My anxiety has been especially challenging over the past month. In this post, I’m going to share the various coping and calming strategies I’ve been using to free my mind from the symptoms of anxiety. I resonate deeply with the song, “Free Mind” by Tems, so I’ll include some relevant lyrics throughout the post as well. Exercise My favorite form...[ read more ]

Though I often do reviews on books pertaining to mental health, I thought I'd try something different today. Initially impressed by the trailer for Words on Bathroom Walls, I was excited to watch the entire film; after all, schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized mental health conditions of them all. In this post, I will give an overview of...[ read more ]

I have never been more excited to press "publish" on a blog post than I have been today. Mariah Carey is on my short list of musicians that have changed my life (right next to THE Ms. Lauryn Hill) so obviously, I pre-ordered The Meaning of Mariah Carey when it was first announced. Today, I'm excited to share some mental health...[ read more ]

I got the idea to write this article after a horribly failed attempt to spell "trichotillomania" into Google. Trichotillomania (trik-o-till-o-MAY-nee-uh), henceforth referred to as TTM, is the clinical term for hair-pulling. Today, I will discuss the symptoms of TTM, triggers for the symptoms, and some of the treatment options available. Symptoms of Trichotillomania According to the DSM 5 (AKA, big...[ read more ]

Today, I want to share about a common issue that I encounter at Panoramic Counseling: depressed tweens and teens. I’ll include insights from a recent Psychology Today article titled, Why Kids' Depression Goes Unnoticed by Dr. Alison Escalante.  I found it interesting that the research supports that youth depression often goes unnoticed by parents, teachers, and peers.   “Many children-- for a variety of reasons-- work to minimize or conceal entirely...[ read more ]

This Memoirs of Mental Health series has become one of my favorite sections of my website. I’ve always been a memoir junkie and I’ve been really inspired to see how some of my favorite celebrities are using their platforms to share about their mental health struggles and victories. I’ve loved Gabourey Sidibe since her debut role in Precious and I...[ read more ]

I recently added a new category to this blog, Memoirs of Mental Health. Other articles in this series include mental health insights gained from: Actress, Jenifer Lewis Authors, Laleh Chini and Samuel Pollen My own story Today, I want to share some insights that I gained from mental health advocate, Margaret Trudeau. She’s the former first lady of Canada and...[ read more ]

This is week 5 of a 5-part series that I’ve been doing on some of the most common mental health conditions. Past articles in the series include: Depression Anxiety The bipolar disorders ADHD Today’s post is about panic attacks and panic disorder. I touched on the topic of panic attacks briefly in week 2 (anxiety); however, it requires further discussion...[ read more ]

I've always wanted to write on the topic of Black mental health stigma but never had the courage. Today, I'm excited to share some insights that I gained from a memoir that I couldn't help but share with y'all. Jenifer Lewis is most recently known for her role as the sarcastic (and hilarious!) grandma Ruby on the TV show, Blackish....[ read more ]

Today, I'm excited to share a book review for Managing the Depression Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together, by Ashley L. Peterson. Ashley is a mental health nurse, mental health advocate, author, and blogger. Today, I will share some of the highlights of Ashley's latest book, which is being released today. Purpose of the Book Managing the Depression Puzzle is basically a...[ read more ]