It would be hard to overstate the massive impact of this past year’s pandemic on individuals’ mental health. Last August, the Centers for Disease Control reported results of a survey that showed anxiety disorder symptoms in 2020 to be three times those reported in the same period of 2019, and depressive disorder about four times… Read more »
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2020: Amidst alarm, heartbreak, TV binging and AI manipulation, a sense of agency rediscovered. During this pandemic, I have had unprecedented time alone. My first weeks were primarily filled with fear and horror, first overwhelmed by the mysterious, global and deadly nature of the virus and then awash with anguish and nausea after seeing the… Read more »
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“Until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart.” – Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection The gift giving that takes place during the holiday season has brought to mind the much-overlooked challenge of accepting. We tend to focus our attention on the giving part of the gift exchange: what… Read more »
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This season is usually reserved for celebration and gathering, but today, many of us are experiencing something very different. And while by now, you may be tired of hearing about how different the holidays look this year, you’re probably still bearing the emotional impact of what that means. These next couple weeks are likely to hit… Read more »
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It’s almost trendy for people to say that they don’t make resolutions and rightfully so, as we’re overwhelmingly likely to abandon those resolutions by mid-February. Resolutions are external statements that we typically bring up at cocktail parties. Conversely, having resolve is taking a raw, honest look at a situation and saying, “I am going to… Read more »
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One of the most fascinating things about working in psychology is the chance to explore the invisible forces that shape our lives. Many of us move through each day operating as a bit of a mystery to ourselves. We don’t fully understand our thoughts, feelings, or even our behavior. We’re often left to wonder why… Read more »
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Why we need gratitude more than ever. Throughout the internet, it seems like even more people than usual are writing about gratitude this Thanksgiving. Most are puzzling about what there is to be grateful for during this horrific pandemic. People the world over are grappling with the shutdown of businesses and schools, the recommendations of… Read more »
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In this Experts at Home conversation, Dr. Risa Ryger joins Dr. Lisa Firestone to discuss the struggles parents and children are facing during Covid-19 and strategies to help families handle tough times. Watch Now: Subscribe to PsychAlive (it’s free!) to see more Experts at Home.
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Whether you choose to celebrate during the holiday season or not, it can be a stressful time of year for various reasons. To further complicate the logistics of celebratory planning, the pandemic serves as an extra layer of angst to navigate. For some of you, this is a welcome inconvenience, especially if it allows an… Read more »
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“Uncertain” is likely a mild way to put how we’re all feeling right now. This year has presented so many shocks to our systems, many of us are struggling to retain any sense of equilibrium. The deer in the headlights feeling of “what comes next?” has our anxiety at peak levels. While there are real… Read more »
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