The holiday season can elicit different types of feelings in different people. For some, it’s the best time of year and for others, it brings feelings of sadness and loss. The holidays may be especially difficult for people who live alone or far from family, or for those who have lost loved ones. Being with family and seeing old friends may be exciting but it could also bring up memories of disappointments for some. In general, the holiday season is associated with family, celebration, and joy. ...read more

Bullying is often associated with children and very seldom with adults but bullying among adults is quite common. The American Psychological Association defines bullying as a “form of aggressive behavior in which an individual intentionally and repeatedly causes another person harm or discomfort.” Bullying can be done through words, subtle actions, or using manipulative strategies. A bully can be a menacing colleague or intimidating boss, a dominating romantic partner, a patronizing family ...read more

The pandemic has changed our perception and our way of life in so many ways. While much of the population has experienced some sort of lifestyle modifications, the challenges have been far greater for individuals that have been directly affected by COVID-19. Many people who have contracted COVID-19 have reported various physical/cognitive challenges, anxiety, depression, and in some cases post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition to the physical and mental health problems caused by COVID-19, ...read more

Adjustment Disorder is a group of symptoms, such as stress, anxiety, feeling sad or hopeless, that can occur after you go through a stressful life event. The symptoms occur because you are having a hard time coping. These reactions are more severe than would normally be expected. It can have a significant effect on a person’s relationships, work, or academic life. The extended global experience of COVID-19 has worsened various psychological issues from daily stress to trauma and adjustment ...read more

World Mental Health Day falls on October 10th every year. This day is observed globally with the main objective of raising awareness against mental health issues, providing mental health education, and advocating against social stigmas attached to mental health illnesses. This year World Mental Health Day comes at a time when the world is experiencing an unprecedented impact of the global pandemic due to COVID-19 which has affected the mental health of millions of people. Research states, almost ...read more

The birth of a child can elicit many different emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and doubt and in some cases, symptoms of depression. Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition experienced by some women after childbirth. According to research, up to 80% of women experience “baby blues” after giving birth. It’s usually caused by the sudden change in hormones after delivery, combined with stress, isolation, sleep deprivation, and fatigue. You might feel more ...read more

Social comparison is the act of comparing one’s ability and opinion to that of others. We have an innate need for self-evaluation in order to assess our thoughts and behavior. There is no objective way to measure if what we are doing is correct or acceptable. We compare ourselves to others to understand our behavior and gauge how we are doing in life. Social comparison is not done at random; we tend to compare ourselves to someone that has similar opinions or abilities close to our own. The more ...read more

In general, parenting is a difficult job and for a stepparent, this job is not only difficult but also confusing. Although stepparenting is common, the initial formation of this relationship can be challenging. It’s difficult to figure out whether a stepparent should act as the parent from the start or just see what happens as they grow into this new relationship. Struggle with co-parenting, unclear roles, conflicting parenting styles and culture, and issues with communication are some of the ...read more

Most of us want to be successful. How we define success is different from person to person; it can be big or small, daily or lifelong. But we can all agree that success starts with setting a goal and achieving it. The most important and challenging part is pursuing our goals. We often talk about setting and achieving goals but not enough on the hardest part, which is pursuing the goal. The challenges in pursuing and achieving goals is most obvious around New Years. Studies have shown that of ...read more