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Over time, we have developed different methods for treating mental illnesses, and this helped so many people because each person has a unique way of learning, of coping, and of expressing themselves. Psychodrama therapy has been known to help people improve their relationships and communication skills, overcome grief and loss, restore confidence and well-being, enhancing learning and life skills, and more. Psychodrama therapy can assist in a variety of issues, such as eating disorders, autism, trauma, addiction, attachment concerns, and more. Psychodrama therapy can assist people with anxiety by increasing their spontaneity – the more a person can act out distinct roles and take on different approaches, the more they can reduce their anxiety levels. However, because spontaneity and anxiety are opposing forces, the less spontaneity used, the higher the anxiety levels can rise. How does psychodrama therapy work? According to the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, psychodrama “employs guided dramatic action to examine problems or issues raised by an individual or a group. It clarifies issues, increases physical and emotional wellbeing, enhances learning and developing new skills.” There are 5 basic elements of psychodrama: 1) the protagonist, which is the person selected to represent the “theme”, 2) the auxiliary egos, which are group members who take on the roles of significant individuals from the event, 3) the audience, which are group members who witness the drama, 4) the stage, which is the physical space in which the drama takes place, and 5) the director, which is the psycho-dramatist who guides participants throughout the phases of the drama. A 2016 study conducted by a researcher in Italy examine the benefits of psychodrama therapy on students with mathematics anxiety, and found that it significantly decreased their anxiety surrounding the subject. Participants took part in 10 group sessions each of 90 minutes that were held weekly over a period of 3 months. Psychodrama proved beneficial in helping the students with elevated levels of anxiety before taking a test, assistance with their memory, improved self-esteem and motivation to learn mathematics. Psychodrama doesn’t just help students, however. Studies have shown that psychodrama therapy can help adults with anxiety surrounding a situation because it allows them to act out scenarios or replay a situation that once caused them distress. In doing this, they can better express themselves and understand the situation from others’ point of view.

Addiction takes a toll on everyone, but teens are at increased risk. The long-term damages of addiction are widely known – significant anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, violent behavior, memory loss, learning deficiencies, hallucinations, and more, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Researchers have compared the brain’s reward response system in adult and teen rats, and may have pinpointed some differences for what places teens at higher risk. As adolescents are growing, so are their brains. As researcher Bita Moghaddam of the University of Pittsburgh, stated, “The brain region that is very critical in planning your actions and in habit formation is directly tapped by reward in adolescents, which means the reward could have a stronger influence in their decision making, in what they do next, as well as forming habits in adolescents.” Teens often exhibit risk-taking and impulsive behaviors, which is often in part because their brains are developing and thus placed at higher risk for making decisions that could lead toward addiction. Studies have also shown that adolescents are more susceptible to stress, mental illness, and addiction than adults, because they are still developing their decision-making and reasoning skills. The nucleus accumbens, the part of the brain that react with “happy” reward chemicals when doing things that ensure our survival such as eating, is even more reactive in adolescent brains as they form habits and learn that doing certain things produces more pleasure. If gone awry, this could include drugs, sex, and/or alcohol. To prevent adolescents from reaching addiction, we must make sure that as a community, we are educating and reinforcing messages against it. Reminding our youth of the dangerous consequences via academic resources and subjective experiences can help teens understand the true implications that addiction has. Secondly, referring our teens to help and other resources such as counseling can be beneficial in helping them work through something rather than lean towards addiction to cope. Lastly, serving as an example is one of the best ways to show teens both what it looks like to recover and to achieve sobriety.

Seeking treatment can be challenging, whether you have an addiction or a mental illness. Identifying the right time to seek treatment, along with recognizing the symptoms and overcoming the fear of stigma within healthcare can all be enough to stop someone from seeking help. By avoiding treatment, we are placing ourselves at risk for worsening our symptoms and never developing the tools that we need to overcome and manage them. One population that’s experiencing trouble with seeking help are Asian Americans, regarding eating disorders specifically. A preliminary analysis conducted by researchers at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), involved an online survey of Asian Americans from late 2014 to early 2015 about eating disorders and other body image concerns. The study involved analyses of 212 participants, with approximately 77% of whom were female and an average age of 25. The study’s findings showed that:

There are a variety of methods used to treat depression, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy – medication in addition to one or more of these forms of therapy can also be beneficial. Science has shown that an alternate form of therapy involving magnets has been shown to protect individuals from the symptoms of depression. According to the Scientific American, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) isn’t a new form of therapy, but it does prove a viable option for defense against this mental illness. The U.S. News states that this is a form of brain stimulation therapy, which involves activating or inhibiting the brain directly with electricity. With TMS, a small electromagnetic coil is placed against a person’s head at a certain location, most often the left frontal cortex of the brain because that is shown to be less active in people with depression. There are two types of TMS: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS). With rTMS, a wand is attached by cable to a wall outlet and the magnetic field travels through the hair, skin, and skull. Dr. Joan A. Camprodon, director of neuropsychiatry and neuromodulation at Harvard Medical School, told U.S. News in an interview, “The brain’s neurons act as a pickup coil and turn the field back into electricity, which forces the neurons to fire.” With tDCS, two wires with electrodes extend from the smartphone-sized device containing a 9-volt battery to the head. While both methods deliver electricity, each do it in a unique way. Harvard Medical School states that TMS is for people who have tried standard treatment methods and they haven’t worked. They do not suggest TMS for people with mild depression or newly diagnosed moderate/severe depression. No anesthesia is needed for this form of treatment. In a study that involved 301 men and women who did not respond to up to 4 antidepressants, 1 in 7 participants who underwent TMS got relief from their depression by the 6th week, compared to 1 in 20 who underwent what looked like TMS but didn’t wasn’t. With many different forms of treatment available, you must find what works best for you. If you haven’t sought out treatment yet, speak to someone today. By seeking help, you can determine what helps your depression the most and you can be on your way to a happier, healthier way of living.

Most of us experience negative script in our head; “I wish my arms were thinner” or “I don’t like my nose”. For some of us, these critical comments float right on by, and we give them no further importance or attention. For others, we cling onto these thoughts and soon enough, they grow into our self-esteem, our self-perception, and our overall self-image. Psych Central claims that 80% of women in the United States are dissatisfied with their appearance, and more than 10 million are experiencing eating disorders. Our negative self-talk can be detrimental to our mental, physical, and spiritual health, and here’s why: Body hate can hold you back from attending events, can consume your thoughts to the point of no longer enjoying the present moment, and can damage critical aspects of your relationships with others, such as intimacy with your significant other. If you are experiencing body hate, ask yourself these questions:

Whether you’re in recovery or not, you may be trying to formulate Valentine’s Day plans either by yourself or with others. Valentine’s Day can bring about a lot of stress and anxiety if you hold certain expectations about the holiday and how it should go. Many people enjoy going out to eat with their friends or significant other, while others may decide to host something at home or simply make a nice dinner for themselves. No matter your circumstance, gift yourself this Valentine’s Day with food that will boost your mental health and recovery.

Mental illness takes a major toll on Americans, with Newsweek claiming that 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental illness every year. Conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia lead to feelings of hopelessness, major mood changes, and delusions, all of which can make daily life hard to manage. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the average life expectancy in the United States is 77.9 years old, with the drop-in life expectancy being due to serious mental illnesses. Why does mental illness impact life expectancy so much? Mental illness doesn’t just affect one’s psychological condition – it impacts physical health as well. The NIMH states that serious mental illnesses cause people cancer, heart disease, stroke, pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Furthermore, individuals with a mental illness are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes, and to be obese, as compared to the rest of the population. Poverty is another contributing factor to mortality, with poor nutrition and healthcare leading up to further economic troubles. For those of us with mental illness, seeking support and working daily to take better care of our health is critical for a longer and healthier life. Dr. Weiden, professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois College of Medicine reiterated for The Huffington Post the ways those with serious mental illness experience earlier death. He stated, “People with severe mental illness are less likely to take good care of themselves, more likely to smoke heavily and have sedentary lifestyles, and have more difficulty than most negotiating the complicated medical care system to go for appointments and follow-up care. And primary care physicians are not well trained or compensated for the additional complexities involved in diagnosing or treating medial problems in the severely ill.” The shocking fact is that suicide is not the main cause of death for those with severe mental illness; it’s lack of support and appropriate day-to-day health management. This brings a call to action to those of us who have a mental illness, a call to action that we strive hard each day to take small steps towards improving our mental and physical health so that we may overcome our challenges and live a happy and fruitful life. It’s a call to action for our loved ones, to take better care of us and listen to our needs and concerns, to be someone whom we can rely on.

Medications are often used for people with mental illness because it helps them clear their mind and focus solely on their recovery. Some medications come with side effects, which can be particularly challenging, however. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, nausea, and more. Medications work differently with each person, and not everyone needs medication. According to Mayo Clinic, the following are the most common forms of medications that individuals may take for their mental illness:

Celebrities shape the public perception, endorse values and beliefs, and influence people. The stories of celebrities in the United States have the propensity to challenge others and inspire them, no matter the story. Fergie is no exception – the singer has shared her story of addiction with millions, and her 18 years of sobriety has impacted many. Billboard states that Fergie really struggled with crystal meth addiction, and she found herself “hallucinating on a daily basis”. Understanding what Fergie went through and what led to her 18-year sobriety may give you further hope in your own journey through recovery. Crystal meth can cause hallucinations, erratic behavior, panic, psychosis, and more. As Fergie told a British news publication, “At my lowest point, I was [suffering from] chemically induced psychosis and dementia.” The singer was addicted to the substance back when she was part of the group Wild Orchid, and was still addicted even after leaving the group. Fergie, 42, explained a time when she was so high on crystal meth that she thought the CIA, FBI, and SWAT teams were following her. She described the experience as this: “They tried to kick me out, because I was moving down the aisle in this crazy way, as I thought there was an infrared camera in the church trying to check for my body…I bolted past the altar into the hallway and two people were chasing me. I remember thinking if I walk outside, and the SWAT team is out there, I was right all along. But if they’re not out there, then it’s the drugs making me seeing things and I’m going to end up in an institution.” That moment truly awakened Fergie to her battle of addiction, as she described that moment in the parking lot as “freeing”. New York Daily News states that hypnotherapy has worked very well for Fergie, and it continues to help her relax. Fergie stated for People Magazine, “I thank the day it happened to me. Because that’s my strength, my faith, my hope for something better.” Although Fergie really struggled with crystal meth addiction, that one memorable night led her to recovery. It showed her that she deserves more than this, and that she can lead a happier, healthier life. Millions of stories are like Fergie’s, and their stories of recovery can be yours too. Make the decision to seek help today; it’s never too late.

With Valentine’s Day right around us, there is the inherent pressure to be in a relationship. Many people view Valentine’s Day as a couple’s holiday, and whether you are in a relationship or not, you’re probably thinking about it. For those of us in recovery, relationships can be a vague concept because we are currently spending most of our time focusing on developing tools that we need to succeed. Perhaps you’ve considered dating, or you may even be contemplating if now is the best time to be with your significant other. No matter the circumstance, the question remains: is being in a relationship appropriate while you’re in recovery? Each person’s situation is different, but generally, it is suggested that the first year of recovery should be complete focus on that and nothing else. Several sources have provided reasons for this, including:

We’ve all heard of the gateway drug theory – as a kid, you were likely told that smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol could lead to more drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Programs such as D.A.R.E. – Drug Abuse Resistance Education – taught us at an early age to always say “No!” to someone who is offering us drugs or other substances. This program and theory might have helped some of us refrain from using, at least at a youthful age, but is the theory true? The New York Times has broken down the theory and provided several useful pieces of data. Several studies have shown the effect of one drug to another in lab rat experiments. For example, a Columbia University study found that rats exposed to alcohol were far more likely than other rats to press a lever that dispensed cocaine. A 2011 study found similar findings in a study that explored nicotine use in mice. While these types of studies have shown some sort of causal relationships, many scientists are still wondering the effectiveness of these studies due to the simple fact that the studies’ assumptions were that humans respond similarly to rats when it comes to narcotics. Other studies have proven that users who took a drug, like marijuana for example, were able to reduce their use of other drugs. For example, a 2008 study found that individuals who smoked marijuana could reduce their dose of pain-relieving opioids. Newer research is also concluding that other factors, such as poverty and poor social environment have greater predictability in one’s use of drugs than using soft drugs during childhood. A 2016 study conducted by researchers in Texas titled “Gateway hypothesis” and early drug use: Additional findings from tracking a population-based sample of adolescents to adulthood”, further emphasized that childhood drug use wasn’t consistent through adulthood and that other factors such as social context and role of community social norms should also be considered. Does this mean there is no such thing as gateway drugs? Not exactly. Research has proven there is some connection, but each person is different, and some people may be more impacted by childhood drug use than others. Personality, addictive-behavior tendencies, temperament, social context, environment, biological factors, and so much more play a role in addiction.

The National Retail Foundation, as explained by ABC News, has stated that Valentine’s Day is expected to reel in about $18.2 billion. This equals to an average of $136.57 per person each year on Valentine’s Day candy, cards, flowers, and more. Jewelry is a very common gift, and sources say 20% of consumers are expected to buy jewelry, measuring up to $4.3 billion. Two hundred and fifty roses are produced each year for Valentine’s Day, and approximately 190 million greeting cards are sent out each year. Valentine’s Day can be difficult for those in recovery for a few reasons: 1) the pressure to be in a relationship even if the person is focusing on their recovery, 2) the pressure to buy gifts, which many people in recovery can’t afford, and 3) the pressure to celebrate through drinking, which many in recovery are working against. The additional stress of deciding and finding the “perfect gift” can leave many stressed, anxious, and depressed; there’s no question that Valentine’s Day brings in a lot of money, gifts, and pressure, but is this what it’s all about? If Valentine’s Day feels too forced or overly consumeristic, change your perception of what Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about. History dating back to about 269 C.E. shows that St. Valentine was killed, confused with other people, and removed from the General Roman Calendar, according to The Guardian. Folklore surrounding Valentine’s Day is quite brutal, but society has taken pieces of the story to fabricate a consumerist story and whether you choose to abide by this is completely up to you. Whether you’re in recovery or not, decide for yourself what Valentine’s Day means to you. Is it a day for self-love and self-care, or is it a day for you to appreciate those in your life? Is it a magical day for you to spend with your significant other, or is it just another day? If you decide that it’s just another day, there’s nothing wrong with that. Many single people and couples hold the belief that love should be celebrated every day of the year, and Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to validate that.