Can You Have a Delayed Reaction to Grief?
Grief typically unfolds through five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While it begins with denial and ends with acceptance, the journey is rarely linear. According to San Francisco therapist Dr. Avigail Lev, individuals often move back and forth between stages—shifting from anger to bargaining, returning to depression, and so on. These stages provide […]
What are the physical health consequences of tobacco use?
Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and remains the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States, contributing to an estimated 480,000 deaths annually. Smokers aged 60 and older face a twofold increase in mortality compared to nonsmokers, dying approximately six years earlier. While nicotine itself is not carcinogenic, tobacco […]
10 Sneaky Signs Stress Is Showing Up in Your Body
You’re probably familiar with the word stress, but you might not have heard of overstress. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines stress as the physical and emotional reactions to challenges or stressors. This can manifest as physical symptoms like a racing heart or emotional responses like irritability (more on that shortly). Stress is an unavoidable […]
Marijuana and Lung Health
Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug, with its health effects largely determined by how it’s consumed. It can be smoked using pipes, bongs, joints, blunts, and vaporizers or consumed through products like e-cigarettes, candy, brownies, beverages, and capsules. While this discussion centers on marijuana and lung health, it’s crucial to recognize other health concerns, […]
Is Anxiety a Mental Illness?
Anxiety is a natural part of life that everyone experiences at some point, whether it’s feeling nervous before a big event, getting butterflies in your stomach, or dwelling on a stressful situation. While these feelings can be uncomfortable, occasional anxiety is not considered a mental illness. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming, persistent, and significantly impacts […]
School work identified as key stressor for AAPI youth
Mental health challenges among AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) youth have often been overlooked due to a lack of research and attention to their unique struggles. A recent study by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), titled “Beyond the Surface: Understanding Mental Health Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Youth,” sheds […]
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health During the Holidays, According to a Therapist
The holiday season can bring heightened stress, not just for those already dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, but for nearly everyone. Surveys suggest that anywhere from 38% to 70% of people report feeling more stressed during this time of year. However, you likely don’t need statistics to know this is true—you’ve […]
The Earth is Not Disposable: Nicotine Vape Waste
The Environmental Toll of Vapes Vaping isn’t just harmful to health—it’s a hidden threat to the environment. Disposable vapes and e-cigarettes contribute to deforestation as their production requires extracting raw materials like lithium for batteries. These batteries, often improperly discarded, leach toxic chemicals into the soil and water, creating hazardous waste that can’t be thrown […]
Living With Existential Depression
Existential depression is a deeply challenging experience where individuals grapple with finding meaning in their lives and existence itself. This struggle can lead to a lack of motivation in daily life, fixation on thoughts of death and dying, indifference toward the seemingly “unfixable” state of the world, and avoidance of connections with others. While these […]
Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits Among Persons Aged <25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2019–2022
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cannabis-involved emergency department (ED) visits among young people under 25 years rose significantly, according to CDC data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program spanning 2019–2022. Weekly averages were consistently higher in 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with notable spikes among children aged 10 years. While ED […]