Christina Stiehl

SELF • 29th June 2021

10 Things ADHD Is—and 3 It Isn't

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of those mental health conditions that has become cultural shorthand in a pretty inappropriate way. Ignoring the fact that “I’m so ADHD” isn’t even grammatically correct, throwing this acronym around to flippantly explain distraction or disinterest waters down the true meaning of this extremely nuanced disorder.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 27th May 2021

This Therapist Is Changing How Asian Americans Seek Therapy

We've all heard horror stories about therapy gone wrong. Maybe your therapist can't understand where you're coming from or you just didn't connect with a mental health professional. But licensed marriage and family therapist Yin J. Li, MA, LMFT, is flipping the script on what it means to find a culturally informed therapist with her project Asians Do Therapy, which is a website destination and also a podcast.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 22nd April 2021

Allyson Felix Met the Challenge of a Postponed Olympics by Learning to Prioritize Mental Health

The sprinter, whose main events are the 400-meter and the 4x400 relay, has competed in four Games total since her Olympic debut in 2004. So when it came time to train for her fifth Games in Tokyo, the accomplished athlete was mentally prepared to compete in July 2020. But, as we all know, a global pandemic had other plans.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 17th March 2021

These Mental Health Resources Were Created For the AAPI Community, and They're Available If You Need Help

With the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes — the Stop AAPI Hate National Report covered 3,795 incidents from March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021, which only represent a fraction of the hate incidents against the AAPI community each year — it is more important than ever for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) folks to take care of their mental health.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 12th February 2021

How the Media Treated Britney Spears in 2007 Made Me Scared to Come to Terms With My Own Mental Health

By now, it's pretty clear that the tabloid and news media from the early-mid 2000s owes Britney Spears an apology. If you didn't feel cringey looking at old headlines — "Inside Britney's Breakdown," "Babies in Danger," "Who'll Be Forced Into Rehab Next?" — then it certainly came to light if you watched the New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 12th June 2020

Real to the People Launches Free Mental Health Services For Black Women, People of Color, and Allies

Real, a membership-based organization for therapy and mental health services, launched Real to the People in March 2020 to offer free therapy services to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, in the aftermath of the killings of Black Americans George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Nina Pop, among others, Real to the People is offering free group support sessions via large digital events that hold up to 400 people.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 26th May 2020

I Have Bipolar 2, and This Is How I'm Managing My Mental Health During the Pandemic in NYC

Living in the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic has thrown my mental health into a tailspin. To manage the symptoms of bipolar 2 — depression, hypomania, and anxiety — I thrive on routine. Before the pandemic hit, that meant getting up early, going to the gym or a fitness class, making a protein shake, getting ready, and taking the subway into the office. As my schedule and daily life changed completely, it really took a toll on my mental health.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 6th April 2020

11 Signs You May Have Alcohol Use Disorder, and When You Should Seek Help

Enjoying a glass of wine at dinner or a few drinks on the weekend is usually no cause for concern; many people can drink in moderation and continue to live happy, successful lives. Some people, however, can't just stop with one or two drinks; they find that alcohol interferes with their everyday life and often leads them into dangerous situations. If you fall in the latter group, you may be one of the 16 million US adults who have alcohol use disorder (AUD).

POPSUGAR Fitness • 7th October 2019

Borderline Personality Disorder Is Often Misunderstood — What It Means to Have BPD

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has made its way into the lexicon, thanks in part to the brave openness of comedian Pete Davidson, who revealed on SNL's Weekend Update a couple years ago that he had been diagnosed with the disorder. But while more and more people are becoming aware of BPD, it's still widely misunderstood.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 1st May 2019

Looking For the Right Mental Health Professional For You? Here's What You Need to Know

If you're trying to seek treatment for your mental health, it may be overwhelming to figure out where to begin. Not sure which professional you should seek out? We broke down the main mental health professions and what distinguishes them from each other.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 1st May 2019

Michael Phelps Reveals How Therapy Impacted His Life: "I'm Still Here"

Mental health wasn't something Michael Phelps grew up talking about. In fact, as a pro athlete who had pressure to maintain a macho persona, he didn't initially want to get help.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 29th April 2019

It's More Than Just Your Brain — These Are the Physical Symptoms of Depression

People may be familiar with the mental symptoms of depression: feeling sad, helpless, hopeless, and worthless, among others. Often, these symptoms last for weeks or months (or longer), and can be debilitating. People tend to isolate themselves and have a tough time leaving the house, let alone performing basic hygiene like brushing their teeth or taking a shower.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 25th March 2019

These Inspiring Celebs Who Are Open About Mental Health Prove You're Not Defined by a Diagnosis

These prominent celebs have spoken out about mental health. Amid their hectic schedules and lives in the public eye, they sought help and used their platform to raise awareness about mental illness and erase the stigma.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 8th August 2019

Blaming Mass Shootings on Mental Illness Isn't Just Incorrect — It's Irresponsible

In the wake of these tragedies, as the narrative shifts to mental illness, we are failing to confront the real problem: politicians and other high-profile figures frame mass killings as a mental health issue rather than a gun violence issue. But blaming shootings on mental illness has been a political talking point for decades, and mass shootings continue to happen.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 1st May 2019

Why Mental Health Matters

When I was 14, I was diagnosed with depression. I had spent the entire school year feeling empty, like each day was a hopeless endeavor in a life that wasn't worth living. When I wasn't in school or at play practice, I was sleeping. Previously an honor student, I struggled to maintain Bs and Cs. I frequently contemplated suicide, envisioning the scenarios in which I could take my life while inflicting the least amount of trauma on my family.

Vice • 31st May 2017

Stop Confusing Your Nerves With Having Anxiety

As much as I encourage people to be as open as they want to be regarding their mental health, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. As more and more people come forward to reveal their struggles, it seems others are jumping on the bandwagon, borrowing jargon from the DSM-5 and co-opting the pain. Nothing is more fashionable right now than anxiety disorders.

Self • 5th January 2018

How Not to Talk About Suicide

When Logan Paul, a YouTube vlogger with more than 15 million subscribers, posted a video to his channel showing the body of a man who had died by suicide in Japan’s Aokigahara forest, the backlash was swift. Many outraged viewers accused the YouTube star of exploiting a dead body for shock, awe, and more video views.

Self • 21st September 2017

How to Tell If Your Hangover Anxiety Could Be a Problem

For some drinkers, it’s almost as reliable as the pounding headache and queasy stomach: the feeling of dread that follows a night of heavy imbibing.

Self • 13th February 2018

How to Avoid Perpetuating Stigma In the Wake of Suicide

When someone dies by suicide, people tend to respond with similar emotions: sadness, disappointment, confusion, despair. If that person is a criminal or has a history of morally questionable behavior, the response could be a little more conflicted.

Self • 4th May 2018

The Difference Between Depression and Persistent Depressive Disorder, aka Dysthymia

What’s it called when you feel sad or hopeless for weeks, months, or even years? If you’re thinking depression, yes, that’s true. But it could also be persistent depressive disorder (PDD), also known as dysthymia.