Why High-Functioning Depression is Not Okay

Posted by Gina Petrella in Blog, Depression High-functioning depression is often given less attention and is regarded with less urgency than more debilitating forms of depression. This isn’t okay and it shouldn’t be considered the ‘norm’.  Just ask anyone who is considered a high-functioning, depressed individual.  The symptoms of high-functioning depression are often the same as more severe cases. However, they may feel or appear less...
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Dark Winter: How to Cope with COVID and Seasonal Depression

Posted by Gina Petrella in Blog, Depression It’s beginning to look a lot like…a long, dark winter. For some people, seasonal depression is nothing new. But, 2020 has been especially difficult already. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging (and even surging) in some parts of the country, seasonal depression may seem overwhelming worse this year.  Seasonal depression can be hard if you struggle with it. You wake up when it’s dark...
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Online Anxiety Treatment: Why It Works

Posted by Gina Petrella in Blog, Online Therapy The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of almost everyone in some way. But, there are two things it has caused that really can’t be denied; an influx of anxiety and a necessary push to take advantage of online resources.  People are working from home, children are going to school remotely, and even telehealth has become more popular than ever. These options were already available and...
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Growth After Trauma: Finding Purpose & Meaning

Posted by Gina Petrella in Blog, Trauma After going through a traumatic experience, it’s normal to grieve. It’s normal to feel as though you’re going through a period of suffering. Many victims of trauma blame themselves and end up feeling guilt or shame for what happened.  As a result, it can be difficult to find any purpose in your life or what you’re doing.  But, it doesn’t have to be that way.  You don’t have to blame yourself for...
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5 Common Defense Mechanisms (& How to Tell if Yours are Holding You Back)

Posted by Gina Petrella in Anxiety, Blog Defense mechanisms are strategies people use to fight back against stress and worry. Everyone uses them at some point, and there are different defenses that seem to work better for some people than others.  Unfortunately, not all defense mechanisms are helpful. First, some of them might be allowing you to ignore reality. When you don’t face your stressors head-on, you’ll never get to the bottom...
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Am I Sad or Depressed? How to Tell and What to Do About It

Posted by Gina Petrella in Blog, Depression It’s perfectly normal to feel sad from time to time. If you’re going through a particularly rough situation or hard time in life, you might have feelings of sadness more than you usually would.  But, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re struggling with depression.  On the other hand, it’s important to recognize depression for what it is. If you do have the signs and symptoms of depression and...
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