Sleep plays a vital role in allowing the human brain and body to recover from mental and physical exertion. Sleep deprivation has even been linked with developing chronic health issues, and sleep disturbances are often the first sign of poor mental health.  The close relationship between sleep quality and mental wellbeing occurs, in part, because of sleep’s important role in building psychological resilience—a…

Dismantling the myths surrounding mental health is important in breaking down stigmas and creating a culture that encourages everyone to seek support and to prioritize mental well-being. Here are the top 10 most common myths and truths about mental health. Myth: Mental health issues are uncommon Truth: 20% of people experience mental health issue every year, and 1 in 25 experience a mental health…

Two of the most common mental health conditions, depression and anxiety are often conflated. While they share similarities, the two are entirely different conditions. Much of the confusion stems from overlap in symptoms, as well as the fact that the two often present in conjunction. In today’s post we’re looking at how the symptoms, causes, and treatments of these two diagnoses overlap, as…

People often use the term “OCD” offhandedly to apologize for quirky habits or explain away cautious traits. Occasional intrusive thoughts happen to most of us, as does some degree of repetitive behaviors. However, for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), unwanted thoughts and behaviors can become an all-consuming struggle. Today we’re looking at what OCD really is, how it is diagnosed, and treatment…

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global surge in depression and anxiety. 40% of American adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic years, up from 10% in 2019. It’s very important to understand how the pandemic and lockdowns have had an impact on mental health, and how we can provide support for those struggling. From…

For many of our Mindboost clients, helping students learn anger management skills is a top priority. Developing the ability to curb anger and manage strong emotions in a healthy way at a young age has a positive lifelong impact on the student and on everyone they encounter. For some students, managing temper is more of a challenge than it is for others. Children…

Colleges and universities across the world had to make changes and take numerous safety precautions to keep students and their families safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. For many students, depending on where they attend school, their college experience post-2020 has looked a little different. Many students had to leave their campus communities, friends, and familiar class routines, and many struggled with loneliness, stress,…

Everyone experiences stress. Stress is usually thought of as negative, but it doesn’t have to be the enemy. In fact, when properly managed, stress plays an important role in our lives. Our body’s stress response warns us to get out of the way of oncoming traffic, gives us the burst of energy we need to meet an important deadline, and gets us pumped…

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. The basic idea behind this theory is that the first step to solving a problem is facing it, not running away. The ACT theory attempts to move away from defining emotional experiences as symptoms, but rather as a common part of the shared human experience. Instead…

Mental wellness is an important topic for all age group. Too often, mental health struggles among children and adolescents are overlooked. Nearly 50% of those diagnosed with a lifetime mental health issue report that they first experienced symptoms before the age of 15—and 75% report experiencing symptoms before they turned 18. However, while studies show that early intervention is critical in improving outcomes…