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How many of us have seen the stereotypical group of retired guys sitting at McDonald's in the morning drinking coffee together and solving the world's problems? This practice of regularly getting together with friends and sharing life is a powerful mental health tool.

Building relationships with your neighbor can become a powerful tool in your mental health toolbox. Part of a healthy mental health strategy includes tending to the relationships we have with our family, friends, and neighbors.

The act of forgiving can reverse these negatives by calming the body’s stress response. Through practicing forgiveness, you can reap rewards for your health such as lowering the risk of heart attack, improving cholesterol levels, better sleep, reducing blood pressure, and lessening your experience of anxiety, depression and stress.

In 2001, the National Center for Addictions declared the fourth Monday of September as National Family Day to promote families setting down in the evenings and having dinner together. Their research found that adolescents who ate meals with their families three or more times per week were less likely to use drugs or alcohol.

Often suicide and addiction are manifestations of dealing with the self-incrimination that occurs as a result of childhood trauma. Sixty six percent of adults have experienced an adverse childhood experience meaning they lived with abuse, neglect, parental separation, or loss.  A negative self-image, flashbacks, anxiety, and depression can all stem from childhood trauma. These behavioral health issues then, correlate with both suicidal thinking and addiction.

One of the most common catalysts for substance abuse is adverse childhood experiences. In fact, for every adverse childhood experience encountered, the risk of substance use increases. Experiencing some form of abuse, neglect, loss or lack of stability in childhood happens to most people. Research indicates 66% of us have had at least one childhood trauma.

Repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug addiction are at increased risk for returning to use even after years of not taking the drug. Like other chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment requires action and diligence, and it should be ongoing and tailored to the individual.

A new school year is here. With it can come anxiety about the unknown, but also comes opportunities for developing problem solving and life skills. One of the best ways to manage anxiety is to get organized. Parents...work with your children to plan their time. Make a plan for each day about when they will do their schoolwork, when they will do chores, when they will do hobbies or extracurricular activities, and when they will have down time.

Governor DeWine has declared today Overdose Awareness Day. If you have an addiction to opioids or drugs of any kind, you already know that recovery is going to require change. You may fear both the physical and emotional withdrawal you'll experience from not having the substance. Recovery is within your reach. There are amazing medical and behavioral health supports in our area that will help you be successful. The first step is to talk  to a safe and trusted support person, and tell them you need help. At Appleseed  you'll find there are caring people who will go the rest of the journey with you.

If you are a parent of preschoolers, you have been placed in the privileged position of building our next generation. Though raising preschoolers has moments of challenge, building fun and learning into your parenting practice makes the job all the more rewarding. You’re bonding with your children and they’re learning and growing along the way!

The World Health Organization reports that COVID-19 has been followed by a 25% increase in anxiety and depression around the world. They cite loneliness and isolation as a primary contributing factor. If you are a person who has been experiencing increased anxiety or depression over the past three years, here are three things you can do to help,

Today is August 12th, and on this day in 1877 Thomas Edison completed his first model of the phonograph. The way we listen to music has changed a lot since then, and it can be a powerful tool in helping you to reduce stress.