September 18, 2013
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Resilience is a fundamental quality within us that determines how we respond to nearly every challenge in life. Some of it is hardwired, and some is not. Here are ways to build resilience in your child.
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September 10, 2013
by Ashley Marie
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.
On this day, governments lead new initiatives to help prevent suicide, conferences and lectures are provided to raise awareness about suicide, and candlelight ceremonies are held in remembrance of those who died from suicide.
Suicide and suicidal thoughts affect individuals all across the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1...
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September 5, 2013
by Ashley Marie
It’s 11pm. Now 12am. Now 1am. Now 2am. Now 3am.
And you still haven’t fallen asleep.
During those sleepless hours, you might feel like the whole world is asleep – except you. But you are not alone.
In 2010, it was reported that the demand for sleeping pill prescriptions boosted by 60% in the United States.[1] Moreover, one in three Americans has difficulties falling asleep, and...
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September 2, 2013
by Ashley Marie
You walked the stage on the day of your high school graduation. But will you do it this time around?
Though many bright-eyed university students walk onto campus filled with hopes dreams, not all of them leave with a degree.
The university dropout rate is 16% in Canada.[1] In the United States, the situation is even worse: a mere 53% of American students actually walk the stage.[2] There are m...
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September 1, 2013
by Cindy Marie Hosszu
Social Creatures
We humans are social animals. Our minds and bodies are wired to socialize for good reason. As a species, we use our socialization to solve problems, find safety, and survive. Every now and then, of course, we need a break from the social pack, and to retreat to a more quiet state of solitude, but what happens when that solitude becomes isolation?
Sometimes we feel alone, even ...
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August 11, 2013
by Ashley Marie
Edgar Allan Poe pointed to an intriguing question:
Does the highest form of human genius require a certain level of mental instability?
The idea of a mad scientist, a mad artist, or a mad genius is not novel. William Blake’s poetry was made that much more alluring, that much more brilliant by his mental instability. Lord Tennyson’s mood swings unveil an internal struggle between the s...
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August 7, 2013
by Ashley Marie
Music is an integral part of our lives. Music can help you relax after a long day of work, it can boost your energy while going for a run, it can make a date just all that more romantic, it can allow you to escape from your worries on a long car drive, and it can energize a night out with your friends.
But did you know that music could also help improve your mental concentration?
This article ex...
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Many of us plan vacations to get away from our busy schedules. Arlene Uhi’s text, The Complete Idiots Guide to Beating Stress, suggests that much of the stress we experience is often connected to our daily routines (i.e. commute, commitments, and concerns) (Uhi 2006).
According to a recent 2009 study completed by Joudrey and Wallace, active leisure pursuits (such as taking a vacation) helped...
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