If you already have PTSD, you should be wary of being exposed to media coverage of traumatic news events. With the way our society is plugged into around-the-clock news, it would have been impossible for you to avoid some kind of coverage about the Boston Marathon bombing. Whether through radio, tv or the internet, the topic, images and details have played out relentlessly over the past ten days. How has that made you feel? If you're experiencing amplified or renewed PTSD symptoms, there's a reason for that...

A toolbox of creative coping skills can make mental illness recovery easier. It used to be that when I pictured a toolbox, two images come to mind: My toolbox full of art supplies which is used often and the toolbox sitting in storage. It contains hammers and nails and other strange things. But now I think of a toolbox in a new way. A toolbox of creative coping skills is a collection of ideas that we can use to combat, and learn to live with, mental illness.

The reasons that a person might harm themselves are as vast and complex as our individual genetic makeup. However, there seems to be one predominant goal associated with self-harm: release. “I would resort to cutting myself for two reasons: the first being to release the tension, the build-up of emotions and thoughts that I just could not deal with. I wanted to scream but couldn’t,” said Julia P. who has battled and overcome self-harming behavior.

As I write this post, I am attempting to manage a hectic work week. I am in the middle of a 45-hour intensive training, seeing clients, answering emails, and maintaining some of my social life. Is this going as planned? Hardly, but I am accepting that I am doing the best I can. This statement, or the willingness to accept that in the moment you are doing what works to be effective, given the circumstances, is a key component to maintaining a positive relationship with yourself. Beating yourself up, focusing on the “shoulds” or past and not accepting that you are trying, leads to unhealthy and low self-esteem.

Do you want a quick way to take anxiety down a notch? Would you like to undermine the power anxiety has over you by sweeping its feet out from under it? When I feel it intensely, I certainly would! You can take anxiety down a notch before it undermines you!

When you see a child acting out and misbehaving, or an adult who seems unable to focus, connect or control emotions, how often do think to yourself, "Hmmm, I wonder if there's trauma in that person's background..." More often than not we just blame and feel abused and/or frustrated by such behaviors - even when they're our own. Understanding the link between childhood trauma and negative behavior patterns can be critical to treating them.

Parenting a child with mental illness is challenging enough. Add to that a snarky attitude and it does not bode well for anyone. So what do you do with a stinky, snarky attitude? Unfortunately, you need to deal with it. For example, Bob's 12 now and has been increasingly responding rudely and disrespectful towards me (which upsets me to no end because I'm his mother & primary caregiver). Beyond the usual suspects for snarky attitude - physical illness, hunger or fatigue, Bob's attitude can be attributed to the onset of puberty. But, some of it is also due to his inattentiveness and impulsivity (symptoms of ADHD-combined). When on medication, Bob's mouth is less rude. Once the Concerta (12-hour release) is out of his system, there comes the 'tude. Bob has a tendency to express more negative attitude as a result. After my own Saturday dose of snark from Bob, I came up with  some tips on how not to get frustrated when Bob's mouth runs away with itself.

The Internet is a repository for mental illnesses of every description, but did you know that the Internet is also one of the leading causes of mental illness? That’s the conclusion of researchers at The Institute for Advanced Study of Studied Institutionalization (IASSI) who recently published a comprehensive white paper detailing their findings. At a recent press briefing, IASSI spokesman Reginald Frampton elaborated. “Mentally Ill People, referred to as MIPs in our document, are particularly susceptible to the sustained level of psychosis that characterizes Internet traffic. “MIPs are already having difficulty sorting out what’s real from what’s not, and extended immersion in the stew of dementia found in Facebook and other so called 'social networking' sites – which we at the institute call ‘nutworking’ sites – exacerbates an already worrisome situation. “Unlike most think tank studies, which are roughly as deep as a Frisbee or the typical TED Talk, we have provided 5 action steps which, if aggressively implemented, will make the Internet safer for MIPs, and a whole lot less tiresome and irritating for non-MIPs. Here they are.

Recent events have left us, as a nation, shocked and disturbed. For me, the explosion in West, Texas hits closer to home than the bombing of the Boston Marathon since I used to live in nearby Waco. And the floods in the Midwest are literally a few miles from my apartment. Sometimes our emotions and mental health symptoms can get triggered by national tragedy. So how do we emotionally handle a disaster?

The question of whether or not to take stimulant medications for adult ADHD has been discussed vigorously. I believe strongly that taking Ritalin, or the equivalent at times, has helped me to function as the adult I want to be. I spent 2009 mostly not taking any stimulants and not only did my work ethic become nonexistent, but I didn't like myself as much.  I look forward to hearing your opinions on this!