The Parallels Between OCD and Eating Disorders

  Last week was OCD Awareness Week, and we sat down with Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders (Sanford CTED) Lori Kehoe, MA, to discuss the parallels between OCD and eating disorders. Studies show that individuals with eating disorders have 11 –ย  69% higher rates of OCD, and those with OCD have a 10 – […]

The Psychology Behind the Sunday Blues – Wood TV Interview

Why does weekend frivolity make Sunday afternoons feel so foreboding? The term “Sunday Blues’, or “Sunday Scaries” refers to the anxiety 80% of American workers experience as the weekend winds down on Sunday afternoon. Wood TV 8 noon anchor/reporter Emily Linnert and Sanford Behavioral Health Founder Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADA, discuss the psychology behind […]

5 Ways to Beat the End of Summer Blues

Michiganders feel a hint of melancholy during the Labor Day holiday each year. This is when we dry dock the boats, close up cabins, and buy back-to-school supplies. It is also the last big blowout of the summer, and picnics, waterskiing, tubing, hiking, and camping excursions abound. But for those in recovery, looking ahead to […]

Seasonal Allergies and Mental Health

  For those who live in Michigan, spring is a welcome reprieve from a long, dormant winter. Unfortunately, however, the beautiful buds, flowers, and green leaves come with seasonal allergies for millions of Americans. Sneezing, watery eyes, congestion, and itching can bring a dark cloud to spring’s splendor. The physical signs are apparent, but a […]

spring-bird

Awe Walks for Mental Health

Updated 2/15/2025 I am a self-described, often awestruck, nature nerd. I have written about the joys of Michigan winter in late February (when most Michiganders are tolerating the dreary days until spring). Other topics I have covered are finding joy during the pandemic, how a $75 blowup kayak can change your life, and the mental […]

Anxiety & Teen Eating Disorders: WGVU Morning Show

  Thanks to Shelley Irwin and the WGVU Morning Show for focusing on the rise in eating disorders in the past year. Shelley interviews Sanford’s Gail Hall about the increase in eating disorders, especially in teens.   Eating disorders are a lot about anxiety. And everyone’s anxiety has been ramped up (for good reason) the […]

teen anxiety

Anxiety Disorder 2020 – What are the Signs?

During a family Zoom meeting last week, my son asked us a question his boss had posed in another Zoom meeting. The question was, “What new thing have you learned during the pandemic?” My son, who is clever as well as handsome, answered, “I built a table from scratch.” Another person said, “I learned to […]

anxiety 2020 man alone

Extenuating Circumstances in Recovery – COVID-19 UK

I donโ€™t know about you, but my mind is very easily led to catastrophe. And in light of the current extenuating circumstances and COVID-19, it all feels a little like an episode of โ€œThe Walking Deadโ€. Reality does remind me that this pandemic is not going to wipe out society as we know it. (Although […]

extenuating circumstances

Social Drinking, Social Anxiety and the Open Bar

  What is it about an open bar at a lively party? Friendly wait staff in bow ties and damask draped folding tables.The inevitable lineup of soon to be new best friends. And for anyone like me, with social anxiety, the open bar is the ultimate event ice-breaker.   New Friends, Open Bar….No Social Anxiety […]

catering

A Firsthand View – Art Therapy and the Treatment of Anxiety

  In group therapy, I ask members to “keep within their own experience.” No advice giving. No telling others how to feel. This helps create safety within the session. A college mentor of mine once said, “Never assume to understand the experience of someone else. Even if it’s one you’re familiar with, like sadness or […]

Anxiety