Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
October 23, 2023
How can I recognize signs of intimate partner violence (IPV)?
General Health Mental Health
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
This post discusses intimate partner violence. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call the US National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Anonymous, confidential help is available 24/7. IPV is abuse or aggression in a romantic relationship. IPV can happen to anyone, and it is usually about power and Read more…
September 22, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
September 9, 2023
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Read more…
August 14, 2023
Zuranolone: A new treatment for postpartum depression!
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I heard there is a new medication for postpartum depression. What is it? Last week, the FDA approved Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) for Postpartum Depression (PPD). This is the second medication to be approved for PPD (after Brexanolone (Zulresso) and the first one to come in pill form. Zuranolone, like Brexanolone, is a neuroactive steroid (hormone with Read more…
July 25, 2023
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
July 11, 2023
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
How can I recognize signs of intimate partner violence (IPV)?
General Health Mental HealthRoopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
This post discusses intimate partner violence. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call the US National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Anonymous, confidential help is available 24/7. IPV is abuse or aggression in a romantic relationship. IPV can happen to anyone, and it is usually about power and Read more…
September 22, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
September 9, 2023
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Read more…
August 14, 2023
Zuranolone: A new treatment for postpartum depression!
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I heard there is a new medication for postpartum depression. What is it? Last week, the FDA approved Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) for Postpartum Depression (PPD). This is the second medication to be approved for PPD (after Brexanolone (Zulresso) and the first one to come in pill form. Zuranolone, like Brexanolone, is a neuroactive steroid (hormone with Read more…
July 25, 2023
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
July 11, 2023
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
This post discusses intimate partner violence. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call the US National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Anonymous, confidential help is available 24/7. IPV is abuse or aggression in a romantic relationship. IPV can happen to anyone, and it is usually about power and Read more…
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
September 9, 2023
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Read more…
August 14, 2023
Zuranolone: A new treatment for postpartum depression!
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I heard there is a new medication for postpartum depression. What is it? Last week, the FDA approved Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) for Postpartum Depression (PPD). This is the second medication to be approved for PPD (after Brexanolone (Zulresso) and the first one to come in pill form. Zuranolone, like Brexanolone, is a neuroactive steroid (hormone with Read more…
July 25, 2023
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
July 11, 2023
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Mental HealthMK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Read more…
August 14, 2023
Zuranolone: A new treatment for postpartum depression!
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I heard there is a new medication for postpartum depression. What is it? Last week, the FDA approved Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) for Postpartum Depression (PPD). This is the second medication to be approved for PPD (after Brexanolone (Zulresso) and the first one to come in pill form. Zuranolone, like Brexanolone, is a neuroactive steroid (hormone with Read more…
July 25, 2023
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
July 11, 2023
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Read more…
Zuranolone: A new treatment for postpartum depression!
Mental Health Reproductive HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I heard there is a new medication for postpartum depression. What is it? Last week, the FDA approved Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) for Postpartum Depression (PPD). This is the second medication to be approved for PPD (after Brexanolone (Zulresso) and the first one to come in pill form. Zuranolone, like Brexanolone, is a neuroactive steroid (hormone with Read more…
July 25, 2023
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
July 11, 2023
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
I heard there is a new medication for postpartum depression. What is it? Last week, the FDA approved Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) for Postpartum Depression (PPD). This is the second medication to be approved for PPD (after Brexanolone (Zulresso) and the first one to come in pill form. Zuranolone, like Brexanolone, is a neuroactive steroid (hormone with Read more…
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
July 11, 2023
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But WHAT is summer SAD and why does it happen? People with SAD generally have depression that happens seasonally and for at least two years in a row. You might notice Read more…
What should I know about marijuana now that it’s becoming legal in more states?
Families/Kids Mental HealthSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July 7, 2023
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial Justice
MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Marijuana may not be as addictive as opioids or alcohol, but it is definitely associated with some negative consequences, especially among adolescents. In June of this year, a study was published in Nature Medicine detailing the efficacy in a small trial of an experimental drug to combat marijuana addiction. When it comes to marijuana, there Read more…
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental Health Social and Racial JusticeMacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
June 28, 2023
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Mental health matters for all! Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States? Across the nation (and world), racial and ethnic minority communities contend with unique mental health struggles that urgently require our attention. Due to wide-ranging inequities across housing, transportation, healthcare, and related sectors, BIPOC Americans (a Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental HealthAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
June 9, 2023
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
The process of grief is different for everyone taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What’s to know about the new Surgeon General report on social media and youth mental health?
Families/Kids Mental HealthSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
May 13, 2023
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
A: The report indicates strong signals of social media’s harm to youth mental health, although it is still hard to know for sure if social media directly causes mental health problems. Last month, the Surgeon General released an in-depth report about the potential harms of social media to youth mental health. Amidst a crisis of Read more…
Loneliness is an epidemic… AND Social Connection Matters!
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
May 6, 2023
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
⏰ The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm on the importance of social connection as a remedy for 😢 loneliness😢. Social connection is as simple as being connected to other people, to your community, and to the larger society. 📉This isn’t a new trend 📉. Since the 1970s, people have noticed that many of us, Read more…
I am struggling with my mental health and what I am doing isn’t working. I am OK, but I am not OK. What can I do to feel better?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
March 31, 2023
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
Your nerdy mental health clinician is here to talk about this one 🫖. You are not alone. We hear this very often and it usually sounds something like this: I know that more people are talking about mental health, but I: 1) Feel like I can’t get the help I need, 2) Want to make Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
March 18, 2023
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
Brain Fog is NOT just in your head.
Clinical Symptoms Long COVID Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
March 1, 2023
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
What is brain fog then? Brain fog describes a group of symptoms that are caused by the body. Researchers and clinicians are starting to think of it more like a neurological disease. TL; DR: Brain fog is a general term used to describe many issues including poor attention, memory, and planning abilities. This can happen Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
General Health Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
February 11, 2023
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
What does screen time do to us?
General Health Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…