A panic attack can be frightening for the person going through it, and the experience isn’t much easier for those who see it happen to a loved one. A panic attack is a sudden and sharp rise in fear or anxiety accompanied by physical symptoms, such as an increased heart rate and shortness of breath. […]
Our Latest Blogs
07
Aug
Aug
The loss of a loved one is immeasurable. Grieving that loss is a natural process, but it is not an easy one, and it can affect people in significantly different ways. Coming to terms with a loss often involves a fair amount of introspection. There may be similar steps that people transition through along the […]
05
Aug
Aug
According to the National Science Foundation, we have about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts a day, and 80% of them are negative. I used to be a quiet person who never asked many questions because of my painful past experiences, which included body shaming and bullying. I clamped myself up into an uninteresting bespectacled woman with […]
04
Aug
Aug
The global outbreak of COVID-19 changed the lives of people around the world. The situation was unpredictable and caught entire societies off guard. As of now, the pandemic is still not over, with many new cases reported every day. A global crisis on such a scale is, understandably, difficult to deal with. It may cause […]
03
Aug
Aug
Art, by definition, is the expression of human creativity and imagination. Visual art can take many different forms and express a multitude of emotions. Whether you are creating art for the first time or returning to practice, it can be a powerful way to cope with stressful times. At the time this article was written, […]
28
Jul
Jul
Andrea Deutsch, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who works with adolescents, young adults, and adults who are struggling with a wide range of issues. Dr. Deutsch helps individuals address a wide range of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and trauma, as well as relationship issues, life transitions, loss and grief, and family crisis.
28
Jul
Jul
Anxiety disorders, according to large studies, are by far the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in children in the United States. Parenting an anxious child, particularly if you are also an anxious parent, can be incredibly heart-wrenching. As a parent, you instinctually want to protect your children from harm and hardship. You baby-proof your home, purchase […]
24
Jul
Jul
What is stress? The best-known stress hormone is adrenaline. That’s the hormone that movies mention when a hero is “filled with adrenaline” and suddenly has superhuman power. But what is adrenaline? Adrenaline is a hormone that is released when you are in a dangerous situation. For instance, when you encounter a predator like a tiger […]
21
Jul
Jul
In the past decade, there has been a growing movement to practice diversity and inclusion in the mental health field. To fully understand the plight of BIPOC mental health, we need to take a deeper look at the obstacles that keep them from seeking help.
13
Jul
Jul
In 2015, I fell off of a cliff. I faced a long recovery from orthopedic and internal injuries, but thankfully, I made it out alive. From gaining strength and mobility to walk again to learning to live with a traumatic brain injury, each step of my healing journey presented a new set of challenges. What […]
07
Jul
Jul
When I first began seeing a psychoanalytic therapist, it was for a “severe anxiety disorder,” which was especially triggered by anything that made me feel out of control. Traveling by subway, airplane, car, changed plans, psycho-active substances, big emotions, and, especially, other peoples’ reactions and even their perceptions of me. The unknown was uncomfortable, and the uncomfortable felt unlivable.
06
Jul
Jul
Attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) can be a crippling neurological impairment. It’s also more treatable today than ever before, thanks to new therapies and medications. As with any medical condition, though, the key to effective ADD/ADHD treatment is getting an accurate diagnosis—which isn’t always easy. Why ADD/ADHD Can Be Easy to Misdiagnose as […]
01
Jul
Jul
What is Bipolar Disorder? According to a recent study, bipolar disorder affects around 2.3% of the American population, which equates to some six million people who have been diagnosed with this mental health disorder. Symptoms can occur at any age, but bipolar disorder is typically diagnosed at around twenty-five years old and is less common […]
29
Jun
Jun
During this pandemic, you’ve likely seen half a dozen online counseling services advertised on your social media and TV. From BetterHelp to TalkSpace and others, these applications offer therapy sessions that take place wherever you are – at home, at work, in the car, or even outside. COVID-19 has forced many of us to stay […]
26
Jun
Jun
ADHD, which is usually characterized by a display of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, has an incidence of 4 percent in the adult population. Both children and adults with ADHD experience two common and persistent daily challenges in their lives – maintaining self-regulation and paying attention. This highlights the fact that any attention training that helps to […]
19
Jun
Jun
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a type of eating disorder in which individuals compulsively and, in some cases, totally avoid eating certain types of food. ARFID is different from other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa in that it is not primarily driven by concerns about body weight or image, though ARFID can lead […]
17
Jun
Jun
Just like any other emotion, anger coveys a message. There are different ways in which we express our anger: in the way we speak, the way we take action, and in the way we behave in general. While it’s a natural response to certain situations, it may get out of hand, and sometimes it becomes […]
15
Jun
Jun
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it is how very precious, and how very fragile, our health is. But all the physical strength, stamina, and well-being in the world mean nothing if you don’t also have peace in your mind and tranquility in your spirit. Unfortunately, for far too many people, that kind […]
10
Jun
Jun
Humanity is going through a unique period in its history. Stress, worries, anxiety, and fear of the unknown are upsetting us all. Sure, some are more affected than others. That’s why we have to be mindful of the most vulnerable. Society must relinquish selfishness, especially in times where the fate of one impacts on many. […]
09
Jun
Jun
Have you ever been through a mental health crisis with someone you care about: a child who dreads going to school because of severe anxiety; a young adult who still lives at home and won’t leave the house; a sibling, spouse or parent who is so depressed he or she has lost the will to […]
03
Jun
Jun
Where’s your cell phone currently located? If we are similar, it is probably right next to you, if not in your hand. Our cell phones can be addictive, mostly due to the abundance of applications that make our lives easier. Mobile apps can serve the purpose of helping us interact with friends and family from […]
01
Jun
Jun
An average adult should have seven to nine hours of sleep per day. Getting enough sleep is essential for a healthy mind and body. It is when we are asleep that the body gets the chance to rest from a day’s hard work and is rejuvenated in readiness for the following day’s activities. However, did […]
27
May
May
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by a loss of boundaries between sleep and wakefulness. An affected person becomes very tired while awake and may fall into sleep in any relaxing situation during the day, such as sitting on a comfortable chair. Narcolepsy is often accompanied by cataplexy, a partial or total loss of […]
23
May
May
Getting a mental health diagnosis can be a relief. If you’ve been struggling with symptoms, attributing them to a specific condition can mean having a framework for making sense of how you feel and taking steps towards managing it. However, it can also be overwhelming. The world of mental illness is still often misrepresented and […]
22
May
May
For people with a history of mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders or depression, isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic can create the perfect storm of worry to cause a crisis. I knew that one of my dearest friends would be experiencing just such a difficult time, and as a friend, I knew I had […]
18
May
May
You’re headed to bed early – excited to finally get a full night’s rest. But as soon as your head hits the pillow, your brain is consumed with an unwanted, disturbing thought. You continue to dwell on that thought, tossing and turning all night long. Have you ever experienced a similar scenario where an unwelcome […]
15
May
May
Given that teens with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders crave control, repetitive daily routines, and certainty, COVID-19 and the disruptions caused by stay-at-home orders and school closings present some serious challenges. As a person with OCD myself, I can say I have had to adapt and put into place strategies that are specific to […]
08
May
May
It’s no secret that the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered our lives and affected communities around the globe. Institutions, businesses, and organizations are facing temporary shutdowns, leading to ongoing collective anxiety and a loss of global status. At the moment, one of the biggest challenges we face is the stay-at-home orders set in […]
05
May
May
May is Mental Health Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the impact of mental health disorders on individuals and their families every day of the year. For people living with mental illness, the coronavirus pandemic is one more challenge among many they face each day. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that having […]
28
Apr
Apr
By now, we have all heard reports of how the coronavirus pandemic and economic shutdown are affecting mental health. Social isolation, job loss, disruption of routines, and grief or fear of losing loved ones have created conditions that seem likely to set off an explosion of depression and anxiety. Meanwhile, 22% of Americans over the […]
27
Apr
Apr
One of the most harmful misconceptions about abusive relationships is that they are the product of mental illness. Research demonstrates that those who commit violence in their relationships are no more likely to be mentally ill than the general population, and it’s understood that it’s abusive people’s value systems that are unwell rather than their […]
22
Apr
Apr
New technologies have been a complete blessing for millions of people worldwide, especially for those who suffer from mood swings or depression, because now they have access to some therapeutic apps that help them track their moods faster and more easily. Those who live with depression, mood swings, or even anxiety know how scary and […]
21
Apr
Apr
By Dr. Amanda Fialk, LCSW, LICSW Partner and Chief of Clinical Services at The Dorm The global coronavirus pandemic is impacting lives everywhere. And for those vulnerable populations with an eating disorder (EDO), social distancing measures and other mass disruptions have created the perfect storm. Across the country, we have seen widescale interruptions to conventional […]
Laurel House and rtor.org are here to help the communities where we operate in Connecticut and New York. In addition to our weekly blog posts on coping with the coronavirus pandemic and mental health, we encourage our users to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and local news reports regularly for updates. […]
12
Apr
Apr
As you move through each trimester of your pregnancy, you and your doctor will focus on many aspects of your physical health. You’ll monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and weight to make sure you’re progressing without any medical problems. You’ll also keep an eye on any chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart issues […]
10
Apr
Apr
If you have ever had a little too much to drink, you definitely know what a hangover is and how tough it is to cure one. Alcohol hangover leaves most people feeling nauseated, sluggish, and dizzy. A night of drinking can, indeed, make you feel awful the next day. Alcohol aside, did you know that […]
08
Apr
Apr
I am coming up on five years in recovery from drugs and alcohol. A remarkable feat for me personally as I spent many years attempting to get sober. From the ages of 21 to 26, I went to a handful of treatment centers. Going in, I truly did want to stop doing drugs and wanted […]
27
Mar
Mar
Alex was an outstanding high school student. He took all the AP classes he could and left for college with a number of credits already under his belt. Life was good. The shock came pretty quickly. Here was a completely new “ball game.” While he breezed through his high school courses, the academic expectations of […]
26
Mar
Mar
Lily Genovese, a life-long Darien resident and senior at Darien High School, has been involved in the Darien community from day one. As a freshman, Lily joined the Darien Depot Teen Center Student Governing Board and is currently serving her second year as Co-President of the Depot’s Board. She also joined the Darien Community Fund’s […]
25
Mar
Mar
7 Ways Pets Improve Your Mental Health Dogs, cats, and other pets are cute and cuddly companions that many people welcome into their family. In recent years, society has started to appreciate the intelligence and calming effect pets can have on their owners. The increasing number of pets has caused a booming pet industry for […]
23
Mar
Mar
A Note from the Editor This week’s featured guest post is by psychologist, Dr. Joanna Fava. Dr. Fava wrote this article for the clients of her therapy practice, to help them cope with the stress and uncertainty of the unfolding coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as I read it, I knew it was something we […]
18
Mar
Mar
Caitlin Iannucci, LPC, ATR-BC, is a certified art therapist who combines counseling with art therapy to help individuals, couples, and families address a wide range of mental health challenges and life transitions, such as infertility and miscarriages, new parenthood, and loss of a loved one.
18
Mar
Mar
Clinical depression is also called a major depressive mood disorder. It is a serious and common medical condition, which negatively affects the way you feel, act, and think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8.1 percent of Americans aged 20 and over experienced depression in a given two-week period. Different people experience […]
13
Mar
Mar
When the going gets tough, simple procedures like getting dressed in the morning or taking a shower can represent a real burden, let alone going for a morning jog. When you have depression or when you feel stressed and agitated due to the daily grind and workload, it can feel utterly impossible to get your […]
09
Mar
Mar
“Freddy Jones is a 58-year-old, African-American male carrying a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.” This is how most mental health professionals talk about you. “Freddy Jones is a 58-year-old male immigrant from Congo who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has discussed an inability to sleep due to constantly working on his album. He speaks […]
04
Mar
Mar
Most of us know someone personally who struggles with a dual diagnosis, or the presence of a substance use disorder and coexisting mental health disorder. Many people rely on the numbing effects of a substance to help them manage a difficult mental health issue. Sadly, the end result is often two co-occurring disorders that only […]
24
Feb
Feb
If someone were to ask what types of people get addicted to drugs or alcohol, most of the population would be able to offer a few general ideas. They may say that individuals with an “addictive personality” would be the ones most likely to become inadvertently and unhealthily preoccupied and reliant on a substance. Yet […]
21
Feb
Feb
Over the last decade, the way we work has dramatically changed. Freelance, contract, and gig work have become a dominating force in the modern employment landscape. And the gig economy shows no signs of slowing down: According to Forbes, 36% of the U.S. workforce is involved in the gig economy, which equals about 57 million […]
17
Feb
Feb
A prominent eating disorder which is defined by binge eating episodes that are followed by purging (for example, self-induced vomiting) to avoid gaining weight, bulimia nervosa affects almost two percent of adult women in the United States at some point in their lives. Although bulimia nervosa, like all other eating disorders, can become deeply ingrained […]
14
Feb
Feb
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the risk of having mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders is almost three times higher for those identifying as LGBTQI+. Even more disturbing is the suicide rate among the LGBTQI+ community, which is the second leading cause of death among those ages 10 to […]
12
Feb
Feb
One in four people in the entire world will be affected by mental illness or neurological disorders at some point in their lives – World Health Organization (WHO) Yes, let that sink in. With mental health affecting the lives of millions, and individuals not seeking help due to the associated stigma, it also remains one […]
10
Feb
Feb
Drug rehab is considered so universally uncool that there’s even a top 10 hit song about it. 2006’s “Rehab” was written and performed by Amy Winehouse, a musician who struggled with illicit substances throughout her short life. And in 2011, Winehouse tragically lost her battle with addiction. She was just 27. It was Winehouse’s former […]
07
Feb
Feb
Part One (of a two part series) – Inside the Illness When someone has a serious psychiatric illness, one of the most difficult aspects of the condition is that most sufferers cannot see the true extent of their symptoms. Some cannot see that they have symptoms at all, and instead project blame for their distress […]
02
Feb
Feb
As a life coach, I’ve noticed that fear is the #1 commonality among my clients who experience anxiety and depression. One of the most crippling inhibitors during the recovery process is fear. Fear of the unknown, more specifically. So often, we allow our diagnosis to become a part of our identity — who we are, […]
22
Jan
Jan
LGBTQIA: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex and asexual or allied. Despite the legalization of same-sex marriage and the inroads made in LGBTQIA advancement in the past several decades, members of this population are still victims of violent crime at an alarming rate each year, according the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The organization […]
21
Jan
Jan
One of the fears we have as parents is that by exposing our children to the reality of our brokenness (our fears, our shortcomings, and yes, even our mental illness), we’ll be unnecessarily burdening them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The following are four reasons why I’ve refused to let mental illness be […]
17
Jan
Jan
Chances are good that you’re reading this article on a smartphone, and you are probably not alone. The average adult in the U.S spent 3 hours, 35 minutes per day on mobile devices in 2018. Drawing that out even further, the average human will spend 6 years and 8 months on social media in his […]
15
Jan
Jan
Mental health is a hot button issue in society today — which is excellent, because having frank discussions is important in the fight against stigma. However, the subject of diagnosis does not often form part of popular discussion. We have a tendency to overlook the sometimes challenging mechanics of psychiatric diagnosis. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder […]
11
Jan
Jan
The whole month of January has a feeling of starting over. Sure, some of us get hung up on having to start new habits on January 1st, but really the whole month, in general, is a good time to focus on goals and change. Personally, I find the whole concept of starting the year with […]
08
Jan
Jan
Our intestines play an important role. They not only digest food but also extract nutrients from it. Bowels are a protective barrier between internal organs and the outside world but they have one weak spot. The intestinal mucosa consists of a thin layer of epithelial cells that are interconnected by special proteins. These proteins don’t […]
03
Jan
Jan
As per a recent report published by Mental Health First Aid, mental health issues affect about 47 per cent of the adult population, 13 percent of children and 46 percent of teenagers each year. But unfortunately, only half of the affected people receive appropriate treatment, often due to the stigma attached to it. Researchers are […]
01
Jan
Jan
You had heard it all before. While still in active addiction, well-meaning friends and family members tried to assure you that your life would be immensely better if you would just get some help. They promised you repeatedly that if you got sober, and stayed that way, you would enjoy a fulfilling and prosperous life. […]
30
Dec
Dec
It’s no secret that binge drinking is a cultural problem in the U.S. and around the world. The behavior is primarily associated with young people, but increasingly, senior citizens are drinking alcohol excessively. In fact, a 2019 study found that more than 10% of Americans aged 65 and over engage in binge drinking on a […]
26
Dec
Dec
Bryan Balaban, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who works with adolescents, adults, and families.
20
Dec
Dec
RtoR Family-Endorsed Provider Profile Mountain Lake Academy Lake Placid, NY Mountain Lake Academy is a therapeutic residential school for adolescent boys and young men, ages 12 to 21, with emotional and learning difficulties that have impacted their ability to be successful in home or school. Student challenges may include anxiety, school avoidance, lack of […]
18
Dec
Dec
Westport Day School is a therapeutic day school that serves children and teens, from sixth through twelfth grade, with internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and learning disabilities.
18
Dec
Dec
Mental health issues are a global epidemic. Nobody in the world is alone in this struggle. As per the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from one mental health issue or another each year. That’s 47.6 million people. The numbers representing the global rates are naturally higher. As per WHO, a […]
09
Dec
Dec
Did you know that 70% of your immune system is located in your gut? Your digestive system is often referred to as the second brain. This is due to the recent discovery of brain-like nerves that are located in the digestive tract. Today we will look at how the gut affects mood and cognitive function. […]
