By Alex Stratikis, Autistic Self-Advocate, World Traveler & Founder of Autism Adventures Aboard
Instagram: @autismadventuresabroad
30
JAN
JAN
0
Ah, the holidays. They bring joy and love, but they also bring stress, especially for those living with mental health issues. That’s one out of every five Americans, by the way – more than 51.5 million of us. Among those with mental health issues, about two-thirds report worsening mental conditions during the holiday season.
12
DEC
DEC
From mentalhealthhotline.org (article republished with permission)
Learn What You Can Do to Help a Person With PTSD
PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, is often mentioned in movies and television shows, but it’s more than just a plot device. It’s an incredibly challenging illness linked to uncontrollable anxiety, horrid nightmares, and destructive thoughts.
Some of the unfortunate souls who have this disorder also experience short-term memory loss and deal with additional psychological issues.
It’s estimated that seven to eight of 100 adults in America deal with PTSD. That’s a hard-hitting number. You can be a helpful voice for those suffering from PTSD if you know what to do.
1
DEC
DEC
From mentalhealthhotline.org (article republished with permission)
A good support system is utterly essential in helping someone cope with depression. While the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that 17.3 million American adults (a little over 7% of the population) struggle with a major depressive disorder each year, those struggles can be greatly mitigated by the care and attention of friends, family, counselors, medical professionals, and clergy. For the 2.2 million youth (amounting to 9.2% in 2020) who also struggle with depression, these support systems can work wonders in preventing substance use, suicidal episodes, and other comorbid mental and physical health issues.
1
NOV
NOV
By Alex Stratikis, Autistic Traveler & Founder of Autism Adventures Aboard
Instagram: @autismadventuresabroad
10
OCT
OCT
From mentalhealthhotline.org (article republished with permission)
Everybody has bad days. Sometimes we go through periods of time when we feel awful and like the world is against us. Depression is far worse. It doesn’t just last for a period of time. It’s a mental disorder that affects everyday life every single day. Depression affects everything, from your thoughts to your actions, from work to school to sleep. There are also multiple forms of depression. If you feel the need to talk to someone about depression, call us at 1-866-903-3787. Specialists are standing by.
1
OCT
OCT
By Alex Stratikis, Autistic Traveler & Founder of Autism Adventures Aboard
Instagram: @autismadventuresabroad
26
SEP
SEP
From mentalhealthhotline.org (article republished with permission)
Bad days happen to everyone. It’s completely normal to feel awful sometimes. Life can be rough, and people are emotional creatures. However, if feelings of sadness or loneliness or disconnection begin to overwhelm you, affecting your life and lasting long periods of time, you may be suffering from depression. If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance regarding depression, please call the National Mental Health Hotline at 1-866-903-3787 right now. We’re standing by.
16
SEP
SEP
By Alex Stratikis, Autistic Traveler & Founder of Autism Adventures Aboard
Instagram: @autismadventuresabroad
15
JUL
JUL
By Alex Stratikis, Autistic Self-Advocate, and World Traveler
Instagram: @autismadventuresabroad
It’s understandable that autistic people and their families may feel apprehensive about travel since it requires them to step outside their comfort zone and routine, which can present some challenges. Things like anxiety, sensory issues, spatial awareness, and prioritization are just some of the challenges that an autistic individual may have that prevents them from considering travel as a viable option.
10
JUN
JUN