Resources & Reflections
I regularly update this page with resources, reflections, and mental health tips, so check back soon for more!
5 LGBTQ+ Values to Celebrate This Pride History Month
Major Take-Aways:
October marks Pride History Month and provides members of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies an opportunity to take stock in our history and to draw inspiration for our continued activism
Historically, LGBTQ+ have faced significant threats to their mental health and may struggle with shame. Positive representations of LGBTQ+ identity can serve as a buffer against this shame
Here, I summarize five values celebrated within the LGBTQ+ community as a means both for honoring our historic achievements and for bolstering queer people against threats to our mental health
Wondering Whether to Start Online Therapy? 5 Pro's and Con's to Help You to Decide
Major Take-Aways:
The coronavirus pandemic has challenged entire industries to move online, and the delivery of psychological services is no exception
While some concern around the efficacy of online therapy is to be expected, its been established as a comparable alternative to in-person therapy for most people, most of the time
This article reviews five pro’s and con’s to therapy in the online environment in order to help you to decide whether online therapy is right for you
7 Tips to Improve Your Sleep for Anxiety Relief
Major Take-Aways:
Getting consistent sleep each night can be an important part of an anxiety treatment plan, and yet 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough
Anxiety symptoms like racing thoughts can make sleep harder to come by, and yet not getting enough sleep can increase our vulnerability to anxiety as well, making for a vicious cycle
This article introduces 7 sleep hygiene tips that you can implement today to begin improving the quality of your sleep, while also reviewing the science behind why they work
Anxiety Relief in… 5-4-3-2-1
Major Take-Aways:
Anxiety is an anticipatory experience which pulls us out of the present moment and into a future that may or may not come to pass
Our senses, however, exist in the present. Tapping into these by using grounding exercises can help to reduce anxiety overall and to promote feelings of calm relaxation
This article introduces and reviews one such technique for managing anxiety known as the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise. Read on to learn how to use this technique in your own life!
Getting Off the Anxiety-Avoidance Rollercoaster
Major Take-Aways:
Anxiety can sometimes feel intolerable, leading us to engage in avoidance behaviors (like leaving a party) that bring immediate relief
While initially comforting, these avoidance behaviors often worsen anxiety in the long-term and start to detract from our lives
This article reviews the relationship between anxiety and avoidance and how to begin to improve your anxiety by getting off the rollercoaster