Childhood Trauma Is Not Just a Mental Health Problem
Exposure to continuous trauma causes the body’s alarm system to be easily triggered, releasing stress hormones that interfere with reasoning and activate that flight, fight, or freeze response. Children cannot learn or get along with friends or family members when living in a constant state of fight, flight or freeze. Rather, their goal is to survive.Read More
It’s Spring – So Why Aren’t You Happy?
Over the past several years humanity has learned how to become resilient in isolation. Many of our face-to-face interactions and relationships were severed during COVID and as a result, we have developed long-term habitual loneliness. So how do we recover? To state it simply, a first step is "do then feel".Read More
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Your Family’s Mental and Physical Health
Natural and man-made disasters in recent news can cause stress, especially for children. As a parent, it’s important to remember that your reactions to these disasters can impact the way your child views the world around them. Remain calm, give yourself time to process and create a plan that works for your family.Read More
Spring Cleaning? Don't Forget Your Brain.
I love the idea of waves of fluid pulsing through my brain as I sleep, restoring and refreshing it. This image has led me to think of other things that can also refresh, restore, and clean out my brain—wondering about ways to “spring clean” my outlook and to release my grip on unneeded waste.Read More
Building Self-Esteem and Self-Love
In this month of love and romance, we often forget one of the most important kinds of love – loving yourself. We share some tips and tricks on how to help build your self-esteem and learn to love yourself.Read More
Making Friends as an Adult Can Be Tough: Here Are Some Tips to Help
Making new friends is hard, especially as an adult with the added layer of living in a new city. But finding those connections are so important for our mental health and well-being, as friendships help us find a sense of belonging, boost our happiness, and can help build our self-esteem. Here are a few tips on how to create new relationships in a new community.Read More
Mental Health Books for Children
February is National Library Lover’s month, so we asked our staff members at our different agencies what mental health books are their favorite for children. See their recommendations below and learn a little bit about how reading can positively impact your child’s mental health and overall development!Read More
Dealing With Driving Anxiety
While winter can make us want to hibernate and stay home, there are days when we still must get out, run errands, and travel. In the Midwest, that means being prepared to drive on snowy and icy roads. Despite many of us being used to driving in the winter, drivers can still feel anxiety, dread, or even full-on panic at the prospect of driving in such conditions – or just driving in general, no matter the weather. For many who’ve been in car accidents or with an anxiety disorder, those feelings of dread and panic can be exacerbated.Read More
How to Make Mental Health Resolutions Stick
This time of year, many people find themselves setting resolutions for different aspects of their lives, including goals related to improving their mental health. By following a few key strategies, you can increase your chances of success and make meaningful progress towards better mental health in this next year.Read More
Starting the New Year Slow
Winter is the season of stillness. We are often under a constant barrage of “new year, new me” messaging. The idea of rebuilding ourselves and the pressure to make big changes is everywhere. This sense of "newness" feels contrary in a season where we should be enjoying the quiet and stillness of winter and the togetherness of the holidays.Read More
