If you’re like me, sometimes you find it difficult to establish boundaries in your personal and professional lives. Now, I don’t mean that you or I are being inappropriate, but rather, that we might have trouble with establishing our role within a social system or that we find it difficult to say ‘no’ when someone in our life asks us to do something.

Pop culture has turned Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD) into a quirky, funny character trait, but for those living with this serious psychological disorder, OCD is less of a positive. OCD can be broken down into two parts: obsessions, which are recurrent, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions, behaviors or actions that are repeated to stave off the anxiety brought about by the obsessions.

Depression is a mood disorder that has affected 19 million Americans in the past year according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Depression is more than going through a rough patch or feeling sad, it is a serious condition that is, fortunately, highly treatable with the right resources.

Substance abuse is a serious health issue affecting young adults in America. In spite of the significant impact of addiction on individuals, their families, the healthcare system and economy, substance abuse is acutely undertreated. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there were 5.1 million young adults (aged 18-25) in the United States with a substance use disorder in 2018, but only 547,000 received any form of treatment during that year.

Like all of us, children have trouble managing their emotions and behavior from time to time. Arguments, tantrums and other negative behaviors are normal, particularly when children are hungry, tired, upset or overstimulated. However, when defiance and hostile behavior begin to affect family life, daily functioning or a child’s social or academic performance, it is time to seek professional help.

In 2020, schools and workplaces closed their doors and many of us began operating virtually. All of a sudden, the pandemic had changed how we interacted with our world and many of those changes seem to be here to stay.

When the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm in early 2020, many thought it would be a month or two of inconvenience before we returned to normal. As of August 2021, we are navigating the 'next normal’, a balancing act between protecting health, restoring the economy and attempting to resume normal life.

People who experience Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) feel emotions intensely, and have a hard time regulating them. Returning to a stable emotional state after a triggering event can take an extended period of time and can be more difficult for someone managing BPD. Individuals living with BPD often have poor self-image, insecurity and self-doubt, and the unstable emotions they experience can negatively impact their moods, thinking, behavior, relationships and often even their identity.

Shame plays an important role in keeping our communities and society running smoothly. The unpleasant feeling of humiliation when we perceive we’ve done something wrong is what helps us obey laws and adhere to society’s expectations of us.

Life can be messy, difficult, and painful. Sometimes when the adults in a family are living with, or working through, their own pain, children can bear the brunt of their stress. This most commonly looks like a lack of support, neglect or abuse.

Anxiety is at an all-time high as we navigate a global pandemic, many of us locked down alone, without access to our usual networks of family and friends. According to a 2020 study by the American Psychological Association, 74% of psychologists treating anxiety disorders reported an increase in demand for care during the year.