Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh Mental Health Blog - Part 3

Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghDecember 20, 2024 gender roles, men's mental health, men's mental health awareness, men's mental health statistics, men's mental health stigma, mens mental health, toxic masculinity0 comments

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...

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...

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...

Choice Theory: Can Our Choices Shape Our Well-Being?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghNovember 14, 2024 accountability, basic needs, belonging, choice theory, choices, decision making, decisions, Emotional Health, emotional intelligence, emotional iq, emotional resilience, empowerment, personal power, personal responsibility, resilience, responsibility0 comments

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...

Pet Loss: Validating Grief Often Overlooked by Society

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghOctober 25, 2024 death of a pet, death of pet, disenfranchised grief, grief, grief counseling, grieving process, mourning, pet loss, types of grief0 comments

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...

How Feeling Left Out Affects Mental Health

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghOctober 22, 2024 belonging, complex post traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, cptsd, feeling left out, hopelessness, invalidation, isolation, lack of belonging, loneliness, low self esteem, self compassion, social isolation, support system, toxic family, toxic relationships, trauma0 comments

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...

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...

Bed Rotting: Self Care or Slippery Slope to Depression?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghAugust 29, 2024 bed rotting, bed rotting trend, depression, depression counseling, Depression in Men, depression therapy, depressive episode, gen z, generation z, major depressive disorder, managing depression, self care, tik tok, what is bed rotting, worsening depression0 comments

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...

Suicide Prevention: What to Say and What Not to Say

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghAugust 26, 2024 suicide, suicide awareness, suicide awareness month, suicide prevention, suicide prevention month, suicide warning signs, what not to say to someone who is suicidal, what to say to someone who is suicidal0 comments

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...

Emotional Invalidation, cPTSD, and Its Lasting Impact

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghAugust 21, 2024 ACEs, adult children of emotionally immature parents, Adverse Childhood Experiences, childhood trauma, complex post traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, cptsd, effects of emotional invalidation, emotional invalidation, emotional invalidation examples, invalidating, validation0 comments

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...

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...

What Makes Someone a Hoarder?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghJuly 19, 2024 clutter, hoarder, hoarding behaviors, hoarding disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD0 comments

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,...

Your Guide to Compassionate Listening Skills

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghJune 18, 2024 active listening, communication, communication exercises, compassionate listening, conversations for couples, couples communication, good listening skills, how to improve listening skills, listening, listening skills0 comments

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...

Do I Have ADHD or Am I Just Lazy?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghJune 7, 2024 ADHD, ADHD / ADD, ADHD in women, adhd testing, am i lazy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, do i have adhd, lazy0 comments

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...

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....

Understanding The Highly Sensitive Person

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghMay 7, 2024 complex trauma, cptsd, highly sensitive person, highly sensitive person symptoms, highly sensitive person traits, HSPs, trauma0 comments

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...

Self Diagnosis: Do I Have ADHD? Do I Have Autism?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghApril 25, 2024 ADHD, ADHD / ADD, ADHD in women, adhd testing, ASD, ASDs, autism, autism spectrum disorder, autism spectrum disorders, do i have adhd, do i have autism, neurodivergence, neurodiversity, neurotypical, self diagnosis, self-diagnosis0 comments

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...

The Sober Curious Movement Popularized by Gen Z

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghApril 19, 2024 gen z, generation z, millennials, sober curious, sober curious movement, sober life, Sobriety0 comments

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...

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