As the year comes to a close, there’s a cultural rush to reinvent, reset, and somehow step into January as a “new” version of yourself. Everywhere you look, there are messages pushing transformation—new routines, new habits, new expectations, new goals. But for many people, entering a new year doesn’t feel refreshing or motivating. It feels…
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for many people, this time of year brings a different emotional experience. The expectations, memories, obligations, and pressures of the season can stir up feelings that don’t match the festive energy around you. And that disconnect can be painful. The…
The holiday season is painted as a time of warmth, connection, and togetherness—but for many people, this time of year brings a very different experience. Loneliness often settles in quietly, sometimes without warning, and sometimes after months of holding everything together. Even people surrounded by family, friends, or holiday activity report feeling emotionally disconnected or…
The holidays have a way of amplifying everything—family dynamics, expectations, traditions, and yes…financial stress. When money is tight, the season can feel less magical and more overwhelming. Everywhere you look, there are messages telling you to spend, upgrade, host, and give. When your budget is stretched, those messages can feel suffocating. But here’s something the…
The holiday season, with its lights, gatherings, and traditions, often brings joy—but for those experiencing loss, it can also amplify grief. Whether you’re grieving a loved one, a lost relationship, or a version of life you expected, the holidays highlight absence. The empty chair, the tradition that no longer feels the same, or the scent…
Thanksgiving is often presented as a feel-good holiday filled with gratitude, comfort food, and time with the people who matter most. But in reality, many people head into the day carrying stress, emotional fatigue, or unresolved tension with family members. When expectations are high, and the pressure to have a “perfect holiday” hovers over the…
Medically Reviewed by Teralyn Sell, PhD, LPC Thanksgiving is more than a holiday—it’s an invitation to connect, reflect, and share gratitude with those we care about. But while the dinner table offers a beautiful moment of togetherness, it also has the potential to surface old tensions, communication patterns, and emotional wounds. When we approach Thanksgiving…
What Is Nutritional Psychiatry? A Simple Explanation for Mental Health Clients Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field that examines how the foods we eat directly influence our mental and emotional well-being. Rather than treating the brain as a separate entity, nutritional psychiatry recognizes that the brain relies on nutrients, biochemical processes, and whole-body health to…
For decades, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been treated like the “Bible” of psychiatry and psychology. Yet beneath its authoritative veneer lies a complex web of politics, profit, and pharma influence. Behind the Curtain: Dollars Over Diagnosis According to a 2024 BMJ-published study, 60% of the U.S. physicians involved in…
We live in a culture that loves labels. We label our food, our careers, our personality types, and, increasingly, our emotions. Sadness becomes depression. Worry becomes anxiety disorder. Grief gets squeezed into prolonged grief disorder. And while labels can sometimes bring comfort, validation, or access to services, they can also create an unintended consequence: turning…
