Groundbreaking research study about miscarriage and PTSD

This is incredibly important and very dear to my heart - While almost 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, the shame and stigma endured by the women who suffer from early pregnancy loss, and their partners who are just as much part of the process, often goes unnoticed. A new, groundbreaking research study from Imperial College in London and KU Leuven in Belgium has now found that nearly 1 in 6 of these amazing women suffer from PTSD. I hope the research continues to grow, and I hope the research starts to include partners.
For all the amazing women and partners out there - I cannot stress the importance of getting support from a friend, loved one, or perinatal therapist (like me!). Shame breeds on secrecy - you are not alone. 

Direct links of the research story - BBC & Today Show

Social-Emotional Learning in the classroom

Cheers to the state of New York for being the first state to make mental health education mandatory!!! This feature on The Today Show shares the importance of teaching coping skills in the classroom.

Do Childhood Attachment Patterns Inform Our Relationship With Food?

My favorite class in graduate school at UCLA was focused on Attachment Theory; the theory that one's early relationship (or attachment stye) with a primary caregiver has a profound influence on how one relates to themselves and others in life. I draw from this theory in my practice with all my clients, as I truly believe in this theory.

Fellow Los Angeles psychotherapist, Traci Bank Cohen, has a great article on GOOP that explains the correlation between attachment styles and eating disorders. 

To my clients - notice the "tips" she gives...sound familiar?

To everyone - you can resolve your attachment issues and lead a meaningful, rewarding life. Do not give up!

Reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues

Let’s remove the shame and stigma associated with mental health disorders. In this week's People Magazine, Mariah Carey shares her story, proving that one can struggle with mental health, substance use and/or eating disorders AND be worthy of living a full life. We need to open the dialogue and take away the fear…we can start by talking about it!

You can have anxiety AND be happy, successful and have a life!

I love, love, LOVE when people share about their experiences living with anxiety and still being able to enjoy their lives. Thank you @TodayShow and @CarsonDaly for including this important segment in today’s show. He shares that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, progressive muscle relaxation and exercise work to help manage his anxiety - all tools I practice with my clients (amongst others!). By working with a therapist, Mr. Daly shares that he has learned to embrace who he is and has the tools to work through those periods of anxiety.

"I may be a little anxious, but I know I'm going to be okay." Amen to that, Carson.

https://www.today.com/health/carson-daly-describes-tools-he-uses-cope-his-anxiety-disorder-t124737

Three great articles to read in this week's issue of Time magazine

Time magazine’s February 12, 2018 issue includes a few articles that are worth reading.

A short article about Parenting by Donald L. Rosenstein and Justin M. Yopp highlights Donald Winiccott’s concept of the “good enough” mother, and how it applies to fathers as well. As a clinician, I find myself educating parents on this concept – and not only for parents who have young children, but ones who have adult children and feel guilt over what more they could or should have done.

Photographer, daughter, and mental illness advocate Melissa Spitz (@spitz_melissa) shares her life story in pictures. Her mother has been struggling with severe mental health issues since Melissa was a young age, and through her photographs and stories, we learn just how hard and one-sided our society can be on individuals and the loved ones of those living with severe mental health issues.

Finally, just in time for the Olympics, skiing champion Mikaela Shiffrin (@mikaelashiffrin) opens up about her crippling anxiety and shares that with the help of a sport psychologist, she has been able to shift her thinking before races. As a former competitive figure skater (for close to two decades of my life!) who also struggled with anxiety, I use my experience to help athletes of all ages worth through their performance anxiety. I appreciate Mikaela’s vulnerability in opening up. As I always preach, in order to reduce the stigma, we must be open and talk about it!

#timemagazine #mikaelashiffrin #2018olympics #goodenoughparent #reducethestigma #mentalhealthawareness

NYTimes Op-ed - Let's Open Up About Addiction and Recovery

Let's admit it - there remains a stigma about mental health disorders, addiction and recovery. It has existed for decades and will take considerable time and effort to reduce it. The importance of reducing the stigma has been highlighted by the recent report released by The President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, which recognizes that the stigma toward addiction is a barrier towards seeking treatment. This NYTimes Op-Ed piece opens up the conversation.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/opinion/sunday/drug-addiction-recovery-alcoholism.html

#mentalhealthawareness #recoveryispossible #substanceuseawareness

Reducing the Stigma Associated with Mental Health Issues

It is so important for public figures to come out and share about their own struggles with mental health issues, and about how they were able to cope and worth through them. Princes William and Harry are the most recent public figures to come out and, for Prince Harry, share about how counseling helped him overcome the grief associated with the passing of his mother. Keep up the good work - keep on inspiring more people! The more people are open about what they've been through, the more our society can accept that mental health issues are part of life that everyone can overcome! #headstogether #reducethestigma #togetherwecan #itgetsbetter

http://www.today.com/news/prince-harry-reveals-he-sought-counseling-help-deal-princess-diana-t110447

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/17/world/europe/uk-prince-harry-death-princess-diana.html