Top of Mind
Helpful articles to help you better understand mental health issues.
Ketamine Treatment for Mental Illness
September 27, 2024
By: Laurie Little, PsyD Chief Patient Experience Officer and Staff Psychologist, Lindner Center of HOPE In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative and innovative treatments for mental illness. Among these novel approaches, ketamine has emerged as a promising treatment for […]Understanding Executive Functioning Skills and Self-Regulation in Children and Teens
September 10, 2024
By Stacey Spencer, EdD Lindner Center of Hope, Staff Psychologist Executive functioning and self-regulation are crucial skills for children and teens to learn to best manage their academic, social and personal lives. These skills are not just abstract concepts but are foundational to a child’s ability to succeed in various aspects of […]Feeling Blue vs. Being Depressed: What Is the Difference?
August 19, 2024
Almost everyone has felt “down in the dumps” at times or had a case of “the blues.” In this state, you may have referred to yourself as feeling depressed. But is this really clinical depression? An estimated 25 percent of Americans suffer from major depression. So what distinguishes the common “down” feelings felt by most […]Hope: The Expectation of Good Things To Come
August 16, 2024
Cultivating hope to improve wellbeing By Elisha Eveleigh Clipson, Ph.D. Child and Adolescent Psychologist Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience Why hope? Daring to hope improves our overall well-being. People with more hope report less anxiety, depression and stress. Hopeful employees are more productive […]Cannabis Withdrawal
July 12, 2024
By Erin Snider, APRN, PMHNP-BC With the increased availability and potency of cannabis, the potential for “addiction” has never been more relevant. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V (DSM-V) does not use the term “addiction” but classifies the diagnosis as “Cannabis Use Disorder” from mild to severe. The diagnostic criteria […]Depression in Young Adults: How to Help
June 28, 2024
By Laurie Little, PsyD Lindner Center of HOPE, psychologist Depression can occur at any age. It does not discriminate. However, recent research suggests that young adults are experiencing symptoms of depression at higher rates than ever. There are many theories about why this is so, including the proliferation of social […]Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
June 13, 2024
by Dawn Anderson LPCCS Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) is the medical format for incorporating what we commonly refer to as LGBTQ information about those we serve in the medical community. The acronym LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning or queer. Sexual orientation describes the attraction […]Everyday Ways to Practice Mindfulness
May 15, 2024
by Jessica Kraft, MSN, PMHNP-BC Anxiety and mood disorders are amongst the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the United States. While many find successful treatment through various psychotherapies or medications targeted at managing anxiety and depression, no medication will magically take away all anxiety or life stressors and it […]Embracing Authenticity and Vulnerability
May 2, 2024
By: Elisabeth Renner LPCC-S, Lindner Center of HOPE Outpatient Therapist In the journey of mental health and personal growth, two concepts stand out as essential: authenticity and vulnerability. These are not just buzzwords; they represent profound paths to healing and self-discovery. Drawing insights from the writings of physician and author Gabor Maté, […]Demystifying Detox
May 2, 2024
Drug and alcohol detoxification, commonly referred to as detox, is the process by which an individual’s body clears itself of substances such as drugs and alcohol. It involves the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from the body, typically under the supervision of medical professionals. The primary goal of detoxification is to manage the […]It Might Not Be Autism
April 22, 2024
Elisha Eveleigh Clipson, Ph.D. Child Psychologist, Lindner Center of HOPE Assistant Professor – Clinical, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience Parents bring their children for psychological testing to answer the same question: How do I best help my child navigate through life? Increased autism awareness has led […]Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD
April 10, 2024
By: Dr. Nicole Bosse, PsyD, Lindner Center of HOPE OCD is a disorder that responds very well to a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention. Brain imaging studies found that people with OCD have excessive levels of activity in the orbital cortex, the caudate nucleus, the cingulate gyrus, and the […]What’s the Difference Between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)?
March 20, 2024
By Jennifer B. Wilcox Berman, PsyD, Lindner Center of HOPE OCD and OCPD are often mistaken for one another or used interchangeably. Although there is some overlap between the two disorders, it’s important to distinguish between them because they are quite different in many ways. It is important to note that […]The metamorphosis of motherhood
March 6, 2024
Kaila Busken, Lindner Center of HOPE, Licensed Independent Social Worker One moment you are bursting at the seams with overwhelming joy. Every fiber of your being is filled with love for this tiny human being in your arms. Looking in your baby’s eyes, you feel like you have found your life’s purpose. And still, motherhood […]Professional Discussion of Anxiety Disorders: OCD, Somatic Symptom Disorder, or Illness Anxiety Disorder?
February 16, 2024
By Angela Couch, RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Lindner Center of HOPE, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Hypochondriasis has been replaced in the DSM 5 by Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) or Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD), both categorized under Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. Previous diagnoses classified under Somatoform Disorders were often interpreted with a negative connotation, implying that the […]Understanding the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: The Two Spectrums of Mood
February 15, 2024
By Peter White, M.A., LPCC, LICDC, Lindner Center of Hope Outpatient Therapist What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder? The symptoms of bipolar disorder often involve a pattern of swings of the essential elements of mood between the two poles, like the North Pole and South Pole, of Mania and Depression. These swings are not […]Dangers of Dieting: Why Dieting Can Be Harmful
February 8, 2024
BY: Anna Guerdjikova, PhD, LISW, CCRC, Lindner Center of HOPE Director of Administrative Services, Harold C. Schott Foundation Eating Disorders Program University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry, Research Assistant Professor An estimated 45 million Americans diet each year and spend $33 billion annually on weight loss products. WebMD lists over 100 different diets, starting […]Is it Trauma?
January 18, 2024
Sidney Hays, MSW, LISW, DARTT, Outpatient Therapist, Lindner Center of HOPE “Trauma” has been a buzzword in recent years. Accompanying it has been discourse around what counts as trauma. From the extreme of exaggerating minor inconveniences as trauma to the opposite end of the spectrum which attempts […]Managing your mental health while coping with chronic illness
January 5, 2024
Heather Melena, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Lindner Center of HOPE Living with a chronic illness can be difficult to manage not only physically but also emotionally and mentally as well. The challenges that can come with chronic illness include learning to cope with the symptoms of that diagnosis, figuring […]Postpartum Depression Facts
December 22, 2023
By Danielle Beltz, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Lindner Center of HOPE Pregnancy and childbirth can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things a woman can do in her lifetime but can hand in hand be one of most challenging and emotionally taxing times. A female goes through not only physical changes throughout […]