Behavioral Health Clinic

  Muscle tension, sleep disturbance, headaches, fatigue… sound familiar? These physiological sensations can indicate stress. We have all been there- everyone has dealt with stress. However, there are different types of stress, including differences in what is tolerable to each  individual   and variations in coping mechanisms. Let’s start by discussing different kinds of stress, and eventually get into benefits of smaller scale, more manageable stress, and building resilience, so we can cope to the best of our ability. Lastly, we will discuss what coping tools research tells us actually help! Acute stress is brief but intense. Short-term stressors, such as being behind on a looming deadline, cause acute stress. Episodic acute stress can be experienced as regular mini-crises where we live in a state of tension (7). This would include taking on too much responsibility. Chronic stress is long-lasting and has significant effects on the body, including financial difficulties o...

  Artificial intelligence  (AI) is becoming a bigger part of health care, including mental health. You may have seen headlines about chatbots or apps that promise quick fixes for  stress,   depression , or anxiety. While some of these tools show real promise, others can be misleading or even unsafe if not used responsibly. Recently, experts from the American Psychological Association (APA) spoke before Congress about both the benefits and the risks of using AI in mental health care. Here’s what that means for you and your loved ones: How AI Can Help More time with your therapist.  Imagine your therapist spending less time typing notes and more time talking with you. AI can assist with behind-the-scenes “paperwork” tasks, so your provider can focus more on what really matters-your care. Expanded access.  Digital programs and therapeutic apps, when developed and overseen responsibly, can offer evidence-based care to people who might not otherwise be able...

  About PRISM PRISM is a professional/peer-led online support group for LGBTQIA+ youth in Northcentral Wisconsin who may be struggling with identity-related stressors and discrimination in their day-to-day experiences. Youth who identify as LGBTQIA+ often feel isolated from their peers and have minimal support for exploring their identities and feeling more confident in their identity presentation. This group aims to fill a gap in service to youth and provide a safe space to explore identities and process traumas and stressors related to discrimination in their daily lives. Group Location and Time PRISM currently meets online every other Wednesday evening 6–7 pm. See calendar for next session. To be part of these sessions, you must register to receive a link to join. The group meets August through May in line with the school schedule. Should a cancellation occur, a notice will be posted via Facebook and Instagram. Please like and follow Behavioral Health Clinic to receive notices. ...

Where in the world have the past few months gone? Summer came and went before we knew it and Fall is ahead of us. Fall is my favorite time of year, not too hot and not too cold. The leaves change colors and everything pumpkin comes out. Yes, I am that girl, Pumpkin Spice Latte’s, and let’s just be honest, anything pumpkin goes. This time of year, a lot changes, some good, some challenging. School is back in session, parents are running their kids from here to there and back again, attending sporting events and trying to keep up with the household chores. All on top of working, maintaining relationships, and trying to find time to make dinner and get enough sleep. Does this sound like you? Stress can create several changes to our personalities including irritability, lack of interest in taking care of our needs or appearances, social withdrawal and isolation, and procrastination or reduced work productivity. Stress can also create changes to our cognitive functioning including difficult...

One thing that we all can agree is that the global lockdown took its toll on our mental health. It has been more than a year of isolation, anxiety, potential losses, and vagueness. Some saw it as a sneaky way to slow down their lives, while others got stuck in a stressful loop of uncertainty. Months of lockdown sure got our loved ones closer to us. But it abruptly shook our daily life routine. Public health responsibilities (e.g., social distancing, etc.) ignited our stress and anxiety levels- making us lonely and agitated. Fear-based thinking became a pattern, a habit that, for some now has become hard to break. Here below are some hints to overcome unhealthy habits formed during the pandemic. Healthy Ways to Cope With Post-COVID-19 Stress and Anxiety Let’s face it. During stressful quarantine time, we have picked some unhealthy habits such as binge-eating, excess screen time, no workouts, zero productivity, etc. Here are some ways to break the negative thinking and behavior patterns:...

We all have that moment where we feel as if life has taken its toll on us. This emotional tension or unnecessary pressure is what most of us know as stress. There are very many factors in our environment that make us feel under pressure or emotional strain. Bosses and colleagues in jobs, relatives, and neighbors at home or even personal issues such as lack of enough sleep are all possible causes of stress. Dealing with stress remains a very challenging issue because possible stressing situations are part and parcel of life. Stress has been deemed ‘the silent killer’ and this is no surprise since it has a range of harmful effects on your body. Stress causes unnecessary pressure to your body organs and in the worst case scenario, it may lead to organ failure and eventually death. All body systems, from the nervous system to the reproductive system, are affected by stress in one way or another. No one is immune to stress but there are strategies that will help you deal with it and therefo...