LifeStance Insights
Our team of expert clinicians give their perspectives across a range of subjects, touching on current topics, family and loved one issues, mental health struggles and the comprehensive services that can help you live a better life.
FEATURED STORY
Beyond Crisis Mode: Rethinking Youth Mental Health Before It’s Too Late
April 17, 2025
By: Dr. Ujjwal Ramtekkar
Read Time: 6 Minutes
We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis—one that is not just alarming but also has profound implications for long-term health outcomes. Globally, one in seven 10- to 19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, contributing to 15% of the global disease burden in this age group. Depression, anxiety, and other behavioral disorders have become leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Even more concerning, suicide is now the third leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 29.
Yet, despite these statistics, our approach to youth mental health care remains fundamentally reactive—only identifying and treating severe symptoms after they’ve fully manifested and reached crisis levels in early adulthood, rather than systematically fostering mental well-being from an early age. We would never wait until a physical condition becomes life-threatening before intervening, yet we routinely do so with mental health issues, despite mounting evidence that mental health is just as crucial to overall wellbeing as physical health. This reflects a broader issue in how we conceptualize healthcare: we are largely engaged in “sick care,” rather than investing in true “healthcare.” If we want meaningful change, it’s time to shift the conversation from reaction to pro-action and then take it a step furth...
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Lifestyle/Cultural
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Help, My Roommate Is Depressed: What You Can Do and When to Step Back
Starting college is an exciting experience and for many young people, it is the first time they live with a roommate. Sharing close quarters means daily interactions, and if your roommate begins showing signs of depression, it can have an impact on you as well. With studies showing that 44% of college students experience depression, the likelihood of living with someone exhibiting symptoms of depression is fairly high. Living with a roommate who is experiencing depression can be difficult to navigate, especially when balancing their needs with your own well-being.
Mental health experts Kimberly Curtis, LPC, CADC, and Suzanne Mosaliganti, PsyD, offer insights on how to recognize the signs of depression in a roommate, provide support, and establish healthy boundaries to protect your mental health.
How To Recognize The Signs of Depression in Your Roommate
It’s not always obvious when someone is struggling with depression. You might think your roommate is just “going through somet...
By LifeStance Health
Published: April 14, 2025Read Time: 6 Minutes
Help, My Roommate Is Depressed: What You Can Do and When to Step Back
Starting college is an exciting experience and for many young people, it is the first time they live with a roommate. Sharing close quarters means daily interactions, and if your roommate begins showing signs of depression, it can have an impact on you as well. With studies showing that 44% of college students experience depression, the likelihood of living with someone exhibiting symptoms of depression is fairly high. Living with a roommate who is experiencing depression can be difficult to navigate, especially when balancing their needs with your own well-being.
Mental health experts Kimberly Curtis, LPC, CADC, and Suzanne Mosaliganti, PsyD, offer insights on how to recognize the signs of depression in a roommate, provide support, and establish healthy boundaries to protect your mental health.
How To Recognize The Signs of Depression in Your Roommate
It’s not always obvious when someone is struggling with depression. You might think your roommate is just “going through somet...
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Anxiety/Stress
Overcoming Self-Criticism: How to Unhook from Negative Thoughts
Why We're So Hard on Ourselves
As a therapist, I’ve observed that nearly everyone struggles with critical thoughts about themselves at some point. This tendency isn’t random or a personal failing—it’s connected to our fundamental human need for connection.
We are social beings, hardwired for belonging. Our brains constantly scan our environment, assessing whether we fit in. This vigilance leads us to judge, criticize, and compare ourselves to others. When we perceive differences that might threaten our sense of belonging, our minds often respond with harsh self-judgment.
This inner critic can be relentless, telling us we’re “not good enough,” “a loser,” or that we don’t belong. When we believe these thoughts, they don’t just stay in our heads—they manifest in our behaviors and emotions.
How Critical Thoughts Affect Our Well-Being
These thoughts don’t remain con...
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Overcoming Self-Criticism: How to Unhook from Negative Thoughts
Why We're So Hard on Ourselves
As a therapist, I’ve observed that nearly everyone struggles with critical thoughts about themselves at some point. This tendency isn’t random or a personal failing—it’s connected to our fundamental human need for connection.
We are social beings, hardwired for belonging. Our brains constantly scan our environment, assessing whether we fit in. This vigilance leads us to judge, criticize, and compare ourselves to others. When we perceive differences that might threaten our sense of belonging, our minds often respond with harsh self-judgment.
This inner critic can be relentless, telling us we’re “not good enough,” “a loser,” or that we don’t belong. When we believe these thoughts, they don’t just stay in our heads—they manifest in our behaviors and emotions.
How Critical Thoughts Affect Our Well-Being
These thoughts don’t remain con...
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Disordered Eating
How Trauma Can Trigger Eating Disorders: A Path to Holistic Recovery
As a licensed professional counselor, my work across various therapeutic settings—from private practice to residential treatment facilities—has cultivated my passion for and expertise in understanding eating disorders and their complex origins. My experience treating adults with eating disorders has shaped my approach to treatment and fueled my dedication to this specialized field.
Today, I want to share some insights about the often-overlooked connection between trauma and eating disorders, and how addressing both is essential for healing.
How Do Eating Disorders Develop?
When patients ask me why someone might develop an eating disorder, I explain that there isn’t a single cause—eating disorders are multifaceted conditions with various contributing factors. Many eating disorder myths suggest these conditions are simply about vanity or control, but the reality is much more complex.
Some of the most common factors I’ve observed in my clinical practice include:
Soc...
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How Trauma Can Trigger Eating Disorders: A Path to Holistic Recovery
As a licensed professional counselor, my work across various therapeutic settings—from private practice to residential treatment facilities—has cultivated my passion for and expertise in understanding eating disorders and their complex origins. My experience treating adults with eating disorders has shaped my approach to treatment and fueled my dedication to this specialized field.
Today, I want to share some insights about the often-overlooked connection between trauma and eating disorders, and how addressing both is essential for healing.
How Do Eating Disorders Develop?
When patients ask me why someone might develop an eating disorder, I explain that there isn’t a single cause—eating disorders are multifaceted conditions with various contributing factors. Many eating disorder myths suggest these conditions are simply about vanity or control, but the reality is much more complex.
Some of the most common factors I’ve observed in my clinical practice include:
Soc...
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Anxiety/Stress
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Lorazepam Mania: How “White Lotus” Put This Anxiety Drug in the Spotlight
If you’ve been watching Season 3 of HBO’s hit show “The White Lotus,” you’ve probably noticed southern socialite Victoria Ratliff (played by Parker Posey) popping a certain pill as casually as most of us might pop a breath mint. Her drawling pronunciation of “lorazepam” has become almost as memorable as her increasingly concerning habit of washing it down with white wine at dinner.
But what exactly is this medication that’s getting so much screen time, and should we be concerned about how it’s being portrayed? A board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Sabitha Aligeti, MD, provided insights to separate Hollywood fiction from medical reality.
Lorazepam on Screen: The 'White Lotus' Way vs. Real Life
In the luxury Thai resort of “The White Lotus,” Victoria treats lorazepam like it’s part of her vacation essentials. Need to relax before a massage? Pop a lorazepam. Feeling a bit anxious at dinner? Lorazepam w...
By LifeStance Health
Published: April 1, 2025Read Time: 5 Minutes
Lorazepam Mania: How “White Lotus” Put This Anxiety Drug in the Spotlight
If you’ve been watching Season 3 of HBO’s hit show “The White Lotus,” you’ve probably noticed southern socialite Victoria Ratliff (played by Parker Posey) popping a certain pill as casually as most of us might pop a breath mint. Her drawling pronunciation of “lorazepam” has become almost as memorable as her increasingly concerning habit of washing it down with white wine at dinner.
But what exactly is this medication that’s getting so much screen time, and should we be concerned about how it’s being portrayed? A board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Sabitha Aligeti, MD, provided insights to separate Hollywood fiction from medical reality.
Lorazepam on Screen: The 'White Lotus' Way vs. Real Life
In the luxury Thai resort of “The White Lotus,” Victoria treats lorazepam like it’s part of her vacation essentials. Need to relax before a massage? Pop a lorazepam. Feeling a bit anxious at dinner? Lorazepam w...
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Relationships
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Monkey Branching in Relationships: The Psychology Behind It and Its Impact
Relationships can be complicated, and the ways people transition between them even more so. One particularly harmful pattern that has gained attention in recent years is known as “monkey branching.” We explore the psychology behind this behavior, its impact on both parties involved, and whether relationships that begin through monkey branching can be sustainable in the long term.
What Is Monkey Branching?
Monkey branching occurs when someone in a committed relationship begins to cultivate romantic or emotional connections with other potential partners while still maintaining their current relationship. The term stems from the image of a monkey swinging from branch to branch, never letting go of one branch before having a firm grip on the next—helping ensure they never fall.
In relationship terms, this means someone is essentially lining up their next partner before ending their current relationship, creating an overlap that often involves emotional, and sometimes ph...
By LifeStance Health
Published: March 27, 2025Read Time: 8 Minutes
Monkey Branching in Relationships: The Psychology Behind It and Its Impact
Relationships can be complicated, and the ways people transition between them even more so. One particularly harmful pattern that has gained attention in recent years is known as “monkey branching.” We explore the psychology behind this behavior, its impact on both parties involved, and whether relationships that begin through monkey branching can be sustainable in the long term.
What Is Monkey Branching?
Monkey branching occurs when someone in a committed relationship begins to cultivate romantic or emotional connections with other potential partners while still maintaining their current relationship. The term stems from the image of a monkey swinging from branch to branch, never letting go of one branch before having a firm grip on the next—helping ensure they never fall.
In relationship terms, this means someone is essentially lining up their next partner before ending their current relationship, creating an overlap that often involves emotional, and sometimes ph...
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Relationships
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How to Deal with Family Estrangement
A 2023 study in the Journal of Marriage and Family revealed a stark statistic: approximately one in four adults experience estrangement from a parent. Specifically:
6% of respondents reported estrangement from their mother
26% reported estrangement from their father
Average age of estrangement: 26 for mothers, 23 for fathers
This means roughly one in four adults experience estrangement from a parent. We explored more around this topic by talking with our clinicians—Dr. Jill Waite, PhD, a licensed therapist with a Doctorate in Philosophy in clinical psychology and Dave Lovely, LSW, a licensed social worker based in Illinois—on the common causes leading to parental estrangement and how best to approach reconciliation.
What Drives Family Estrangement?
Family estrangement does not happen in a vacuum. It is rarely the result of a single disagreement or misunderstanding; rather, it emerges from a complex interplay of psychological, emotional, and relational factors that build up ov...
By LifeStance Health
Published: March 19, 2025Read Time: 5 Minutes
How to Deal with Family Estrangement
A 2023 study in the Journal of Marriage and Family revealed a stark statistic: approximately one in four adults experience estrangement from a parent. Specifically:
6% of respondents reported estrangement from their mother
26% reported estrangement from their father
Average age of estrangement: 26 for mothers, 23 for fathers
This means roughly one in four adults experience estrangement from a parent. We explored more around this topic by talking with our clinicians—Dr. Jill Waite, PhD, a licensed therapist with a Doctorate in Philosophy in clinical psychology and Dave Lovely, LSW, a licensed social worker based in Illinois—on the common causes leading to parental estrangement and how best to approach reconciliation.
What Drives Family Estrangement?
Family estrangement does not happen in a vacuum. It is rarely the result of a single disagreement or misunderstanding; rather, it emerges from a complex interplay of psychological, emotional, and relational factors that build up ov...
Read More
Share
Lifestyle/Cultural
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Finding the Right Fit: The Questions Therapists Wish You’d Ask to Ensure a Great Match
One of the most important factors in the success of psychotherapy is the quality of the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client. Unlike other medical fields where expertise is the defining factor, in therapy, trust and connection are equally essential. Trust, empathy, and sincerity are the cornerstones of therapy.
While researching a prospective therapist’s qualifications and experience is important, the first meeting is where a client should try to determine if they truly connect with the therapist.
Since therapy is highly personal, ensuring a good match between client and therapist is vital. While researching a prospective therapist’s qualifications and experience is important, the first meeting is where a client should try to determine if they truly connect with the therapist. To facilitate this, therapists and patients alike should ask key questions to assess compatibility.
Essential Questions to Ask a Prospective Therapist
Are there any differences b...
By LifeStance Health
Published: March 17, 2025Read Time: 4 Minutes
Finding the Right Fit: The Questions Therapists Wish You’d Ask to Ensure a Great Match
One of the most important factors in the success of psychotherapy is the quality of the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client. Unlike other medical fields where expertise is the defining factor, in therapy, trust and connection are equally essential. Trust, empathy, and sincerity are the cornerstones of therapy.
While researching a prospective therapist’s qualifications and experience is important, the first meeting is where a client should try to determine if they truly connect with the therapist.
Since therapy is highly personal, ensuring a good match between client and therapist is vital. While researching a prospective therapist’s qualifications and experience is important, the first meeting is where a client should try to determine if they truly connect with the therapist. To facilitate this, therapists and patients alike should ask key questions to assess compatibility.
Essential Questions to Ask a Prospective Therapist
Are there any differences b...
Read More
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