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The possibility of developing significant chronic physical illness in adulthood increases in the presence of childhood trauma and its lasting effects. Genetic changes that come with childhood trauma lead to adults being more susceptible to stress and more likely to react negatively to stressful situations. This makes continuing stress greater than an adult’s ability to deal with it more possible. [More]

Unexpected life events are disruptive and can throw your whole life into chaos. People are creatures of habit and thrive in an environment where they feel safe and free from harm. But life just isn’t usually like this. Events that are out of our control are inevitable in everyone’s life, and are a major source of stress. [More]

Sleep shouldn’t be a luxury that we only grant ourselves on Saturday mornings. It’s a necessity if we want to have a healthy mind and body. Sleep gives us a chance to recharge, heal, and process our experiences. Lack of enough good quality sleep not only makes us grumpy, but it can also negatively impact our memory, our mood, and our overall health and well-being. [More]

The experience of trauma can result in painful psychological symptoms for some people. Every person is unique, and what may be a traumatic experience for one person, may not result in symptoms for another. It’s important for people to understand the signs and symptoms of what is known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), so that treatment can be received as soon as possible. The symptoms of PTSD can range from mild to severe, and can be brief in nature or more long-term, depending on the individual and the type of trauma they have experienced. [More]

Worry is something that plagues all of us, especially during this time of year. Are we going to have enough food for everyone at our family dinner? Will everyone get the presents that they want? Will we be able to get through this holiday without the family member(s) that we have lost? What will we do in order to be able to get through this season? There are so many thoughts that plague us, and it can be really hard to figure out whether or not we can come with some of the more difficult feelings that we are dealing with on a regular basis. [More]

Insecurity is one of those feelings that everyone feels at least once in their lifetime. That being said, it doesn't make it any easier for you to deal with it. Especially during the holidays, we may find that there are a lot of things that are going on and a lot of people that we see that make us feel a little bit insecure about ourselves. Because of that, it's important for us to think about how we deal with insecurity and why it is, sometimes, a huge part of the lives that we are living. We're going to explore both of those things today in hopes that you will be able to deal with insecurity in a healthy manner. [More]

New research published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases (Almendrala, 2014) studied reasons why children survive ebola more often than adults. One conclusion was that children have stronger immune responses to the disease than do adults. The levels of a protein called RANTE, which is a molecule that helps cells in the immune system communicate with each other, were higher in children than in adults. This protein also assists T-cells, the ‘killers’ of invading bacteria and viruses in our bodies. A possible reason for the higher levels of RANTE in children has to do with better health and a stronger immune system. This includes lower stress levels overall. [More]

The holidays can be an incredibly stressful time of year, and because of that, it's important for us to get a grip on what is going on and figure out how we can take care of it in an effective and safe manner. Holidays are supposed to be enjoyed, but more often than not, they cause us to feel incredibly frazzled. Why are the holidays such a stressful time of year? What can we do in order to reduce the amount of stress we are feeling and enjoy the holidays in a healthy way once again? [More]

How much passion should a psychologist have for clients' issues to get resolved? Therapy should be a place where you can discover different sides of yourself, and then work with your therapist to make sure that your needs get met in a way that makes space for diverse feelings. If it is a supportive and collaborative environment, therapy can be a great place to discover and make peace with different sides of yourself so that you can move forward in an integrated, self-aware manner. [More]

Medication is one of those hot topics that some people really don't like to talk about if they don't have to. Because of this, they find that it's really difficult to see why someone may need medication. Millions of people around the world take some sort of medication for mental illness, so if this is something that has come up with your psychiatrist or another mental health professional, it's nothing to be ashamed of. [More]