Sometimes, emotions can be...uncomfortable. Anxiety can make your stomach drop. Anger can leave you feeling tense and restless. Sadness can make even simple things feel exhausting. And sometimes, you may wish you could simply turn certain feelings off. But what if uncomfortable emotions aren't actually the problem? Every emotion serves a purpose. That doesn't mean every emotional reaction is perfectly proportionate to the situation, or that every feeling needs to dictate what

The truth is that recovery can be messy. You might have a few really good weeks and then suddenly find yourself struggling again. Something you thought you'd moved past may come back up. A stressful event may leave you feeling like you've lost progress. You may even wonder, “Why am I back here again?” But recovery isn't a straight line. Whether you're recovering from substance use, an eating disorder, trauma, depression, anxiety, or another difficult experience, progress can

Certain dates can carry a lot of emotional weight. For many people, September 11 is one of them. Each year, as the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, people may find themselves experiencing emotions, memories, or physical reactions they weren't expecting. This can be especially true for people who were directly affected by the attacks, lost someone, witnessed the events firsthand, lived in or around New York City or Washington, D.C., or simply remember what it felt l

September can bring a lot of reminders of 9/11. Memorials appear in the news. Schools may discuss the attacks. Children may overhear conversations or encounter videos and images online. And for parents, that can create an uncomfortable question: Should I talk to my child about 9/11, and how much should I tell them? If your child wasn't alive on September 11, 2001, you may wonder whether they need to know about it at all. If they are older, they may already have heard about it

Sending a child off to college can bring a strange mix of emotions. You might feel proud, excited, nervous, relieved, or even a little lost. After years of knowing where they are, what they're doing, and whether they've eaten something besides cereal, suddenly you're not part of every detail of their day. And that's actually the point. College is often one of the first major opportunities for young adults to practice making decisions, handling setbacks, managing responsibilit

Trauma doesn't always end with the person who experienced it. Sometimes, the effects of a difficult or traumatic experience can influence how families communicate, cope with stress, form relationships, and understand the world around them. Those patterns can sometimes continue from one generation to the next. This is often referred to as generational trauma. The idea can raise some complicated questions. If you didn't experience something yourself, why might you still be affe

Article Contents Why Does Change Feel Scary? The Hidden Grief of Life Transitions How Change Affects Your Mental Health Missing Your Old Life Is Normal How to Cope With Change When to Seek Support Frequently Asked Questions Have you ever looked forward to something for months — starting a new job, moving into a new home, getting engaged, becoming a parent, or sending your child off to college — only to find yourself feeling anxious once it actually happens? It can be confusin

Article Contents Why the End of Summer Feels Different The Psychology of Seasonal Transitions Signs You May Be Experiencing the End-of-Summer Blues Gentle Ways to Ease Into a New Season When It May Be Time to Reach Out Frequently Asked Questions As August comes to a close, you might notice a subtle shift in your mindset. It may happen as you notice the evenings get darker a little earlier. Store shelves fill with school supplies, sweaters, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Ca

Article Contents Why Routine Matters What Happens When a Routine Changes It's Not About Being "Rigid" Gentle Ways to Navigate Change When Extra Support Can Help Frequently Asked Questions Most people have experienced the frustration of having their plans unexpectedly change. Maybe a meeting was canceled at the last minute. Maybe traffic made you late for work. Maybe your favorite coffee shop closed for the day. It can be inconvenient, but for many neurodivergent people, a sud

Article Contents What Being First-Generation Really Means The Pressure to Succeed Feeling Like You Don't Belong Balancing Two Different Worlds Caring for Your Mental Health When to Ask for Support Frequently Asked Questions Starting college is a major life transition for anyone. New routines, new expectations, new friendships, and often a completely new environment can feel overwhelming. But if you're a first-generation college student, those challenges can come with extra pr

Article Contents Why "Perfect" Routines Don't Last Build Around Your Real Life Give Yourself Permission to Adjust When Support Can Help Frequently Asked Questions If you've ever searched for tips on creating a healthier routine, you've probably seen some version of the same advice. Wake up before sunrise. Exercise every morning. Meal prep every Sunday. Journal every night. Drink more water. Meditate. Read. Stretch. Get eight hours of sleep. On paper, it sounds wonderful. In r

Article Contents Why Do We Compare What We Eat? The Dangers of "What I Eat in a Day" Videos How Food Comparison Can Affect Body Image Pay Attention to How Your Feed Makes You Feel How to a Build a Healthier Relationship With Food How Therapy Can Help “What I Eat in a Day.” You’ve probably seen the videos: Someone walks you through their morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and maybe dessert — all neatly edited into a 60-second video. Some are posted by dietitians

Article Contents What Does Relapse Mean in Recovery? Common Reasons People Experience Relapse How to Respond After a Relapse Recovery Is a Journey, Not a Destination How Therapy Can Help After a Relapse You were doing well; maybe you hadn’t had a drink in months. Maybe you stopped engaging in a behavior you were trying to change. Maybe you finally built a routine that made you feel more like yourself. Then something happened. Maybe one bad day became two. An old coping mechan

Article Contents GLP-1 Medications and Body Image When Your Body Changes Faster Than Your Mind Your Relationship With Food Navigating Comments About Your Body GLP-1 Medications and Mental Health The Role of Therapy FAQs GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now. You often hear about Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and similar medications at the doctor's office, on social media, in conversations with friends, or even from celebrities discussing their experiences. And while much of

Article Contents What Is Financial Stress and Anxiety? Why Money Worries Can Feel So Overwhelming Signs Financial Stress Is Affecting Your Mental Health Why Financial Stress and Anxiety Can Feel So Overwhelming 4 Healthy Ways to Cope With Financial Stress and Anxiety How It Can Affect Your Relationships When Should You Seek Help? Money is a part of nearly every aspect of our lives. It affects where we live, how we care for ourselves and our families, the opportunities availab

Article Contents Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships Orange Flags You Should Pay Attention To Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore Why Do We Miss Red Flags Sometimes? How Attachment Styles Can Affect Relationships If You're Unsure: Questions to Ask About Your Relationship Whether it's a summer romance, a relationship that's lasted for years, or someone you've just started getting to know, it's natural to wonder: Is this relationship actually healthy? Social media is full of advice

Article Contents Why Asking for Help Is Hard What Happens When You Carry Everything Alone Signs It's Time to Ask for Help Small Ways to Practice Asking for Help How Therapy Can Help We often hear that self-care means taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, journaling, or unplugging from social media. While those things can absolutely be helpful, self-care isn't always relaxing—and it isn't always something you do by yourself. Sometimes, one of the most meaningful acts of self

Article Contents What Does Accessible Mental Health Care Mean? Emotional Safety = Accessible Care Not Every Barrier is Visible What to Ask Before Choosing a Therapist When most people think about accessibility, they picture wheelchair ramps, elevators, or accessible parking spaces. Those features matter, but accessible mental health care goes far beyond physical access. True accessible mental health care means creating an environment where people of all abilities, identities,

Article Contents: What Is the Mental Load? Why Vacation Planning Can Feel So Stressful Signs You're Carrying Too Much How to Lighten the Mental Load For many families, summer vacation is supposed to be a chance to relax, reconnect, and make lasting memories. But for the person planning the trip, getting there often feels like a full-time job. Choosing a destination. Comparing hotel prices. Booking flights. Coordinating schedules. Packing for everyone. Making sure medications

For many families, summer is supposed to be a time for relaxation, fun, and making memories. But for parents, the reality often looks very different. Between managing childcare, juggling work responsibilities, coordinating activities, and trying to keep everyone entertained, many parents find themselves feeling overwhelmed before summer is even halfway over. If you've noticed yourself feeling exhausted, irritable, or emotionally drained, you're not alone. There are many reaso