Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Learning From Those Who Have Been There


When it became apparent that the COVID-19 crisis was going to have a significant negative effect on people’s mental health, I thought that possibly those of us with a history of severe mental illness might fare better than the average person. After all, we have a lot of experience with limited social contact, lost jobs and stressors that cause anxiety, depression and mania. Perhaps we have better coping skills than most.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Celiac Disease and Bipolar Disorder



People with celiac disease are 17 times more likely to have bipolar disorder than those without.


Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Meditation and Mood Swings



Can meditation help you identify oncoming anxiety, depression or mania and give you time to intervene and avoid the worst? I’ve found that it can.

Meditation is simply being still and noticing things. Feelings in the body and thoughts that come up in the mind are observed without harsh judgment or fixation. They don’t need to be dismissed, but are instead observed and reflected on for their effect on one’s wellbeing.

Being conscious of the nature of thoughts and the sensations in the body can be a powerful tool in predicting mood changes.