What is Mental Health?
Articles about mental health often focus on mental illness rather than mental health. But what is mental health? If you were to ask two people to define this term, you'd probably get two different answers. What seems healthy to one person may not seem so to another, and each person's definition would depend on his or her own culture and values.
I feel stressed and anxious. How can yoga help?
By Dianne Fish, LPC Intern
Yoga is one important technique to reduce your stress and anxiety. It helps by triggering your body's natural relaxation response to decrease anxious symptoms and increase a sense of well being.
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Stress Guide: Improve your sleep habits 7 Tips to Reduce Insomnia
By Dianne Holliday Fish, LPC-Intern
When you get a good night’s sleep, you are better prepared to handle the challenges of the next day. Stress, anxiety, anger, and an over stimulated mind all work against your desire to have a good night’s sleep. These tips can help.
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Ways to Help Depression
By Jonathan Anderson
Austin counselor, Jonathan Anderson, shares an overview of depression. Treatment of depression and its symptoms is more accessible than ever before.
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What Causes Anxiety?
By Deanne Repich
What causes anxiety? Deanne Repich, anxiety author and educator, gives free anxiety help online. Deanne explores the causes of anxiety; factors include biology, stress, lifestyle, childhood, thought patterns, genetic predispositions.
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DBT Therapy
By Beverly Snodgrass, LPC
Being able to regulate emotions is something many people don't have to think about and take for granted. Others struggle a lifetime with it. Austin counselor, Beverly Snodgrass, gives us an overview of DBT therapy, a treatment developed by
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Types of Anxiety Disorders
By Deanne Repich
In reviewing the anxiety types, author and educator Deanne Repich lists the symptoms of panic and panic attacks, covers phobias and GAD anxiety, demonstrates the signs of social anxiety and explores symptoms of PTSD and OCD.
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Why Can't I Stop Worrying?
By Jan Morris, PhD
What is the difference between diagnosable (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD) anxiety and worry? Symptoms can look similar for all of these: worry, stress, depresion, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety. Psychologist Jan Morris, experienced
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New Mothers: Help for Anxiety and Depression
By Jan Morris, PhD
Are you, or someone you know, dealing with postpartum depression? Statistics: 50 - 80% of new mothers suffer with some post partum depression symptoms. Austin, Texas counselor, Dr. Jan Morris, shares her experience about postpartum depression.
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Overcoming Concerns about Breathing
By Deanne Repich
People who are familiar with feeling anxiety often experience shallow breathing. Anxiety then breeds more worry about breath. Anxiety educator, Deanne Repich, shares myths and facts about breath and anxiety.
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How to Breathe
By Keesa Renee DuPre
Has anyone ever told you, “Just take a deep breath”? Do you know how to? Deep breath begins and ends in the belly. This author describes the basics of deep abdominal breathing and how to practice it.
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A Look at Mental Health
Although mental health is difficult to define, most people would probably agree that mentally healthy individuals relate well to others, cope effectively with stress, and make choices that align with positive values, take care of their physical health, and respect themselves and others. They also know when they need to seek mental health counseling.
While being mentally healthy is the ideal, mental illness is a very real problem. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illness affects one in five families in the U. S. Some mental illnesses have a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain, and some may be triggered by stress or trauma. If you're struggling with a mental illness, or if issues such as anxiety and sadness are preventing you from having a satisfying life, it may be time for you to begin mental health counseling.
While being mentally healthy is the ideal, mental illness is a very real problem. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illness affects one in five families in the U. S. Some mental illnesses have a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain, and some may be triggered by stress or trauma. If you're struggling with a mental illness, or if issues such as anxiety and sadness are preventing you from having a satisfying life, it may be time for you to begin mental health counseling.
Mental Health Counseling
Mental health articles stress that mental health counseling works! Of course, counseling is essential for people with mental illness but it's also effective for people who simply need support as they work through a difficult life situation. In your search for a psychotherapist, look for someone who views you as a whole person no matter the issue you bring in, in other words as a person who can heal and grow rather than as a person who needs help. Such a non-pathologizing approach will empower you on your healing journey and give you encouragement to participate fully in the collaborative effort of therapy.
