4 Benefits of Hugs, for Mind and Body Research finds surprising power in even casual embraces. Research finds surprising power in even casual embraces. By Andrea F. Polard Psy.D. Security. A lot of time has passed since the Harlow studies, showing that poor monkey babies prefer a cloth doll without milk as a mother substitute … Continue reading 4 Benefits of Hugs, for Mind and Body: Research finds surprising power in even casual embraces →

NEVER lose hope! (H)old (O)n (P)ain (E)nds

This is THEIR brave! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💙 #ThisIsMyBrave #EndTheStigma

What It’s Like When Your Daydreams Are Just As Real As Life By Alexa Tsoulis-Reay In 2002, an Israeli professor named Eli Somer published a paper describing a condition he called “maladaptive daydreaming,” a disorder where people spend about 60 percent of their waking life in a self-designed imaginary world. The qualitative study had its … Continue reading What It’s Like When Your Daydreams Are Just As Real As Life →

Fear distorts perceptions and perceptions affect attitudes and behaviors. For example, the chronic mental illnesses, such as Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, conjure up images of people who are violent, drug abusing and criminal. Attempts to build residences house them often provoke local citizens to protest, “not in my neighborhood.” This is currently what is happening … Continue reading The mentally ill are no more violent than the rest of the population and are, in all probability, less violent →

People with mental illness live in dark places and gray areas. It’s not something that shuts off and on — it comes in waves, it peaks and it fades. But these feelings are never gone. And I wish more than anything in this world they would disappear. I am a warrior of my own mind, … Continue reading People with mental illness live in dark places and gray areas →

A depressive disorder is not a passing blue mood but rather persistent feelings of sadness and worthlessness and a lack of desire to engage in formerly pleasurable activities. A complex mind/body illness, depression can be treated with drugs and/or therapy. Definition A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It … Continue reading A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts →

Therapy dogs are trained and certified and serve as an integral part of the mental health treatment process. Dog therapy, or more broadly, animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is directed by a health professional and is designed to help people improve their physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function. 1, 2 Therapy dogs work with professionals and their … Continue reading Specially trained therapy dogs help people with a variety of mental health conditions →

STIGMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS Far more than any other type of illness, mental disorders are subject to negative judgements and stigmatization. Many patients not only have to cope with the often devastating effects of their illness, but also suffer from social exclusion and prejudices. Stigmatization of the mentally ill has a long tradition, and the … Continue reading Far more than any other type of illness, mental disorders are subject to negative judgements and stigmatization →

We know you shouldn’t be ashamed of taking medication for a mental illness. We know it doesn’t make you weak. We know it’s a treatment option a lot of people find beneficial, while others don’t. It’s a choice, an option and it’s just as valid as taking medication for any other illness. “It’s OK to … Continue reading It’s OK to take medication! Don’t let stigma scare you into not taking them. →