Bipolar II disorder is a less severe version of bipolar I disorder. That’s likely an assumption you’ve already come across. Maybe you read it in an article. Maybe you heard it from someone else, maybe even a mental health professional. Author Julie Kraft has heard bipolar II called “bipolar light”
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger November 10, 2018
For the first three decades of Julie Kraft’s life, every day was a struggle. “From the minute I woke up to the moment my head hit the pillow each night, my mind would spin with worries and fears—most of them irrational—about the past, present and the future,” Kraft said. “I
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger November 7, 2018
This is what most people think obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) looks like: washing your hands excessively because you’re a germaphobe. Sometimes, people think it’s also needing to have a neat, orderly home, and checking to see if you locked the door way too many times. And while some of this is
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger November 2, 2018
There’s a prevailing belief that exploring your past in therapy is pointless. A complete waste of time. After all, talking about past circumstances doesn’t change them. It’s also self-indulgent and narcissistic, right? And it takes too darn long. You can talk about your childhood for years and not get anywhere.
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 31, 2018
Anxiety seems like a simple, straightforward topic. After all, it’s a common emotion—everyone feels anxious from time to time. And it’s a common condition. In fact, it’s the most common mental illness in the U.S. Anxiety disorders affect about 18 percent of adults every year. And yet there are many,
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 13, 2018
Parenting is an amazing adventure. It is an honor and a privilege to raise a human being. It is fascinating, and wonderful to witness your kids evolve, and to grow alongside them. But parenting also has many annoying parts—frustrating, challenging, and sometimes downright maddening parts. And sometimes it’s these annoying
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 6, 2018
I wonder if others think about the bystander effect or apathy. Guest blogger, Laura Brownstone, LCSW has been a therapist for over 15 years. In this post, she shares her experiences with the impact of apathy on her community and the value of contributing to the common good. According to Wikipedia,
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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 4, 2018
One of the biggest challenges in treating bipolar disorder is actually accepting the diagnosis. Because, of course, if you don’t believe you have an illness, you won’t focus on managing it. Psychotherapist Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW, has run a group for individuals with bipolar disorder for over a decade.
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 4, 2018
Conflict triggers strong emotions and can lead to hurt feelings, disappointment, and discomfort. When handled in an unhealthy manner, it can cause irreparable rifts, resentments, and breakups. But when conflict is resolved in a healthy way, it increases our understanding of one another, builds trust, and strengthens our relationship bonds.
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 3, 2018
For as long as America has been a country, men have been king of the hill. However, many men have had difficulty adjusting to relatively recent societal shifts from the increasingly powerful role of women in the workplace to the acceptance of same-sex relationships. With globalization, automation, the decline of
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 28, 2018