Plan D NoVa

Constant bad news can make individuals feel helpless. Signs you need to take a break for your mental health include brain fog; decreasing productivity, especially a lack of energy or motivation; feeling overly emotional or indifferent and withdrawn; frequent illnesses; irritability; and sleeping poorly. Some …

Trauma often is about an individual’s reaction to and difficulty recovering from an upsetting event(s) rather than the occurrence itself. (For example, the COVID-19 pandemic was a major stressor for most Americans, but was not necessarily a trauma for all of them.) Potential traumatic events …

Numerous factors contribute to a person’s likelihood for developing a mental health disorder, including genetics, social support, standard of living, stress level and working conditions. Ongoing brain transformations and emotional, physical and social changes make teenagers vulnerable to mental health issues. While everyone faces challenges …

Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which one to two therapists see multiple clients simultaneously. It can be as effective as individual sessions for many mental health conditions, including anxiety, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse and trauma. Group therapy provides …

The Internet can be a one way mirror reflecting ideal images that make adolescents feel like failures. Social media should be used mindfully with set limits on the amount of time that an individual devotes in it. Become aware of how you feel and what …

Anxiety often is a physical experience for youth that appears as irritability, recurring stomachaches (especially if they are brief and accompanied by excessive worry) and/or restlessness. In both children and adults, generalized anxiety disorder has numerous symptoms, including uncommon ones that may not be recognized …

In 2021, it was estimated that over 46 million Americans aged 12 and older had at least one substance use disorder. Marijuana remains the leading cause of adolescents entering substance use/abuse treatment, accounting for 63 percent of admissions for those aged 12 to 14 and …

It can be difficult to obtain mental health help for teenagers. They may deny anything is wrong, believe therapy is embarrassing or feel so hopeless that they doubt anything will work. One option is to liken therapy to having a coach, who will teach new …

Family dinners reduce anxiety and depression in youth. Meals are a respite and not an opportunity to rehash everyone’s day. The table should be free of judgment, nagging and technology, with parents modeling their enjoyment of food. Atmosphere and a connection between family members matter …

A person’s mental health affects how he/she perceives his/her surroundings and can impact his/her ability to both identify and respond to potentially threatening situations. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, individuals with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely …