STRESS - MyHope

Manage Bipolar Disorder Through Mindfulness

Dramatic shifts in mood and energy can create havoc in the lives of those with bipolar disorder. It can be tough to hold down a job, manage everyday responsibilities, manage symptoms and maintain relationships, even if you’re taking medications or involved in therapy. That’s what prompted William Marchand, MD, to explore the value of mindfulness […]

7 Ways to Short-Circuit Chronic Stress

Pretend you’re a zebra enjoying the hot African savannah. A lion is approaching. You shift into high gear and run for your life. That’s what stress was designed to do: get you out of immediate danger. But what if you’re not a zebra. Week after week you’re worried about losing your job, or getting older, […]

Could Stress Actually Be Good for You?

Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., a Stanford psychologist, says she no longer wants to help people get rid of their stress. Instead, she hopes to teach them to get better at stress. She suggests you start by answering this question: If you had to sum up how you feel about stress, which statement would be most accurate: […]

Disability Systems Navigation Syndrome

My son’s disability resource coordinator asked, “How come you know more about Eli’s benefits than I do?” “Because his life depends upon it,” I replied. My response is the explanation of why I study, research, read internet postings and bulletins, frequently ask questions, investigate, think about, spearhead and manage my son Eli’s services, all of […]

From Mortifying Meltdown to Finding Inner Peace – 10 Steps to “10% Happier”

Imagine having a panic attack in front of five million people on national television. That’s what happened to Dan Harris on Good Morning America in 2004. He was filling in for a colleague as the news anchor at the top of the hour. “It started out fine…But then, right in the middle of the second […]

What is OCD?

What is OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder? It’s an anxiety disorder that can result in both obsessions and compulsions that may keep you from living your life the way you want to. As the National Institute of Mental Health says, “Everyone double checks things sometimes. For example, you might double check to make sure the stove […]

Autism: Living With It

Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder After your child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you may feel unprepared or unable to provide your child with the necessary care and education. Know that there are many treatment options, social services and programs, and other resources that can help. Some tips that can help you and […]

Autism: Risk Factors & Diagnosis

Who Is At Risk? Studies measuring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence—the number of children affected by ASD over a given time period—have reported varying results, depending on when and where the studies were conducted and how the studies defined ASD. A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of health and school records of […]

Borderline Personality Disorder: Living With It

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder Some people with BPD experience severe symptoms and require intensive, often inpatient, care. Others may use some outpatient treatments but never need hospitalization or emergency care. Some people who develop this disorder may improve without any treatment. How can I help a friend or relative who has BPD? If you […]

Intrusive Thoughts

Are intrusive thoughts distracting you? Actually, everyone experiences intrusive thoughts off and on; it’s when they become so frequent that they disrupt your ability to manage your daily activities and life responsibilities that you may need to explore things a bit further. Intrusive thoughts that are ongoing and feel unmanageable may be a sign of […]

Autism

Definition Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. Alternative Names Pervasive developmental disorder – autism; Autistic spectrum disorder Causes, incidence, and risk factors Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. […]

Depression Causes

Causes Most likely, depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain. Brain-imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have shown that the brains of people who have depression look different than those of people without depression. The parts of the brain involved […]