Tag: Mental Health

Categories
Dining Featured Indulgence

Cookie Dough as a Platform for Mental Health

Cookie dough company Doughp

Building a Brand with a Mission for Mental Health

Any entrepreneur should know the what, how, and why of what they’re selling — yet most times, the “why” is missing.

The businesses that stand out and succeed most often do so because they’re able to tap into the broader mission their specific product, service, or cause is supporting, and the “what” and “how” simply become the vehicle for an entrepreneur’s more significant impact.

At Doughp, a cookie dough company founded by Kelsey Moreira in early sobriety, her “why” of selling cookie dough taps way beyond the indulgent taste of her sweet desserts, which with no eggs and heat-proof flour can be eaten raw or baked, and taps into crafting cookie dough as a platform for mental health and addiction recovery, which Moreira herself connects with.

“The story to Doughp begins in early sobriety, jumping back in the kitchen and baking nights and weekends,” Moreira recalls, adding that her free time spent baking was “really kind of a self-discovery moment to figure out who ‘Kelsey’ was and what she likes to do.” Coming off of the heels of a ten-year career in tech,

Moreira soon made the jump full-time to launching her own cookie dough company after receiving enough encouragement from friends, family, and colleagues who all enjoyed the treats she’d often gift them with.

Cookie Dough on the Ride to Recovery

Opening her first storefront on Pier 39 in San Francisco in 2017, Doughp initiated #Doughp4Hope that same year “to break the stigma around mental health and addiction recovery,” Moreira emphasizes.

The company quickly launched into the big-time as Moreira was soon featured on a hit reality television series Shark Tank and recognized as an honoree of Forbes 30 Under 30. Yet with Doughp’s growth topping the charts at 219% each year, the same mission has carried through to make a difference. “This is so much more than cookie dough to me.

In fact, I would say we’re not a cookie dough company — we’re trying to give people a chance to make an impact around issues that matter to them, with mental health and recovery at the forefront. That’s really what we’re selling: the chance to make an impact,” Moreira underscores.

In 2021, Doughp partnered with, SHE RECOVERS Foundation to provide 1% of all sales to support the non-profit’s initiatives. As Moreira explains, “they also support mental health challenges, life challenges, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders,” mentioning that SHE RECOVERS takes care to acknowledge that “we’re all in recovery from something.

I certainly really aligned with their philosophy and I’m proud to be a partner of theirs.”

Looking ahead, Moreira sees expanding the company to crafting cookie dough as a platform for mental health while including a broader palette of indulgent desserts, with expansion still geared towards raising awareness for mental health and addiction recovery.

“Looking at Doughp as just a cookie dough company would be short-sighted, so I really see evolving the business into a food platform for mental health and addiction recovery,” she adds. 

To order Doughp cookie dough and support their mission, visit doughp.com. 

Categories
NYC Wellness

How city dwellers suffer from mental health

 

The social and physical environments of urban living can contribute negatively and positively to mental health and wellbeing. City dwellers experience environmental pollution, social isolation, crime, and stressors more than people living in rural areas.

 

For years, urban environments have been consistently linked to the risk of developing schizophrenia and other mental issues. Even with an abundance of therapists, cities like New York experience high rates of people with mental illness.

 

If you reside in a city and are a victim of mental health illness, a psychiatric nurse can help. With that in mind, here are some reasons why urban dwellers may have increased mental health issues:

  1. Social-related issues

Negative disparities in the city can be experienced by people with pre-existing risk factors such as minority status, poverty, or existing mental health problems. For instance, this can involve psychological and physical segregation into neighborhoods characterized by social challenges and poverty. That engenders feelings of hopelessness and injustice, as well as experiences of discrimination and prejudice that can affect mental health.

  1. Pre-existing risk factors

 

People move to cities to distance themselves from past negative experiences or search for better economic and social opportunities. Factors such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, previous trauma, immigration, physical and mental health problems, addiction, personal crises, or family break up can all be reasons people may become victims of mental health problems.

  1. Polluted environment

The city environment can affect people mentally in several ways. Erosion of protective factors: People living in the city have less access to mental health protective factors than those living in rural areas. These may include reduced opportunities to exercise, diminished access to nature, and less time for leisure.

 

People who live in the city also experience increased stimuli levels: crowding, density, noise, smells, disarray, sights, pollution, and intensity of other inputs. Those factors can make them feel unsafe, stressed, or even have less sleep, negatively affecting mental health.

 

Living in the city can definitely increase stress levels; however, you can make a world of difference if you know what to do so that urban life doesn’t affect your mental and physical health. It comes as no surprise that finding a community, talking with loved ones, and exercising can boost your mood. And while these interactions can help urban dwellers stay afloat, the activities can benefit us all.

Categories
Lifestyle Living Wellness

Got the At-Home Blues? Here’s How To Take Care of Your Mental Health

Got the At-Home Blues? Here's How To Take Care of Your Mental Health

Have you noticed family dynamics seem magnified the longer we socially distance? You’re not alone.

 

Families around the world are experiencing unprecedented amounts of time together and, for many of us, the struggle is real.

Have you noticed your family dynamics seem exponentially magnified the longer we socially distance? You’re not alone!

Whether it’s heightened sibling conflict, non-stop bickering, anxious thinking, or adjusting to new routines, many parents feel like they don’t have the necessary tools and resources to get through this period of uninterrupted family time.

Here are six ideas for boosting your mental health while at home with your family:

1. Practice self-care

Self-care can sound like a buzzword for overindulging or emotional numbing. As caregivers, we often find it difficult to prioritize our own needs without feeling guilty or selfish. But we need to change our thinking. After all, our ability to stay centered and balanced during this time of global hardship will be critical to our family’s well-being.

Whether you find something that energizes your mind and body or one that relaxes it, doing a small act of self-care each day can help you feel refreshed and ready to help others.

2. Plan for your child’s energy level

Do you have a high-energy kid who thrives on having places to go and things to do? Or is your child a “homebody” who does best with lots of downtimes? Remember, every child will have a different response to social isolation based on their own unique personality traits, temperament, and energy level. Create a daily routine that matches your child’s natural energy to promote consistently positive behavior.

3. Harness sibling rivalry

Are your children becoming more competitive with each passing day? For many families, sibling rivalry is heightened during this time of togetherness. Rather than trying to stop the competitiveness, parents might encourage a little “friendly competition” such as relay races, scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, or treasure hunts.

If you’re feeling really creative, you might even find ways to incorporate housework into these challenges! (Example: “The first person to put on all their dirty clothes, run to the laundry room, and take off their dirty clothes is the winner!”)

4. Limit children’s exposure to news

For many of us, watching the news helps us feel up-to-date and in control during a time when things are very much out of our control. Although we might be comfortable riding the wave of news briefings and global developments, this can lead to more anxiety and uncertainty in some children.

Be mindful of kids’ exposure to information by limiting the amount of time spent watching the news. Depending on your child’s age and developmental level, one or two check-ins per day should be sufficient. If you want more frequent access to information, consider getting updates online to avoid overwhelming children’s ability to cope with current events.

5. Choose screen time wisely

This is understandably probably not the time you’re cutting back on screen time or video games for your kids. But keep in mind that not all games are created equally.

Games that mimic high-intensity situations (such as theft, war, or survival) can actually produce a fight-or-flight response in children. Instead, consider screen activities that foster connection, learning, movement, or problem-solving. Visit www.commonsensemedia.org for expert reviews and hand-picked lists of quality online entertainment for kids.

6. Get creative

Social distancing is stressful and lonely, especially if you can’t be with your children and loved ones. It is especially important to be creative and stay connected during this period of isolation.

You might consider playing games that can be played across screens. For example, Battleship and Catchphrase can be adapted to play virtually over FaceTime or Skype. Send kids on a scavenger hunt around the house, read them stories, or create art projects together. Bring back old games like Pictionary or Charades, ‘I Spy’ or 20 Questions. The most important thing is to find meaningful ways to connect and engage, even from a distance.

Just like caring for our physical health, mental health requires daily attention. Try out these strategies to see which ones help your family during this time.

Reach out for help if you believe your family needs professional support to manage the stress of the COVID-19 crisis. If you or your child are currently working with a therapist, check to see if they offer online ‘telehealth’ therapy. School counselors and previous therapists can also be a valuable resource during this time. 

For families that don’t have an existing relationship with a counselor, now is a good time to seek help from community mental health centers such as NAMI-National Association for Mental Illness.

By Rachel Heuchert, Conifer Play Therapy as seen in https://lowermanhattan.macaronikid.com/

Categories
Fitness Health Nutrition Wellness

Walking Into Health: New Years Resolution

Walking Into Health
Photo Credit: Aida M. Toro

By: Adam Que, a fitness trainer, practitioner, former MMA fighter, and writer

Waking up late in the morning has its consequences. You can either skip your whole hygiene routine, devour anything in sight because you know it would provide you with energy, or throw on clothes that you know should be in the dirty laundry bag. Following by barging out of your apartment to be on a shoulder to shoulder status with other New Yorkers on the street or at the subway station.

I’m sure most of you have experienced all of the above. Of course, walking was most likely a big part of the problem since folks are taking Ubers, Lyfts, and cabs to their destinations nowadays. With this rush of stress and the bumps people are facing in life, how could anyone find walking beneficial? Well, it’s no coincidence Walking and Wellness both start with W.

Here are some key benefits of walking:

Prevents Diseases:

According to a review on the C3 Collaborating for Health, walking is an effective way to prevent or reduce the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Photo credit: Daniel Reche via Pexels.com

Helps With Living Longer and Weight Loss:

Walking is also important for the longevity of life. In the same review, there was a case study on the Global Corporate Challenge that recorded 54% of participants who had high blood pressure showed low risk by the end of a 12-week walking challenge. As well as an increase of energy by 71% and a drop of 10% body fat on average for those who had body fat loss. Another case study recorded that 94% of the walkers part of the Heart Foundation Walking group (HFW), the largest free community-based walking group in Australia said, “HFW was essential for their physical well-being.”

Photo credit: Noelle Otto via pexels.com

Mental Health:

Besides the physical benefits of walking, I mainly believe it is amazing for mental health. Dr. Lars Madsen of The MindShift Foundation said, “It increases relaxation and can be equivalent to a sleeping pill, even for people with insomnia.” Walking also reduces stress, anxiety, improves cognitive function and can lift one’s spirit instantly, especially when doing it with friends or loved ones.

photo credit: Pixabay via pexels.com

So besides that gruelly commute, try to incorporate 15 to 30-minute walks throughout your week. Whether you missed a workout, your routine is discombobulated or you feel you’ve been out of whack due to the holidays kicking your butt, get to walking. If you find yourself walking in Downtown Manhattan locations like the Jerry Driscoll Walk, SoHo’s side streets, along The Highline or through Battery Park, take the time to envision a positive perspective and enjoy yourself.

Get to stepping strongly into 2020 to start that first quarter on a healthy foot.

See More:

Squat Thruster: A Building Block

Getting Around NYC Efficiently: Are You Ready to Commute by Bike?

 

Categories
Health Uncategorized

NYC Has an Abundance of Therapists. So Why Are We Experiencing an Increase in Mental Illness?

NYC Has an Abundance of Therapists. So Why Are We Experiencing an Increase in Mental Illness?

 

New York City has one of the highest amounts of therapists per capita in the United States. Compared to Nevada, which has only about 5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, New York City has as many as 30.

Despite the relatively high number of therapists in the country, the state of mental health seems to be worsening and has been doing so for quite some time. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the reasons that mental health his worsening in New York City.

Decisions Made by the State

One of the first things to know is that many of the decisions regarding the mental health facilities available to people in New York City aren’t made by the local city hall; they’re made by the State. And the State is not known for making fantastic decisions.

One decision that was made fairly recently by Governor Andrew Cuomo demanded the closing of unnecessary beds in psychiatric facilities. The funds that would be saved from eliminating these beds were to be redirected into community funds – however, these beds may still be needed by patients.

This is a crisis situation, especially considering the fact that there are so many mentally unwell people in need of help living on the streets of New York. Add in the fact that only 39% of people in NYC with a serious mental health issue get treated for their illness, and this could be deemed as much worse than a ‘crisis’. Instead of being treated by psychiatrists, they are often arrested by police, ignored by passers-by, and left to their own devices. Some 40% of the homeless people in NYC are believed to be extremely mentally unhealthy.

The only services that are really offered to these people are mental health shelters. Unfortunately, since the inpatient care system for mental health patients was effectively dismantled several years ago, many of the severely mentally ill people who are in need of long-term treatment are unable to get it.

The Rest of the Population

It’s not just the city’s homeless people that struggle with mental health problems, though they may be the most visible. About one in five New York citizens struggle with some sort of mental health disorder, and about 8% of the total population struggle from depressive symptoms.

That means that there are about half a million New Yorkers struggling with depression at any given time. Unfortunately, less than 40% of these people are getting help for their problems. This is currently the leading cause of disability amongst the non-homeless population in New York.

Statistics are pretty bad among all different populations, especially students. 8% of students attending public school say that they’ve tried to commit suicide at some point, and almost 100,000 students say that they feel hopeless every month.

College students don’t seem to have worked through these problems, either. Just over a quarter of college students report experiencing anxiety, and just under 20% regularly have depressive symptoms. Just 1 in 10 of these people seeking help for their problems.

Conclusion – What Can We Do?

The mental health situation in New York is getting worse, and not for lack of resources. If you think that you’re struggling with a mental health problem, the best thing that you can do is seek therapy. 

If a therapist is not available, or if you’re wary about seeking a therapist, then you should educate yourself. There is no harm in pursuing your own education about possible mental health problems, and doing so can help you understand these conditions and work through them on your own.

Practicing meditation, exercising, and getting enough sleep every night are other good ways to keep your mental health in check. 

If you believe that your mental health could be improved, don’t hesitate to seek a therapist.