A recent article in the New York Times, College Students Strain Mental Health Centers, highlights the current rise in anxiety problems on college campuses. Noting that anxiety now replaces depression as the top diagnosis for college students, the author cites the following possible reasons and offers examples of how colleges are responding. Suggested pathways to [Continue Reading]
To manage anxiety do this, not that: 5 things to know about effective coping
Feeling anxious is miserable. And when feelings are miserable you want them to go away ASAP. But unlike switching a light off and on, when it comes to anxiety you can’t just flip the switch. Managing anxiety is more like using a dimmer. You want to keep your symptoms from getting too high even if [Continue Reading]
Teen stress and anxiety: Pathways to depression in college
SAT’s, ACT’s, AP’s, PSAT’s, GPA’s these are the acronyms many parents and their children become all too familiar with from middle school forward. But as a recent study reported in the New York Times indicates, our kids may be paying a price for the pressure to succeed academically as stress and mental health problems increase [Continue Reading]
Stressed, a dog might help
They come in all shapes and sizes, are loyal, work for us, and even save lives. We get a lot from our “best friend”–dogs. And now they are being used in new ways to help us manage stress. Here are some ways they help us: Get us into the moment: Whether it is actively playing [Continue Reading]
Choices, Choices Everywhere: Managing Holiday Shopping Pressure
It starts in mid-October. Green and red encroach upon Halloween’s black and orange. Thus announcing the nearly two and a half month frenzy that is the holiday shopping season. And along with the colors, sounds, and smells we associate with this time of year comes a new layer of information overload as marketers strive to [Continue Reading]
For parents managing your stress when your child applies to college
Suddenly your child is in high school and it’s all about planning and eventually applying to college. It’s hard to imagine how quickly the time goes. It moves fast, but it doesn’t have to be furious. So before you jump into the process take a step back, and define your role. You’ll be most constructive [Continue Reading]
Five reasons to feel hopeful about learning to manage anxiety
Anxiety disorders have a broad and powerful reach. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists anxiety disorders as the most common mental health problem with 40,000 individuals 18 and older affected by an anxiety disorder each year. That is 18% of the adult population. Among teens the rate is 8%. For children and teens [Continue Reading]