10 Tips for a Happier, Healthier New Year

Take an outdoor walk at least once a week. A regular dose of nature and physical activity is sure to elevate your mood. Research shows that outdoor walks can actually alleviate some symptoms of depression. Keep a journal. Writing out your thoughts is a great way to empty your mind of negative energy and to …

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Celebrity Series Part 5: Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher is best known for her role as the heroine Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, recently reprised in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She’s also a hero to the bipolar community, rebelling against mental illness stigma and fighting for more funding to treat mental illness. Fisher was born to celebrity parents …

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Managing a Mental Illness in College

For most students, stress is a constant of the college experience. Being away from home and family, living with roommates, facing tougher classes, and balancing a heavy work load with a social life can lead many students to feel overwhelmed. For the 1 in 5 students living with a mental health condition, these stressors prove …

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Bipolar Disorder Isn’t Just a Bad Mood

When it comes to bipolar disorder, wider use of the term doesn’t mean broader understanding. The term “bipolar” is often tossed around to describe everyday traits and occurrences. You’ve heard it before, and maybe even said it before. Maybe the term “bipolar” was used to describe someone acting moody or perhaps unpleasant, unpredictable weather. It’s …

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4 Movies About Mental Illness

Numerous studies suggest that the majority of mental illness cases are never actually diagnosed. Whether you think you have a mental illness or not; don’t be afraid of mental illness- be informed. Awareness is the enemy of stigma! These four movies portray a glimpse of what it may be like to experience mental illness. Schizophrenia: A …

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Celebrity Series Part 4: Simone Biles

Simone Biles, the superstar Olympic gymnast, has emerged from a hacking scandal as a new kind of champion; a champion for those with ADHD.

A group of Russian hackers publicly posted health information about U.S. athletes, including Simone Bile’s record of a positive test for the banned substance methylphenidate, known more commonly as Ritalin. Biles filed all the appropriate paperwork and was approved for a therapeutic-use exemption for the drug for her ADHD, so she didn’t actually break any drug-testing regulations. While publishing confidential medical information is a huge violation of privacy, Biles responded to the attack that was meant to weaken and invalidate her full of strength and free of shame.

In a tweet Biles said, “Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of”.

In the midst of this scandal, Biles has become a role model for ADHD kids. She proudly declared her ADHD diagnosis, showing kids that ADHD is nothing to hide and doesn’t have to limit their dreams. Her success completely disproves the common misconceptions that people with ADHD are lazy and incompetent.

While common symptoms of ADHD include difficulty focusing, following instructions, and planning ahead, Biles has showed that with proper management and treatment, these ADHD symptoms can be cleared off of the road to success. Preparing for the Olympics requires incredible physical, even more so, mental strength. Biles demonstrated laser focus, an ability to follow her coach’s directions, and a dedication to preparing for the future in her long quest to Olympic gold. The fact that Simone Biles worked her way to the tippity top of the gymnastics world with an ADHD diagnosis shows that there’s no limit to what people with ADHD can achieve!

 

Do you or a loved one live with ADHD? Contact Segal Institute at 1-877-SEGAL-88 to see if you may qualify for a clinical research study OR click here to request a pre-screen!

Sources: DailyDot, NBC News, Bustle

Celebrity Series Part 3: Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is known for her uncomfortable, controversial comedy. She shocks people by touching upon untouchable topics. Silverman says, “I like talking about things that are taboo, because it makes them not taboo anymore.” Her struggle with mental illness is one of those taboos that she talks about. By speaking openly and candidly about her …

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Celebrity Series Part 2: JK Rowling

JK Rowling has gained global fame as the author of the popular Harry Potter series. What many don’t know is that Rowling wrote those books in a time of her life she called “rock bottom.” This was a time where she was coping with the volatile divorce of her first husband, was penniless and severely …

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Celebrity Series Part: “The Rock”

Celebrities are normal people too, and some even have mental health issues. In this video, Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock” discusses the struggle he has had with depression throughout his life. The feeling of being alone is not forever, and having faith and holding on to the positive things got him through his …

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