Tag Archives: mental health

5 Reasons It’s Important To Ask For Help

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
Free Therapy?
12 totally free ways to improve your mental health. Read More »
Find A Therapist
therapist photo
Seven tips for finding the right therapist. Read More »

This piece is part of The Frisky’s How To Deal Week, in which we’re tackling mental health issues.

As an oldest child/perfectionist/control freak/Taurus, asking for help is one of my least favorite things. Whether I’m doing a crossword puzzle or weathering an emotional storm, I’ll handle it on my own, thankyouverymuch. Over the past year, though, I’ve been dealing with some pretty intense life changes and found myself in the position where I literally couldn’t get through it alone. I was drowning, and I had no choice but to reach out and grab the outstretched hands of my amazing friends, who pulled me to shore and gently guided me toward the office of a therapist, where I swallowed my pride and said, “You know what? I’m not doing so well.” In the process, I learned how important it is to be able to ask for help, especially when you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or alone. Here’s why… Keep reading »

4 Ways To Dump Your Shrink

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
Best/Worst Therapists
The best & worst zingers from our therapists. Read More »

As is the case with any relationship gone south, sometimes you need to break up with your therapist. Maybe you feel ready to fly in the world on your own, or you’ve stopped connecting, or maybe she said something awful, like “You shouldn’t cry so much.” I don’t care how much she helped you unpack your mommy issues, she’s not going to be of any more assistance saying crap like that. So you know you need to dump your shrink, but how? It seems like it would be easier than breaking up with someone you’ve been sleeping with. But sometimes, because of the intimate nature of things you share with your therapist, it’s harder. You have a few options. Some shrink dumping approaches after the jump. Keep reading »

Girl Talk: In Defense Of Retail Therapy

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
Best/Worst Therapists
Sometimes our therapists say totally WTF things. Read More »
Free Therapy?
12 totally free ways to improve your mental health. Read More »
Explaining Depression
What does it really feel like to suffer from depression? Read More »
retail therapy

I have seen a therapist off and on since my first panic attack at age 14. Talk therapy (and the delightful mood-soothing properties of 20 mg of Lexapro) are the reason I can put on pants and leave my house in the morning. With their help, I’ve learned how to self-soothe anger and disappointment, combat the negative self-talk that leads to depression, and create boundaries with my loved ones. My current therapist is this rad little old Italian lady who not only gets me but champions my very Jessica-ness. My life is infinitely more manageable for me under her care and as such I am the world’s biggest proponent of talk therapy. [Nuh-uh, I am! -- Editor]

But all of that doesn’t change a separate fact: sometimes what really makes me feel good is retail therapy. Keep reading »

The Soapbox: A Reluctant Defense Of Pro-Ana Blogs

Pro-Ana Shirts Banned
The Kate Moss-inspired shirts pulled from shelves. Read More »
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
One woman's experience battling this disorder. Read More »
Exploiting Anorexia
Tracey Gold photo
Will a new reality TV show exploit women with eating disorders? Read More »

This piece was originally published on xoJane.com.

A new study into the hoary underworld of pro-anorexia bloggers has discovered the unexpected: pro-ana communities may not exclusively be the dark pits of self-destruction they are typically assumed to be. The survey, conducted by researchers from Indiana University, suggests rather candidly that pro-ana communities may provide better support than traditional eating disorder treatments, and that said communities even continue to provide assistance to those who have decided to begin recovery.  Keep reading »

The Best & Worst Things Our Therapists Have Said To Us

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
Pre-Therapist GF
Why do so many of Amelia's bf's head to therapy after they split? Read More »

When a therapist hits you with a zinger, it’s the kind of thing that stays with your forever. Best case scenario: it’s sage wisdom or advice that changes your life. Worst case scenario: it’s so wildly offensive or off-the mark that you know you have to dump your shrink. After the jump, I canvased Frisky staffers and friends for their therapists’ very best and worst one-liners. Share yours in the comments! Keep reading »

Girl Talk: I’m A Former Cutter

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
Ways To Love Your Body
10 ways to love your body this summer. Read More »

Since I’ve just marked my 30th year on this planet, I’ve lately found myself reflecting on my life. As it stands now, I’m in love with a man who freely admits he’s pretty nuts about me too, I’m lucky enough to be translating my passions into (albeit meager) paychecks, I volunteer, I vote. All good stuff, the hallmarks of a person who has her life together.

The thing is, I never thought I’d live this long. Having a perfect storm of prerequisite issues that aided in the devaluing my own life, it wasn’t too long ago that I was swinging madly between maladaptive behaviors. I didn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I thought a lot about killing myself. I was hospitalized several times during my college years. Despite all the hospitalizations, the awkward post-hospitalization meetings with the Dean of Students, and the weekly meetings with my therapist, I was unable to discuss the problem I kept well-hidden.

I was a cutter. Keep reading »

8 Totally Tragic Mental Health Disorders Of Famous Celebs

Okay, okay, we’re clearly, obviously, not highly trained psychologists. But that doesn’t mean that we’re not aware that there are some serious problems happening in Hollywood. No, we’re not talking about the drug use, or rampant sluttiness, or insane egomania. We’re talking about how Miley Cyrus is constantly changing her hair. How James Franco thinks he’s an artist. And how LeAnn Rimes can’t keep herself away from the Instagram. These are some serious issues, people! And we’re calling out to these stars to tackle their growing problems head on.

After the jump, we’ve identified and analyzed eight celebs with tragic (and we use this jokingly, if you haven’t realized that by now) mental health disorders that they should deal with ASAP!

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
How To Deal With Anxiety
Worried? Anxious? Panicked? Here are 10 ways to deal. Read More »

12 Totally Free Ways To Improve Your Mental Health

10 Ways To Deal With Anxiety
Worried? Anxious? Panicked? We feel your pain. Read More »
How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »

We all feel a little crazy sometimes (for me, “sometimes” means at least three times a day), and while we’re big proponents of therapy and other structured forms of mental health support here at The Frisky, there are times when limited funds or busy schedules make it tough to get professional help. In honor of How To Deal Week, I thought I’d round up some of my favorite simple, effective, and — best of all — totally free ways to feel better when the going gets rough. Check ‘em out after the jump, and please feel free to add your own tips and techniques in the comments! Keep reading »

Therapy 101: 6 Popular Types Of Psychotherapy

The word therapy conjures an image of a serious man with a steno pad taking notes while a patient reclines on a black, leather couch, talking about her childhood. I’ve been to therapy a bunch of times and never once have I reclined. One of my therapists was a tough talking Texan who threw a Kush ball with me as we spoke. Another was a completely bald little person who drank protein shakes and gave me existential philosophy CDs to listen to. Yet another liked to write possible solutions to my problems on a dry erase board.

While there are therapists who employ the whole reclining on the black, leather couch while you talk about your childhood thing, that’s only one kind of psychotherapeutic treatment available. If you’re not into that (I know I’m not!), don’t let it stop you from seeking out some support for your issues. There are many, many other approaches and types of therapy available. Depending on your personal preferences and what kind of issues you might want to tackle, you’ve got options. Many, many options. So many, that I’m only going to tell you about a few.  Click on through for a very abridged breakdown of some of the most popular types of therapy available.

How To Deal
Life is hard. Sometimes we all need help dealing. Read More »
Pre-Therapist GF
Why do so many of Amelia's bf's head to therapy after they split? Read More »

Girl Talk: I’m The Girl Before The Therapist

Therapy Boundaries
How much should you know about your psychologist's personal life? Read More »

“Do you think I need therapy?” Evan asked. “I probably should start seeing a therapist.” He sighed and I shrugged.

“I can’t really answer that for you,” I said. “But it’s really helped me.” Evan and I had been fuck buddies off and on for over a year, but in the last few months we’d become better buddies and been doing less fucking, which, he told me, was how things usually went for him.

“Once I start to like a girl more as a person,” he had explained, “I’m less interested in having sex with her.” I looked at him like he was a little crazy, but whatever. His friendship was better than the sex, so if I had to choose between the two, friends it was.

“You seem to really know what you want in life,” Evan said. “You seem really in touch with, like, your issues. I don’t think I am.” And now, here we were, with Evan asking me if I thought he needed therapy. I do, by the way, but I think everyone does. Especially the guys I’ve dated and/or slept with. Many of them have gotten help for their various issues — crippling insecurity, narcissism, depression, anxiety, rage issues, etc. — but always after we’ve gone our separate ways.

See, I’m always the girl before the therapist. I’m a fluffier for mental health professionals. And it is fucking annoying. Keep reading »