Understanding Postpartum Depression (PPD)

For most women, bringing home their new baby is one of the happiest days of their lives.  But research shows that about one in eight new mothers struggle with postpartum depression and that the statistic climbed as high as one in three during the COVID pandemic.  The mood swings that most new moms experience usually subside within the first month after giving birth, but for mothers with postpartum depression negative emotions and trouble bonding with the baby can go on for a long … [Read more...]

Protecting Your Mental Health

Almost one in five people have a mental health diagnosis, so when most people think of mental health, they think of such things as depression or some type of anxiety.  While those are mental health diagnoses, it is misleading to only think of mental health issues that have already reached a critical level and have caused someone to seek help and get a diagnosis.   Another way to think about mental health is to consider what can be done to promote good mental health or to prevent mental … [Read more...]

Practical Tips for Beating Winter Depression

New Jersey’s winter weather may have us in its grips and, for some people, the darker days hold on strong with symptoms of depression. Diagnosed by clinical psychologists and psychiatrists as Major Depressive Disorder with seasonal pattern, this form of depression is often referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The usual characteristics of SAD include depression, social withdrawal, lethargy, hopelessness, and lack of interest in normal activities. You may also experience difficulty … [Read more...]

Self-Examination: Key To Life After Divorce

For many, after living as a pair for so long, it’s important to recognize that you are a unique and valuable person on your own. I often tell my clients, “You are a whole person by yourself and not half of anything.” You may have some work to do to get back to recognizing that and the point when you begin to enjoy living life post-divorce may depend on where you are in the timeline of recovery. You may have children to care for, or you may not. You may be under 40, exhilarated and ready to … [Read more...]

Cognitive Therapy: Taking Control of Your Negative Thoughts and Feelings

Maybe a few of these situations sound familiar? Does bad luck creep into your life often? Do you find it hard to shake off a passing comment from a friend? Do you frequently anticipate aggravating conversations with coworkers? Are you physically tired due to a lack of sleep from feeling depressed and anxious? Do you overreact when your child misbehaves? Your frustrations and feelings of sadness, anger, and anxiousness may seem uncontrollable, but did you know that you could learn tools … [Read more...]