The national Natural Awakenings website recently featured Dr. Upshaw as he shared integrative natural approaches for men’s health. For men currently suffering from depression, Upshaw suggests the importance getting a lab screening first before starting treatment. To read what more about Dr. Upshaw had to say, see the full article here.
This past year of lockdowns and quarantines has underscored the importance of online mental health services for those in need of mental healthcare. These services take on several forms, ranging from free mental health apps and online support groups to online therapy. Online therapy has been a lifeline for millions of people throughout the pandemic, but there are other free mental health resources that can be accessed free of charge.
Free Online Mental Health Support Groups and Forums
MentalHealth.gov is an official government-based and sponsored resource for all mental illnesses, including online and in-person resources. It’s free to access.
Daily Strength is a peer-based online forum and support group for anxiety.
Mental Health America. A community-based nonprofit with interactive tools to get help for mental illness.
Turn2Me provides free online support groups for depression, anxiety, and stress. Turn2Me is free, with mental health professionals available. Turn2me requires a reservation to get a time slot to speak with a trained professional.
Health Unlocked. Health Unlocked is a comprehensive resource with free access to a wide variety of mental health resources. Though focused primarily on depression and anxiety, they offer resources for all mental health issues.
Free Mental Health Apps
Anxiety Apps. Over 40 million American adults live with an anxiety disorder. The following apps can help you learn to manage anxiety, in conjunction with treatment from a professional mental healthcare provider.
Self-Help for Anxiety Management (SAM). SAM allows you to track your anxious thoughts and feelings along with situations that ramp up anxiety. SAM also helps you create your own anxiety-fighting toolkit so you can learn what works for you. (Free; iOS and Android)
MindShift. MindShift is a free mental health app made for teens and young adults living with anxiety. Mind Shift emphasizes the need for changing one’s thoughts about anxiety and anxiety-provoking situations. MindShift also helps teens and young adults reframe emotions and ride out tough situations with self-care suggestions (Free; iOS and Android).
Bipolar Disorder Apps. Bipolar disorder affects almost 6 million people every year. It’s characterized by episodes of low, depressed mood similar to those of major depression, with at least one episode of mania in a person’s lifetime. Mania is an extremely elevated mood that incapacitates a person’s perceptions, often leading to a person recklessly overspending, abusing alcohol or other substances, or engaging in sexual promiscuity.
eMoods.eMoods is specially designed for those with bipolar disorder. Users of the app can track their symptoms, including depression, elevated mood, and irritability. The app has a monthly calendar users can color-code for particular moods or events, then export a summary each month to identify mood triggers. (Free; iOS and Android)
Depression Apps. Depressive disorders affect over 17 million Americans every year. Depression causes about 20,000 suicides in the USA every year and accounts for billions of dollars in lost productivity.
MoodTools. MoodTools helps support people with depression by providing a thought diary for recording your thoughts and feelings, with analysis tools to help modify your behaviors. MoodTools is based around an effective form of psychotherapy that examines how our thinking shapes our behaviors (CBT). MoodTools also provides the depression questionnaire PHQ-9 depression questionnaire to track your symptom severity. (Free, iOS for iPad and Android)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Apps. About 2 million US adults live with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD involves a person having intrusive, disturbing, and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) coupled with repetitive, ritualized behaviors that relieve the anxiety caused by the distressing thoughts. Identifying and defusing the triggers associated with a person’s OCD is an important first step in short-circuiting the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals that temporarily relieve anxiety, followed by more obsessive thoughts.
GG OCD. GG OCD helps users train themselves to disregard negative and intrusive thoughts, challenging them to allow a more adaptive mindset to grow. The app uses brief, fun games that explore methods of building healthier ways of thinking. (Free; iOS and Android)
Takeaway
While there are many free resources available online, it’s sometimes best to work with a mental health professional in-person to help get our lives back. One of the newer and most effective treatments available is TMS therapy. TMS is a painless, non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS has become a great option for initial treatment options, as it’s become widely available and is covered by many insurance providers. TMS is FDA-cleared and free of side effects.
This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.
As the holiday season is in full effect during the middle of a pandemic, many people could be experiencing feelings of stress and even, unwanted “holiday blues”. Because we are all taking precautions and following health regulations, some of us may not be able to spend this holiday season with our loved ones – making the season more difficult than past years.
Liz Crawford from WTSP Tampa Bay invited Neurospa TMS® own Dr. W. Nate Upshaw to share his expertise on how we can take care of our mental health and check in with our loved ones this holiday season. To read the full article, click here.
Dr. Nate Upshaw joined OurTownFL.com for a walk through of the new Wesley Chapel NeuroSpa TMS ® location. During his interview, Dr. Upshaw introduces TMS therapy and the TMS Plus™ program, exclusive to patients receiving treatment.
NeuroSpa TMS ® own Dr. Upshaw sat down with WFLA’s Staci DaSilva to discuss the importance of distracting oneself from the anxiety of the unknown as we wait on election results. Dr. Upshaw gives his take on the matter, and how he saw a similar form anxiety in patients during the 2016 election. To read the full story, visit the article here.
Dr. Upshaw among other experts, was invited to speak about what you can do for your mental health if you’re suffering from election fatigue. ABC’s WFTS Heather Leigh, spoke with Dr. Upshaw about taking a break and walking away from your phone and the media that surrounds us.
To keep reading about Dr. Upshaw’s tips, click here.
YourOberver.com featured Neurospa TMS® in a news article about the recent opening of the Lakewood Ranch location. The writer, Jay Heater, talks about his discovery of TMS treatment and discusses with Dr. W. Nate Upshaw the benefits of therapy in comparison to taking medications. To read more, visit the article here.
While there is lot’s of uncertainty during this year’s election, Christopher Spata of the Tampa Bay Times covers how you can achieve a peaceful mind when receiving election outcomes.
In a recent article, “After the election, you may be upset. Look for signs of happiness”, Spata features Neurospa TMS® own Dr. W. Nate Upshaw and other mental health experts, on their take about using actionable ways to increase happiness to move forward after election results are in. To read the full article, click here.
Neurospa TMS® and Dr. W. Nate Upshaw receive a spotlight in a recent article by Carrie Seidman for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. She shared the story of a woman named Gloria whose worsening case of depression and anxiety led her to TMS therapy. Seidman covered how Neurospa TMS® came to be, the process of receiving treatment, and how the team practices the safe revolutionary treatment.
To read more about Gloria’s road to recovery, click here.
With the election coming up in the midst of a terrifying pandemic, people all over the United States have expressed feelings of stress and anxiety. This is mainly due to the uncertain future of the country, a hyper-polarized political climate and of course the COVID-19 pandemic. Many fear for the result of this upcoming election. However, it’s important we all mentally prepare for any outcome of the 2020 election and try to take in the results as best as possible.
Dr. Upshaw was featured in this SHAPE article, where he gave advice on managing anxiety of future events by not allowing your brain to “catastrophize” a situation. Read more about what he suggest you do to maintain a healthy mental state when you’re uncertain about the future.