5 Ways to Grieve After a Miscarriage

If you’ve had a miscarriage, you are not alone. Roughly 15-20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage. While that number puts it into a more common perspective, it does not make the topic any easier. Getting through this time can be tough. Following a miscarriage, not only are you grieving the loss of your baby, but also the idea of who that baby would grow into. You are mourning the loss of a member of the family that never had the chance to be.

Read More
GriefPathways To Wellness
Part 1: Help! My Child has ADHD! Where did it Come From?!

Does your child have ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. This is when your mind is going in a whole bunch of different directions leading to impulsiveness and poor concentration. A lot of challenges come with having this condition when it comes to school work, your career, and maintaining relationships.

With a mental health condition so common, you may be wondering where it comes from. Could it be genetics? Your child’s environment? Both? There are a number of different factors that can lead your child to develop ADHD. But like all mental health conditions, it does not mean it is the end of the world for your child, as there is always hope for treatment.

Here are a variety of reasons why your child could have ADHD.

Read More
Pathways To Wellness
5 Things You Need to Know About Chronic Illness-Induced Trauma

Have you been experiencing any trauma symptoms while struggling with a chronic illness? Your life changes drastically after a cancer diagnosis, suffering a stroke, or any other disease. It can feel like torture going through a number of tests, chemotherapy, radiation, or surgeries. There are other ways that a chronic illness has a toll on your life, like if you had to stop working because of it, treatment finances, or being surrounded by people who do not understand what you are going through. All of these heavy impacts might leave you traumatized.

According to the National Library of Medicine, about 12-25% of those who survive a life-threatening condition will develop PTSD. It can be very traumatic to see your body giving up on you and having to fight harder than anyone else. By learning more about chronic illness-induced trauma, you will know it is serious enough that you need to manage it.

Here are five things you need to know about chronic illness-induced trauma.

Read More
Pathways To Wellness
How To Cope With Anxiety When You Have A Chronic Illness

Did you experience panic and anxiety when you first discovered that you had a chronic illness? One minute, it felt like you were in picture-perfect health. The next minute, you find out you have a chronic illness that will come with its own set of challenges. It can bring you a lot of anxiety living with the fact that this illness will stay with you for the rest of your life.

A long-term condition can make you feel vulnerable. You could be dealing with more pain than anyone else on a usual basis, have to adjust to new limitations, or deal with constant feelings of frustration. Remember that many people are going through a chronic illness feeling the same way as you. Your chronic illness will not feel like the enemy by learning more about it and living with a new mindset every day.

Here are ways to cope with anxiety when you have a chronic illness.

Read More
Pathways To Wellness
6 Ways to Help Your Partner Deal with Depression

Have you been concerned about your partner’s depression but have no idea how to help? It is natural for you to be scared. You never want to feel like there is something you could have done to help your partner. Your partner could have moments where they do not want to eat, have trouble sleeping, get irritable, and have lots of sad moments. You could also be scared that these depressive thoughts could eventually lead to suicide.

Millions of people suffer from depression every year. Show your partner that they are not alone in their low moods. Let your partner know they can come to you for anything, and you are always there to listen. When your partner is ready, the two of you can talk about seeking professional treatment.

Here are six ways to help your partner deal with depression.Have you been concerned about your partner’s depression but have no idea how to help? It is natural for you to be scared. You never want to feel like there is something you could have done to help your partner. Your partner could have moments where they do not want to eat, have trouble sleeping, get irritable, and have lots of sad moments. You could also be scared that these depressive thoughts could eventually lead to suicide.

Millions of people suffer from depression every year. Show your partner that they are not alone in their low moods. Let your partner know they can come to you for anything, and you are always there to listen. When your partner is ready, the two of you can talk about seeking professional treatment.

Here are six ways to help your partner deal with depression.

Read More
Pathways To Wellness
I’ve Been Diagnosed with Anxiety, Now What?

Have you been experiencing a fast heart rate, sweating, trembling, and intense worries on a daily basis? There is a good chance that you have anxiety. If you want to find out for sure, you can receive a proper diagnosis from a mental health specialist. You might first be given a psychological evaluation where you talk about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Once you talk about the symptoms you have been going through, a therapist will see if your symptoms fit in with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Once you receive an anxiety diagnosis, there is no reason to add this news to your list of worries. All this means is that your worries tend to engulf your mind more than they should. Luckily, there are a variety of options for you to choose from when it comes to treating anxiety. It is all about finding ways to control your anxiety so you can get control of your life back.

Read More
Pathways To Wellness
Summer Blues? 6 Ways to Brighten Your Mood When You Suffer from Reverse SAD

Do you notice yourself getting very gloomy during the very sunny days? You could be feeling depressed for most of the day, have low energy levels, and lose interest in your favorite activities. These classic symptoms of depression could result from reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

SAD is when you experience depression during winter when the weather gets cold and there is less sunlight. However, some people experience reverse SAD, when you experience depression four or five months a year when the weather is warm. Despite the sunlight and longer days, some people find it affects their mood negatively. If you are dealing with the summer blues, here are six ways to help you through the summer months.

Read More
DepressionPathways To Wellness
Physical Manifestations of Anxiety: What are Anxiety Tics?

Anxiety is a mental health condition where you experience persistent worries daily. It seems like these worries are never-ending, where they interfere with your day and even your sleep. But have you experienced physical manifestations as a result of your anxiety? This is when your anxiety is no longer just mental but tells yourself and everyone else you know when you are anxious.

You may experience tics like a spasm in your arms, eyes, legs, or throat muscle when you are anxious. It could be a few days before these symptoms disappear. This is merely your body going into survival mode when you feel threatened. These anxiety tics can be hard to hide from others. If others point them out or you notice these tics, it is important to go into treatment for anxiety to gain more control over your life.

Read More
AnxietyPathways To Wellness
Suffering from Chronic Pain? How Mindfulness Makes a Difference

Have you been a long-time sufferer of chronic pain? Maybe your back has been hurting you for a long time, or you have arthritis in your hands. If someone has recommended mindfulness to treat your pain, you may be under the impression that person thinks your pain is all in your head. The truth is that the mind and the body have a powerful connection.

Fighting pain is exhausting, but awareness and, perhaps, even acceptance can ease tension. Mindfulness helps you be more present. When you are anxious, everything you are feeling intensifies. You can quiet those challenging thoughts through meditative exercises that focus on the present moment.

Read More