Feelings of hopelessness don’t just pop up when you’ve been through a traumatic event, but as you are going through it. Generally, feelings of hopelessness amount to a feeling that there is no possibility for change, regardless of one’s circumstance or condition. At this point in time, no semblance of optimism exists. This is what many individuals are facing right...[ read more ]
When we’re struggling, books can become a lifeline. They can uplift and inspire. They can provide helpful, even transformative, tools to navigate stubborn challenges. And they can remind us that we are absolutely not alone—and we will get through this. We asked psychotherapists to share their favorite books for coping during this strange, stressful time. Below, you’ll find books on...[ read more ]
Do you have someone in your life that you know needs some extra encouragement this year? Mother’s day is usually a day that most women are celebrated by their kids, family and friends. Unfortunately, some women don’t always receive the love and support that they really need. Some women are going through tough trials and situations, and they’re in need...[ read more ]
What happens when the police are called to handle a mental health emergency? And is the current coronavirus pandemic affecting their response? In today’s podcast, Gabe interviews Sergeant Matt Harris, a supervisor in the Mobile Crisis Response Unit at the Columbus, Ohio Police Department, to shed some light on an officer’s point of view during a mental health call. Sgt....[ read more ]
I have a 15-year-old son who is on the autism spectrum. He is in his first year of high school. For the beginning part of the school year, before COVID-19, he was doing well academically and socially. In fact, he loved school. He had many friends and was very verbal. Although he is autistic, I did not fret about his...[ read more ]
For loners, recluses, and other solitary types such as myself, sheltering-in-place feels natural and normal. However scary other aspects of this pandemic might be, for us, this aspect isn’t. Working from home? Making our own meals? Amusing ourselves? Contactlessness? Not a problem. Not boring. Not weird. With stay-home orders issued worldwide and offenders arrested for attending funerals and weddings, it’s...[ read more ]
The prolonged health and safety stressors of COVID-19 has many parents reaching out to mental health professionals with concern over their teenagers’ increased levels of anxiety. In the United States, teenagers already experience higher rates of anxiety disorders than any previous generation in history. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the prevalence of anxiety disorders among adolescents aged...[ read more ]
The kind of trauma doctors, nurses, and others in direct contact with COVID-19 patients have endured for months now — with an uncertain future posing a threat of many more months of horror in the hardest-hit areas — is the kind of exhausting and overwhelming stress that impacts the brain and the rest of the body in the worst ways....[ read more ]
All good things must come to an end. And today is one of those days. In this episode of The Not Crazy Podcast, we say a sad farewell to our amazing cohost, Jackie Zimmerman. Tune in, as Jackie and Gabe reminisce about the good old days, ponder the fate of podcasts, and discuss Jackie’s decision to leave. They also...[ read more ]
I was recently asked if I thought the pandemic is a national trauma. The answer is a simple “Yes.” By the standards of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), the volume used by mental health professionals to guide diagnosis and treatment, the COVID-19 pandemic meets the criteria for trauma. Not all stressful events meet those criteria. The DSM-5 definition of trauma requires...[ read more ]