As the clock strikes midnight and a fresh calendar year unfolds, many of us feel that familiar urge to make grand declarations about how we'll transform our lives with a laundry list of ambitious goals: hitting the gym at dawn, cutting out every drop of sugar, or promising to read a book a week. Those big plans can feel exciting at first, but often become overwhelming, often fizzling out faster than champagne bubbles. Small, realistic changes tend to stick around longer — and can add up to big results over time. So this year, why not...

As another birthday approaches, you might find yourself feeling more blue than festive. The balloons seem a little deflated, the cake a bit too sweet, and the cheerful wishes from friends and family ring hollow. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Birthday depression is a real phenomenon that affects many people, regardless of age or life circumstances. Even Taylor Swift knows this feeling all too well (I'm so depressed, I act like it's my birthday every day) — the expectation of joy coupled with an underlying sadness that can be hard to shake. Feeling low...

Understanding Depression During Infertility The thing about infertility is that unless you’ve experienced it, you can’t possibly imagine how devastating it truly is. It’s so heavy, many people may even experience depression while on their infertility journeys. Recognizing Depression Symptoms According to material from the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, the psychological toll of infertility is very real, and it's important that we recognize that. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common among people who experience infertility — and if you feel like your sadness is impeding your ability to function, you’re not alone. Why the...

People love to say that the holiday season is the “most wonderful time of the year”. And sure, it can be — but the reality we don’t often discuss is that for many people, this time of year can feel extremely heavy.  Of course, the holidays can bring their own set of challenges, from the financial strain many of us experience, to the complications that can arise from spending time with extended family, or perhaps not having family to be around at all.  Holidays aside, December is, in and of itself, challenging: It’s cold, it gets...

You’ve probably heard someone jokingly say, “OMG, that’s giving me PTSD!” But the truth is, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that affects way more people than you might think.  Nightmares, anxiety, flashbacks, and feeling emotionally numb — these are just a few of the ways PTSD can show up in someone’s life. And it’s not just veterans who experience it. About 3.5% of adults in the U.S. deal with PTSD every year, and one in 11 people will face it at some point in their lives. PTSD symptoms can affect anyone...

You know that feeling that comes over you after a really long overdue catchup with your friends? You feel…healthier, somehow. Lighter, clearer, and more connected to yourself. It turns out, there’s scientific backing here: Friendship is good for your health. One study found higher survival rates among breast cancer patients with close social networks, and research from UCLA proposes a “tend and befriend” theory, which suggests that women may live longer due to their tendency to use social connections to manage stress.  Friendships don’t just benefit our physical health, but our mental health as well. Research...

You are balancing all of the world's weight on your shoulders until one small thing on a random day makes you just stop. You’re not giving up; you’re not even sure how to rest, but what you are sure of is that you’re mentally exhausted. You may also notice that your mental exhaustion impacts your physical health or work life. It isn’t an easy place to arrive, but everyone can relate to being there at one point or another.  The factors that lead someone to mental exhaustion are also incredibly personal; maybe it’s work, your fertility...

When it comes to anxiety, there are a whole range of methods to manage the symptoms. Some require professional intervention from a mental health professional (like a  therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist), while others are lifestyle modifications or practices that can help people with anxiety manage their mental health. Affirmations can be helpful for people dealing with anxiety One way to cope during times of anxiety? Incorporating affirmations into your day-to-day self-care practices.  “Affirmations can help counteract negative and anxious thought patterns by reframing them into ones that are more helpful and positive,” says Neha Darji,...

If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of it’s time. Whether it’s finding the time to get a full night’s sleep, squeeze in a workout, or socialize with friends, it seems like time always has the upper hand. Although it can be difficult, there are free time management apps out there that can help you. Not only can you become more organized, but you can also work on prioritizing what’s most important to you. It’s important to keep in mind that not everybody has the same goals when it comes to time management. For example,...

While postpartum depression can manifest itself differently for every person, it can begin pretty quickly after birth — and can make it almost impossible to do all the daily tasks required of a parent. For Katlyn*, a 24-year-old full-time student from Ohio, it all happened about a month or so after her now three-year-old son was born. Not only were her anxiety levels through the roof, but she couldn’t bring herself to do anything she used to enjoy (like horseback riding) and she was barely taking care of herself. It was a chore even to...