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The Bloom & Thrive Blog
Learn more about a variety of mental health concerns.
The Science Behind EMDR: How It Helps Rewire the Brain
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a unique, evidence-based therapy that has become popular in the last several years for how effective it is in treating trauma. Still, many people are unclear about how EMDR actually works—especially when it comes to the science behind it. Here are the neurological underpinnings of EMDR and how this therapy helps rewire the brain after trauma.
Uneven Expectations: How Women Shoulder the Weight of Emotional Labor
Emotional labor is the unpaid, unacknowledged emotional work involved in keeping up a household, workplace, and relationships. It includes a wide range of responsibilities, such as:
Offering emotional support to friends, family, and coworkers
Anticipating the needs of others and acting accordingly
Mediating conflicts and smoothing over tensions
Managing household tasks and schedules, often referred to as the “mental load”
Unlike physical labor, emotional labor is often taken for granted. It’s expected but not always acknowledged. When it is done well, it is largely invisible. It also has no concrete beginning and end—emotional labor is continuous. For women especially, this creates a constant burden that can be mentally and emotionally draining.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work?
If you’re looking for a fast and effective way to address trauma, anxiety, or other mental health issues, you may have come across accelerated resolution therapy (ART). This fairly new approach is gaining attention for its ability to provide relief from distressing memories and emotions in a relatively short amount of time. But what exactly is ART, and how does it work?
How Do I Know If I Have Postpartum Anxiety?
Bringing a new baby into the world should be one of life’s most joyous experiences, but it can also be deeply emotionally challenging. While most people have heard of postpartum depression (PPD), fewer are aware of postpartum anxiety (PPA). This condition is just as real, just as distressing, and just as deserving of attention and care. Here are the common symptoms and what you can do if you suspect you have postpartum anxiety.
Striving for Perfection: The Hidden Pressure Women Face Every Day
From the workplace to social media, from family life to friendships, the pressure for a woman to be perfect can be overwhelming. The expectation to balance a successful career, a thriving social life, and a perfectly curated home while maintaining an ideal appearance is a weight many women silently carry. But what does this pressure to be perfect truly cost?
Understanding the Role of Codependency in Romantic Relationships
We usually have the deepest connections with our romantic partners. However, relationships can also become a breeding ground for unhealthy dynamics if we’re not mindful of the patterns we bring into them. One dynamic that can quietly undermine relationships is codependency, which can have a significant impact on the health of both partners. Understanding its role in your relationship is important for having a more balanced, loving, and fulfilling dynamic.
Helpful Strategies for Coping with Political Threats Against Women’s Rights
All over the world, women’s rights have come under fire recently. Anti-women sentiment has ramped up with the goal of restricting bodily autonomy and women’s independence. Threats to reproductive health access, workplace equity, and personal safety are leaving women and their allies feeling deeply distressed.
If you’re grappling with the difficulty of the political situation, you’re not alone. Here are strategies that can help you cope, stay resilient, and take meaningful action.
5 Essential Benefits of Counseling for Young Adults You Need to Know
If you're a young adult considering counseling, you may be wondering how it can help. Time spent with a qualified counselor can bring about significant changes in your relationships, mental health, and overall wellbeing.
A Guide to Overcoming Codependency
Codependency is a toxic relationship dynamic that can cause trauma, emotional burnout, and a loss of your sense of self. If you find yourself consistently sacrificing your own needs to support or please others, it’s time to explore the roots of these patterns and take steps toward a healthier way of relating. Here’s how to recognize codependency and begin to overcome it.
Is It Normal to Experience a Gender Identity Crisis as an Adult?
So many of our conversations about gender identity revolve around kids and teens. After all, we expect that our gender identity is something we should have “figured out” by the time we become adults. But of course, this isn’t always the case. If you’re an adult questioning your gender identity, know that you’re far from alone, and this experience is more common than society often acknowledges.
5 Ways EMDR Therapy Helps to Relieve Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy is a powerful tool for dealing with psychological trauma. With its ability to help people process traumatic events, it can bring about improvements in symptomatology in ways that surpass those seen with traditional therapy alone.
Want to Know if You've Got the Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
The days and months after having a baby can be overwhelming, but it's important to watch out for signs of postpartum depression (PPD). Read this guide to find out the difference between the baby blues and PPD.
Improve Your Mental Health: 5 Things That Help and Hurt
In this article, we'll explore the dos and don'ts of maintaining a healthy mind. We'll cover five key things you need to know to take care of your mental health, including practical tips and strategies to help you stay grounded amidst the chaos.
Resilience in Crisis: How to Cope with Trauma During Political Unrest
The last few years have been a bit of a whirlwind in the world of politics. We’ve gone through tumultuous elections, insurrections, major changes and shifts in power, and so much more. On top of it, we’ve also had to deal with a global pandemic, inflation, and other big changes to the economy that have caused extreme stress for many families.
Why Social Media Shouldn't Make You Feel Like a Terrible Parent
Do you find that social media is turning you into a more insecure parent? Do you look at other people’s posts and feel like they have everything figured out, while you struggle to keep your head above water? Do you see others traveling with their families and feel like a bad parent for not being able to give your children the same opportunities? Maybe it’s time to find a therapist for postpartum depression and anxiety in MN or AZ.
5 Mindfulness Therapy Techniques To Help You Manage Anxiety Symptoms
When you’re happy, you may want to sing in the shower or hang out with friends. When you’re sad, you may listen to music. If you’re angry, you may scream into your pillow or hit up your gym. Different emotions require different techniques to help you sort through what you’re feeling. Every single person in the world can experience different emotions, even during a twenty-four-hour period.
Don't Stop Your LGBTQ+ Allyship After Pride Month is Over
The month of June is known as Pride Month. Companies change their logos to a rainbow color scheme. LGBTQ+ flags are proudly displayed at homes. Stores offer a spectrum of pride-related clothing, accessories, and other merchandise. Some towns have pride parades where people gather to show their support.
Rainbow Washing in Corporate America. How to Authentically Support the LGBTQ+ Community
Corporate pride campaigns have become ubiquitous during the month of June, with companies adorning their logos with rainbow colors and proclaiming their support for the LGBTQ+ community, also know as, rainbow washing.
Want More Free Time? Start with These Effective strategies to Overcome Procrastination
Are you tired of constantly putting things off and feeling unproductive? Do you find yourself making endless to-do lists, only to watch as the tasks pile up and overwhelm you? It's time to break free from procrastination and unlock your true productivity potential by seeing a therapist.