Western Tidewater Community Service Board Blog
7 Ways Self-harm Is Not Always Visible – Harming Myself From The Inside
When someone you know is self-harming, it can be confusing and painful. Self-harm is not widely understood, but there is a reason behind these behaviors, whether the person self-harming realizes it or not. Self-harm can not only be physical, but emotional.
Boundaries – A Vital Part of Wellness and a Gift to Self
There are many dynamic dimensions to a wellness journey. An often overlooked but vital component to all wellness, though, is boundaries. But what are they? Many people know what the word “boundaries” means, but they have no idea what they actually are. You might think of boundaries as something like a property line or “brick wall” used to keep people out. But boundaries are not rigid lines drawn in the sand that are clear for all to see. Boundaries are limits we identify for ourselves, and apply through action or communication. When we define what we need to feel secure and healthy, when we need it, and create tools to protect those parts of ourselves, we can do wonders for our well-being.
Dealing With Unwanted Behavior Patterns in an Adult With Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability (ID) can cause behavior patterns that are challenging not only for parents and caretakers, but for the individual with ID as well, especially when these behaviors persist into adulthood. These types of behaviors can be very upsetting for an adult with ID who may feel like they can’t control them. Challenging behaviors can interfere with making friends, keeping a job, and daily life. To ensure quality of life for your loved one with ID, it’s crucial to manage these unwanted behavior patterns.
10 Ways to Help Your Teens Grow Self-Worth
If someone asked you to describe yourself right now, in terms of your value as a person, what would you say? Would what you have to say be more positive or more negative, overall? And where do your ideas about yourself come from? From within, or from others? How we feel about ourselves, and our perceived value and worth we have as a person, is our self-worth. Positive self-worth is crucial for mental wellness, and it’s especially important for teens.
Why is Healthy Self-esteem Important to Our Mental Health?
Self-esteem is how we think about and value ourselves. It’s based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which can be difficult to change, and has a direct link to our mental health and our quality of life.
Talking to Your Kids About Mental Health
Talking to your kids about mental health doesn’t have to be hard. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation about mental health with your child, or what you should say, we have a few suggestions.
Benefits of Caring for Our Mental Wellness
Mental health requires care. When we avoid caring for our mental health, we can rob ourselves of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. People often avoid taking care of mental wellness after reaching out to others and being told to “just suck it up,” or, “you shouldn’t be depressed because you have it better in life,” or some other idiom that simply does nothing to support mental health. Despite the naysayers, we must take care of ourselves. There are multitudes of benefits that we can derive from caring for our mental wellness, and mental self-care is an essential factor in preventing a mental health crisis.
Making Prevention Part of the Family
Whether it be depression, substance use disorder, or anxiety, mental illness affects us all – not just those who are diagnosed. Fortunately, while it’s not always possible to prevent mental health concerns altogether, there are a number of things you can do in order to increase the resilience of your family members. Increased resilience and protective factors can help make sure that those of us who face mental health concerns are able to “bounce back.”
Autistic Burnout as an Autistic Adult With Responsibilities
Autistic burnout can impair every aspect of life, including the ability to accomplish everyday tasks. Burnout can be disabling, and can last for months at a time, is especially problematic for autistic adults who need to go to work or school, manage their finances, care for themselves and their families, and generally get through life.
5 Ways Family Members Can Promote Mental Wellness
When we experience mental wellness, we feel good, resilient and functional, and feel that we have positive relationships and contribute to society. Mental health is only one part of mental wellness, and mental wellness is critical for good mental health.
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We provide integrated services and relief for multiple mental health needs, support for individuals with developmental disabilities, and substance abuse help.
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Western Tidewater CSB is the leading authority in mental health and developmental services in Franklin, Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, and Southampton County. Learn more about what truly sets us apart.