Susan cringes visibly when remembering a conversation with her new sister-in-law, Debbie, ten years ago. Recently diagnosed with epilepsy and diabetes, Susan was in an emotional spiral, and couldn’t shake her Read more

Although we all feel sad at one time or another, when those terrible feelings don’t go away after two weeks straight and it seems that you can’t function normally, you Read more

When we hear the term PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, often the images that flash through our minds are of soldiers triggered by the memories of war. We think of Read more

Angela had been in therapy for the last year; having lost her grandfather, who’d raised her, just as the pandemic hit, and then losing her job as a result of Read more

At 28 years old, Malia was delighted to have had an easy pregnancy – she’d had no major health issues, was thrilled with newfound glowing skin after having suffered from Read more

Jamie, 19, is a college student who was diagnosed with anxiety at 13. She says that while she has been able to manage her anxiety through the years, the toughest Read more

The following post was told to HOPE. Names have been changed for privacy. My name is Bill, and I’m 55. I believe I’ve had depression since I was 18, but wasn’t Read more

When you’re clinically depressed or anxious, the age-old phrase “let it go” can seem hurtful or demeaning, as if people are asking you to just “shrug off” your pain. But Read more

Tips for those with high-functioning anxiety Read more

Shame – it’s the accompanying emotion to depression and anxiety. If you suffer from depression or any kind of anxiety disorder, you may be dealing with feelings of shame too. It’s Read more

Parenting is, so often, full of negative reinforcement – “No, you cannot wear shorts in the snow,” and “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea to eat ice cream and hot dogs for breakfast.” To be able to say yes feels so refreshing. Read more

Do you remember times growing up when you begged for permission to stay in bed and skip school to avoid a problem? Tough tests, fights with friends, heartbreaks, embarrassment, and Read more

While obsessive-compulsive disorder takes many forms, they all feature intrusive and unwanted thoughts and rituals or urges to help neutralize their impact. Read more

School anxiety symptoms are nothing new. Is there an adult alive that didn’t try to skip school to delay a test, sleep in or avoid an unpleasant social situation? We hid under the covers, faked an illness, begged and even threw tantrums depending on our level of desperation. And on occasion, our ploys worked, at least for the day. Read more

Every one of us encounters situations that make us anxious, uncomfortable and yes, even fearful. It is part of the human experience and a primal urge that keeps us safe and prepared. Unlike these normal fears, fears from phobias are excessive, out-of-control and involuntary reactions that are not proportional to the circumstances, risks or dangers. While many who suffer from phobias realize that their distress is unwarranted and irrational, the anxiety persists, leaving them feeling like powerless participants in their own life story. Read more

It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention. And never has this proverb been more relevant than the story of Dr. Marsha Linehan and how her own mental illness contributed to the development of a groundbreaking new psychotherapy treatment called Dialectical Behavior Therapy, better known as DBT. Read more