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Top 5 Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health | Reduce Stress & Improve Well-Being
TL; DR: Yoga can reduce stress, improve mindfulness, reconnect you with your body, release physical tension, and build emotional resilience. Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and there is a reason people continue to return to it today. While many people think of yoga simply as stretching or exercise, research has consistently shown that it can also improve mental well-being. Whether you're managing everyday stress, anxiety, or simply looking for a healthier w
Bryan Blum
7 hours ago3 min read


Exercise and Mental Health: 5 Science-Backed Benefits Everyone Should Know
TL;DR: Regular exercise can significantly improve mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving sleep, boosting mood through natural brain chemicals, and increasing social connection. A healthy body and a healthy mind go together like peanut butter and jelly. While exercise isn't a cure-all, decades of research show it can be one of the most powerful tools for improving mental well-being. Here are five things everyone should know about exercise and m
Bryan Blum
Jul 133 min read


Why Is My Mind Racing? Five Common Causes of Racing Thoughts and Rumination
TL;DR: Racing thoughts can happen for many reasons, including caffeine, temporary stress, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. The key is understanding the pattern—not jumping to conclusions. Before you go full WebMD and convince yourself that you have the worst possible diagnosis, remember that this article is meant to educate—not diagnose. One symptom can have many different explanations, and understanding those possibilities can help you know when it's time to seek profess
Bryan Blum
Jul 83 min read


How to Be an LGBTQ+ Ally: Five Simple Ways to Show Your Support
TL;DR: Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals doesn't have to be complicated. Educate yourself, vote, advocate, practice empathy, and listen. Small actions can make a big difference. Creating a safe, welcoming, and affirming community takes all of us. Whether you have LGBTQ+ friends, family members, coworkers, clients, or simply want to be a better ally, your actions matter. The good news is that being an ally doesn't require a lot of time or money—just a willingness to learn, support
Bryan Blum
Jun 293 min read


LGBT Therapy Is for Me! How to Find an LGBTQ+ Affirming Provider
TL;DR: To find an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, check their website to see whether they explicitly provide services for LGBTQ+ individuals. During the intake process, pay attention to how they discuss LGBTQ+ topics and ask about their experience working with LGBTQ+ clients and concerns. Navigating the mental health system can be complicated. With so much information available, finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming and confusing. This is especially true for members o
Bryan Blum
Jun 224 min read


It’s Not All Sunshine and Rainbows for LGBTQ+ Youth: 5 Mental Health Facts You Should Know
TL;DR: LGBTQ+ youth continue to experience significant mental health challenges, many of which are influenced by political climates, school environments, and experiences of discrimination. The good news is that support matters—and when LGBTQ+ youth receive affirming support, their mental health outcomes improve dramatically. If you have any familiarity with LGBTQ+ youth, you know that it can be challenging at times just to exist authentically. It should come as no surprise th
Bryan Blum
Jun 153 min read


Mental Health Awareness and Pride Month: Five National LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources
TL;DR: LGBTQ+ individuals often face unique mental health challenges, including discrimination, isolation, and barriers to care. Organizations such as The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, the LGBT National Help Center, The Steve Fund, and the Human Rights Campaign provide valuable support, crisis intervention, education, and community resources. June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the resilience, achievements, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. It is also an oppor
Bryan Blum
Jun 13 min read


Five mental health statistics to make you realize you aren’t alone in the struggle.
TLDR: Rates of mental health concerns are high both worldwide and in the United States. 1. 300 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety disorders. To put that in perspective, there are about 330 million people in the United States, so imagine nearly everyone in the U.S. having mental health concerns. According to the World Health Organization, that’s about 4.5% of the entire population. To put it another way, it’s a lot. 2. One in five people meet criteria for a
Bryan Blum
May 262 min read


Unexpected Warning Signs: 5 Suicide Risk Factors You May Not Realize Are Risk Factors
If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please use free resources such as the national crisis hotline by calling or texting 988, or go to your nearest emergency room. TL;DR: Some lesser-known risk factors for suicide include recent release from a psychiatric hospital, starting antidepressant medication, anger, sudden unexplained improvement, and sometimes no visible signs at all. As part of our Mental Health Awareness series, it’s important to understand tha
Bryan Blum
May 123 min read


Mental Health Awareness for the Mentally Rarest: 5 of the Most Unique Mental Health Conditions
TLDR: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are five mental health conditions you probably haven’t heard of. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! This only applies to people reading in May, but even if you are reading this in June or July, the present is always a good time to be aware of mental health. If you are reading this, you are probably aware of the importance of mental health, as well as some of the more common conditions such as anxiety and depression. That does
Bryan Blum
May 43 min read


Dr. Bryan Blum’s School Survival Guide: How to Thrive During Finals
TLDR: Creating and maintaining a schedule for studying, sleeping, eating, and breaks will help reduce stress and anxiety during finals. One of the best parts of being out of graduate school is no more papers, tests, or homework. Well, there is still grading, but that’s a different problem. Every year, students of all ages dread the upcoming final exam schedule before the sweet, sweet release of summer. I won’t say these five TIPS will eliminate the final blues, but they sure
Bryan Blum
Apr 283 min read


Sensing Success: 5 TIPS for Using All Your Senses in Imagery
TLDR: Engaging all five senses in imagery can boost confidence and improve performance. Everyone talks about the taste of success—but what does it actually taste like? Strawberry? Root beer? Pizza? Believe it or not, victory does have a taste—and a sound, a smell, a look, and a feeling. The more vividly you can imagine success using all your senses, the more likely you are to perform at your best. Here’s how: 1. Sight 👀 Sight is the most obvious way to picture success. Wheth
Bryan Blum
Apr 232 min read


Are You Breathing Correctly? Five TIPS to Help You Use Your Breath for Better Mental Health
TLDR: Taking deep, slow breaths can help ground you, reduce anxiety, and calm your nervous system. Breathing is one of the most interesting bodily functions because it is both automatic and controlled. There is no wrong way to breathe (don’t test that theory), but if you control your breathing in certain ways, it can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system—your “rest and digest” system—and calm you down when you need it most. Here are five ways to get the most out
Bryan Blum
Apr 162 min read


Can Performance Psychology Help You? 5 Ways It Can Improve Your Life
TL;DR: Performance psychology helps people build confidence, manage anxiety, and consistently perform at their best through learnable, practical skills. 1. Everyone Has to Perform Performance isn’t just for athletes or public speakers—it’s part of everyday life. Whether you're an executive presenting in a boardroom, a middle school athlete taking a game-winning shot, or a parent managing a busy household, you are constantly “performing.” Learning how to handle stress and pre
Bryan Blum
Apr 72 min read


The ABC's of OCD: Symptoms, Obsessions, Compulsions & ERP Treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions out there. Somewhere along the way, OCD became shorthand for “I like things organized” or “I’m particular.” That’s not OCD. That’s a preference. Real OCD involves a cycle of intrusive thoughts and behaviors that can take over someone’s day—and their peace of mind. Let’s break it down. Obsessions (The “O” in OCD) If you’ve ever had a song stuck in your head, you know how annoying intr
Bryan Blum
Mar 243 min read


Do I Have ADHD or Is Social Media Misleading Me?
A Clinical Perspective on ADHD Diagnosis TL;DR: ADHD shares symptoms with anxiety, depression, and burnout. The most accurate way to diagnose ADHD is through a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation—not social media. The Rise of ADHD Content on Social Media Social media platforms like TikTok have helped reduce stigma around mental health—but they’ve also blurred the line between education and misinformation. Many people now wonder: “Do I actually have ADHD?” While incre
Bryan Blum
Mar 202 min read


Why Does My Anxiety Keep Coming Back? (And How Do I Stop the Cycle?)
TL;DR: Anxiety → Avoidance → Short-Term Relief → Long-Term Anxiety Growth Meet George. George is a successful businessman who has led his company in sales for three years. He has a plan to start his own business—and he knows he could succeed. But one year passes. Then two. Then five. He never starts. His friends say he “chickened out.” In reality, George is stuck in a cycle that pretty much all of us with anxiety know a little too well. Anxiety Raise your hand if you enjoy f
Bryan Blum
Mar 193 min read


Performance Psychology: Unlocking Your True Potential
In a world where competition is fierce and expectations are high, many people find themselves struggling to reach their full potential....
Bryan Blum
Sep 4, 20255 min read


Understanding Trauma: Healing Through Therapy and Support
Trauma can feel like a heavy weight on your shoulders. It can affect your thoughts, emotions, and even your physical health. Many people...
Bryan Blum
Sep 4, 20254 min read
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