Mental Health Archives

Mental Health

Why Are College Students So Anxious?

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe college years can be one of the most exciting times of a young adult’s life. But they can also be one of the most stressful. Juggling classes, work, friendships, romantic relationships, and other responsibilities can seem overwhelming at times, leading to what’s often referred to as college anxiety. As a result, 1 in 3 […]

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Mental Health

Are All-Nighters Bad for Mental Health? The Impact of Staying Up All Night

Reading Time: 10 minutesMost people end up pulling an all-nighter at some point. Sometimes it’s for a big exam, a school or work deadline, a party, a travel emergency, a caregiving crisis, or a night shift that runs long. You probably already know skipping sleep is not idea, but it can be inevitable. Sometimes life just piles up. […]

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Mental Health

Do You Have Relationship Anxiety? Here’s How to Tell

Reading Time: 7 minutesAt their best, relationships are a source of comfort, closeness, and a sense of belonging. But when anxiety enters the picture, a relationship can begin to feel uncertain, overwhelming, and confusing. Many people live with what’s known as relationship anxiety. It can look like worrying about the slightest shift in a partner’s tone, focusing excessively […]

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Mental Health

10 Signs of the Winter Blues, and 7 Ways to Cope

Reading Time: 7 minutesWinter can be a season of rest, reflection, and beauty. For many people, however, it is also a time marked by isolation, low mood, disrupted routines, and increased emotional strain—a mental state known as the winter blues. Mental health professionals, educators, and caregivers frequently see an uptick in concerns during the winter months, ranging from […]

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Mental Health

What Are Glimmers and Why Are They Good for You?

Reading Time: 7 minutesHas a beautiful sunset ever taken your breath away? Are there moments when you stop what you’re doing to delight in a child’s smile, the taste of your favorite fruit, or the brilliance of sunshine glinting on fresh snow? If so, you’ve experienced glimmers. If you paused to notice the pleasure you were experiencing and […]

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Mental Health

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Why Do I Feel Depressed at Night?

Reading Time: 7 minutesDo you wish you knew how to stop feeling sad at night? If so, you’re not alone. The chat boards light up post-midnight with comments from people overcome by feelings of depression at night. “The silence of every night is a reminder of how alone I feel,” says one Reddit user. “I’m trapped in my […]

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Mental Health

How to Cope with Pre-Party Anxiety

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe holiday season is full of gatherings and parties with friends, family, and coworkers. While everyone else seems to be looking forward to all the socializing, you might be dreading it. Unease or distress that starts days or even weeks before an event isn’t just shyness or introversion. It might be pre-party anxiety, a form […]

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Mental Health

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Understanding Anxiety Spirals and How to Stop Them

Reading Time: 12 minutesYou sit at your desk, staring at an upcoming assignment. What begins as a simple worry of “I might not finish on time” quickly turns into, “If I miss this deadline, I’ll fail the class. I’ll get kicked out of school. I’ll disappoint everyone.” Your heart races, your breathing gets shallow, and the original concern […]

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Mental Health

Mental Health Masking: What It Means and How to Recognize It

Reading Time: 8 minutesWe all mask our true feelings at times to hide our vulnerability. Even though we may be worried about money, angry at a friend, blue from a break-up, or exhausted with work, we still answer “Fine” or “Good” when people ask how we are. People with mental health issues, however, may routinely hide their true […]

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Mental Health

Preventing Suicide Among Young Adults: Statistics and Strategies

Reading Time: 6 minutesYoung adults are struggling with their mental health at historically high rates. Almost 14 percent of adults ages 18–25 have serious thoughts of suicide, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Furthermore, the suicide rate for ages 10 to 24 years old increased by 57 percent in the […]

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Mental Health

10 Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Reading Time: 7 minutesAnxiety is a full-body experience. It often presents through physical symptoms, such as a tight chest, upset stomach, racing heart, or shaky hands. These sensations can be confusing and frightening, making the anxious feelings worse. The connection between anxiety and physical discomfort is real. And understanding the mind-body connection can help people recognize what’s happening […]

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Mental Health

Types of Anxiety

Reading Time: 7 minutesAnxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States. Understanding what causes anxiety and how it is treated can help you find the path to recovery. You don’t have to be held hostage to overwhelming symptoms; you can learn how to manage anxiety and resolve the underlying issues that may be […]

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Mental Health

How Does Your Physical Environment Affect You and Your Mental Health?

Reading Time: 6 minutesAs college students head to campus, videos and images of elaborately decorated dorm rooms have begun to sprout up across TikTok and Instagram. The Washington Post recently reported that students and parents are spending thousands of dollars to outfit their rooms, sometimes even hiring professional interior decorators to transform the bare-bones spaces. But what’s the […]

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Mental Health

Loneliness and Depression in Young Adults

Reading Time: 7 minutesEmerging adults are the loneliest generation, despite being more social and more plugged-in than other age groups. Loneliness peaks between the ages of 18 and 29, according to a new research review. And 1 in every 3 young adults reports feeling lonely. Moreover, loneliness increases the risk of mental health conditions—creating an epidemic of loneliness […]

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Mental Health

The Summer Scaries: 7 Tips for Addressing Anxiety and Depression in Summer

Reading Time: 7 minutesEver hear of the Sunday scaries—that creeping sense of dread that comes over you on Sunday night, as school or work looms closer? For young adults preparing for college or the workplace, summer can feel like an anxious Sunday night times 100. The “summer scaries” can be triggered by high expectations for the future, worry about […]

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Mental Health

What Is High-Functioning Depression? Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Reading Time: 6 minutesYou’re able to stay on top of your coursework or job responsibilities. You show up on time to your obligations, stay organized, and look totally put together. There’s no way you could be depressed, right? Not true. High-functioning depression is a condition in which a depressed person is able to mask their symptoms and handle […]

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Mental Health

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5 Mental Health Insights from ‘Love Island USA’

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhether you’re a Love Island superfan or you’ve never seen an episode, the reality dating show has likely wormed its way into your consciousness over the last couple of months. Season 7 of the US version of the franchise has been one of the most talked-about shows this year—everywhere from TikTok to the New York Times. The season […]

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Mental Health

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10 Signs You’re About to Crash Out

Reading Time: 6 minutesIf you’ve been on social media lately, you might’ve noticed a trending phrase: “crashing out.” Whether it’s someone rage-quitting their job, destroying property in a fit of anger, or spiraling into a breakdown, the term has become shorthand for totally losing control. Crashing out is often talked about in a jokey or casual way, but […]

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Mental Health

How to Stop Feeling Like a Burden

Reading Time: 7 minutesFeeling like a burden is a deeply common and painful experience, especially for young adults. According to the American Psychological Association, 71 percent of people aged 18–35 don’t talk about their stress because they worry about being a burden to others. Feeling like a burden to family members, friends, partners, or others can make it […]

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Mental Health

The Truth About Suicide in Young Men

Reading Time: 9 minutesWhen we think about mental health, it’s easy to overlook the struggles that young males face. Society often portrays men as tough, unemotional, and invincible. But the truth is, many young adult males are silently battling feelings of hopelessness and despair. Suicides among young men have increased at alarmingly high rate. In fact, men are […]

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Mental Health

10 Signs Your Young Adult Is Struggling

Reading Time: 9 minutesParent intuition is real. Parents usually have a gut feeling when something isn’t right with their child, even when that child is a young adult who’s not living at home anymore. And those instincts are often accurate. However, because young adulthood is such a tumultuous time, parents sometimes recognize the signs that a young adult […]

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Mental Health

Why Am I Tired All the Time? The Link Between Mental Health and Fatigue

Reading Time: 7 minutesIf you feel exhausted all the time, even after a full night’s sleep, you’re not alone. Millions of young adults struggle with ongoing fatigue, low energy, and a persistent sense of exhaustion that can’t be fixed with coffee or rest. And often, the root cause isn’t just physical. Mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, […]

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Mental Health

The Emotional Rollercoaster: What Bipolar Disorder Feels Like

Reading Time: 7 minutesYoung adulthood should be a time of exploration and growth, but for those living with bipolar disorder, every day can feel like an unpredictable rollercoaster. The intense highs of mania can quickly shift to the crushing lows of depression, creating a whirlwind of emotions that can be downright debilitating. Living with bipolar disorder can severely […]

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Mental Health

Post-College Depression: Why It’s So Common and How to Cope

Reading Time: 7 minutesCollege commencement—“the first day of the rest of your life.” After four long years, countless cram sessions, and too many all-nighters, you’ve finally made it. There’s nothing quite like that moment when you throw your cap in the air. But completing this stage of life can increase a graduate’s likelihood of experiencing what’s known as […]

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Mental Health

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7 Ways Young Adults Can Move from Languishing to Flourishing

Reading Time: 5 minutesMental health isn’t simply “good” or “bad”—it’s a spectrum that encompasses a wide range of experiences and symptoms. On one end of that spectrum is depression, characterized by feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. On the other end is flourishing: a sense of connection, purpose, and meaning. And in the middle is what’s known as languishing—when […]

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Mental Health

The Mental Health Effects of Being Adopted

Reading Time: 6 minutesYoung adulthood is an important time of identity formation. And for young people who are adopted, that process can sometimes be more complicated. Many adoptees struggle with uncertainty about who they are, in terms of their biological lineage, adoptive parents, childhood experiences, cultural history, and/or ethnic identity. However, with compassion and support, adoptees can develop […]

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Mental Health

7 Tips for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

Reading Time: 8 minutesFor young adults, life is often overwhelming. There are many reasons for feeling overwhelmed during these formative years. Academic pressure, financial concerns, relationship issues, work responsibilities, fear about the environment and politics … not to mention the ongoing challenge of establishing your identity and sense of self as a young adult. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes when there’s so […]

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Mental Health

What Is Perfectionism OCD? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Reading Time: 8 minutesWe all know people who are hyper-focused on making sure things are done properly—whether they’re writing a research paper, sending an email, washing a dish, or ordering in a restaurant. There’s nothing wrong with trying to do your best. But people who feel tormented by their perfectionistic thoughts and behavior may be suffering from a […]

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Mental Health

What Is Relationship Depression?

Reading Time: 7 minutesRelationships aren’t always smooth sailing. As with most important parts of life, long-term relationships often involve ups and downs, periods of uncertainty, and hurt feelings. But if you find yourself feeling sad and hopeless about how a relationship is going, on more days than not, you may be experiencing relationship depression. It’s important to know […]

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Mental Health

7 Kinds of Thoughts You Shouldn’t Dismiss

Reading Time: 5 minutesOur brains never stop turning. And while some of our thoughts are necessary and important, others aren’t worth focusing on. However, there are some kinds of thoughts that you should always pay attention to, because they may be telling you that you need mental health support. Read on to learn seven kinds of thoughts you […]

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Mental Health

Signs You May Have Mental Exhaustion

Reading Time: 5 minutesDoes it feel like basic tasks are taking an overwhelming effort to complete? Do you have trouble remembering things or understanding information? Are you struggling to find motivation or energy to function normally in your life? You may be dealing with mental exhaustion. As a young adult, you’re juggling a lot of new responsibilities and […]

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Mental Health

Why Does Everything Make Me Sad?

Reading Time: 9 minutesSadness is a normal human emotion. There’s nothing unusual about feeling sad if something bad happens. It’s a natural reaction to difficult situations and experiences. However, if you have sad feelings most of the time—or if your sadness doesn’t go away—you may be depressed. It’s important to understand the difference between the two. What You’ll […]

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Mental Health

Misophonia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Reading Time: 6 minutesFor people with misophonia, certain sounds aren’t just irritating—they can elicit intense feelings of anger and distress. It can ruin relationships, lead to isolation and avoidance, and take a massive toll on a person’s functioning.

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Mental Health

What’s Underneath Anger, and 5 Anger Management Techniques for Young Adults

Reading Time: 9 minutesDo you ever feel like you just can’t take it anymore? Life, relationships, the pressures of work or school, the intense emotions battling inside you—it’s all too much to handle. You can’t see a way forward or a way out. When that sense of being overwhelmed and out of control gets too big, it can […]

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Mental Health

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8 Tips for How to Do a Digital Detox in 2025

Reading Time: 7 minutesWe are constantly plugged in to the virtual world. Our daily lives consist of regularly checking emails, responding to texts from friends, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, and getting news alerts. Since the pandemic, we’ve become used to socializing, going to school, and meeting with colleagues online as well. That makes the question “What […]

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Mental Health

How to Build Emotional Resilience Instead of Making New Year’s Resolutions

Reading Time: 7 minutesIt’s that time again—time to crack open a brand new year and get started on all the goals we’ve been procrastinating. Making New Year’s resolutions is a great way to start … right? Nope, not according to researchers and mental health experts. Their recommendation is to learn how to build emotional resilience instead. Why focus […]

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Mental Health

8 Holiday Stress-Management Tips for Young Adults

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for most people, the holiday season is definitely not the jolliest time of the year. Young people in particular find the holidays stressful: A Healthline survey found that 65 percent of Gen Z were stressed out by the holiday season, a […]

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Mental Health

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Depression in College Students: New Statistics and Research

Reading Time: 6 minutesCollege is typically one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life—and also one of the most stressful. Positive experiences of connection, learning, and independence are counterbalanced by academic and social pressures. On top of that, college students are facing the challenges of being away from home for the first time. As a […]

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Mental Health

Grief in Young Adults: Symptoms, Types, and Treatment

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen we talk about grief and grieving, we usually talk about losing a loved one, or ending a relationship. But grief can be triggered by other losses as well. You can feel grief after an election, if your candidate lost. Or you can grieve for a job you left, a friendship that ended, or even […]

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Mental Health

8 Danger Signs of Zombie Scrolling and How to Protect Yourself

Reading Time: 6 minutesTheir eyes are sunken, their skin is ashen, and they communicate with grunts rather than words. Only their thumbs move, endlessly, flicking up and down on the glowing rectangles clutched in their hands. Just a small part of their brain still works, and that part is entirely devoted to the images flashing before them, one […]

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Mental Health

The Mental Health Impact of Politics: 8 Ways to Cope

Reading Time: 5 minutesFear. Hopelessness. Anger. Hatred. Exhaustion. Political events at home and abroad, like election season, the war in Gaza, and related protests and marches, can catalyze a wide range of emotions and reactions. And with social media and streaming platforms bringing us nonstop coverage of these events as they unfold, the mental health impact of politics […]

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Mental Health

The Ultimate Mental Health Temperature Check for Young Adults

Reading Time: 8 minutesYoung adulthood is full of milestones and transitions. You’re finally graduating from your small-town high school and moving to a new city. Or maybe you’ve found the love of your life—or you’re ready to start looking. Sounds like only good things, right? But these pivotal life transitions, along with a sense of pressure about the future, […]

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Mental Health

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Situational Anxiety in Young Adults: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Cope

Reading Time: 6 minutesSituational anxiety is just what it sounds like—anxiety triggered by a specific situation. It’s why your stomach might be tied in knots on your first day of college or a new job. Or why your heart races on a first date. You can even experience situational anxiety related to a presidential election. Just about everyone […]

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Mental Health

A College Mental Health Checklist for Students

Reading Time: 8 minutesCollege can be one of the most exciting times in a young adult’s life—and one of the most stressful. Being away from home for the first time, without the support of family, is both freeing and frightening.

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Mental Health

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The Mental Health Impact of Cosmetic Surgery in Young Adults: Pros and Cons

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen you think of plastic surgery, you probably imagine middle-aged people going under the knife to turn back the clock. However, cosmetic surgery in young adults is becoming increasingly common. And getting plastic surgery has mental health consequences for Millennials and Gen Z—both good and bad. Key Takeaways Why More Young Adults Are Getting Plastic […]

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Mental Health

The Link Between Young Adult Breakups and Suicidal Behavior

Reading Time: 7 minutesRomantic breakups are painful regardless of your age. The longer and more central the relationship has been, the deeper the heartache. But when young adults end relationships with a significant other, they suffer more than their parents might expect. Some young people experience a full-blown crisis after a bad breakup. In fact, research has uncovered […]

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Mental Health

Social Media Narcissism: Are the Apps Creating Narcissists?

Reading Time: 6 minutesNarcissism is defined as a fixation with oneself and one’s physical appearance or public image. Many young adults could be described as narcissistic. That’s because they’re at a stage of life when they are establishing their identity and figuring out who they are in relationship to others. But is narcissism on the rise among young […]

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Mental Health

What Is Relationship OCD? Symptoms, Types, and Treatment

Reading Time: 6 minutesTo understand what relationship OCD looks like, cast your mind back to the classic film The Notebook, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. In the movie, Rachel McAdams’ character, Allie, grapples with making the biggest decision of her life.

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Mental Health

Identifying Gaslighting: Signs, Examples, and Seeking Help

Reading Time: 10 minutesWith more young people talking openly about mental health, gaslighting has become an increasingly common topic among this age group over the last few years. Gaslighting and other forms of emotional abuse have been depicted in films and TV and discussed on reality shows like The Bachelorette. Gaslighting was even chosen as the 2022 Word […]

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Mental Health

How to Tell If a Young Adult Needs Summer Treatment for Mental Health: 10 Red Flags

Reading Time: 5 minutesIs your young adult child home for the summer between college semesters? Or maybe you just took a summer vacation together and observed new behaviors that are troubling you? Summer is often a time when parents or other relatives notice potential warning signs that a young adult may be struggling with their mental health. While […]

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Mental Health

Echoism: 12 Signs You Might Be an Echoist

Reading Time: 8 minutesWhile some people draw attention to themselves the moment they enter a room, others shrink from the limelight. Echoists fall into the latter group. They’ll go to the ends of the earth to ensure that all eyes and ears aren’t on them. If you’re overly modest, agreeable, and suppress your own needs to seek love and approval, you could […]

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Mental Health

How Long Should a Young Adult Stay in Inpatient Care for Mental Health?

Reading Time: 7 minutesWhen a young adult needs more support than weekly therapy or outpatient care can provide, inpatient care for mental health may be the solution. Inpatient mental healthcare is often the most effective solution for young people struggling with mental health disorders such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and/or co-occurring issues, like substance use and eating disorders. […]

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Mental Health

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How Financial Stress Affects Young Adult Mental Health

Reading Time: 6 minutesStress is a fact of life that affects the old as well as the young. And there’s a lot to be stressed about in today’s world. But for young adults, money is at the top of the list—and financial worries are impacting their mental health. Young adult financial stress is catalyzed by a variety of […]

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Mental Health

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria: 10 Signs You Might Have RSD and 5 Ways to Manage It

Reading Time: 5 minutesNobody likes being rejected. Whether you’re ghosted by a romantic partner, passed over for a promotion, or left out of a friend get-together, it hurts. However, people with rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) experience rejection as intense emotional pain. For them, being rejected is as painful as a physical sensation of being struck or wounded. Moreover, people […]

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Mental Health

What Young Adults Want Out of Dating in 2024

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhat really matters in life? That’s a question that young adults often ask themselves as they build identities and lives separate from their family of origin. In today’s political, economically, and environmentally unstable world, it feels more important than ever to focus on the things that bring us joy. And for most people, making real […]

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Mental Health

Hitting Rock Bottom: What It Means and Where to Go from Here

Reading Time: 7 minutesHitting rock bottom is a term that refers to the lowest point of a person’s life. It’s traditionally used in the context of substance use disorder, to describe the moment when the disorder has caused an individual to lose everything that’s important to them. However, people with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health issues […]

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Mental Health

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What Is Harm OCD? Fear of Hurting Others

Reading Time: 6 minutesEven if you’re not a violent person, you’ve likely experienced violent thoughts. But knowing you’d never act on them, you quickly forgot about them and moved on. However, some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are plagued by thoughts of hurting others or themselves. This manifestation of the disorder is known as harm OCD. To cope […]

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Mental Health

What Is the Pandemic Skip, and How Is It Affecting Young Adults?

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat is the pandemic skip? It’s a sense among many young adults of having skipped an important period of social and emotional development due to shutdowns, social distancing, and remote learning and/or work. Three years after the height of the pandemic, despite normal life having fully resumed, some young adults feel their mental age and […]

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Mental Health

How to Stop Obsessive and Intrusive Thoughts

Reading Time: 7 minutesIt happens to all of us at one time or another. We might be standing on a bridge and imagine jumping off. Perhaps we’re driving and suddenly think about crashing into the car ahead. We may even have a sudden mental flash of harming someone we love. Since we have about 6,000 thoughts per day, […]

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Mental Health

How to Stop Ruminating: 7 Evidence-Based Tips for Young Adults

Reading Time: 8 minutesAre you constantly replaying awkward conversations in your head, regretting past mistakes, or worrying about how you might avoid potentially difficult situations in the future? Then you’re not just thinking. You’re ruminating. We all have experiences and fears that gnaw at us. It’s natural to look back on what we could have said or done […]

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Mental Health

How Does Greek Life Affect Mental Health? The Pros and Cons

Reading Time: 7 minutesIs Greek life good or bad for college students’ mental health? Overall, there are both benefits and drawbacks to joining a sorority or fraternity. Greek organizations (so called because of the Greek letters used for their names) can create a sense of belonging and support. But they can also involve traumatic hazing practices and foster […]

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Mental Health

How Do You Deal with a Disrespectful Grown Child?

Reading Time: 7 minutesParenting is a tough job. No matter how well you do it, you still make mistakes. As your children grow, you hope they understand that even though you were an imperfect parent, you’ve always loved them and did your best to raise them well. But even so, sometimes you may find yourself dealing with a […]

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Mental Health

10 Ways to Manage a Chronic Mental Health Condition

Reading Time: 7 minutesMost people think of a chronic illness as an ongoing physical health problem, like diabetes, heart disease, or multiple sclerosis. But chronic mental health problems are also common. And just as chronic physical illnesses must be managed, it’s equally necessary to manage a chronic mental health condition. Managing a chronic mental illness can be taxing, […]

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Mental Health

Fear of Abandonment in Young Adults: What It Means and How to Heal

Reading Time: 8 minutesWe all worry sometimes about losing a loved one or being left by a romantic partner. But for some young adults, fear of abandonment is a constant concern. They never stop feeling afraid that they may be left out, left behind, or rejected—not only by a partner or family member, but also by friends, acquaintances, […]

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Mental Health

Hispanic and Latino Young Adult Mental Health: Statistics and Research

Reading Time: 8 minutesHispanic and Latino young adults in the United States experience increased rates of mental health conditions. In fact, one survey found that just over half of this group report symptoms of depression and anxiety. What’s driving this high risk of mental health issues? Hispanic and Latino youth face a variety of stressors, including the traumatic […]

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Mental Health

The Facts About Asian American Mental Health and Suicide Rates

Reading Time: 4 minutesNew research reveals that the youth mental health crisis is taking a heavy toll on the Asian American community. Statistics from the CDC show that suicide is the first leading cause of death for Asian American young adults—accounting for one-third of the deaths among Asian Americans aged 20–24. This is the only racial group within […]

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Mental Health

Male Friendships and Mental Health: Why Men Don’t Have Friends and How to Make Them

Reading Time: 7 minutesAs a young adult, it isn’t always easy to find close friends that you can trust and talk with openly. And for young men, it’s often even harder. Some young men are lucky enough to have close male friendships that started in camp or at college and have remained strong as they grew older. But […]

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Mental Health

What’s the Difference Between Stress and Anxiety?

Reading Time: 6 minutesYour heart pounds harder, your stomach tightens into a knot, you imagine the worst possible outcomes. Most people understand what it’s like to experience stress and anxiety, physically and mentally. But the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. Understanding the signs of anxiety versus […]

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Mental Health

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Recovery from Trauma and the Mind-Body Connection

Reading Time: 5 minutesThe mind-body connection is a powerful force. The mind and body are designed to be allies, working in sync to maximize our physical and mental health. But sometimes they work against each other. Like most relationships, the mind-body connection can be complicated. Our memories, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological […]

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Mental Health

Your Friends Aren’t Your Therapists: How to Set Boundaries

Reading Time: 10 minutesGood friends are one of life’s greatest gifts. At the best of times, they’re a source of laughter and joy. At the worst of times, they’re a source of solace and emotional support. It’s wonderful to have people you feel safe venting to and sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings. When you’re struggling, it can […]

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Mental Health

How to Help a Friend Who’s Struggling with Their Mental Health

Reading Time: 8 minutesMore young adults than ever before are talking openly about mental health. Discussions are happening in person and on social media, at home and in the workplace. “Young people are advocating for their needs and for the needs of others who are suffering,” says Newport Executive Director Leigh McInnis, LPC. “They’re speaking their feelings out […]

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Mental Health

Parental Estrangement: Can the Family Heal After Adult Children Divorce Their Parents?

Reading Time: 8 minutesMost people understand what it’s like to have difficult, uncomfortable, or stressful family dynamics. Plenty of young adult children find spending time with parents or other family members draining and emotional. In these situations, they often try to maintain connection with their families while creating space. But in other cases, adult children end up disowning […]

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Mental Health

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Learn How to Build Resilience Every Day, One Day at a Time

Reading Time: 2 minutesResilience is the ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity and stress. Having resilience doesn’t mean we avoid sadness, disappointment, or failure. But people who are resilient bounce back more easily from roadblocks. Positive psychologists have identified a number of traits and behaviors that are associated with resilience, including: Download the toolkit to get […]

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Mental Health

Are ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ Good for Mental Health?

Reading Time: 7 minutesA new self-care trend is changing the way younger workers start their week. Instead of jumping in with both feet to attack their to-do lists, Gen Z employees are practicing what’s known as Bare Minimum Mondays. What is Bare Minimum Monday exactly? It’s pretty much what it sounds like: doing the bare minimum at work […]

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Mental Health

PMDD in Young Adults: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Symptoms and Treatment

Reading Time: 6 minutesDo you experience depressive symptoms that are particularly intense one week of the month and seem nonexistent a couple weeks later? If so, you might be suffering from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD in young adults. PMDD is an endocrine disorder experienced by some people who menstruate. It usually begins a week or more before menstruation […]

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Mental Health

‘I Hate My Life’: 10 Ways to Start Feeling Better

Reading Time: 8 minutesWe’ve all been stuck in a low mood at one point or another. Our energy plummets, we lose interest in the outside world, and accomplishing the smallest things feels like a challenge. But if you find yourself wondering, “Why do I hate my life?” day in and day out, it could be a sign of […]

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Mental Health

How Climate Change Anxiety Affects Young Adults

Reading Time: 6 minutesYoung adults will inherit a world that is deeply impacted by climate change. Thus, a large portion of this generation feels both hopeless and helpless about the future of the planet. As a result, young adults often experience what’s known as climate change anxiety, climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety. Mental health experts agree that climate change […]

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Mental Health

How Do You Know If You’re Having a Nervous Breakdown?

Reading Time: 8 minutesIf you’re unable to function in daily life because you’re so overwhelmed by stress, fury, fear, or despair, you may be having what clinicians once referred to as a nervous breakdown. While the term is no longer used by mental health professionals today, it still describes a variety of legitimate mental health disorders. Today, we […]

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Mental Health

What Is Psychological Safety for Young Adults?

Reading Time: 8 minutesAs young people mature, leave home, and begin to carve out their own lives, they forge new relationships of all types. For those relationships to flourish, psychological safety is a must. Psychological safety means trusting you can share ideas, concerns, and feelings with others without risk of humiliation or rejection. Psychological safety is foundational to […]

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Mental Health

What It Means When You’re Feeling Emotionally Numb

Reading Time: 7 minutesYou might have seen the phrase “feeling emotionally numb” on a list of common symptoms of various mental health disorders. But what does that really mean? Feeling numb inside is different for every individual.

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Mental Health

Common Questions About Young Adult Mental Health Answered

Reading Time: 6 minutesThese days, young adults are speaking up more about their mental health. They’re attending therapy more than older generations. They’re opening up to their friends, families, bosses, coworkers, and professors about their mental health struggles. As we come to understand more and more what’s at the root of young adult mental health issues, it’s imperative […]

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Mental Health

Is Manifestation Bad for Mental Health?

Reading Time: 10 minutesPositive manifestation techniques like “Lucky Girl Syndrome” have become increasingly popular among young people. The idea of manifesting change is that we can control what happens and make our dreams come true by putting good thoughts and energy out into the world. In a nutshell, manifestation is the belief that we can change and shape […]

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Mental Health

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What Is Hyper-Independence Trauma in Young Adults?

Reading Time: 6 minutesIn the United States, most parents raise their children to be independent and self-sufficient. Young adults are expected to go to school or work, set career goals, build strong relationships outside the family, and maintain their commitments. Taken together, these life goals represent an appropriate level of adult independence. But independence can sometimes be taken […]

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Mental Health

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Panic Disorders in Young Adults and 7 Ways to Prevent Panic Attacks

Reading Time: 10 minutesIt might start with a tightening in your chest that makes it hard to breathe. Then your entire body begins to shake. Your heart pounds faster and faster. You feel like you’re going to die. What’s happening? These are the symptoms associated with a panic attack—the primary symptom of panic disorders in young adults. Young […]

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Mental Health

When to Take a Mental Health Leave of Absence from College or Work

Reading Time: 10 minutesStepping away from college or a job can be a tough decision to make. It’s natural for young people to want to push through and succeed, whether that means getting a good GPA or making themselves invaluable to their team at work. But when a young adult is dealing with a mental health issue, white-knuckling […]

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Mental Health

How to Develop a Sense of Self and Build Self-Worth in Young Adulthood

Reading Time: 8 minutesAs young people launch from their families of origin into the “real world,” their lives transform. Many move into their own living spaces, develop romantic relationships, start careers, and begin managing their finances—all symbols of adulthood. How they feel about themselves as they take these steps affects the choices they make. Young people with a […]

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Mental Health

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How Having a Narcissistic Parent Impacts Young Adult Mental Health

Reading Time: 9 minutesParents have an enormous effect on their children. They not only pass along genetic traits, but they help shape the way their children perceive and navigate the world from early childhood all the way into adulthood. Because no parent is perfect, all children grow up with parents who make mistakes—and some of those mistakes have […]

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Mental Health

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What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder and How Is It Treated?

Reading Time: 7 minutesHistrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental health condition characterized by over-dramatizing feelings and situations. People with HPD tend to overreact emotionally and have poor impulse control. Because they struggle with their self-esteem, they constantly seek attention and affirmation.

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Mental Health

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What Is Hidden Depression in Young Adults?

Reading Time: 7 minutesHidden depression can be hidden from others—or it can be hidden from ourselves. A young adult with hidden depression may deliberately conceal how they’re feeling for fear of how they’ll be perceived. Or they may think that the feelings will resolve themselves if they can just “fake it ‘til they make it.” But in other […]

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Mental Health

The Mental Health Toll of Academic Pressure

Reading Time: 5 minutesAcademic pressure on young adults has reached intense levels. The stress of getting into the right college, making good grades, and landing the best internships—all in preparation for success in the workplace—takes an enormous toll on young adult mental health. Too often, academic success comes at the expense of young adults’ social and emotional development. […]

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Mental Health

5 Strategies to Help Young Adults Navigate Change

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhether they’re heading into their freshman year at college, getting ready for a new dorm and new schedule, or preparing for a new job, many young adults are anticipating change as summer heads inexorably toward fall. Those professional or educational changes might come with relocation to a new city, as well as changes to social […]

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Mental Health

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What Are Avoidant and Anxious Preoccupied Attachment Styles?

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat does attachment mean, in the context of mental health? Attachment is trusting that we can count on another person for a sense of safety, connection, and belonging. It’s rooted in our experiences with our primary caregivers in infancy, long before we developed conscious awareness. And it sets the stage for how we approach our […]

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Mental Health

5 DBT Tools to Help Young Adults Assess Risk and Make Better Decisions

Reading Time: 5 minutesTaking risks can help young adults overcome fear, achieve their goals, and make new connections with others and with their own strengths and passions. On the other hand, risky behaviors such as substance use, unsafe sexual activity, and other dangerous or unhealthy habits, can endanger emerging adults’ mental and physical health. Because the brain’s prefrontal […]

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Mental Health

Big T vs. Little t Trauma in Young Adults: Is There a Difference?

Reading Time: 6 minutesDoes trauma come in different sizes? In the mental health field, traumatic experiences are sometimes categorized as big T vs. little t trauma. The idea is that some traumatic events are more intense and severe than others. Regardless of how they are labeled, however, all types of trauma can have negative effects on young adults. […]

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Mental Health

Well-Being in the Workplace: What Young Professionals Really Want Out of Work

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat do we really want from our jobs, besides a paycheck? That’s a question that millions of people have been reconsidering over the past two years—especially young professionals. As awareness and discussion of mental health grows, fewer young adults are willing to sacrifice their well-being for the sake of their job. And there’s no doubt […]

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Mental Health

Fear of Adulting: I’m 21 But I Still Don’t Feel Like an Adult

Reading Time: 8 minutesTurning 21 can feel like crossing a line in the sand between adolescence and adulthood. In the United States, turning 21 not only grants young people permission to legally drink and smoke, it also marks the official transition to adulthood, and all the responsibilities and expectations that go along with that. For some young people, […]

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Mental Health

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High-Functioning Anxiety: What It Is and How to Cope

Reading Time: 8 minutesWhen we think about anxiety, we usually think about being paralyzed with fear and worry, to the point of being unable to deal with everyday tasks. However, anxiety doesn’t always manifest that way. In fact, young adults with high-functioning anxiety are often overachievers who appear to be succeeding in every aspect of life. But on […]

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Mental Health

Is the Young Adult Brain Wired for Narcissism?

Reading Time: 7 minutesBy the time we reach age 10, our brains have grown to their full size. But that doesn’t mean they’ve finished developing. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for weighing consequences vs. instant gratification, making thoughtful decisions, and managing emotions, doesn’t fully mature until the mid-20s, and possibly even later. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex, in […]

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Mental Health

Tall Poppy Syndrome: When You Get Cut Down for Standing Out

Reading Time: 6 minutesGetting recognized for your accomplishments should be cause for celebration. So why does it sometimes feel like your successes have made you the target of criticism, gossip, or downright sabotage? You may be experiencing the social phenomenon known as “Tall Poppy Syndrome.” Young adults are particularly vulnerable to Tall Poppy Syndrome. Competition for grades and […]

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Mental Health

The Effects of Stress on College Students

Reading Time: 6 minutesThe effects of stress on college students are taking an increasingly heavy toll. With the typical stressors of college multiplied by the pandemic, nine out of 10 students believe there is a mental health crisis on college campuses, according to a recent survey. Each semester brings new challenges and uncertainties alongside academic demands. Anxiety about […]

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Mental Health

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