The dilemma of the creative process — and this is especially true for artists — is that we impose pressure on ourselves to make impressive, or at least good, creations; they must be meaningful and make sense right off the bat, and if they are none of those things, then self-doubt, fear and discouragement seep in like poison to passion.

Looking for a job while experiencing depression illuminates how thick a slice of self-confidence can be that gets hacked off in the process. Just like that. I’m not talking about the “normal” kind of insecurity that reminds us we’re human. The kind that well meaning friends, family and lovers point to in an effort to bring you some calm, to help you feel not so alone. Because, “everyone feels insecure at some point. You’re not the only one who feels this way.” But it can feel so desperately alon

Social media tends to get a bad rap because of the negative impact it can have on your mental health. That’s not what this post is about. Social media is a tool. We decide how and when to use tools. If you choose to expose yourself to negative content or entangle yourself in interactions that are “bad,” then social media isn’t good for your mental health. But. If you are discerning about the content you seek out and intentional in how you use social media, it can be an amazing addition to your

For the first time, I’m experiencing living without symptoms of depression. It’s wonderful and amazing but it’s taken some getting used to. I’m living a life with stability, ease, and the ability to fully embrace and enjoy the moment. What?!

I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for about three of the past six months. The struggle I’ve been grappling with and have held onto as a “my” struggle for the better part of my 37 years has, in six months, become a “we” struggle.

Finding a therapist is a daunting task. Heck, thinking about starting therapy can be scary and that fear keeps a lot of people from giving it a try. As someone who has been to a motley of therapists over the past twenty years, I can tell you that therapy is scary and uncomfortable; it’s in the discomfort that opportunities for growth are born and realizations are made. Doing therapeutic work is an investment with positive returns that will last your lifetime but you can’t expect that any thera

I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder over twenty years ago and I’ve attempted to manage it with a flurry of medication, therapy, exercise, meditation and so forth. Despite my efforts, I wasn’t able to experience mental stability for more than a few months at a time. Last summer, a very attentive and thorough psychiatrist diagnosed me with Bipolar Disorder (BD). It was huge and a pivotal part of my ability to finally recognize and manage my symptoms. It’s a strange way to describe thi

Despite depression being the most manageable mental health condition, research shows that it will be the top cause of disability in the world by 2020 (Dietrich, 2012; Tan et al., 2014). In developing countries, depression is one of the primary causes of long-term disability and work absences, which creates significant personal, social, and economic costs (p. 1, Joyce et al., 2015). In fact, depression is one of the most costly health problems impacting employee work ability and performance (p. 319, Furlan et al., 2012).

[T]here are currently no treatments specific to addressing adolescent suicidal behavior that qualify as empirically substantiated (Neece, Berk & Combs-Ronto, 2013, p. 257). In other words, because there has not been extensive research of adolescent suicide prevention programs, there are no data available to determine and validate what elements of preventative programs are most effective. Efficacious research is needed in order to develop suicide prevention programs that are scientifically proven to effectively address adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior.

"A recent high school graduate cares for his mother and navigates his first relationship in the wake of his father's suicide." This is an article I wrote for the Seattle International Film Festival about the movie, Say You Will. I interviewed the writer/director and producers about the film, suicide and how it impacts teens.

Good things come to those who persist and work hard, and that’s absolutely the case with Seattle alt-rock band Gypsy Temple’s debut album, King Youngblood. Frontman Cameron Lavi-Jones has spent the last ten years working on the album, an exceptional display of persistence considering he’s just 20 years old. The band’s 11-song record is a sonic amalgam of 90s alt-rock nostalgia, with hard-hitting head bangers like “Heavy Handed” and “Forget About It” (think Alice in Chains and Rage Against the M