Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health
Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health
Why do so many men feel like they have to “man up” and keep their feelings locked inside? For generations, boys have been told to be tough, never cry, and always stay in control. But what happens when this pressure becomes too much? The answer lies in a concept called toxic masculinity — a set of...
Learn More
No Contact vs. The Silent Treatment
No Contact vs. The Silent Treatment
In relationships, communication is key. Two common strategies used to withdraw emotionally are the No Contact rule and the Silent Treatment. While they may appear similar, these two approaches differ significantly in their intent, duration, and emotional impact. Understanding the distinction between these strategies is essential...
Learn More
Understanding the Freeze Response and Dorsal Vagal Shutdown
Understanding the Freeze Response and Dorsal Vagal Shutdown
Have you ever felt frozen in the face of stress—unable to act or make a decision? This experience, often described as “freezing,” is a common yet misunderstood survival response. While many people refer to all forms of immobility as “freeze,” there are important distinctions within...
Learn More
Choice Theory: Can Our Choices Shape Our Well-Being?
Choice Theory: Can Our Choices Shape Our Well-Being?
In a world overflowing with daily choices—where to focus our time, how to handle stress, who to trust, and how to build fulfilling relationships—understanding Choice Theory can be a powerful tool for navigating life’s complexities. Developed by psychiatrist Dr. William Glasser, Choice Theory suggests that our...
Learn More
Pet Loss: Validating Grief Often Overlooked by Society
Pet Loss: Validating Grief Often Overlooked by Society
The loss of a pet can be one of the most heart-wrenching experiences many of us face. Pets are more than just animals; they are family members, companions, and sources of unconditional love. The bond we share with them often transcends words, making their loss profoundly felt.
In the UK, the charity...
Learn More
How Feeling Left Out Affects Mental Health
How Feeling Left Out Affects Mental Health
Feeling left out from friends and family can be one of the most challenging and isolating experiences in life, where feelings of loneliness, rejection, and despair become a constant companion. It’s a deeply alienating experience, leaving you questioning your worth and place in the world and longing for a sense of...
Learn More
What is a Trauma Bond and How to Break Free
What is a Trauma Bond and How to Break Free
A trauma bond is a complex psychological and emotional attachment that forms in an abusive or toxic relationship. These bonds differ from healthy attachments, as they are built through cycles of intense emotional experiences, often involving pain, manipulation, and abuse. Trauma bonds can be difficult to recognize and...
Learn More
Bed Rotting: Self Care or Slippery Slope to Depression?
Bed Rotting: Self Care or Slippery Slope to Depression?
In the digital age, trends and terminologies often originate from social media, shaping how we view various aspects of life. One such trend that has gained traction among Gen Z is “bed rotting.” Popularized on platforms like TikTok, the bed rotting trend is embraced by many as a form of self-care...
Learn More
Suicide Prevention: What to Say and What Not to Say
Suicide Prevention: What to Say and What Not to Say
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, provide resources, and offer support to those who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. It’s a month that underscores the importance of compassion, understanding, and connection in preventing suicide. The purpose of Suicide Prevention Month is...
Learn More
Emotional Invalidation, cPTSD, and Its Lasting Impact
Emotional Invalidation, cPTSD, and Its Lasting Impact
Emotional validation is crucial for healthy human development, especially within the parent-child relationship. When parents fail to validate their children’s emotions, dismissing or minimizing their feelings, it can lead to profound and long-lasting consequences.
In this blog post, we’ll explore...
Learn More
Depression Medication and Antidepressants
Depression Medication and Antidepressants
Living with depression can be challenging, emphasizing the need to identify effective treatments. Collaborating with an educated psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner is crucial for informed guidance. At the Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh, we prioritize your mental health, offering the expertise of...
Learn More
What Makes Someone a Hoarder?
What Makes Someone a Hoarder?
Hoarding Disorder Overview
Hoarding Disorder is a distinct emotional-behavioral diagnosis classified under the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders. While hoarding behaviors can be present in diagnoses like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder,...
Learn More
Your Guide to Compassionate Listening Skills
Your Guide to Compassionate Listening Skills
In Part I of “How to Become a Better Listener,” we discussed the attitude of compassion necessary to be an effective listener. Now, in Part II, we will cover the technical listening skills that build on this compassionate attitude. These listening skills help us respond thoughtfully, participate...
Learn More
Do I Have ADHD or Am I Just Lazy?
Do I have ADHD or Am I Just Lazy?
Have you ever Googled, “Do I have ADHD, or am I just lazy?”. If so, you’re not alone. This question is often asked on Google, Reddit, and other platforms online.
Many people struggle to identify if they have a mental health disorder, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), that requires treatment or...
Learn More
6 Stages of Grief? What is Grief Anxiety?
6 Stages of Grief? What is Grief Anxiety?
Have you ever found yourself questioning if your grieving process is “wrong” because it doesn’t align with the commonly known five stages of grief coined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance? If so, you may find some new insight from Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC....
Learn More
Understanding The Highly Sensitive Person
Understanding The Highly Sensitive Person
Do you often find yourself deeply affected by the world around you? Do certain noises, lights, or crowds overwhelm you more than they seem to affect others? If so, you may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). In this blog post, we’ll explore what it means to be highly sensitive, the common traits and symptoms...
Learn More
Self Diagnosis: Do I Have ADHD? Do I Have Autism?
Self Diagnosis: Do I Have ADHD? Do I Have Autism?
In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Concurrently there has been a significant increase in Google Searches for “Do I Have Autism?” and “Do I Have ADHD?”.
“Do I have ADHD” Google...
Learn More
The Sober Curious Movement Popularized by Gen Z
The Sober Curious Movement Popularized by Gen Z
What is Sober Curious?
In a world that often glorifies the indulgence of alcohol, a quiet revolution is underway. Enter the “sober curious” movement, a term coined by author Ruby Warrington in her book “Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep...
Learn More