Footprints to Recovery, Mental Health Treatment Program in NJ

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Mental Health Categories

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Depression

Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Tips for Beating the Winter Blues

Key Takeaways: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a winter-linked form of depression: SAD is triggered by shorter days and reduced sunlight and affects about 5% of Americans annually, producing symptoms like low mood, fatigue, hypersomnia, and carbohydrate cravings. Light therapy is a primary treatment: Exposure to bright artificial light that

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Choosing the Best Inpatient Mental Health Facilities in New Jersey
Behavioral Therapy

Choosing the Best Inpatient Mental Health Facilities in New Jersey 

Key Takeaways Inpatient care in NJ offers round-the-clock support. Inpatient mental health treatment provides a safe, structured residential setting with 24/7 care, therapy, and supervision for individuals with serious mental health needs. Personalized, comprehensive treatment matters. The best facilities tailor care with individualized plans that include clinical assessments, evidence-based therapies,

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What Is Outpatient Mental Health Treatment?
Holistic Treatment

What Is Outpatient Mental Health Treatment? 

Key Takeaways: Outpatient mental health treatment provides structured care without hospitalization, allowing individuals to attend therapy and return home afterward while continuing daily life. Multiple program options are available, including standard outpatient therapy, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), depending on individual needs. Treatment is flexible, personalized,

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Behavioral Therapy

Winter Blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder? How to Tell the Difference

Key Takeaways: Winter blues vs. SAD: Many people feel mild seasonal sadness in fall/winter (“winter blues”), but Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a diagnosable depressive condition with more severe and persistent symptoms. SAD is linked to reduced sunlight: Decreases in daylight can disrupt circadian rhythms and neurotransmitters like serotonin and

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Tips for Making a Depression Treatment Plan
Behavioral Therapy

Tips for Making a Depression Treatment Plan

Key Takeaways: A depression treatment plan is a personalized roadmap: It outlines specific goals, interventions (therapy, medication, lifestyle changes), and timelines to help manage symptoms and improve well-being. Set SMART goals: Clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives help guide treatment and track progress (e.g., improving mood or sleep). Use

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Drawing and Depression
Depression

Drawing and Depression: Using Art for Healing

Key Takeaways Art therapy offers a non-verbal way to express emotions: Drawing and other creative activities help people with depression communicate internal feelings that may be difficult to put into words. Drawing specifically can support emotional regulation and mindfulness: It allows individuals to externalize complex feelings on paper, which can

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Mental Illness in New Jersey
Behavioral Therapy

How Prevalent Is Mental Illness in New Jersey? 

Key Takeaways:  High rates of mental health conditions: About 1 in 5 New Jersey adults experience a mental health disorder each year, and roughly 4.2% live with serious mental illness, showing that mental illness is a common public health issue in the state.  Youth experience notable distress: Approximately 13.5% of

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of BPD in Men? 
Behavioral Therapy

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of BPD in Men?

Key Takeaways:  Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects men and women at similar rates, but BPD in men is often overlooked or misdiagnosed due to differences in symptom expression and lower help-seeking behaviors. Men with BPD are more likely to exhibit externalizing symptoms such as impulsivity, intense anger, substance abuse, aggression,

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Is Unipolar Depression the Same Thing as Major Depression
Depression

Is Unipolar Depression the Same Thing as Major Depression?

Key Takeaways:  Unipolar depression is major depression: Clinically, the terms unipolar depression and major depression (Major Depressive Disorder, MDD) are used interchangeably to describe the same condition—a persistent depressive state without mania. Core symptoms involve prolonged low mood: People with unipolar/major depression experience persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities,

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Postpartum Depression Treatment
Depression

Postpartum Depression Treatment: Finding Hope and Help

Key Takeaways:  Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious, common condition: It goes beyond “baby blues” and affects approximately 1 in 6–7 women after childbirth, with symptoms like persistent sadness, anxiety, fatigue, and difficulty bonding with the baby. PPD impacts both mothers and families: Untreated PPD can interfere with daily functioning,

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