In NYC, dating is a competitive sport. The dating game in NYC is no joke. Like everything else in NYC, this too can be competitive, often cutthroat, and can take a lot of determination to be a success. There are exclusive dating apps such as “The League” originally termed as such because they only allowed in Ivy Leaguers, exclusively expensive matchmakers, and other such elite tools of the trade. Not only that, but open-mindedness and vulnerability are key elements in the search for love. 

There are many aspects we have no control over, but did you know that our upbringing influences the way we approach dating and relationships throughout our lives?

With most people working from home, there is no longer a real need to dress up. Have a work meeting? Nothing professional needed below the waist. Dressy tops are the extent of what one is able to broadcast to the world during pandemic times. But did you know that one’s level of grooming and hygiene can be representative of something else? Something bigger?

There are a plethora of different issues people are struggling with right now. Between skyrocketing Omicron COVID-19 cases, continued high unemployment rates, and the returned need for social distancing, the pandemic has created a greater need than ever before for social connections. Many people are stuck in small NYC apartments right now with little to no communication with the outside world (unless you count that text from your delivery person telling you your food has arrived).

So what can one do to forge that human connection and stop feeling so damn isolated in the time of corona? Here’s where group therapy comes in. You may have thought about individual therapy and may even already have an individual therapist. But have you ever given group therapy a thought? What better way to connect than in a group targeted for your specific issue led by an experienced clinician? You’ll be in good company.

Feeling down lately despite holiday parties, gift exchanges, and seeing family and friends? Just because it’s the holiday season does not mean that all of the challenges of the year simply vanish. 2022 has been a year that has been better than 2021, but certainly no party. Between the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, high unemployment rates, continued overt racism in this country, incredibly divisive political climate, and now Daylight saving time, there are a plethora of reasons you may be feeling down. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be one of them.

What is it?
SAD is a type of depression characterized by its recurrent seasonal pattern, with symptoms lasting about 4 to 5 months per year. Therefore, the signs and symptoms of SAD include those associated with major depression.

If you're newly sober or striving for recovery, a drink or drug can seem even more tempting during the holiday season. In terms of triggers, there exist internal and external triggers, both contributing to relapse. External triggers are from outside sources, reminders of one’s drug or alcohol use. Internal triggers come from within; uncomfortable emotions such as fear, anxiety, and depression that lead people to want to self medicate with a drink or a drug. So how do you cope with triggers and stay sober during these winter months?