Something To Think About: “If you’re not making someone else’s life better, then you’re wasting your time. Your life will become better by making other lives better.” – Will Smith Did You Know? In the United States, about 1 in 40 adults & 1 in 100 children have OCD. And according to the World Health Organization, OCD is one of the top 20 causes of illness-related disability, worldwide. “Help & Strategies For Parents Of Children With Challenging Behaviors”: ONLINE webinar & discussion (Limited Space Available) Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm (Central Time) Raising children and teens is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences for parents. It can also be very challenging, frustrating, and anxiety provoking.This webinar and discussion will provide a great deal of information and hands-on strategies to help parents. The training is led by Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW & Dr. Bryan Pearlman, EdD. More information at: https://squareup.com/store/MostValuablePD/item/parent-webinar TED Talk – “Good And Bad Are Incomplete Stories We Tell Ourselves” Heather Lanier’s daughter Fiona has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a genetic condition that results in developmental delays — but that doesn’t make her tragic, angelic or any of the other stereotypes about kids like her. In this talk about the beautiful, complicated, joyful and hard journey of raising a rare girl, Lanier questions our assumptions about what makes a life “good” or “bad,” challenging us to stop fixating on solutions for whatever we deem not normal, and instead to take life as it comes. https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_lanier_good_and_bad_are_incomplete_stories_we_tell_ourselves/details Article – “Teens Are Texting & Using Social Media Instead Of Reading” A new study has alarming findings, but is probably not surprising to anyone who knows a teenager: High-schoolers today are texting, scrolling and using social media instead of reading books and magazines. In their free time, American adolescents are cradling their devices hours each day rather than losing themselves in print or long-form media, according to research published Monday by the American Psychological Association. In fact, 1 in 3 U.S. high school seniors did not read a book for pleasure in 2016. In the same time period, 82 percent of 12th-graders visited sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram every day. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2018/08/20/for-american-teens-texting-and-social-media-are-replacing-books/?utm_term=.d9d31963ab7d Therapy Options – In-Person & ONLINE: Our practice offers both in-person and ONLINE appointments that are ultra-convenient. Please let us know if we can be of assistance. We work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families. We can get someone in to be seen with in a few days (if not sooner). Thank you! Follow Me On Twitter (I Follow Back): Take care and have a great weekend! Lena Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates STLmentalhealth.com 655 Craig Road, Suite 300 St. Louis, MO 63141 314-942-1147 doctor@STLmentalhealth.com
9-1-2018 We hope you enjoy the holiday weekend! “Around a third of parents still worry that they will look like a bad mother or father if their child has a mental health problem. Parenting is hard enough without letting prejudices stop us from asking for help we need for ourselves and our children.” – Kate Middleton Something To Think About: 11.01% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Major Depression is marked by significant and pervasive feelings of sadness that are associated with suicidal thoughts and impair a young person’s ability to concentrate or engage in normal activities. Follow Me On Twitter (I Follow Back): TED Talk – “How I Use Minecraft To Help Kids With Autism”: The internet can be an ugly place, but you won’t find bullies or trolls on Stuart Duncan’s Minecraft server, AutCraft. Designed for children with autism and their families, AutCraft creates a safe online environment for play and self-expression for kids who sometimes behave a bit differently than their peers (and who might be singled out elsewhere). Learn more about one of the best places on the internet with this heartwarming talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_duncan_how_i_use_minecraft_to_help_kids_with_autism Article – “6 Things To Know About Childhood Depression” Childhood depression, on the other hand, is a serious mental health condition that is often overlooked because childhood is largely characterized by emotional shifts and evolving friendships. We expect kids to experience some conflict with friends and other struggles as they learn and grow. On the other hand, parents are not conditioned to look for signs of a major depressive episode in young children. But with the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsing a universal depression screening for adolescents ages 12 and up, it’s time to raise awareness about childhood depression. https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2018-04-25/6-things-to-know-about-childhood-depression We Are Accepting New Patients: Our practice sees kids, teens, adults, couples and families in our St. Louis office and ONLINE. We are staffed to ensure that we can get someone in to be seen within a couple days (if not sooner). Please contact us at: 314-942-1147, bryan@STLmentalhealth.com or www.STLmentalhealth.com. Upcoming Online Trainings (Through MostValuablePD.com) (With Graduate Credit Option Through Lindenwood University) Please share with your friends and colleagues. Thank you! 9/5/2018 from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Central Time) Explosive, Defiant & Oppositional Behaviors https://squareup.com/store/MostValuablePD/item/behaviors 9/11/2018 from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Central Time) Low level Classroom Disruptions https://squareup.com/store/MostValuablePD/item/disruptions 9/13/2018 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Central Time) I’m Sad, Mad & Traumatized… And You Still Expect Me To Learn? https://squareup.com/store/MostValuablePD/item/trauma 9/20/2018 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Central Time) Low Level Classroom Disruptions https://squareup.com/store/MostValuablePD/item/disruptions-1 Take care, Lena Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates STLmentalhealth.com 655 Craig Road, Suite 300 St. Louis, MO 63141 314-942-1147 doctor@STLmentalhealth.com
10 Ways to Promote Positive Mental Health in Your Children By: Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW We receive many questions about what parents can do to help promote positive mental health in their children. Below please find 10 ways to promote positive mental health in your children: 1.) Sunlight Find outdoor activities to participate in with your children. Being inside all day, deprives our body of nature’s illumination. Serotonin is released in response to sunlight, which helps raise your energy level and mood. Sunlight deprivation can make a person feel sad and depressed. 2.) Role Model It is very important that you model positive mental health for your children. This includes helping them to observe you when you use positive coping skills to de-stress, relax, and calm down. 3.) Run, Skip, Hop & Move Your Body Exercise helps your physical and mental health in so many ways. Exercise alleviates anxiety. When exercising, the body releases endorphins – which creates feelings of happiness and euphoria. An additional benefit of exercise is that it boosts self-confidence. 4.) Breathe There are so many benefits to deep breathing! Breathing increases neurochemicals in the brain to elevate moods and combat physical pain. Breathing reducing excessive anxiety levels. As you relax your body, you will find that the breathing brings clarity and insights to you as well. 5.) Learn Something New Every Day (Even in the Summer) Having an “a-ha” moment and stimulating your brain has been shown to improve one’s outlook. It also feels good to have new knowledge or skills. This can be something as simple as learning something new on Khan Academy. 6.) Unplug There are many resources and tools that one can access online. As valuable and important as this can be, encourage your children to reduce “screen time” and to unplug. This is something that as a parent you can model for them as well. Find time at home to talk, eat meals, exercise, explore, and other activities that are technology free. 7.) Sleep Getting an adequate amount of sleep is critical for physical and mental health. People who are chronically sleep deprived can feel irritable, sad, angry, and lack motivation to do anything. 8.) Communicate Keep an open line of communication with your child. Help reinforce that you are there for them – even in the tough times. 9.) Happy Place Make sure that your child has a place to go to when they need to decompress, calm down, or reflect. This will give them time and a quiet place to work through a thought, situation, or conflict. They can then return when they are ready. 10.) Balance Help your child to have enough activities that keep them active and interested. Work hard to find balance between school, activities, family time, and time to relax. Over-programming your child can cause stress and an increase in anxious feelings. Perhaps create a list of activities that your child is interested in. Have your child rank their top few choices. You can then work with them to focus on a few of the high interest ones. —– Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis, Missouri. The practice has a team of six licensed therapists that provide therapy and counseling services to kids, teens, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues and concerns. The practice can be reached by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or on the web at: www.STLmentalhealth.com. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141. Our staff is here to answer your questions and to provide you information. This is all confidential. We’re Here To Help! Contact Us Today
Rebecca Dougherty, LCSW on Fox 2 News About Summertime Sadness! “Summertime Sadness” was a hit song by singer Lana Del Rey a few years ago. It is also a real medical condition that impacts two million people in the US. Most people are aware of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition occurs in the winter when the weather cools off, the amount of sunlight each day reduces, and people spend more time indoors. Summertime is a trigger for those who suffer from Summertime Seasonal Affective Disorder (Summertime SAD). When summer begins, those with Summertime SAD begin to experience depressive symptoms. Summer depression often include loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weight loss, and anxiety. Medical experts are divided on the exact causes of the disorder, but many believe that it has to do with schedule changes in the summer for students and families, body image concerns due to pool/beach attire, and potentially financial worries due to vacation spending. Dr. Lena Pearlman, a mental health therapist in Creve Coeur, has the following advice and suggestions for those who feel depressive symptoms primarily in the summer, “Summertime sadness impacts people in much the same way that the winter version does. People feel tired, they are stressed, and they often have difficulty getting out of bed. My advice would be to seek out help from a licensed therapist, to plan ahead for the season, and to make certain to notify your primary care physician about the symptoms that you experience only during the summer.” For more information, people can reach Dr. Lena Pearlman and Associates by phone at: 314-942-1147, by e-mail at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or online at: www.STLmentalhealth.com.
10 Ways to Promote Positive Mental Health in Your Children By: Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW We receive many questions about what parents can do to help promote positive mental health in their children. Below please find 10 ways to promote positive mental health in your children: 1.) Sunlight Find outdoor activities to participate in with your children. Being inside all day, deprives our body of nature’s illumination. Serotonin is released in response to sunlight, which helps raise your energy level and mood. Sunlight deprivation can make a person feel sad and depressed. 2.) Role Model It is very important that you model positive mental health for your children. This includes helping them to observe you when you use positive coping skills to de-stress, relax, and calm down. 3.) Run, Skip, Hop & Move Your Body Exercise helps your physical and mental health in so many ways. Exercise alleviates anxiety. When exercising, the body releases endorphins – which creates feelings of happiness and euphoria. An additional benefit of exercise is that it boosts self-confidence. 4.) Breathe There are so many benefits to deep breathing! Breathing increases neurochemicals in the brain to elevate moods and combat physical pain. Breathing reducing excessive anxiety levels. As you relax your body, you will find that the breathing brings clarity and insights to you as well. 5.) Learn Something New Every Day (Even in the Summer) Having an “a-ha” moment and stimulating your brain has been shown to improve one’s outlook. It also feels good to have new knowledge or skills. This can be something as simple as learning something new on Khan Academy. 6.) Unplug There are many resources and tools that one can access online. As valuable and important as this can be, encourage your children to reduce “screen time” and to unplug. This is something that as a parent you can model for them as well. Find time at home to talk, eat meals, exercise, explore, and other activities that are technology free. 7.) Sleep Getting an adequate amount of sleep is critical for physical and mental health. People who are chronically sleep deprived can feel irritable, sad, angry, and lack motivation to do anything. 8.) Communicate Keep an open line of communication with your child. Help reinforce that you are there for them – even in the tough times. 9.) Happy Place Make sure that your child has a place to go to when they need to decompress, calm down, or reflect. This will give them time and a quiet place to work through a thought, situation, or conflict. They can then return when they are ready. 10.) Balance Help your child to have enough activities that keep them active and interested. Work hard to find balance between school, activities, family time, and time to relax. Over-programming your child can cause stress and an increase in anxious feelings. Perhaps create a list of activities that your child is interested in. Have your child rank their top few choices. You can then work with them to focus on a few of the high interest ones. —– Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis, Missouri. The practice has a team of six licensed therapists that provide therapy and counseling services to kids, teens, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues and concerns. The practice can be reached by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or on the web at: www.STLmentalhealth.com. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141. Our staff is here to answer your questions and to provide you information. This is all confidential. We’re Here To Help! Contact Us Today
By Dr. Lena Pearlman & Dr. Bryan Pearlman Data shows us that 90% of people who sought treatment for mental health related concerns reported an improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. National statistics also show that twice as many women go to therapy than men do. In addition, the amount of time between onset of a mental health concern and seeking out treatment is also twice as long for men than women. If we know that therapy is effective, why do men avoid going to therapy? Below are six reasons that guys avoid seeking out mental health therapy: 1.) Throw Some Dirt On It & Walk It Off! How many guys received this advice from their dad growing up? This could be in response to a sports injury, splitting up with a girlfriend or not doing well on a school project. Many guys were taught from a young age to just deal with it. 2.) Boys Don’t Cry! “Boys Don’t Cry” was a hit song by the British band – The Cure. This is also a message that guys have been taught for generations. Expressing feelings and emotions has been reserved for females. 3.) Stay Out of Our Business! There is a belief among many guys that health concerns, relationships, and family business are private. These are not to be shared with others. 4.) I’m Not Stopping & Asking For Directions. I Know Where I’m Going! Many family road trips featured the drive around until we maybe get to our destination. Some guys believe that they aren’t lost and don’t need help. This pertains to driving to a vacation getaway and also struggling through stress, depression or anxiety. It can be very challenging for guys to seek out help. 5.) No Big Deal. I’m Fine! When dealing with health or mental health related items, many guys downplay the symptoms and pain that they are feeling. To some guys, it is easier to avoid and downplay the issue than it is to admit there is something wrong and deal with it. 6.) I’m Not Singing Kumbaya, I Hate The Smell Of Essential Oils & I’m Not Laying On A Sofa Spilling My Guts To A Stranger There is definitely a misconception about what a modern therapist’s office looks like, feels like and what goes on in the office. While most offices won’t look like a man cave or a sports bar, they do more closely resemble a combination between a doctor’s office and a comfortable meeting space. So what do we do about this? How do we get more guys to go to therapy? What will it take for them to get the help that they need? There have been some successful public service campaigns targeted at taking away the stigma from mental health (particularly for a male audience). Pete Wentz (from the band Fall Out Boy) shares his struggles with depression and anxiety, Brandon Marshall (NFL wide receiver) created a PSA about his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, and Wayne Brady (Comedian/Actor) has spoken publicly about living with depression. More work needs to be done to get the message out to men that mental health is every bit as important in living a healthy life as physical health. This will take friends talking to friends and family talking to family. Let’s all work together to change guy’s perspective about mental health therapy. We’re Here To Help! Contact Us Today Our staff is here to answer your questions and to provide you information. This is all confidential. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis, Missouri. The practice has a team of six licensed therapists that provide therapy and counseling services to kids, teens, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues and concerns. The practice can be reached by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or on the web at: www.STLmentalhealth.com. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates provides confidential online therapy for Missouri residents. The team of 9 licensed therapists is available for appointments during the day, evening, and on Saturdays. This convenient therapy option is available from your home, office, or anywhere you can access the internet. The therapy can be accessed by computer or tablet and is very simple to use. The patient just goes to the provided web address and clicks on a link. They then have access to a licensed therapist. For more information, please contact – Dr. Bryan Pearlman by phone: 314-942-1147 or email: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis. The team of skilled and caring therapists specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related concerns. For more information about the practice, please visit: www.STLmentalhealth.com.
ST LOUIS THERAPIST ENCOURAGES A MENTAL HEALTH CHECKUP DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH (St. Louis, Missouri): May is mental health awareness month. St. Louis therapist, Dr. Lena Pearlman, is encouraging people to have a mental health checkup this month. Dr. Lena Pearlman stresses the importance of a mental health checkup, “One in four people will suffer from a mental health related issue in their lifetime. This may include anxiety, depression, stress, addiction, suicidal ideation, obsessive compulsive disorder, or other issue. Every person will be impacted by a friend or family member with a mental illness. Early detection and treatment can positively impact a person’s quality of life.” Mental health related issues are often not diagnosed or brought to the attention of a physician. Dr. Pearlman explains the cause of this, “People are screened for heart related items, cancer and other diseases. Society understands these physiological concerns and the treatments for them. Historically, mental health related items were viewed in a different light. There has often been a stigma attached to this. Due to this stigma, many people do not report their symptoms or seek out help. We are working very hard to change the perspective of mental health and ensure that people get the help that they need. This truly can be a life or death matter.” Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a team of nine mental health therapists in St. Louis, Missouri. The practice works with patients of all ages. They specialize in stress, depression, anxiety, relationships, and other mental health issues. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates can be reached by phone: 314-942-1147, email: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or online: www.STLmentalhealth.com. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141.
St. Louis Therapist, Dr. Lena Pearlman, Shares Information About Warm Weather Depression As the weather warms up, most people are excited to enjoy longer days, outdoor activities, and barbecues. There are, however, those that suffer from a form of depression that occurs in warmer weather. An estimated two million Americans suffer from a warm weather version of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Most people are aware of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition occurs in the winter when the weather cools off, the amount of sunlight each day reduces, and people spend more time indoors. Summertime is a trigger for those who suffer from Summertime Seasonal Affective Disorder (Summertime SAD). When summer begins, those with Summertime SAD begin to experience depressive symptoms. Summer depression often include loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weight loss, and anxiety. Medical experts are divided on the exact causes of the disorder, but many believe that it has to do with schedule changes in the summer for students and families, body image concerns due to pool/beach attire, and potentially financial worries due to vacation spending. Dr. Lena Pearlman, a mental health therapist in the St. Louis, Missouri, has the following advice and suggestions for those who feel sad and experience depressive symptoms primarily in the warm weather months, “Summertime sadness impacts people in much the same way that the winter version does. People are sad, they feel down, they are stressed, they lack energy, and they often have difficulty getting out of bed. My advice would be to plan ahead for the season, seek out help from a licensed therapist, and make certain to notify your primary care physician about the symptoms that you experience only during the warm weather months. There is no reason to suffer alone. This condition can be treated and it is possible to begin to enjoy the warm weather months again!” For more information, people can reach Dr. Lena Pearlman and Associates by phone at: 314-942-1147, by e-mail at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or online at: www.STLmentalhealth.com. ### Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a team of seven mental health therapists in St. Louis, Missouri. The practice works with patients of all ages. They specialize in stress, depression, anxiety, relationships, and other mental health issues. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141.
8 Things To Do When You Are Feeling Down By: Dr. Lena Pearlman Feeling down, a bit lethargic, not wanting to get out of bed or just a bit sad? There are many things that you can do to feel better. The list of suggestions below is varied enough that you should find something of interest and something that works for you. 1) Channel Your Inner Monet or Renoir Whether you draw stick figures, dogs playing poker or a landscape, evidence suggests that this can help you feel more calm, relaxed, accomplished, and happy. You can even gain some of the same benefits by coloring in a coloring book. In fact, there are many coloring books developed now for adults. 2) Sing Do you enjoy singing in the shower, playing the air guitar or putting on headphones and jamming? If so, music has so many positive benefits for you. Music can help you relax, it can help you get up and dance and move around, and it can naturally make you feel happy. 3) A-Ha Moment Having an “a-ha” moment and stimulating your brain has been shown to improve one’s outlook. It also feels good to have new knowledge or skills. This can be something as simple as watching some Khan Academy clips. 4) Move Your Body Exercise helps your physical and mental health in so many ways. Exercise alleviates anxiety. When exercising, the body releases endorphins – which creates feelings of happiness and euphoria. An additional benefit of exercise is that it boosts self-confidence. 5) Write Moving your thoughts and feelings from your mind to paper helps you to process the past, be in the present, and plan for the future. Journaling brings you into a state of mindfulness. 6) Reduce the To-Do List The feeling of accomplishment is a very powerful way to overcome feelings of sadness or helplessness. These can be a series of small things that need to be done around the house. An added benefit is that these tasks will likely require getting up and moving around. 7) Turn O2 into CO2 There are so many benefits to deep breathing! Breathing increases neurochemicals in the brain to elevate moods and combat physical pain. Breathing reducing excessive anxiety levels. As you relax your body, you will find that the breathing brings clarity and insights to you as well. 8) Talk to someone Reconnect with an old friend or make a new friend. Talking with someone can help get your thoughts and feelings out. This may feel like the weight of the world has been removed from your shoulders. Often one realizes that whatever was making them feel down or sad, really is not as bad as they thought. It is also beneficial when you find out that there are others that may have dealt with something similar in their own life (and that they were able to move on). If the feelings continue for a prolonged period and/or if they begin to interfere with your ability to function at home, school or work, it is likely time that you should consider speaking with a professional. A therapist or counselor is skilled at helping people to overcome challenges, to help process their feelings, to plan for healthy coping strategies, and to assist in making a plan for improved mental health. — Dr. Lena Pearlman is the clinical director and lead therapist at Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates (www.STLmentalhealth.com). The practice has nine licensed therapists. The therapists specialize in stress, anxiety, depression and relationships – and work with patients of all ages, couples and families. You can reach Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com, or online at: www.STLmentalhealth.com.
