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Trauma is the result of negative incidents that cause distress, such as dramatic changes in a person’s family or living situation; long-term neglect in childhood; experiencing or witnessing physical, sexual or verbal abuse; and surviving a natural disaster, car accident or plane crash. It can …

In Northern Virginia, adolescents often confront intense competition for distinction. This, along with the common misperception that they should exhibit effortless perfection, leaves many feeling unable to show vulnerability. Area teenagers frequently have few if any leisure activities that they participate in purely for fun …

June is a busy month for gift giving with graduations, Father’s Day and weddings. If your loved one or friend has a mental health condition, it is possible to find thoughtful presents and/or prepare care packages that show your support for his or her recovery …

Before they arrive on campus, most Freshmen do not spend a lot of time considering the changes they are going to face in college. Most likely, fear and insecurity will be part of the transition they undergo. Few of today’s incoming college students have had …

Physical activity leads to both types of a good mood, positive high (feeling alert, excited and happy) and low (being calm, content and relaxed) activation. You can build optimism along with muscles. People who exercise regularly tend to be more hopeful and have greater self-confidence …

May is not only Mental Health Awareness Month, it also contains National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week, which began on Sunday and will conclude this Saturday, May 18th; and National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, which took place this year on May 9th. An individual’s …

With Mother’s Day rapidly approaching, it is important to remember that mental health challenges affect an entire family. It is common for those who have a relative with depression to face disruption in their own lives, especially if they are helping with daily tasks like …

Living with a mental health condition can make establishing friendships more difficult. According to the Mayo Clinic, friends can reduce stress, increase happiness and bolster self-confidence. If you are a teenager, foster positive connections and relationships with your peers and strive for a bond with …

Anxiety is more intense and lasts longer than simple worrying and interferes with an individual’s daily life. It is the most common mental illness in America and affects over 25 percent of youth aged 13 to 18. Nearly one-half of individuals with depression also have …

Like heart disease or cancer, mental health issues can run in families. For example, manic-depressive illness is a familial medical condition and addressing its genetic component can reduce the feelings of shame and blame that often accompany the disorder. In reality, most mental health issues …