are 10 domains of implementation of this approach, including governance and leadership, policy, physical environment, training and workforce development, progress monitoring and quality assurance, and more.
Why is trauma-informed care important?
It’s a win-win for everyone. For patients, trauma-informed care offers the opportunity to engage more fully in their own mental health care, develop a trusting relationship with their provider, and improve long-term outcomes. Studies have found that adopting trauma-informed practices can potentially improve overall patient engagement and adherence to treatment. It also reduces the need to relive experiences and retraumatize the patient. In addition, trauma-based care has been found to improve provider engagement. 
Overall, adopting a trauma-informed approach to care has the potential to improve patient health outcomes as well as the well-being of providers. If you feel you or a loved one could benefit from trauma-based care, consult your doctor or mental health provider.
If you or a loved one need help with mental health issues, consider contacting a qualified telebehavioral health professional
If you’re a client, request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today. Our mental health professionals are trained in multiple mental health disorders and have experience treating them via online appointments - from the convenience and privacy of your home or wherever works for you. If you’re a behavioral health provider looking to join our network, see all the benefits and learn how to apply here.
Sources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA)
Center for Health Care Strategies
National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? You may be one of the 50 million adults in the United States with a chronic sleep disorder. For healthy adults, the recommended amount of sleep is seven hours per night. But if you suffer from a sleep disorder, squeezing that many hours into a single night is a real challenge — but shouldn’t be ignored, because our body’s inability to rest could be linked to underlying mental health conditions. A lack of sleep only exacerbates mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, leading to a negative cycle between overwhelming feelings of hopelessness or stress, and restlessness. 
So, what are sleep disorders, how can we manage mental health symptoms, and what can we do to achieve better sleep?
Common Sleep Disorders
In general, sleep disorders are characterized as chronic sleep conditions that impact your quality of life or ability to function. These include trouble falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at the wrong times, and abnormal sleep behaviors. According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3), the official description is a “curtailed sleep pattern that has persisted for at least three months for most days of the week, along with complaints of sleepiness during the day”.
The five most common are:
Insomnia. Characterized by the inability to initiate or maintain sleep, it may also take the form of very early morning awakening. Often causes excessive daytime sleepiness, which results in functional impairment throughout the day. 
Narcolepsy. A neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy may feel rested after waking, but then feel very sleepy throughout the day. They may fall asleep even in the middle of an activity.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Characterized by an unpleasant “creeping” sensation, originating in the lower legs, but often associated with overall leg pain. This sensation is seemingly only relieved by moving your legs, walking, or kicking - which of course, prevents sleep. 
Sleep Apnea. People with sleep apnea often make periodic gasping or “snorting” noises while asleep, during which their sleep is momentarily interrupted. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you may have sleep apnea.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (sometimes called Parasomnia). Characterized by abnormal sleep behaviors which manifest in vivid, often frightening dreams associated with movement during REM sleep, people with this kind of sleep disorder appear to “act out their dreams”. Common symptoms include: movement such as kicking, punching, or jumping from the bed in response to action-filled or violent dreams; making noises, such as talking, laughing, or shouting; and being able to recall dreams if you awaken during an episode. 
The Link Between Sleep Disorders, Depression, & Anxiety

Scientists have found that 75% of individuals with depression experience sleep disturbances. And unfortunately, the relationship is bi-directional - meaning that not only does depression exacerbate sleep disorders like insomnia, but having a sleep disorder first can actually help bring on depression (if a person is already predisposed). And like the proverbial chicken and egg, often it’s hard to know which came first.
Researchers believe sleep problems may contribute to depression by way of abnormal changes in the functioning of the neurotransmitter serotonin, the key hormone that stabilizes our mood and provides feelings of well-being. They have found that not enough sleep impacts the way serotonin works, disrupting our circadian rhythms and increasing vulnerability to depression.
Sleep problems are also a common symptom of anxiety disorders. If you’ve had anxiety, you know that feeling of your brain “racing”, making it almost impossible to sleep. And even after falling asleep, you may wake up with anxiety in the middle of the night. Sleep disruption like this can lead to sleep fragmentation, which reduces both the quantity and quality of sleep. 
Scientists say that individuals with anxiety disorders have high sleep reactivity - sleep reactivity being the degree to which stress disrupts sleep, manifesting as difficulty falling and staying asleep when a person is highly stressed. Compounding this is something called anticipatory anxiety, which is when individuals with anxiety know they’ll have problems falling asleep, and so their anxiety increases when they go to bed, causing sleeplessness, and ultimately a downward spiral of anxiety and lack of sleep.
There’s a clear link between sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety. As a result, taking steps to sleep better can have a significantly beneficial effect on quality of life, so it’s important to seek professional help if you’re experiencing sleep problems or think you recognize any of the symptoms discussed above. And fortunately, once diagnosed, sleep disorders are treatable.
Tips For Achieving Better Sleep
Persistent problems sleeping increase the risk of relapse for those who’ve been treated for depression or anxiety, but practicing healthy sleep habits can reduce those feelings and can have a beneficial effect on your overall mood.
Establish a sleep schedule. Creating a routine to sleep can help your brain get accustomed to getting the full amount of sleep. This means having a set wake-up time regardless of whether it is a weekday or weekend. 
Follow a routine each night. Building a consistent routine such as washing your face and brushing your teeth can reinforce in your mind that it is time for bed.
Unplug from devices. Set a buffer to unwind without electronics that can cause mental stimulation. Making it harder to calm thoughts. The blue light emitted from these devices can also decrease melatonin production, taking longer for you to achieve REM.
Don’t force it. If you’re still tossing and turning after 20-minutes, consider getting up and stretching, reading a book, or doing something that calms you using soft lights before returning to bed to try again. This will help build a healthier mental connection between being in bed and falling asleep.
Diagnosis & Treatment In Conjunction With Mental Health Issues
In order to diagnose a sleep disorder, a doctor or mental health professional will gather information about your symptoms, as well as medical and mental health history. They may also order tests, such as a daytime or overnight sleep study to determine a diagnosis. Because of the multifaceted relationship between mental health and sleep, it is common for treatment to include both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and prescription medication. With proper treatment underlying causes of disruption can be addressed; allowing you to achieve better quality sleep. 
Consider Telebehavioral Health
Telemynd offers patients the ability to connect with providers from the safety and convenience of their homes. If you’re a patient, request an appointment online or call our live support for assistance in scheduling care today! If you’re a behavioral health provider looking to join our network, see all the benefits here & apply. 
Sources
American Psychiatric Association
Sleep Foundation
Sleep Foundation
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

This May, during National Mental Health Awareness Month, Telemynd is working to break down the stigma that veils mental health. As we spotlight the impact of stigma on individuals, families, and communities, our mission is twofold—to shine a spotlight on the conditions affecting roughly 1 in 5 people and to advocate for the life-changing benefits of seeking treatment.
With stigma often deterring people from getting help and a general unawareness about the prevalence of mental health conditions, our goal is to transform understanding into action, encouraging a future where reaching out for support is not just normalized but embraced.
Understanding Mental Health Stigma
The Essence of Stigma
At its core, mental health stigma refers to the societal disapproval, or when internalized, the self-inflicted shame associated with mental health conditions. This stigma manifests in two primary forms: social stigma, characterized by prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior directed towards individuals with mental health issues, and self-stigma, which occurs when these individuals internalize these negative views, often leading to feelings of shame and inadequacy.
Historical Shadows and Present Challenges
The roots of mental health stigma are deep, intertwining with historical misconceptions and fears surrounding mental illness. For centuries, those suffering from mental health conditions were ostracized, viewed as outcasts, or worse, considered to be under the influence of supernatural forces. While modern science and understanding have evolved, remnants of these ancient stigmas persist, manifesting in subtle but impactful ways in today's society.
Impact on Individuals
For the individual, the weight of stigma can be crippling. It fosters a culture of silence, where fear of judgment overrides the pursuit of health. Individuals may forgo seeking help to avoid being labeled as 'weak' or 'unstable,' leading to a dangerous cycle of untreated mental health conditions. This avoidance not only hampers personal well-being but can also lead to severe long-term psychological and physical health issues.
Effects on Families
Families, too, bear the brunt of mental health stigma. In some cases, this can cause feelings of shame and guilt associated with having a family member diagnosed with a mental health condition. This can lead to isolation, strained relationships, and a lack of open communication. Families may struggle in silence, perpetuating the stigma and hindering the possibility of seeking collective healing and support.
Community Consequences
On a broader scale, stigma affects community cohesion and support systems. Misunderstandings and myths about mental health can lead to increased social distancing and a lack of empathy towards those struggling. Communities may inadvertently create environments where mental health issues are ignored or minimized, unintentionally hindering policy reform, and deterring individuals from seeking the help they need.
The Ripple Effect of Seeking Treatment
For Individuals: Provides Hope
The decision for an individual to seek mental health treatment marks the beginning of an impactful journey. Access to therapy, medication, and support networks can lead to significant improvements in quality of life. Individuals often experience a reduction in symptoms, an increase in personal empowerment, and an overall better understanding of their conditions. Treatment fosters resilience, equipping people with the tools to cope more effectively with life's challenges. The courage to seek help not only benefits the individual but also serves as a beacon of hope for others, demonstrating that vulnerability and strength can coexist.
For Families: Strengthened Bonds
When one member of a family decides to seek treatment, the effects can reverberate throughout the household, leading to stronger, more supportive relationships. Treatment can even involve family therapy sessions that encourage open communication and understanding, helping to dispel myths and alleviate fears surrounding mental health conditions. As families learn and grow together, they dismantle the internalized stigma that may have kept them from seeking help. This collective healing process can shift the family unit into an invaluable source of support.
For Communities: A Collective Shift
The positive impact of seeking mental health treatment extends beyond the individual and family to permeate the community at large. Communities that embrace mental health education and support services foster an environment of acceptance and understanding. As more individuals come forward to share their experiences, the stigma surrounding mental health begins to diminish. This shift can lead to more inclusive policies, increased funding for mental health services, and a stronger, more empathetic community.
Paths to Destigmatization
Destigmatizing mental health treatment requires collaborative efforts from individuals, families, and communities. Here are actionable steps each group can take to contribute to this vital cause.
For Individuals: Embrace and Advocate
Embracing Vulnerability: Sharing personal stories and struggles can demystify mental health issues and challenge societal perceptions.
Education: Learning about mental health conditions dispels myths and combats self-stigma, fostering a healthier self-image.
Seeking Support: Engaging with therapy, support groups, and wellness resources not only aids in personal recovery but also demonstrates the positive effects of seeking help.
For Families: Openness and Support
Open Communication: Fostering a household environment where discussing mental health is encouraged and free from judgment strengthens familial bonds.
Education: Participating in family counseling and attending educational workshops together enhances collective understanding and empathy.
Support for Treatment: Actively supporting family members in their treatment journey underscores the importance of mental health care, wellness and recovery.
For Communities: Awareness and Inclusion
Awareness Campaigns: Organizing mental health events, workshops, and seminars educates the public, challenges stigma, and promotes a culture of support.
Policy Advocacy: Supporting policies that improve access to mental health care and protect the rights of those with mental health conditions drives systemic change.
Inclusive Support Systems: Developing community resources that are accessible and welcoming to all, regardless of their mental health status, fosters a sense of belonging and support.
Conclusion
As Mental Health Awareness Month 2024 unfolds, let us commit to ending the negative mental health stigma together. By understanding and taking action towards the deep-seated roots of stigma, we can foster a world where seeking mental health is embraced as a strength. Let this be a call to action for individuals, families, and communities to join forces in promoting mental health awareness, understanding, and compassion.
Resources
We encourage everyone to engage with local and national mental health initiatives, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month but throughout the year. Below are resources to help you start this journey:
Telemynd: Offers nationwide online mental healthcare services, allowing individuals to access professional help from the comfort of their homes, making it a convenient resource for those seeking confidential support.
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI): Provides a broad spectrum of support and education resources for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions, serving as a beacon for advocacy and public awareness efforts.
Mental Health America (MHA): Focuses on early identification and intervention for those at risk, offering tools and resources to understand and improve mental health, thereby acting as a preventive and supportive resource.
World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health: Delivers global resources, research, and guidelines on mental health, aiding in the development of policies and practices to improve mental health care worldwide.
Together, we can destigmatize mental health treatment and pave the way for a healthier, more understanding society.

Over 12% of adults in the US meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia. However, phobias come with much misunderstanding: some people believe they are just ‘overrated fears’ while others believe phobias can’t be overcome. On the contrary - phobias are a mental health issue. And they can be treated. In this article, we’re setting the record straight about common phobias - what they are, what they aren’t, how they are diagnosed, and how to get help.
What is a phobia?
Phobias are a kind of anxiety disorder; so they’re in the same diagnostic category as generalized anxiety disorder, but manifest differently. A phobia is defined as an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. But phobias are more pronounced than fears. They develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object. If a phobia becomes very severe, a person may organize their life around avoiding that thing that's causing them anxiety - so phobias can become debilitating. And in some cases, even thinking about the source of a phobia can make a person feel anxious or panicky (known as anticipatory anxiety).
Types of phobias
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), there are three main types of phobias: 
Specific phobias. Refers to an intense, persistent, and marked fear of a specific object or situation (such as flying, insects, or heights). People with specific phobias may be aware that their anxiety is out of proportion but feel helpless to control it. Agoraphobia. Refers to a deep fear of being in an environment (often outside or with many other people) where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in the event of developing panic-like symptoms. Social phobia. Also called social anxiety disorder; involves acute fear and self-consciousness in social situations. Can lead people to avoid attending events, meeting new people, or even seeking employment. Studies indicate that specific phobias concerning heights and animals/insects are the most common, but here is a list of other common specific phobias for which people seek treatment:
Acrophobia - fear of heights Aerophobia - fear of flying Aquaphobia - fear of water Astraphobia - fear of storms Claustrophobia - fear of confined or tight spaces Dentophobia - fear of dentists Hemophobia - fear of blood Nosocomephobia - fear of hospitals Zoophobia - fear of animals In all cases, these intense fears are real for the people experiencing them. They are not figments of imaginations nor deliberate exaggerations of fear.
People with phobias feel very specific and often debilitating symptoms when they come into contact with the source of their fear. Symptoms may include the following if you find yourself around the phobia source:
unsteadiness, dizziness, lightheadedness nausea sweating increased heart rate or palpitations shortness of breath trembling or shaking upset stomach Risk factors for phobias
The causes of anxiety disorders like phobias are unknown but likely involve a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors. Anxiety disorders can run in families, suggesting that a combination of genetics and environmental stresses can result in a diagnosed phobia.
Help for phobias
Mental health professionals can diagnose a phobia - and they can be treated successfully. Often treatment involves a combination of exposure, medication and coping strategies - all of which a qualified professional can provide. 
Scientists are finding that the phobias start out less intense and grow in acuteness over time - suggesting the possibility that interrupting the course of phobias with treatment early on could reduce their prevalence. A recent study, published in Lancet Psychiatry found that, “phobias can persist for several years, or even decades in 10-30% of cases, and are strongly predictive of the onset of other anxiety and mood disorders. Their high comorbidity with other mental disorders, especially after onset of the phobia, suggests that early treatment of phobias could also alter the risk of other disorders.”
The key takeaway? Consult with a mental health professional as early as possible if you or a loved one believe you have symptoms of a phobia.
Sources
Lancet Psychiatry
Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
National Institute of Mental Health

Feeling “blue”, “out of sorts”, or “down in the dumps” are ways we describe feelings of sadness or melancholy. Most of us have felt this way at one time or another. However, what’s known as Clinical Depression or Major Depressive Disorder has multiple symptoms in addition to sadness. As well, individuals with true Depression feel these symptoms much more intensely and experience them for longer periods of time.
Depression is a clinical mood disorder that affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of other problems if left untreated. Depression isn't a weakness and you can't just "snap out" of it. In fact, it may cause you to have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities. Fortunately, with early detection and a treatment plan consisting of medication, therapy, and healthy lifestyle choices, many people can and do manage their depression.
Definition of Major Depressive Disorder
After Anxiety, Depression is the most common mental health disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association, Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults in any given year, and one in six people will experience it at some time in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but typically first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. People of all ages and all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds experience Depression.
Depressive Disorders are defined as “feelings of sadness intense enough to interfere with functioning and/or a decreased interest or pleasure in activities”. There are several types of Depressive Disorders and all are commonly called “Depression”. Major Depressive Disorder, the subject of this article, is defined by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as experiencing at least 5 of the symptoms listed below nearly every day for a 2-week period, and one of them must be depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.
Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
Multiple, persistent symptoms are required for a diagnosis of Major Depression:
Persistent sad mood
Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
Irritability and/or anxiousness
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest in hobbies and normal activities
Decreased energy or tiredness
Moving or talking slowly
Feeling restless
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Difficulty sleeping or conversely, frequent oversleeping
Appetite changes
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause 
If you’ve been experiencing some of these symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from Depression. A behavioral health professional can make an official diagnosis.
Causes and risk factors
The exact cause of Depression is unclear, but reduced levels of key neurotransmitters like serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine in the brain are believed to play a part in most cases. These are hormones that stabilize your mood, your feelings of well-being, pleasure, happiness, and your capacity to feel energized, so lower levels can have a very negative impact on your well-being and ability to function on a daily basis.
A number of risk factors may make Depression more likely:
Heredity (genetic factors contribute to Depression in about half of individuals diagnosed)
Significantly emotionally distressing events, particularly those involving a loss
Certain physical and anxiety disorders
Substance and alcohol use disorders
Side effects of certain drugs
Social class, race, and culture do not affect the chance that people will experience Depression during their lifetime.
How does Depression impact daily life?
Even though there are many situations in life that can cause sadness and in which we might describe ourselves as being “depressed”, it is important to know the difference between “everyday” sadness and Clinical Depression. Understanding this difference can assist people in getting the help, support, and treatment they need. If you have any doubts about what you are feeling, contact a behavioral health professional who can make an official diagnosis and suggest the best treatment.
Without treatment, individuals with Clinical Depression may be more likely to use alcohol or other drugs in an attempt to help them sleep or to feel less sad. It’s also been found that those with undiagnosed Depression are more likely to smoke or to neglect their health in other ways. Depression may also reduce the immune system's ability to respond to infection; as a result, people with untreated Depression are more likely to get sick more often.
All of these things impact our ability to function well on a daily basis, to do our jobs, and to be the best parent, spouse, son, daughter, caregiver, or friend that we can be. Therefore, getting an early diagnosis and treatment plan is critical.
Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
Most Depressive Disorders can be treated with a combination of support, therapy, and medication. Speak with a behavioral health professional on how best to approach treatment that is right for you. They will assess your current symptoms and your history of Depression in order to determine the best treatment plan. Once it is chosen, the plan may change over time depending on how well you respond to the care provided. 
Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. In some cases, a healthy lifestyle including a good diet, exercise, and healthy sleep habits can also help reduce symptoms. In addition, behavioral health specialists may recommend spending time with good friends and family, rather than isolating yourself, as well as continuing to educate yourself about Depression, as information can feel empowering.
Please note, if you or a loved one have thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), Option 1
Do you or a loved one have symptoms of Depression?
You can access licensed psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and therapists from the convenience of your home. Click here to find your current insurance provider and request an appointment today!

It's normal to have upsetting memories, to feel stressed, or even to have trouble sleeping after experiencing a traumatic event. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. If you still have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to that experience long after the traumatic event, you may have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD.
Definition of PTSD
PTSD is a mental health disorder that occurs after experiencing or witnessing an upsetting traumatic event such as a natural disaster, accident, sexual assault, terroristic act, deployment into a  combat zone, or being threatened with death or serious injury. Individuals who have been diagnosed with PTSD may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; feel continual sadness, fear, or anger; or an overarching detachment toward those they previously held closest. Strong negative reactions to sensory cues that remind them of the event is another common effect; seemingly “ordinary” loud noises or even an accidental touch could cause a trigger. 
PTSD affects 3.6% of the U.S. adult population. About 37% of those diagnosed with PTSD are classified as having severe symptoms. If you or a loved one are in the military, the statistics are even higher: 11-20 out of every 100 veterans who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have PTSD in a given year.
PTSD often occurs with other related conditions, such as Depression, substance abuse, memory problems, and other mental health problems.
Know that PTSD is not a weakness. Anyone who experiences trauma is susceptible to developing it. We don’t yet know why some experience stronger PTSD symptoms while others are able to seemingly move past the events, but research continues to be conducted for improved treatment.
Symptoms of PTSD
According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), in order to be diagnosed with PTSD, an individual must have all of the following for at least one month:
At least one re-experiencing symptom (e.g., flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating, bad dreams, or frightening thoughts)
At least one avoidance symptom (e.g., staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the traumatic experience, or avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event)
At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms (e.g., being easily startled, feeling tense or “on edge”, having difficulty sleeping, having angry outbursts)
At least two cognition and mood symptoms (e.g., trouble remembering the key features of the traumatic event, negative thoughts about oneself or the world, distorted feelings like guilt or blame, or loss of interest in enjoyable activities)
Many individuals develop symptoms within three months of the trauma, but symptoms can appear later and often persist for months or years. It’s best to speak with a behavioral health professional to get a clear diagnosis and to find how best to approach a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Causes And Risk Factors
Anyone can develop PTSD at any age after a triggering event, but multiple risk factors play a part in determining whether an individual will develop PTSD after a traumatic event or not, including:
Childhood trauma (related or unrelated to the triggering trauma)
Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear during and after the event
Having little or no social support after the event
Dealing with additional stress after the event, such as loss of a loved one, job or home, or medical injury
A history of mental illness or substance abuse
Scientists believe that our “fight-or-flight” instincts – which can be life-saving during a crisis – when extended past the event, can leave us with ongoing, unhelpful symptoms. 
How Does PTSD Impact Daily Life?
PTSD can impact our day-to-day routines in many ways, making it difficult to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating. It can impact relationships, and our outlook on life. For example, remembering and reliving the initial trauma may cause problems at work or at home – triggering an out-of-perspective or inappropriate emotional response to everyday experiences. Individuals who have avoidance symptoms may do things like avoiding driving or riding in a car. Other individuals may feel stressed and angry all the time or isolated from friends and family. Left untreated, PTSD can cause dependence on drugs or alcohol or avoidance of activities that once made us happy. 
Treatment for PTSD
It’s important to know that it’s never too late to get help for PTSD! While it cannot be cured, PTSD is treatable and mitigated in several ways. Treatment typically combines therapy, medication, and self-management strategies, such as self-soothing and mindfulness. Service animals, particularly dogs, often help with reducing symptoms of PTSD.
Please note, if you or a loved one have thoughts of suicide, you should contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), Option 1.
Do You Or A Loved One Have Symptoms Of PTSD? 
Telemynd is a national telebehavioral health provider covered with many insurers. You can access licensed psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and therapists from the convenience of your home. Click here to find your current insurance provider and request an appointment today!  
Sources
NIH | National Institutes of Mental Health: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
American Psychiatric Association: What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD: PTSD

Being aware of the various types of depression is vital for reducing the misconceptions and stigma revolving around mental health conditions. Millions of people in the United States live with some form of depression. Knowing the signs and symptoms of all the types of depression helps increase awareness so people can seek the proper treatment and self-care. The following guide will go through the six forms of depression, including associated signs and treatments.
Major Depression
Description
To understand what Major Depression looks like, we have listed the DSM 5 criteria below for Major Depressive Disorder . The DSM 5 provides health workers with what signs and symptoms to look for and gives a framework for diagnosing. Major Depression goes beyond simply feeling down or sad and includes the listed signs and symptoms below. If you feel like you are experiencing the symptoms below, we encourage you to reach out to a mental health professional for further assessment.
Signs and Symptoms
Common symptoms of this condition include:
Feeling extremely sad, hopeless, and fearful Resorting to angry outbursts Feeling easily irritable or frustrated Disinterest in activities that were once enjoyed Having various sleep disturbances, like insomnia or sleeping too much Being overly tired even performing small, everyday tasks Appetite changes, leading to weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain Slower thinking, speaking, or body movements Feeling worthless or guilty Fixating on past regrets and missteps, leading to self-blame Feeling anxious, restless, or agitated Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, and/or making decisions Suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or suicide Various physical problems, such as headaches and stomach upset Treatment Options
Treatment plans can look different depending on the individual and can include one or a combination of therapeutic approaches. Below we have listed the three most common forms of treatment:
Medication like antidepressants Psychotherapy (traditional talk therapy) using techniques from cognitive behavioral and/or interpersonal therapy Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), used to treat life-threatening depression that hasn’t responded to therapy and medication plans. Persistent Depression
Description
Persistent Depression (PDD) is similar in many ways to major depression, sharing some of the same symptoms. However, the difference between the two is the duration of symptoms. In PDD, the symptoms must have been ongoing for at least two years. Adults diagnosed with Major Depression have episodes of symptoms with some gaps in symptom-free time.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms below are much like Major Depression:
Feeling depressed and helpless Becoming irritated over little things A change in appetite, either wanting to eat too much or not eating enough Sleep issues, like insomnia or sleeping too much Experiencing fatigue or having low energy Expressing words that indicate a struggle with low self-esteem Difficulty concentrating or making decisions Having feelings of hopelessness Treatment Options
Like Major Depression, the treatment for PDD includes various medicines (SSRIs) and psychotherapy (talk therapy).
Bipolar Depression
Description
Bipolar Depression is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings from an emotional high to an extreme low. These alternating mood shifts are referred to as mania or hypomania (extreme high) and depression (extreme low). Approximately 4.4% of adults in the United States experience bipolar disorder in their lives.
Signs and Symptoms
Bipolar Depression can be classified into one of three categories:
Bipolar I: The person has had at least one manic episode, preceded, or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. Sometimes, during the mania phase, a break from reality (psychosis) can occur. Bipolar II: The person has had a minimum of one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode but never a manic episode. Cyclothymia: A person with this condition will have had at least two years of several periods of hypomania symptoms and depressive symptoms. The depressive symptoms are not as severe as major depression, though. Treatment Options
In most cases, a person affected by bipolar depression will need to take mood-stabilizing medication to help manage the episodes. In addition, the provider will use therapies, such as:
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Family-focused therapy Psychoeducation is another helpful tool used to manage bipolar disorder. Psychoeducation is a type of therapeutic approach or intervention that focuses on providing individuals and their families with information and education about mental health conditions, symptoms, treatments, coping strategies, and other relevant topics. The primary goals of psychoeducation are to empower individuals and their support systems, improve their understanding of mental health issues, and enhance their ability to manage and live with these conditions effectively.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Millions of people are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People with major depression and bipolar depression have a higher percentage of experiencing this condition than the general population.
Description
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at a specific time of the year, typically during the fall and winter months when there is less natural sunlight.
Signs and Symptoms
Some people have fall/winter seasonal affective disorder, while others have spring/summer seasonal affective disorder.
Fall/Winter
Oversleeping or sleeping more than usual Appetite changes, with cravings for carbohydrate foods Weight gain or weight loss Fatigue and tiredness Spring/Summer
Insomnia Low appetite Weight loss Anxious or easily agitated Increased irritability Treatment Options
The three main forms of treatment for seasonal affective disorder are light therapy (exposure to bright artificial light that mimics natural sunlight), psychotherapy, and medication (such as antidepressants).
Postpartum Depression
Description
Postpartum is a medical condition that affects women after they give birth to a baby. In some cases, women may begin to feel postpartum symptoms during pregnancy. Postpartum is a serious condition that consists of a more severe form of depression related to the physical and hormonal changes as a woman’s body returns to its pre-pregnancy state. This form of depression can last for several months or longer.
Signs and Symptoms
Here are some signs and symptoms of postpartum depression:
Overwhelming tiredness or fatigue Depressed mood or extreme mood swings Less interest in everyday pleasures and activities Crying much more than usual Severe anxiety and panic attacks Intrusive thoughts of harming oneself or the baby Struggling to bond with the baby Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, shame, or inadequacy Difficulty with concentration Indecisiveness Intense irritability and anger Withdrawal from family and friends Changes in appetite Insomnia or over-sleeping Restlessness Recurring thoughts of death or suicide Treatment Options
Most treatment options for postpartum involve psychotherapy, antidepressants, or other medications, such as antipsychotic medicines, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines.
Since many postpartum symptoms could also mimic those common with becoming a parent, new mothers should consider starting therapy right before/ right after giving birth to monitor any symptoms that arise and help identify postpartum early.
Atypical Depression
Description
Atypical depression is a subtype of major depression with a specific set of symptoms that make it different from typical depression Atypical Depression is milder but more persistent and long-lasting.
Signs and Symptoms
Here are some signs and symptoms of atypical depression:
Mood Reactivity: In atypical depression, individuals experience mood reactivity, meaning their mood can improve temporarily in response to positive events or situations. This is in contrast to the persistent low mood seen in other forms of depression. Increased Appetite and Weight Gain: People with atypical depression often have an increased appetite and may gain a significant amount of weight as a result of overeating. This is a hallmark symptom that distinguishes atypical depression. Hypersomnia: Individuals with atypical depression may experience excessive sleepiness and prolonged sleep durations (hypersomnia). They may sleep more than usual and find it difficult to wake up in the morning. Leaden Paralysis: Some individuals with atypical depression report experiencing a heavy, leaden sensation in their limbs, making them feel physically weighed down. Rejection Sensitivity: People with atypical depression may be highly sensitive to interpersonal rejection, often interpreting social situations negatively and feeling a strong need for social approval. Interpersonal Difficulties: Atypical depression may lead to difficulties in personal relationships due to these heightened sensitivities and emotional responses. Treatment Options
Atypical depression treatment involves psychotherapy (talk therapy) and/or medication (MAOIs/SSRIs). Other factors can also aid patients in feeling better including lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise, self-care, or stopping alcohol and/or recreational drug use.
Misconceptions
Although much has been done in society to decrease the stigma associated with mental health conditions like major depression and Bipolar Disorder, many people still have misconceptions about it that are important to dispel.
Misconceptions say that:
The person simply lacks willpower. The person is only feeling “blue” and will get over it. Medicine alone should resolve the problem. The person is giving into their feelings. The person can snap out of it easily. Depression affects everyone in the same way. Depression only happens when something negative has or is happening. Depression is the same as anxiety. Only adults get depression. Resources
It’s important for someone who is struggling with a mental health condition, like any of the depressive conditions, to seek out the many available resources. Telemynd is a source of support for those who need to connect with a mental health provider.
Telemynd offers a comprehensive mental health solution for people who want to be matched with qualified, mental health providers. We also partner with a variety of insurance companies to make necessary healthcare access easier.
Telemynd's specialists are here to assist individuals or their loved ones on their journey to improved well-being. Contact Telemynd today.