The holidays are quickly approaching and not everyone is feeling the holiday cheer. For many, the holiday season is synonymous with stress and if you’re one of the millions living with a mental illness, you know that stress can trigger or worsen symptoms of your illness. That’s why it’s important to understand what your triggers are and come up with ways to cope. 

Family Dynamics Around the Thanksgiving Table

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 11% of teens have some kind of depressive disorder by the age of 18.  Many more teens have symptoms of depression that, when detected and treated early, may prevent the onset of a major depressive episode. 

Stress, just the word itself is what you would call a stressor. These days, it seems we’re manufacturing stress. Not only do we have job, school, family and money concerns, but technology compounds everything. 

Are you having a miserable day? Just laugh! This probably sounds counterintuitive, but research shows laughter has healing powers for the body and mind. When you don’t feel like laughing is probably when you need it most.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … or is it? Instead of enjoying the holiday season, many people seem to dread it and feel relieved when it’s over. The stress of family gatherings, holiday feasts, and shopping take over and the joy of the season quickly disappears. But it doesn’t have to.

College kids are coming home! You eagerly anticipate their arrival, clean their room and cook their favorite meals. This is a time to reconnect. Find out what’s going on in their lives. Create some wonderful memories. And then the fighting begins...

Thanksgiving is often thought of as a time of warmth and happiness, family gathered around the table creating wonderful family memories. But for many of us, it can also be a time of angst and anxiety. There are many reasons you may feel stress. Perhaps you are a student struggling with school and are afraid of criticism from your family. You may be unemployed and don't want to face questions about your job search or finances. Maybe you’ve put on or lost "too much" weight this year and are feeling self conscious. If you have been struggling with depression, mood swings or anxiety, you may be more emotionally vulnerable. This time of year could remind you of someone who has become ill, passed away or moved.  

Breathing, a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skill, is Helpful in Everyday Life Right now, as you are reading this . . . . stop. Don’t race through to get to the end. Instead, pause, and practice these easy steps from our Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program: