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Personality Disorders
Did you ever wonder about your personality, or the personality of someone you know? Why does one person seem to be more laid back and the other a bit more serious? Some people may be more outgoing while others may be more shy. Our personality is our own way of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating…
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Children’s Books About Mental Health
If you have explored our website you may have looked at our Get Help webpage. One of the resources listed is The Child Mind Institute. This organization provides resources to children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. They are the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health focusing on three areas: care,…
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How do our brains change?
Lately, I’ve been spending some time on the weekends organizing my photographs from the last 28 years of backpacking. I came across these three photos of some of my campsites at various lean-tos. The two were taken while hiking the Appalachian Trail in the 80’s and 90’s when I was in my teens and early…
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Post Holiday Blues
The new year is here and we are a couple of weeks into 2025! Yet, some people may be feeling what is referred to as the post holiday blues, or maybe even experiencing symptoms of depression. Why is it so hard to get back into our normal routine after the holidays and end of the…
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Wildfire Resources
With the millions of people impacted by the southern California wildfires we wanted to share some mental health resources. These resources include links to additional resources to help you find the support needed. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this unprecedented event. Types of Natural Disasters – Wildfires | SAMHSA Wildfire Resources |…
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Self-Care in 2025
Happy New Year! Another year has gone by, and a new one is beginning. For many people this is a time of reflection, and perhaps some thoughts of changing habits, increasing wellness, and maybe even making some resolutions. However, we know that the enthusiasm for New Year’s resolutions often fade away or fizzle out. Thus,…
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Seasonal Affective Disorder
It is that time of year when many of us may be experiencing the winter blues. We also may be experiencing a bit more stress due to the holidays. While this is often typical, how do we know what is the winter blues and what is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? SAD is a type of…
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Dealing with election stress
An election like no other… Elections seem to have become a mental health issue. One editorial I read compared the recent election to a hostage situation. It wasn’t always like this. A lot of folks I’ve been talking to these days have been experiencing election stress: either during or after or both. I don’t want…
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Winter Hiking
Autumn is here and winter is fast approaching. This means the amount of sunlight each day is decreasing, as are the temperatures. You may be thinking it is getting too chilly to hike, but honestly, winter hiking is a great activity. Read on for winter hiking tips…
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Substance Use Disorder
As we make our way through autumn the amount of daily sunlight is decreasing and the weather is getting colder. The holidays will soon be here, which can be stressful sometimes. If you’ve read some of our previous blogs you know that one healthy way to combat stress is to exercise and get outside. Nature…
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Schizophrenia
While few individuals are diagnosed with schizophrenia you have likely heard of this mental illness. According to the NIMH estimates of the prevalence of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders in the U.S. range between 0.25% and 0.64%. Although the prevalence is low, schizophrenia is typically severe and disabling. The impact on those diagnosed is substantial,…
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Disasters, trails, and trauma
This week, I’ve been reading the news of hurricane Helene’s devastation in the southern Appalachians, and especially western North Carolina, with increasing concern. My mother’s family hails from Bakersville, NC which was hit particularly hard. Bakersville is one of many towns nestled in the hollers of these mountains. It’s about an hour’s drive from…
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Loneliness and Isolation
The Facts Fall is here, winter is approaching, and the amount of daylight is decreasing. For some this can mean less time outside, more time indoors, and more social isolation. Research has found that loneliness and isolation is on the rise. In 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General published an advisory on the epidemic of loneliness…
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Hiking, research, and results
All of us who read this blog know that hiking plays a key role in maintaining our mental health. One of the great things about hiking for Hike for Mental Health (HFMH) is that we can support others’ mental health through the money we raise for the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF). I recently came across two…
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Suicide Prevention
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or mental health challenges 988 is available 24/7 to provide emotional support. September is Suicide Prevention Month Suicide is a major public health concern. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 48,100 people died by suicide in 2021 in the United States.…
