Beyond the Myths: What living with OCD in Adulthood Really Means
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an often misunderstood experience that affects millions of adults worldwide. OCD is not simply about “being neat” or “liking things in order,” as it often caricatures in popular culture. OCD is a complex and often debilitating mental health disorder that disrupts daily functioning through distressing obsessions, intrusive, unwanted thoughts, and compulsions, repetitive […]
Spring Anxiety is Real: Why you may feel Anxious around this time of the year
Everyone talks about how spring is supposed to be this fresh start, longer days, warmer weather, flowers blooming, new beginnings. So why do you feel anxious? Stressed? Maybe even a little depressed? But what many people don’t realize is, “Spring can make anxiety worse.” For some, the shift into spring brings an unexpected sense of […]
What Is Happening to Me? Understanding Menopause and the Brain
If you’ve ever thought, “What is happening to me?” you are not alone. You’re forgetting words in mid-sentence. You walk into a room and forget why. You feel anxious for no clear reason. Your patience is thinner. Your sleep is unpredictable. Your confidence feels different. And somewhere between managing work, family, and expectations, you quietly […]
Love, Loneliness, and Mental Health: Caring for Emotional Well Being This Valentine’s Season
February is often associated with love, relationships, and Valentine’s Day. While this time of year can be joyful for some, it can also bring up feelings of loneliness, sadness, stress, or grief for others. At our clinic, Advanced Psychiatry of Elgin, we want to acknowledge that all these experiences are normal and that your emotional […]
A Fresh Start: Revitalizing Your Mental Health Post-Holidays
The holiday season, while filled with joy and cheer, can often leave us feeling drained and emotionally overwhelmed. As the new year approaches, it’s the perfect time to prioritize your mental health and set intentions for the year ahead. Understanding the Post-Holiday Blues It’s common to experience a dip in mood after the holidays. Factors […]
Holiday Stress and Emotional Wellness
Holiday seasons can be beautiful and brutal at the same time. Many people feel pressure to be joyful while silently carrying stress, grief, financial strain, and burnout and that emotional dissonance can make this time of year especially heavy. This blog offers compassionate, practical tools to help you care for your emotional wellness through the […]
Light Box Therapy for Seasonal Depression
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 5 percent of Americans suffer from Seasonal Depression. It makes people feel more tired, unmotivated and foggy headed. SAD starts between ages 15 and 30. About 5% of people in the U.S have SAD and up to 2% have mild condition. Northern climates have higher […]
When Depression Slows the Mind: Understanding Cognitive Dysfunction
Most people know depression as a condition of low mood, sadness, or loss of interest. But for many, depression also brings something less talked about but just as disabling: a mental “slowing” or brain fog. Research led by Dr. Susannah Murphy and others shows that these thinking problems called Cognitive Dysfunction are a core feature […]
September is Suicide Prevention Month: How You can Help
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34. The highest rate of suicide occurs in people 75 years of age or older, Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people, LGBTQIA plus individuals, veterans and people with disabilities. Black youth […]
Back to School Mental Health: How to Support Children, Teens, and College Students
The new school year brings fresh notebooks, new teachers and sometimes unexpected anxiety. If you child or teen seems moody, worried, or disconnected as summer winds down, you’re not alone. August is one of the most emotionally challenging months for students. But there’s a lot parents can do to help. 1. Back to School Anxiety […]