Plan D NoVa

As high school Seniors excitedly make decisions about the colleges they will be attending in August, it is a good time to contemplate the many changes that will be taking place in their lives during the next few months. Even if students are happily counting …

Depression with its frequent symptoms of sadness, withdrawal and isolation can often make individuals who suffer from it feel lonely. One way to connect with others and possibly better understand your condition is to follow positive mental health social media sites, such as the following …

A Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) can help you identify the challenges you face as the result of a mental health condition, understand your past and present experiences, and specify the recovery that you desire. Most importantly a WRAP can offer structure and provide hope …

Beginning in puberty and continuing through adulthood, females have a higher risk for and incidence of depression. In addition, girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are significantly more likely to experience anxiety and depression than their peers without ADHD. Adolescent girls need strong connections …

Approximately 95 percent of Serotonin, the neurotransmitter that influences mood, regulates sleep and appetite, and inhibits pain, is produced in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, your diet not only impacts your digestive system, but also your emotions. The way you eat matters just as …

Many people do not know what therapy entails. Unlike what is portrayed on television and in the movies, it does not involve lying on a couch staring at the ceiling while answering invasive questions about your personal relationships with your parents and/or significant other. Instead …

Optimism is a hopeful, positive outlook about yourself, the future and the world around you. It is a key part of resilience, the inner strength that helps individuals endure difficult times and experiences. When practicing optimism, remember to keep a flexible frame of mind. Expect …

During childhood, the number of boys and girls affected by depression is almost equal. However, in adolescence, twice as many females as males are diagnosed and more than one half of depressed teenagers of both genders will have a recurrence within seven years. While episodes …

Mental illnesses, such as Depression, are real, treatable health conditions. Despite this fact, stigma still exists for those who experience them. Mental health conditions are not a “phase” and they cannot be controlled or cured through willpower. Stigma often prevents youth and adults from seeking …

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, individuals diagnosed with mood or anxiety disorders, including depression, are twice as likely to suffer from substance dependence as the general public. Prevention is much easier than treating addiction and there are many ways to educate and …