In the world of sports, it is not uncommon for one coach or another to tell a competitor, “Get your head in the game.” A strong mental focus is essential, after all, to virtually any type of athletic performance. But what if you can’t get your head in the game? What do you do when your mental game is off? Athletes ... Read More
Behavioral & Mental Health
Approximately 18.5% of adults in the U.S. have experienced mental illness. These disorders include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder among others. This learning center explores the reality of mental health and the treatment needed. The stigma surrounding this issue prevents people from reaching out for quality help when a better life is possible. Our mental health licensed professionals treat patients with a variety of conditions and inform our topics found in this section.
4 Athletes, 4 Different Mental Health Struggles
How to Get the Correct Diagnosis for Depression
Depression is among the most common mental health disorders, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that about five percent of U.S. adults are living with this condition. Fortunately, depression is a treatable condition, and most people are able to enjoy a better quality of life with professional ... Read More
What Is a Mental Health Screening?
After an ongoing cascade of global crises that began with the pandemic, millions worldwide are grappling with societal upheaval and disruption to daily living. Questions about how they live, what "normal" means, and whether life will be the same are common. Meanwhile, psychiatric and mental health screenings are ... Read More
How Do Top Athletes Manage Negative Thoughts?
High performance athletes spend countless hours in the gym and on the field, but competing and succeeding at the top level of sports requires your mind to be just as fit. Getting stuck in negative thoughts and self-talk in sports can paralyze you with anxiety and doubt, but overcoming negativity can help unlock your ... Read More
The City … or the Country? Moving for Mental Health
With greater mental health awareness comes a better understanding of the urban effect on mental health. This understanding has resulted in the idea of the "anxious city" — meaning metro areas are thought to make inhabitants prone to conditions like anxiety and depression. For many, a change of environment is the key ... Read More
Does PTSD Treatment Work?
PTSD is in the news almost daily, with reports of people suffering from it in the aftermath of natural disasters, accidents, trauma, major illness, terrorist acts, or war. Though many people know the acronym "PTSD" and that it stands for "post-traumatic stress syndrome," there is still much misinformation about this ... Read More
Overcoming Performance Anxiety: Tips for Athletes
Performance anxiety is a common experience among athletes of all ages. Prior to competing, athletes often experience a surge of adrenaline. While some associate this surge with feelings of anticipation and excitement, others connect it with feelings of stress, worry, and anxiety. For those who feel anxious, negative ... Read More
What It Feels Like to Live with Schizophrenia
You wake up with a feeling of dread. A voice in your head tells you that you're bad and the police are after you; or you see something that others do not. Nagging thoughts, images, annoying sensations, sounds, and constant mood changes make you want to stay in bed, avoid bathing, and hide from the world. This is what ... Read More