Help! Am I languishing?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Do not fear….Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, here to talk about this! šæ What is languishing? It is living but having little joy, purpose, or aim. It is going through the motions of daily life but not feeling good about it and maybe even not being able to take the next steps. Read more…
May 10, 2021
Is being hopeful and optimistic a recipe for disappointment?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I have trouble trusting that the United States is on the downward slope of this pandemic. Is being hopeful and optimistic a recipe for disappointment? Am I being alarmist or am I missing some key data? A: Optimism is healthy ā¦ even if it feels challenging right now. Years ago a friend of mine Read more…
May 9, 2021
Preparing for residual mental health impacts of COVID
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: Is there a way to start anticipating and preparing for the residual mental health impacts of Covid? I feel as if I will carry a PTSD of sorts. Will I flinch every time I hear about a new virus? Will the rest of my life be spent on high alert waiting for the next Read more…
April 30, 2021
I need to relax but I donāt have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
April 26, 2021
Iām hearing a lot of conflicting opinions on whatās safe and whatās not. Help!
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Humans are bad at assessing risk. Weāre even worse at determining whether something is a real or hypothetical risk. By challenging our psychological assumptions, we can be smarter consumers of science information. Our personal sense of whatās risky and whatās safe is a *feeling*ā¦ and feelings arenāt always accurate. Here are some of our Read more…
April 24, 2021
How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
April 23, 2021
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Do not fear….Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, here to talk about this! šæ What is languishing? It is living but having little joy, purpose, or aim. It is going through the motions of daily life but not feeling good about it and maybe even not being able to take the next steps. Read more…
Is being hopeful and optimistic a recipe for disappointment?
Mental HealthChristine Whelan, PhD
Q: I have trouble trusting that the United States is on the downward slope of this pandemic. Is being hopeful and optimistic a recipe for disappointment? Am I being alarmist or am I missing some key data? A: Optimism is healthy ā¦ even if it feels challenging right now. Years ago a friend of mine Read more…
May 9, 2021
Preparing for residual mental health impacts of COVID
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: Is there a way to start anticipating and preparing for the residual mental health impacts of Covid? I feel as if I will carry a PTSD of sorts. Will I flinch every time I hear about a new virus? Will the rest of my life be spent on high alert waiting for the next Read more…
April 30, 2021
I need to relax but I donāt have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
April 26, 2021
Iām hearing a lot of conflicting opinions on whatās safe and whatās not. Help!
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Humans are bad at assessing risk. Weāre even worse at determining whether something is a real or hypothetical risk. By challenging our psychological assumptions, we can be smarter consumers of science information. Our personal sense of whatās risky and whatās safe is a *feeling*ā¦ and feelings arenāt always accurate. Here are some of our Read more…
April 24, 2021
How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
April 23, 2021
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Q: I have trouble trusting that the United States is on the downward slope of this pandemic. Is being hopeful and optimistic a recipe for disappointment? Am I being alarmist or am I missing some key data? A: Optimism is healthy ā¦ even if it feels challenging right now. Years ago a friend of mine Read more…
Preparing for residual mental health impacts of COVID
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: Is there a way to start anticipating and preparing for the residual mental health impacts of Covid? I feel as if I will carry a PTSD of sorts. Will I flinch every time I hear about a new virus? Will the rest of my life be spent on high alert waiting for the next Read more…
April 30, 2021
I need to relax but I donāt have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
April 26, 2021
Iām hearing a lot of conflicting opinions on whatās safe and whatās not. Help!
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Humans are bad at assessing risk. Weāre even worse at determining whether something is a real or hypothetical risk. By challenging our psychological assumptions, we can be smarter consumers of science information. Our personal sense of whatās risky and whatās safe is a *feeling*ā¦ and feelings arenāt always accurate. Here are some of our Read more…
April 24, 2021
How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
April 23, 2021
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Q: Is there a way to start anticipating and preparing for the residual mental health impacts of Covid? I feel as if I will carry a PTSD of sorts. Will I flinch every time I hear about a new virus? Will the rest of my life be spent on high alert waiting for the next Read more…
I need to relax but I donāt have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental HealthVerdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
April 26, 2021
Iām hearing a lot of conflicting opinions on whatās safe and whatās not. Help!
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Humans are bad at assessing risk. Weāre even worse at determining whether something is a real or hypothetical risk. By challenging our psychological assumptions, we can be smarter consumers of science information. Our personal sense of whatās risky and whatās safe is a *feeling*ā¦ and feelings arenāt always accurate. Here are some of our Read more…
April 24, 2021
How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
April 23, 2021
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
Iām hearing a lot of conflicting opinions on whatās safe and whatās not. Help!
Mental HealthChristine Whelan, PhD
A: Humans are bad at assessing risk. Weāre even worse at determining whether something is a real or hypothetical risk. By challenging our psychological assumptions, we can be smarter consumers of science information. Our personal sense of whatās risky and whatās safe is a *feeling*ā¦ and feelings arenāt always accurate. Here are some of our Read more…
April 24, 2021
How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
April 23, 2021
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: Humans are bad at assessing risk. Weāre even worse at determining whether something is a real or hypothetical risk. By challenging our psychological assumptions, we can be smarter consumers of science information. Our personal sense of whatās risky and whatās safe is a *feeling*ā¦ and feelings arenāt always accurate. Here are some of our Read more…
How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
April 23, 2021
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Q: These are tough times. How can I deal with opposing feelings about the pandemic, like anger and happiness or relief and anxiety, at the same time? How can I make space for both? Dr. Aparna Kumar, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner here to answer. Many of us are struggling right now. How can we Read more…
Itās feeling like a particularly strange and confusing stage of the pandemic?! Yikes!
Mental Health Reopening Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
April 14, 2021
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: Indeed. Welcome to the #pandexit. Pandexit (n.) The final phase of a pandemic. The messy, halting, confusing labyrinth we must navigate to get from where we are to our new normal. Nerdy Girls Dr. Malia Jones and Dr. Christine Whelan, who are also colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up to define and Read more…
I got the J&J shot and now I’m freaking outā¦ what should I do?
Mental Health Staying Safe VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
April 5, 2021
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health Socializing
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: We understand you may be fearful. Hereās what you need to do if you recently got the J&J vaccine. 1ļøā£ Watch for the specific symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain (belly or gut), leg pain, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms up to a month after receiving the J&J vaccine, Read more…
This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought.
Mental Health SocializingChristine Whelan, PhD
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
March 9, 2021
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Q: I met up with friends in person for the first time in a year. It was so awkward. Help! This re-socializing thing is harder than I thought. A: Pandemic introspection has taught some of us important lessonsā¦ and made many of us rusty on other-focused social skills. Embrace timeless advice from Dale Carnegieās How Read more…
My thoughts seem to be on a treadmill, and I canāt get off. Especially at night. What can I do?
Mental HealthVerdena Jennings, DO
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
March 3, 2021
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: No matter how safe you make yourself against the virus, you may still have deep concerns that keep you awake at night. Cyclical thinking like this is called rumination. To fight it, try keeping a “done” list, meditation, writing, or movement. Chronic illness, a bill, or a family situation that needs your full attention Read more…
In the last year I made some not-so-awesome impulse purchases. Was that just me?
Mental HealthChristine Whelan, PhD
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
March 1, 2021
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental Health
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: Stress spending is real, and in the last year, it went way past buying too much toilet paper. According to one survey, 43% of respondents said theyād made an impulse purchase during the first few months of the pandemic as wine-o-clock internet purchases became an all-day thing for a subset of us. For others, Read more…
Baby Sleep Day
Families/Kids Mental HealthLauren Hale, PhD MA
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
February 26, 2021
How do I find a therapist?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
The Nerdy Girls over at Dear Pandemic are thrilled to participate in Baby Sleep Day (Visit Pediatric Sleep Council for live Q&A all day or Baby Sleep Day for the schedule of experts). Healthy sleep during a pandemic can be tough ā especially for parents who spend a lot of energy balancing their family and Read more…
How do I find a therapist?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
February 24, 2021
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Q: I am struggling with my mental health right now. Nothing I have tried has worked. I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We have a few tips to help you get the help you may need. Many of us are going through this right now (up to 40% of Americans Read more…
Should we be preparing to re-enter society?
Mental HealthChristine Whelan, PhD
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
February 20, 2021
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
February 18, 2021
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental Health
Joanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
Q: For otherwise healthy people, whatās safe to do these days? Should we be preparing to re-enter society? And if so, how do we address our serious fears about health safety? A: Safe socialization is important for our well-being and thriving, so when youāre ready, use your SMARTS, assess the risks, name the feelings that Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines VideosIn this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and whatās up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
When did you first hear about COVID?
Mental HealthJoanna Dreifus, MPH
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
February 17, 2021
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
It’s time for Throwback Thursday! When did you first hear about COVID? How did you hear? Share your story below. We want to hear it! One year later, itās kind of tough to remember a time in our lives before COVID. We’re going to be coming up on a lot of 1-year-ago-today memories as this Read more…
This pandemic winter is dragging on ā¦ and on. I need a safe happiness boost. Right now.
Mental HealthChristine Whelan, PhD
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
February 15, 2021
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. š Say no more often. You might call it the āyes, sureā¦ oh, dangā problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. Itās the challenge we all have Read more…
What can I do to support a caregiver?
Families/Kids Mental HealthAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life Read more…