Plan D NoVa

Empathy, the ability to imagine the feelings of others, has a positive impact on mental health. However, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face communication had decreased in recent years, greatly impacting empathy through compassion fatigue, confirmation bias and detachment. There are three types of empathy, …

During Mental Health Month, it is important to address common misconceptions. While approximately 50 percent of individuals with a mental health condition(s) began experiencing symptoms by age 14, the average delay in receiving treatment is 8 to 10 years. Mood disorders tend to run in …

Depression can cause emotional detachment. Because emotions influence a person’s decision-making, health, motivation and well-being, it is essential to be able to understand and manage them. American Psychologist Robert Plutchik maintained that eight primary emotions, acceptance, anger, anticipation, disgust, fear, joy, sadness and surprise, serve …

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Many individuals with mood disorders self-medicate with alcohol and drinking itself can lead to depression. A central nervous system depressant, alcohol can create serious complications for depressed individuals who use it to alter their moods. Alcohol should be avoided during …

Joy can be felt in many ways, as a sense of abundance, celebration, energy, freedom, harmony, magic, playfulness, renewal and/or transcendence. Even before sheltering in place, Americans lived most of their lives indoors, often eating artificial foods and being surrounded by digital technology and synthetic …

Mourning is a process and a journey toward healing. For children, it is directly impacted by the empathy and support provided by their families and social systems; cultural influences; previous exposure to crisis, death and loss; and their own mental health. Anxiety, confusion and sadness …

Individuals’ sense of what they believe they should be able to control is a significant part of anxiety. People with existing mental health conditions may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis. There are concrete things you can do to improve your mental …

With many states issuing “shelter-in-place” orders, more households may be able to engage in shared meals, which have psychological, emotional and nutritional benefits including greater resilience, higher self-esteem and the modeling of healthy eating behavior and polite table manners. A Columbia University study found that …

With public schools closed in over 40 states and hundreds of colleges and universities suspending in-person classes, the majority of American students must now adapt to online instruction. Virtual learning requires greater self-motivation, which can be challenging for individuals already confronting mental health challenges. The …

While it can be difficult to think rationally during times of crisis, there are ways to stay positive in negative situations. One of the most helpful things is to try to remain calm. First acknowledge any anxiety, fear or worry you may be feeling, then …