One thing I know for certain is that ‘’talking about your feelings’’ cannot cure a diagnosable mental illness. To purport this idea is reductive and shows a deep-rooted misunderstanding of the complex physiological roots of psychiatric conditions. However, through supporting my brother in his experiences with anxiety and depression, I have come to appreciate that talking openly about emotions does play an extremely important role in a family where mental illness is present.

If you've quit therapy for mental illness in the past, have you ever asked yourself if it's time to go back to therapy? I've asked that question of myself recently. I've had so much therapy it would make your psychology spin, but I've been out of therapy for about 10 years now. I'm a believer in therapy for everyone, I just thought I was no longer benefitting from it at that time. But are there signs that mean it's time to go back to therapy for mental illness?

Many people are experiencing significant anxiety about the world. Our collective anxiety is skyrocketing faster than news is posted to fill the seemingly infinite space online. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses worldwide, and the United States is the most anxious country, with a higher percentage of people diagnosed with anxiety disorders than in any other country.1 Further, the experience of anxiety in the United States is on the rise, with more and more people reporting problems with worry and fear that aren't diagnosable as a mental illness.2 What is behind this climbing anxiety? The answer to that is quite complex, of course, and can't be reduced to one single explanation. That said, there are contributing factors. One such cause of anxiety about the state of the world is the news. Here's a look at what's happening to help you decrease your own anxiety.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intimate relationships don't always go well together. On top of that, dating when you are in your 20s is tough. Finding people to date in real life is next to impossible, and online dating can be a fiasco. If you ask around, you'll find that many people in their 20s know and understand this struggle--myself being one of them. What most people don't understand, however, is how much more difficult dating and forming intimate relationships can be when you're suffering from PTSD.

New experiences can bolster self-esteem. I learned this first-hand this week when I received training on new technology for managing my type 1 diabetes. As exciting as it is to be on the cutting edge, my ancient VCR is still unconnected since my recent move because I can't figure out how to attach it to my new cable box. New technology is challenging for me and I was nervous about going in for my training. I am still a bit anxious today as I continue to learn on the job, so to speak, but every day I see tiny little improvements in my diabetes control, and it keeps me motivated. This new experience is strengthening my self-esteem, bit by bit.

Why is a schedule an important part of coping with anxiety?

This is the story of how I began a lifestyle of kindness. I befriended a homeless family, talked to strangers in the airport, and learned to get out of my comfort zone. 

Picture this: it's the crack of dawn, and the sun has yet to rise. You awaken from your slumber because, according to the youngest child, "it's wake up time." The kids are ready to watch a slew of morning cartoons, argue about who got the most cereal, and then leave the same bowl of soggy half-eaten Frosted Flakes on the table next to a trail of milk. Kid number one can't find the legos they hid from kid number two, so a meltdown erupts--and it's only 6:55 am.

Many of us who are diagnosed with depression may struggle with loving ourselves. We might feel the sting of stigma, whether it's from others, from within us, or a combination of both. As individuals with depression, some of us deal with negative thoughts, which can make it difficult to foster feelings of love towards ourselves. How can we overcome these challenges and learn to love ourselves?

Stim toys are a way of life for some of us with dissociative identity disorder (DID). If you’re living with a mental health condition such as DID, you might already know how important it is to have stim toys ready and waiting to be used whenever you need to get grounded. How does using stim toys help people with DID, and what is stimming?