When my husband and I received the news that we had to self-isolate in NYC because of COVID-19, my first thought was: why don’t we live somewhere like Colorado where we could just escape to the mountains? I was actually in Colorado when everything started to shut down in NYC. Honestly, I contemplated not coming back. Quarantined life sounded a heck of a lot better if you could at least get in your car and drive somewhere that was far away from others and be at peace with Mother Nature....

Talkspace, the global leader in digital behavioral health, today announces a donation from Michael Phelps that will go towards the company’s ongoing initiative of providing 1,000 months of free therapy to frontline medical workers. Phelps’ contribution graciously adds 500 additional months of therapy for those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic to access mental health care at a time where they are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety. “I’m proud to be a part of something that is helping the superheroes of today, our medical workforce, take care of themselves as they are giving everything to take care of others right now,” says Phelps....

I’m an American citizen with a diagnosed panic disorder and I can’t afford to properly take care of my mental health. I know that I should be in therapy and my daily intake of 10MG of Lexapro should be monitored more regularly but, in the wealthiest country in the world — a country that still treats mental health care as a luxury — it feels nearly impossible. With the stigma that still surrounds mental health care in this country, the idea of that changing anytime soon seems like a pipe dream....

As people around the world are trying to combat the spread of COVID-19, there’s another type of contagion of which you should be aware:emotional contagion. Put simply, emotional contagion is the process ofcatchingthe emotions of someone else. Like all things that are contagious, individuals can be both the carrier and the recipient of strong emotional reactions. If you’re in a position of power or authority (for example, a teacher, parent, or workplace leader), you’re more likely to be the carrier of contagious emotions — as people may generally look to you to be the source of guidance and support during difficult times....

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has, thanks to the hard work of advocates, become much more well known in recent years, and yet, many questions remain. A common question is whether autism is a mental health disorder or whether it falls under a different diagnostic category. Unfortunately, this debate misunderstands the nature of mental health diagnostics. A better and more important question may be how can we best meet the deep needs of those with autism spectrum disorder and their families....

If I spend too much time with people, I feel like I’m going to explode. I’ll start to feel extremely irritable, anxious, and accidentally snap with an attitude. While our situation is somewhat different now, that’s still how I know I need alone time, and I need it stat! 6 Ways Alone Time is Beneficial Over the years, researchers have conducted a slew of studies to determine the effects of time alone, and the verdict is in: having alone time is good for you....

Updated on 12/20/2022.Although the stigma around mental health persists, many people are increasingly comfortable enough to reveal that they are talking to a therapist about their mental illness and getting the help they need.However, many still tend to feel nervous when they have to make an appointment with a psychiatrist for their mental health condition. Working with a psychiatrist is often seen as more daunting than a therapy session, and this point of view paints a not-so-pleasant view of psychiatrists....

Updated on 5/17/2022 At Talkspace, we’re doing our part to contribute to the global battle against the coronavirus. Today we announced our donation of 1,000 months of free online therapy to medical workers across the United States — those on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. Effective immediately, healthcare workers across the country can get access to a free month of our Unlimited Messaging Plus plan,online text therapythat includes unlimited text, video, and audio messaging with a licensed therapist....

At the end of December 2019, the government in Wuhan, China, confirmed the detection of a new disease and treatment of a handful of cases. On January 11th, China reported its first death from the novel respiratory illness — dubbed COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019 — and as of this writing there have been 180,000 confirmed cases of the disease and over 7,000 deaths. We’re seeing disruptions to travel; sporting events, concerts, and conventions canceled; an unstable stock market; schools and workplaces closed or conducting business virtually; the shuttering of bars and restaurants; and the implementation of curfews, quarantines....

Updated on 5/18/2022 Getting medication for your mental health can be daunting. After all, how can you be sure you’ve been prescribed the right meds? This is an issue that affects so many of us: around 40 million Americans take psychiatric drugs. One in six US adults reported taking one of more psychiatric drugs in 2013, according toAdvisory. Psychiatry and prescriptions onlineReceive an evaluation and prescription for mental health medication (if needed) from a psychiatry-trained medical provider....

The dichotomy between introverts and extroverts is often broken down to overly simplistic basics, however: Do you like to stay inside? You’re an introvert. Do you love hanging out with friends every night of the week? You’re an extrovert. But the reality is rarely so simple — and, in fact,most people have elements of introversionandextroversion, a combination referred to as the ambivert personality. Unlike extroverts, who are open to new experiences and excited to share their worldview with others, introverts tend to be more reflective, thoughtful, and are more capable of resisting outside influences....

Whether you are making small talk in a work environment, having a conversation with a close friend or chatting with someone online, your personality shines through in all that you do. Personality traits are the underlying factors that determine how you interact and react in any given social situation — and the more you know about these traits, the more it can help you learn how best to navigate insideandoutside of your comfort zone....

I remember once when we took a long road trip, and my son began to complain that he felt lonely, sitting in the back seat for so many hours without something to do. Then, the moment he realized his imaginary friends had come to visit, all was right with the world. “Ice Cream fits right here,” he said, pointing to a little spot of free space in his car seat....

Couples with age gaps between approximately 5-15 years are estimated to make up8.5% of the American population. An older man with a younger woman is the more common scenario with only 1.3% of couples being composed of an older woman and younger man.Canadian datareveals that age gap relationships are more prevalent for same-sex couples, with 26% of male and 18% of female duos involving an age gap. Couples Therapy OnlineStrengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience....

Updated on 3/24/21 March is Women’s History Month. It’s a time to celebrate women but also to appreciate the unique struggles and challenges women face in their everyday lives. One of those obstacles is mental health, an area that has particular nuance for women — due to biological factors, such as hormonal and reproductive issues, and social factors, like discrimination, domestic violence, and societal inequality. The Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s Mental Health Mental Illness Can Look Different for Women Of course, women’s mental health has long been an issue of grave importance, even before the devastation of COVID-19....