Why Does Trauma Healing Feel So Hard?
This article is sponsored by BetterHelp, the world’s largest professional therapy platform, done online. Recently, the word “trauma” has made its way into mainstream conversations and online discourse in a whole new way. We’re finally talking about the real, lasting effects tough experiences have on humans. And as a result, many of us are finally getting introspective about the things that have affected us throughout our lives. This is important — but it may also raise questions or uncertainties about how best to heal those traumas. Actually doing the work of trauma healing is hard, but...
Online Therapy for Anxiety: Is It Right for You?
You think you may be struggling with anxiety, but you’re not completely sure. This is where most people start getting curious about everything from their symptoms to the different types of treatment that could help them manage them. Especially since there are so many types of anxiety — from generalized anxiety to postpartum anxiety — wanting to lean on an expert makes sense. Melissa Hummelt, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a clinical focus on CBT, and the Senior Clinical Operations Manager at BetterHelp. She offered four tips to help you decide whether online...
Extrovert With Social Anxiety? Here’s How To Cope
You’re the life of the party, but deep down, your heart is racing as your mind plots the quickest exit strategy. You might be an extroverted social butterfly, but that doesn’t make you immune to social anxiety. That uneasy feeling can show up when you least expect it to and totally kill your vibe. The good news is you’re not alone. We’ve got your back and some tricks to help you navigate it all. Extroverts and introverts — what’s the difference? The biggest difference between introverts and extroverts is how they recharge their social batteries. “Often...
PCOS and Mood Swings: 9 Tips To Cope
Anyone with PCOS symptoms knows that living with the menstrual condition is a juggling act. One day, you’re worried about your insulin resistance issues, while another day, you may be thinking about the long-term impacts the condition may have on your life. For instance, according to the CDC, PCOS puts over 5 million women at risk for longer-term conditions, like infertility, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or high levels of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. These are all important facts to know, but often, for those who struggle with PCOS, the fear of what can happen in the...
ADHD and PCOS: What’s the Connection?
Upon immediately reading this, you might think these conditions are completely unrelated: One has to do with your brain, and the other has to do with your ovaries. They may seem like they affect completely separate systems in the body, but Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are more intertwined than you think. If you already have both conditions, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Just ask Kristyn Hodgdon, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Rescripted, who has both PCOS and ADHD and discovered these diagnoses as an adult (a common experience for...
There’s a misconception that couples therapy is a last-ditch effort to save a relationship that’s hanging by a proverbial thread. That if a couple is in counseling, it’s a sure sign they’re “having problems." The reality? Couples therapy can benefit even the most stable couples. It can even function as a bonding ritual, especially when done in the comfort of your own home. When you remove the clinical setting, therapy sessions can feel more comfortable and intimate. BetterHelp, known for its virtual therapy offerings, allows couples to be matched with a licensed couples therapist online. It...
20 Body Positive Quotes for a Mental Glow Up
Our mind-body connection is beautiful but also fragile. In order to protect it, we have to decide whose opinions or comments we listen to and what to do with the negative ones that cross through our doorway unprompted. We don’t always have control over what we see or hear — hello, Internet — so for those moments especially, here’s a list of positive quotes that can help you hold onto what’s important on the hardest days. When you want to appreciate your body… “This body had carried me through a hard life. It looked exactly the way it...
The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time for parties, family celebrations, lovingly selected gifts, and…awkward conversations. We all know that the holiday season can bring up some uncomfortable topics. But while most are bracing themselves for controversial political or religious discussions, people who are struggling to conceive or facing infertility may be terrified of conversations that are uncomfortable at best, deeply triggering at worst. If you find yourself in this boat, you’re not alone. Navigating infertility has a way of taking over your entire life. Sometimes it feels like every outing, every conversation, every...
Women are More Likely to Experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. Can Physical Exercise Help?
Even though the holiday season is supposed to be about joy, togetherness, and celebration, let’s get real about one thing: The colder months can usher in feelings of stress, sadness, and loneliness. Some of those feelings may be a mere consequence of shorter days, colder temps, fewer fun activities on the horizon, and a constant parade of cold-weather viruses. But if your symptoms of sadness feel extreme, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (also known by its very appropriate acronym, SAD). Contrary to popular belief, SAD can actually present during other times of the...
Can Stress Make You Lose Your Period?
Life is stressful, and when you add in trying to conceive, it reaches entirely new bounds. Those stressors can impact everything from your desire for sex to your period. If the stress is short-lived, you may miss a period or be a few days late. But if your stress lingers, it can impact more than one cycle or even tie into other physical symptoms. How does stress affect your period? "If you go through a time of high stress, your body reacts with an increase in stress steroids and alterations in your hormones that can temporarily...