“Taking care of your mental health is important. Sometimes that can be as simple as working more self-care into your day. Other times, you might need a little extra assistance from a mental health support group. A support group can be helpful for connecting with others who are going through your same situation and for learning new coping strategies.
You can find a variety of mental health support and therapy groups in both in-person and virtual formats. They can be run by nonprofits, hospitals, peer support specialists, or licensed professionals. The good news is, you often can join them for free or a very low fee.
Here is a guide to finding free and low-cost mental health support groups near you.”
Following the COVID pandemic, many professionals have predicted a “second pandemic” of mental health problems. The lockdown, the fears, the housing and supply shortages, more alcohol consumption, less physical activity, … all of these things combine to cause strain on our emotions and mental health.
The relationship between trauma and PTSD (post-traumatic distress syndrome) first came to light when we recognized the impact of war on our soldiers. But PTSD isn’t limited to military conflict. As you’ll see, many types of trauma trigger PTSD. When unrecognized and untreated, the pain lasts a lifetime.