Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Working longer hours, risking infection, and dealing with the anxiety and stress that the past few years have brought, nurses are beginning to question whether their job is worth the anguish. Duquesne’s School of Nursing’s Dr. Mai-Ly Nguyen Steers believes “the pandemic has […]
Our Latest Blogs
30
Mar
Mar
The global COVID-19 pandemic is constantly turning our world upside down. It is safe to say that there is not a single person who the pandemic has not impacted. However, as CNN reports, women bear the brunt of the effects, especially concerning mental health. Compounded with the stress from isolation, school closures, and the general […]
28
Jan
Jan
The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) sparked widespread fear around the world. Even though it’s been almost two years since the pandemic’s start, it’s still a reality in many parts of the country. Our daily lives have changed significantly due to the preventive measures to curb the further spread […]
09
Dec
Dec
Over eighteen months into the COVID-19 crisis, life looks a little different. After a year of lockdowns, video calls instead of physical meetings, and so much more, we could potentially end up with a mental health crisis to boot. This certainly isn’t helped by the shorter, darker days as we head into the winter months. […]
06
Dec
Dec
Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges in many people’s lives. But for people with a substance use disorder, the stress of the pandemic may pose unique risks. It’s not uncommon for people to use drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult situations or feelings. Even those without a history of substance abuse […]
03
Dec
Dec
The Holidays can be stressful times. Last year, we faced a raging pandemic that put many people’s holiday plans on hold. Families were forced to make difficult choices and often forgo seeing their loved ones and friends during what is normally a time of joyous celebration and large gatherings. Public health authorities advised people to […]
01
Oct
Oct
Virtual medical consultations are consultations with a doctor or other medical professional that provide an alternative to in-person services for all aspects of the healthcare industry. A virtual medical consultation enables healthcare providers to provide services through video conferencing. Patients speak to their doctors using their devices of choice, such as a smartphone, tablet, or […]
25
Aug
Aug
Millions of people have received vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in an effort to prevent contracting and spreading COVID-19. That could mean that millions of people may be returning to work or school soon or may have done so already. Even with such returns, things might not be back to normal. People might still […]
20
Aug
Aug
Shopping for school supplies and new clothes used to get kids excited to go back to school. Now they may dread the idea of sitting in a classroom all day because they’ve adjusted to virtual learning. Ongoing COVID-19 concerns can make returning to school seem scary. No one should walk into school with a cloud […]
30
Jul
Jul
Anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes. As with other mental states such as depression, individuals who occasionally have anxious feelings do not necessarily have to be clinically diagnosed and medicated. If the anxious feelings occur daily for an extended period, medical help is worth considering. However, if your anxiety stems from a new environment […]
14
Jul
Jul
When a doctor tells you that you have a disease with no cure, it changes your world. Even if the disease is one that you have heard of and that is controllable, the fact that this will be part of your life forever is shocking. Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic illness. The human body uses […]
12
Jul
Jul
These are unprecedented times. It is not unusual to have anxious feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps you have experienced waves of panic, worry, or stress. It is understandable to experience such emotions. They are normal human responses to perceived or actual threats. In the last year, we have faced new realities such as home-schooling, […]
28
Jun
Jun
It’s Pride Month — a time when we are reminded of the triumphs of people in the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) community. We recognize their contributions in fields such as music, art, entertainment, and politics. Most importantly, we recognize that it’s an ongoing struggle for them, made more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
11
Jun
Jun
You get out of bed. You roll up the blinds. You take a few steps, and you’re there – at your workplace. There are no colleagues, no small talk, no change of environment. Just you and your computer making it through one day at a time. That kind of isolation and monotony can easily take […]
07
Jun
Jun
In some ways, Summer 2020 beat me down hard: COVID-19 was rampant, my kids were home, my business was slow, and my anxiety was high. However, last summer also lifted me up in ways I never would have expected. How? The resilience I needed to develop to cope with the challenges of that summer became […]
02
Jun
Jun
It is widely accepted that older age groups (60 and older) are at increased risk of serious illness and death if they develop COVID-19. As a result, several regions have made the vaccine a priority for older adults. Young people are less likely to develop serious health problems if they develop COVID-19 and are therefore […]
27
Apr
Apr
Underlying the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is another public health crisis that has devastated American lives for decades: alcohol misuse and addiction. For years, medical professionals and organizations, including the American Cancer Society, have warned against excessive consumption. Now, the isolation, uncertainty, and stress created by the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated alcohol misuse, as more […]
02
Apr
Apr
There is no single aspect of healthcare in the modern digital world that is not impacted by technology. Like most things in life, there is a duality at play regarding the positive and negative role of technology on personal well-being. Relying on the media consumed via smartphones and tablets, people can either improve their mental […]
12
Mar
Mar
Are you feeling that life is dreamlike or that everything is strange and unreal? You are not alone. The current lockdown has increasingly caused people to develop dissociative symptoms. If you’re one of them and are interested in getting back to normal, then keep reading. The lockdown resulting from COVID-19 has been extremely stressful on […]
19
Feb
Feb
Millions of people across the world are struggling with social isolation during this time. As a social species, humans need interaction with others. Even the most introverted individuals are having a hard time not being able to see friends, family, and colleagues while they try to stay safe and socially distance from those outside their […]
01
Feb
Feb
“Dissociation?” a colleague and fellow trauma survivor remarked, during a pre-Covid conversation over breakfast tacos. “It isn’t good.” “Why?” I replied. “Because dissociation is shameful. It means you’re weak.” I ended the conversation by respectfully disagreeing. Because I believe dissociation is a miracle. What is dissociation? As a response to trauma and chronic stress, dissociation […]
03
Jan
Jan
2020 brought changes to all of us. For me, it was the year when my baby boy was born just as the pandemic took control over the world; I had him just before the lockdown started. Coping with the anxiety of being a new mother and the extra stress Covid-19 brought to our life wasn’t […]
16
Dec
Dec
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a major dent in the mental health of people across the world. Whether we look at what’s gone viral – back when everything on the internet was cake – or follow the impacts on mental health and substance use, it is clear that this year will […]
18
Nov
Nov
Over the last ten years, the United States has seen a growth of 91% in remote work. However, the figures skyrocketed when the Covid-19 Pandemic hit. Work from home became the new normal, and employers had to adapt to the changes quickly. When it came to supporting mental health in a traditional office space, employers […]
11
Nov
Nov
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that toilet paper, bottled water, and disinfectant wipes sold out nearly everywhere was common knowledge. What you may not know is that in some communities baking yeast was just as hard to find. During a time of complete and utter panic, many people turned to baking […]
09
Oct
Oct
Our lifestyle is already stressful. On the inside, we may strive for relaxation and calmness to stay clear of anxiety. Many of us are eternally sleep-deprived and victims of chronic anxiety. While we try to pass this off as the inevitable collateral damage of a modern lifestyle, these stressors end up taking a toll on […]
02
Oct
Oct
We live in uncertain times. The coronavirus pandemic took everyone by surprise, and even though this prolonged break is good for the environment, it turns out to be damaging for some people. The way we relate to events around us tells something about ourselves. Some people might have seen this pandemic and lockdown as something […]
25
Sep
Sep
Whether your college has moved entirely online this semester or you’re working with a hybrid campus situation, this school year will be different from what you’re used to — and what you expected. Whether you’re embarking on the college experience for the first time or returning to your classes, the coronavirus pandemic will change the […]
14
Sep
Sep
When Manhattan set the standard for quarantine lockdown, liquor stores were famously considered essential. Soon enough, bars were allowed to order take-and-go cocktails and drinks as if it were an east coast Las Vegas. Today, liquor stores are one of the few industries that aren’t just surviving amidst a pandemic, but absolutely thriving. For those […]
06
Sep
Sep
This week marks National Suicide Prevention Week, a week when we are urged to learn more about suicide and how each of us can take steps to prevent deaths by suicide in our communities and our country. This year it comes after months of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and as many of us face the stress of family members returning to school, college, or work under uncertain conditions. With so much on our minds and with a pandemic threatening our health, is it really important to talk about suicide? The answer is yes.
04
Sep
Sep
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive worldwide disruption in addition to untold physical and financial devastation, negatively impacting countless areas of our lives. Unfortunately, this has hit more areas than many of us ever would have dreamed, and that includes addiction services. Due to the pandemic, hundreds of millions of people were forced to stay […]
31
Aug
Aug
We may not even be aware of the powerful role our mind plays in determining our mental health. Even when we feel that things are under control and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic is manageable, our brain could be telling the mind a totally different story. Brain chemistry is highly sensitive to our emotions, whether […]
28
Aug
Aug
Many people who desperately need residential treatment for an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder (BED) still harbor fears about the COVID-19 pandemic and sharing space with strangers. They might even consider putting off or avoiding treatment as a result of those fears. The fact of the matter is, residential eating […]
19
Aug
Aug
2020 disrupted the world as we knew it. A global pandemic forced businesses across the globe to close their doors and work remotely as we all got used to a new way of living. Some businesses have taken the change for good, as Shopify’s CEO Tobi Luke stated that “Shopify is a digital by default […]
17
Aug
Aug
As coronavirus continues to spread around the globe, you may realize your life has changed. You’ll have to wear a face mask for quite some time, get used to physical distancing, or even work from home. You might find yourself going back to your workplace, still fearing the virus and what it can do to […]
05
Aug
Aug
According to the National Science Foundation, we have about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts a day, and 80% of them are negative. I used to be a quiet person who never asked many questions because of my painful past experiences, which included body shaming and bullying. I clamped myself up into an uninteresting bespectacled woman with […]
04
Aug
Aug
The global outbreak of COVID-19 changed the lives of people around the world. The situation was unpredictable and caught entire societies off guard. As of now, the pandemic is still not over, with many new cases reported every day. A global crisis on such a scale is, understandably, difficult to deal with. It may cause […]
20
Jul
Jul
Due to coronavirus, you may not be able to work at an internship or travel anywhere new this summer. Thankfully, it’s still possible to learn and grow while you stay home. In fact, it’s probably the best way to use your free time. When you aren’t at school, you can continue to gain knowledge that’s […]
15
Jul
Jul
The World Health Organization recognizes that mental health disorders are the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. That’s 450 million people suffering from a mental health disorder today. That’s a lot of people! With the Covid-19 pandemic at its peak, the number of diagnosed mental health disorders worldwide is rising daily, as observed by […]
29
Jun
Jun
During this pandemic, you’ve likely seen half a dozen online counseling services advertised on your social media and TV. From BetterHelp to TalkSpace and others, these applications offer therapy sessions that take place wherever you are – at home, at work, in the car, or even outside. COVID-19 has forced many of us to stay […]
22
Jun
Jun
The COVID-19 pandemic and global quarantine made people’s lives enormously hard. Especially, people with chronic diseases or different addictions suffer because their treatment was impacted the most. For the first weeks of the quarantine, people were not able to get their regular treatment in hospitals, some of them even had to stop it. People with […]
02
Jun
Jun
Graduating from high school should be an exciting time when all students celebrate their academic achievements. This spring, many new grads have had a complicated reaction to leaving their schools. On the one hand, it’s thrilling to await the college independence that’s right around the corner. On the other hand, coronavirus has created many new […]
22
May
May
For people with a history of mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders or depression, isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic can create the perfect storm of worry to cause a crisis. I knew that one of my dearest friends would be experiencing just such a difficult time, and as a friend, I knew I had […]
15
May
May
Given that teens with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders crave control, repetitive daily routines, and certainty, COVID-19 and the disruptions caused by stay-at-home orders and school closings present some serious challenges. As a person with OCD myself, I can say I have had to adapt and put into place strategies that are specific to […]
12
May
May
Just how closely is your mental health connected to your physical health? Your mental health and physical health might be more connected than you think. Envision your mental health and your physical health as two sides of a shiny new coin. On the mental health side is your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Flip it […]
11
May
May
Who would have known that the spring of 2020 would start off with everybody stuck in their homes isolated away from the outside world? Many businesses are losing money or have even shut down, and companies are furloughing employees just to survive. Some workers were able to go remote to work from home while others […]
08
May
May
It’s no secret that the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered our lives and affected communities around the globe. Institutions, businesses, and organizations are facing temporary shutdowns, leading to ongoing collective anxiety and a loss of global status. At the moment, one of the biggest challenges we face is the stay-at-home orders set in […]
05
May
May
May is Mental Health Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the impact of mental health disorders on individuals and their families every day of the year. For people living with mental illness, the coronavirus pandemic is one more challenge among many they face each day. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that having […]
28
Apr
Apr
By now, we have all heard reports of how the coronavirus pandemic and economic shutdown are affecting mental health. Social isolation, job loss, disruption of routines, and grief or fear of losing loved ones have created conditions that seem likely to set off an explosion of depression and anxiety. Meanwhile, 22% of Americans over the […]
21
Apr
Apr
By Dr. Amanda Fialk, LCSW, LICSW Partner and Chief of Clinical Services at The Dorm The global coronavirus pandemic is impacting lives everywhere. And for those vulnerable populations with an eating disorder (EDO), social distancing measures and other mass disruptions have created the perfect storm. Across the country, we have seen widescale interruptions to conventional […]
16
Apr
Apr
The coronavirus COVID-19 has had an unquestionable impact on our lives and the lives of people across the globe. One of the biggest challenges faced by humans as a collective has been going into lockdown. For the time being, our movements, our ability to see friends and loved ones, and even where we work, is […]
14
Apr
Apr
As we continue practicing self-isolation and maintaining safe social distances, it’s essential to figure out how to stay connected to each other. Even though we can’t see our loved ones physically, we can use multiple other methods to maintain meaningful relationships. It’s necessary for our mental health, too. From video chat software to traditional handwritten […]
06
Apr
Apr
A Note from the Editor With the coronavirus pandemic as the top worry on everybody’s mind these days, we bring you a guest post by a Fairfield County therapist writing about anxiety in the era of COVID-19. Tracey Masella is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Wilton, CT. Kim O’Rielly, the Young […]
02
Apr
Apr
Insight Counselling, LLC, a therapy practice in Ridgefield, CT, is offering free online yoga classes, while Connecticut residents practice social distancing to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Elizabeth Jorgensen, CADC, the owner and director of Insight Counseling, is a guest blogger for www.rtor.org and a nationally recognized expert in counseling and engaging […]
30
Mar
Mar
The spread of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, is changing what we consider normal. We’re practicing social distancing to try to slow the spread of the virus, and in many parts of the world, that also includes shutting down schools and making the switch to online learning. While this can be a useful […]
26
Mar
Mar
Lily Genovese, a life-long Darien resident and senior at Darien High School, has been involved in the Darien community from day one. As a freshman, Lily joined the Darien Depot Teen Center Student Governing Board and is currently serving her second year as Co-President of the Depot’s Board. She also joined the Darien Community Fund’s […]
23
Mar
Mar
A Note from the Editor This week’s featured guest post is by psychologist, Dr. Joanna Fava. Dr. Fava wrote this article for the clients of her therapy practice, to help them cope with the stress and uncertainty of the unfolding coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as I read it, I knew it was something we […]
