Grief and loss are almost always part of the mixed bag of emotions that the Holiday season brings

The holidays are quickly approaching and not everyone is feeling the holiday cheer. For many, the holiday season is synonymous with stress and if you’re one of the millions living with a mental illness, you know that stress can trigger or worsen symptoms of your illness. That’s why it’s important to understand what your triggers are and come up with ways to cope. 

5 Tips for Navigating the Holidays if You’re Newly Sober

When College Kids Come Home for the Holidays

Family Dynamics Around the Thanksgiving Table

You would be surprised at the number of packaged and already cooked foods that contain small amounts of alcohol, including many specialty foods found in delicatessen or gourmet shops. Pure vanilla and almond extract, and some brands of Dijon mustard are examples. Marinara sauce with wine, whipped cream and even fruit cake can all pose problems. For many of us this is not an issue. Adding “a little something extra” can make any meal special, especially during the holidays.

With preparation and self-care, you can make the holiday season fun and enjoyable again.

It seems like as soon as we take off our Halloween costumes, we fast forward into the holiday season. Before you know it, all of the relatives will be gathered around the holiday table. While this time of year is supposed to be joyful and fun, many people feel like pulling the covers over their heads until the New Year.

As the year comes to a close many people look at the new year as a fresh start. People make resolutions to lose weight, eat healthy and save money, but what about mental health? Who wouldn't want to be happier and less stressed? We put so much emphasis on physical health and often ignore the fact that a person needs to be well, both physically and mentally, in order to be a healthy person. 

The holiday season is filled with gifts, get-togethers and tons of food and treats. From cookies at the office to department dinners, we are surrounded by unhealthy food choices and often give in to temptation with the intention of losing the extra pounds in the new year. Of course it’s not wrong to indulge a little during the holidays, but moderation is key. Not only do the extra treats wreak havoc on your waistline, but they can worsen mental health conditions too. 

It’s a triple whammy. Most of us go from the warmth of Thanksgiving, to the exuberance of Christmas and Hanukkah, right to the excitement of New Year’s – and then what? Then we face the cold hard truth of January and February – the two most barren months of the year. You are not alone if you feel blue just anticipating next week when all the hubbub of the holidays is over. If you take Google Trends to be an indication of how we are collectively feeling, searches for the words “depression,” “depressed,” and “sad” spike beginning the last week in December and don’t decline until April.

Focus on Year-Round Self-Improvement Instead Who doesn’t want to lose a few pounds, eat healthier, save more money or give up bad habits like smoking? The New Year seems to bring about pressure to improve ourselves. Every year about 45% of Americans make resolutions, but only about 8% achieve their goal. Why?

Strategies to help you enjoy every aspect of the holidays, including the food. You may be surprised that Silver Hill Hospital prepares holiday feasts for our patients and their families to enjoy. This is because we believe food is an integral part of every holiday celebration, and we want our families to enjoy the moment together.

The holidays are quickly approaching and many parents are eager to have their children home from college, but the son or daughter they dropped off in August may not seem like the same one that returns for the holiday season.

Did you make New Year’s Resolutions? Many who did won't keep them. Our President and Medical Director, Sig Ackerman, MD., shares his thoughts on this tradition.

Holiday celebrations and alcohol seem to go hand-in-hand for many, but for the 18 million Americans who have an alcohol use disorder the season might be a struggle, especially with the added stress that comes along this time of year.

If you're avoiding alcohol this holiday season, try one of these festive alcohol-free drinks.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … or is it? Instead of enjoying the holiday season, many people seem to dread it and feel relieved when it’s over. The stress of family gatherings, holiday feasts, and shopping take over and the joy of the season quickly disappears. But it doesn’t have to.

St. Patrick’s Day, a wonderful celebration of Irish culture, is this Saturday. A time of family, friends and proud heritage. A day when even those of us not of Irish descent celebrate this warm and vibrant culture.

College kids are coming home! You eagerly anticipate their arrival, clean their room and cook their favorite meals. This is a time to reconnect. Find out what’s going on in their lives. Create some wonderful memories. And then the fighting begins...

Thanksgiving is often thought of as a time of warmth and happiness, family gathered around the table creating wonderful family memories. But for many of us, it can also be a time of angst and anxiety. There are many reasons you may feel stress. Perhaps you are a student struggling with school and are afraid of criticism from your family. You may be unemployed and don't want to face questions about your job search or finances. Maybe you’ve put on or lost "too much" weight this year and are feeling self conscious. If you have been struggling with depression, mood swings or anxiety, you may be more emotionally vulnerable. This time of year could remind you of someone who has become ill, passed away or moved.