LifeStance Insights

In recent years, the therapeutic landscape has witnessed the rise of an unexpected ally: tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). These immersive and collaborative games have transcended their traditional realms of fantasy and adventure to become useful tools in mental health therapy. Among the various TTRPGs, Dungeons & Dragons® (D&D) stands out as a pioneering force, bringing together storytelling, creativity, and camaraderie in a way that can yield psychological benefits. But what makes these games useful in therapy, and how did I find myself at the forefront of this innovative approach? The Magic of Tabletop Role-Playing Games TTRPGs are a unique category of games that revolve around storytelling, collaboration, and character development. Unlike traditional board games, TTRPGs give players the agency to create and role-play as their chosen characters, making decisions that can dramatically impact the game’s narrative. The heart of TTRPGs lies in the dynamic interplay between the Game Master (or Dungeon Master in D&D) and the players. The Game Master crafts the story framework and guides the narrative, whil...

This article was originally published on October 14, 2020 and updated September 20, 2024. Regardless of your personal political views, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: this election season has been hard. On top of the stress so many people are feeling about personal finances, the economy and global conflict, the upcoming election is causing anxiety across the country. In fact, it can even lead to symptoms that some mental health professionals have coined “Election Stress Disorder.” While this phenomenon may not be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM ), it is a recognized and documented experience characterized by lack of focus, depressive symptoms, increased anxiety and exhaustion. So, if the nearing election is giving you panic and stress, you’re not alone. Regardless of which candidates you support and your reasons for doing so, it feels like a lot is riding on this election. While the stakes may feel particularly high in 2024, election anxiety is not new. In fact, in 2016, about 52% of people surveyed described the election cycle as being a significant source of stress. By November 2019, that percentage had already increased to 56%. So, what can you do to try to manage election-related stress? Below are some anxiety relief techniques that have worked for some in past elections and could help you now....

Beginning in 2012, when social media usage by teens began to surge, so did concerns surrounding the connection between social media and the increasing mental health issues among young people. Studying this correlation in 2017, San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge sparked significant debate in the field of psychology with her alarming findings. Twenge was taken aback by the 2012 mental health data for teenagers. She predicted a looming mental health crisis, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, suggesting that smartphones and their associated social media use were the culprits. She proposed a theory: “smartphones were used by the majority of Americans around 2012, and that’s the same time loneliness increases.” On June 17, 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. Dr. Murthy’s warning did not come out of the blue. Last year, his office issued a rigorously researched 25-page advisory titled “Social Media and Youth Mental Health.” The takeaways from the advisory were frightening and convincing. Much of the evidence he cited concerns higher risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and body image issues, especially among heavy users of social media.  What makes social media dangerous...

Suicide Safety Plan: What It Is, Who Needs It, and Expert Insights Suicide, which remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, is a crisis that touches millions of lives each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021 alone, 48,000 people—nearly twice the capacity of Madison Square Garden—died by suicide. In the same year, 12.3 million adults seriously considered suicide, 3.5 million made a plan to carry out suicide, and 1.7 million attempted to end their lives. Despite accounting for 50% of the population, men account for nearly 80% of suicides. The elderly, especially those aged 85 and older, have the highest suicide rates, followed by those between the ages of 75 and 84. Amid these grim statistics, suicide prevention efforts have proven to be effective, with significant breakthroughs emerging in recent years. In 2022, a major step was taken towards suicide prevention when the national suicide helpline phone number was shortened to 988. This made a significant impact, but more can be done in suicide prevention by emphasizing the importance of a suicide safety plan. We asked three LifeStance mental health care experts Jillian Bace, LCSW, Dr. Melissa Cobbs, PhD, LCMHCS, LCAS, CCS, and Corinne Melling, LMFT to explain the purpose of a suicide safety plan for s...

The CDC reports that roughly 50% of American children will witness their parents’ divorce. According to the ‘Holmes and Rahe Stress scale’, divorce is the second most stressful life event after the death of a spouse. Divorce can be a tough journey for everyone, but it’s especially hard on children. As parents work through this life-altering change, it’s vital to equip their kids with the right support and resources to help them adjust and thrive in their new reality. Is There Anything Parents Can Do to Minimize the Negative Effect of Divorce on Their Children? Despite the common belief that divorce is always damaging to children, parents have the power to significantly minimize its impact. By taking proactive steps to support their children’s emotional well-being, parents can help them navigate this challenging time more smoothly. Allow your child to have their own feelings and encourage them to share those feelings—no matter what they are. Dr. Heath Mueller, MD Maintaining Stability and Routine is the Key  Children going through divorce experience many emotions, Dr. Heath Mueller, MD, a LifeStance Psyc...

A board-certified psychiatrist explains what ketamine therapy is, who can benefit from it, and how to administer it safely in light of the recent, tragic death of Matthew Perry. On August 15, 2024, news broke that five individuals, including two doctors, were charged in connection with actor Matthew Perry’s tragic drug overdose. Among those charged were Perry’s assistant and the doctors who allegedly provided him with the ketamine that led to his accidental overdose in 2023. This incident has sparked a wave of media coverage, with many headlines questioning the safety of ketamine treatments and, in some cases, portraying ketamine as a dangerous recreational drug. Unfortunately, this type of media portrayal can contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health, making it even more challenging for those battling mental health disorders to seek the help they need. Matthew Perry’s death was undeniably tragic, and it is crucial that those responsible are held accountable, but it is equally important to differentiate the irresponsible drug distribution and use that led to his death from the safe, responsible use of ketamine and esketamine (Spravato®) in medical treatment. The FDA has published warnings and guidance discouraging at-home use of compounded oral or injected ketamine. As a psychiatrist who has integrated ketamine and esketamine (Sprav...

Inside the mind of a Division I student-athlete, recovered from a 15-year-long eating disorder. One Pound Another bad practice. That’s three days in a row. Not good, not good.  I had plenty of bad diving practices throughout my 15-year career. “Bad” had varying degrees from I didn’t go in the water straight to I struggled implementing my coach’s changes to I got kicked out. The latter, more severe “bad,” usually meant my coach was so frustrated with me for not making changes or executing correctly that it was just better to stop. As my fellow athletes know, we’re taught to avoid cementing bad habits into muscle memory. If you do it wrong too many times, the body will remember the incorrect move more than it remembers the correct one. During my sophomore year at Stanford University, this particular series of “bad” practices was that I wasn’t completing my dives. For instance, my back 2-1/2 somersaults (off the 3-meter springboard) were more like 2-1/4’s. I wasn’t spinning as fast as I should and just not as powerful. My coach called me over to talk at the side of the pool deck. He looked very perplexed and asked me, “what’s going on?” I wish I knew. I don’t want to be slow or not make my dives either. I looked at him with an equally perplexed face but also staring down at the ground, feeling ashamed. “Have you gained weight?” he quickly asked. I froze....