Everyone will experience grief at some point during life. It can be after the death of a friend or loved one, or from a divorce, pregnancy loss, a major life change like moving away from your closest support circle, or even pet grief. For some, they take even longer to grieve, resulting in prolonged grief disorder, while others experience anticipatory grief before experiencing a loss. Disenfranchised grief, like most forms of grief, is complicated....

Stress is common and, unfortunately, not something you can totally avoid in life. It can be tricky, though, too, because, believe it or not, there’s such a thing as bothgood and bad stress. Thankfully, though, plenty of excellent stress therapy options and coping mechanisms can help you manage the harmful types of stress when you need to.When you learn how to deal with stress effectively, you can minimize the impact it has on your day-to-day life and protect your overall mental health....

Updated 03/21/24Discussions about sexual orientation are often focused on sexual attraction toward a specific gender. However, some people feel little to no sexual attraction to anyone, regardless of thetype of gender. This is where the discussion of the asexuality (which is its own sexual orientation) spectrum begins.While approximately1% of the populationidentifies as asexual (or as “an ace”), it’s likely that many more people have similar thoughts and feelings. It’s important to note that asexuality isn’t the same thing as abstinence or celibacy, where a conscious decision is at play....

Updated on 04/24/2023Listening to podcasts is a great way to learn more about a variety of subjects at your own pace, on your own time, and in your own space. You can find podcasts about almost any subject out there — yes, including podcasts about mental health. The right mental health podcasts can help you keep a positive attitude, teach youcoping skillsto better deal with stress in your life, enhance your relationships, and enjoy life more....

The fields of psychiatry and neurology are both related to the brain, but they focus on vastly different aspects of medicine. They also entail very different day-to-day roles. Understandingwhat is the difference between psychiatrist and neurologistis essential if you’re considering a career in one or the other (or if you’re trying to decide which one you should see for treatment).It’s true that there’ssomeoverlap between the two fields, but while there are various basic similarities when it comes to a neurologist vs psychiatrist, they actually require different qualifications and treat different conditions....

Updated 03/21/24Research shows that an estimated1 in 5adults experienced a mental health condition in 2020. Access to affordable behavioral therapy is more critical now than it’s ever been before. Unfortunately, without insurance,therapy costscan range between $75 and $150 per session — sometimes much higher — depending on where you live, thetype of therapyyou want, the experience of the therapist, and several other factors. Simply put, the cost of therapy can be unaffordable for many people....

It’s believed that an estimated21% of adultsin this country are living with a diagnosable mental health condition. That’s roughly 1 in 5 adults. The need for trained professionals in the field of psychiatry cannot be underestimated. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who’s had additional medical education and training to prepare to treat and specialize in diseases and disorders of the mind. While psychologists and therapists can also treat mental health conditions, only psychiatrists are trained medical doctors who can prescribe medication....

Updated 12/11/2023Agood therapistis essential to getting a proper diagnosis, finding an effective treatment plan, learning to live well with the symptoms of a mental health condition, and improving your quality of life overall. If you or a family member are searching for a potential therapist, first and foremost, know this: It’s not unusual to need to visit multiple therapists before you find one that you feel is a good fit for you....

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between worry and anxiety. If you’ve ever felt worried sick and wondered if you have anxiety, that’s completely normal. Especially considering that worry really is an aspect of anxiety. That said, it’s important to understand that just because you worry, doesn’t automatically mean you have anxiety.While many people these days use the two words interchangeably, worry and anxiety are actually quite different from one another....

Updated 03/21/24 Check coverage A health savings account (HSA) can be a great way to help pay for health care expenses, including the cost of mental health care for a specific medical condition, which comes in handy if you can’t afford therapy. There are many benefits to using an HSA, including that the money you invest in it isn’t subject to federal or state income taxes, both when you put it in and when you take it out for a qualified medical expense....

Gender can be a complicated topic. Not everyone feels confident or comfortable when thinking about or discussing their ideas about gender or gender expression. If you’re gender questioning, you should know that it’sperfectly normalto have these feelings,especiallyif you’re a young adult.While it can be stressful to have questions about gender, it can also be exciting to explore your identity. In time, and with the right support system, you can grow to feel more self-assured and assertive about your gender identity and how you express yourself....

Updated 04/17/24While everyone feels worried at times, too many worrisome thoughts can easily take hold of your overall well-being. Once you start worrying, it can be tough to stop. When it becomes a pattern, worrying too much can create a cycle and pattern of negative, anxious thoughts and behaviors that can be difficult to break.There are blurred lines with worry vs anxiety. If you constantly feel worried, it’s likely that your feelings of anxiety are negatively impacting many aspects of your everyday life....

With roughly1 in 5adults experiencing a mental health concern in 2020, it’s no surprise that the demand for therapy has drastically increased in recent years. Unfortunately, therapy is often cost-prohibitive for many people, sometimes even for those with health insurance. The high cost of treatment means too many people postpone (or never get at all) the help they need — simply because they believe they can’t afford therapy. Check coverage...

It happens to everyone at some point — a familiar nervous feeling that comes with a racing heartbeat, fast breathing, sweating, and sometimes trembling. Being nervous is normal, and can even be healthy, but when that unsettled feeling occurs more regularly, or when it begins to affect everyday life, something more may be going on.Sometimes what starts as a simple worry can turn into something much more, and can even end up causing physical symptoms that you need to learn to deal with....

It’s normal to occasionally feel overwhelmed and stressed out in your daily life. Things like work, navigating traffic, paying bills, dealing with children, arguing with a spouse, or worrying about a loved one’s health can consume your days and take hold of your emotions if you let them. Everyone must deal with stressful times in life. In fact, a little bit of stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing.However, excessive stress for too long can cause serious physical and mental health problems....