It is well known that athletes do their best to `maintain a positive mindset. They strive to stay focused on their goals and deliberately practice positive self-talk. However, even with deliberate focus and effort, they can still fall into certain patterns of unhelpful thoughts or…
The holiday season can be a stressful time. People are often filled with high hopes and expectations, which when unmet can lead to stress and disappointment. The American Psychological Association (APA) published an article providing a few helpful tips on managing holiday expectations, which will…
In 2018, Kevin Love, former collegiate basketball player for the UCLA Bruins and a five-time NBA all-star, published an essay describing his life-long struggle with depression and anxiety. Love’s essay kicked off a series of high profile athletes disclosing their mental health histories in an…
For many people, the holidays come with a mix of excitement and dread. The holiday season often involves traveling, large get-togethers, and financial stressors, all of which can lead to significant anxiety. A sharp increase in anxiety can be especially difficult for those already suffering…
For many, the switching between daylight saving to standard time, or vice versa, can bring up feelings of dread over the disruption to their sleep schedule. This disruption can lead to drastic, albeit short-term, effects to people’s physical and mental health. Recently, the American Academy…
Suffering a concussion is always a scary experience. Many athletes are justifiably concerned about the long-term health of their brain and how a brain injury, such as a concussion, can impact their functioning later in life. Therefore, it is helpful to understand the facts…
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the dangers of sport-related concussions. Movies such as Concussion starring Will Smith, and the heavily publicized trial of Aaron Hernandez, an upcoming NFL player posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), have highlighted the need…
Professional sports are rife with mental stressors. In Major League Baseball players perform while dealing with hecklers, the risk of disappointing their own fans, being criticized on ESPN, and the possibility of being benched or cut from the team. In a recent article in The…
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can disrupt every area of life, including education. Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts or images that not only cause distress but also make it very difficult to focus on class lectures or assignments. Engaging in compulsions, such as rituals or…
Most people would be freely admit to wanting to avoid vomiting. However, for some, the possibility of vomiting induces intense mental distress. Emetophobia is the psychiatric term for an intense fear of vomiting. It is a phobia that leads people to avoid any foods, activities,…
Simone Biles is not the first high profile athlete to publicly discuss their mental health issues. Recently, Naomi Osaka made news by withdrawing from the French Open in order to prioritize her mental health. Michael Phelps, arguably the most successful Olympian of all time, has…
Most of the time, people seeking treatment for addiction may have other concerns to address, such as depression or anxiety. In fact, addiction and anxiety often move together, as sufferers find that using a substance relieves their feelings of worry and restlessness. We can also…