Blog - Page 5 of 16633 - Healthy Minds Philly®

Spending, Stress, and Saying No: Setting Holiday Boundaries That Protect Your Mental Health

Janine Monico2025-12-22T15:17:03-05:00December 22nd, 2025|Holidays, Self-Help|

Christmas is often marketed as a season of joy, generosity, and “perfect” celebrations, but for many Philadelphia residents, it also brings real financial stress. Rising prices, higher interest rates, and expectations around gifts, travel and special meals can turn December into a month of anxiety and strain instead of joy and connection. If the idea of Holiday celebration is centered in gifts and experiences, the expenses can pile up quickly: gifts for family, office or school exchanges, donations, parties, outfits, travel, and extra food. More than half of American think [...]

When Christmas Isn’t Merry: Coping with the Holiday Blues

Janine Monico2025-12-20T16:18:59-05:00December 20th, 2025|Awareness, Depression, Faith & Spirituality, Holidays, Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|

For many people, Christmas can be less about carols and more about the blues. The holiday season can be the “most wonderful time of the year;” but for others, Christmas can feel heavy, lonely, or even painful. It is a completely valid way to experience this time. The constant pressure to be cheerful, whether from music, advertising, or social media, can add shame, as if not liking Christmas means something is wrong with you. The truth is that for some people the holiday season can bring grief, stress, or memories [...]

Naltrexone and Alcohol: Drinking Your Way to Sobriety

Janine Monico2025-11-25T20:17:27-05:00November 25th, 2025|Addiction & Recovery|

If you have tried to stop or reduce your drinking and find yourself drinking again despite your best efforts, you are not alone. There are options beyond sheer willpower and abstinence to help you with your drinking. A medication is helping many people drink their way to sobriety - naltrexone, a low-cost, generic medication that can be taken before you drink to reduce your cravings and change your relationship with alcohol. Naltrexone works by blocking the parts of your brain that give you that “buzz.” With time, most people who [...]

Mind Your Holidays: A Season for Compassion, Connection, and Care

Janine Monico2025-11-04T10:11:05-05:00November 3rd, 2025|Awareness, Holidays, Self-Help|

The Holidays Aren’t Easy for Everyone The holiday season often brings excitement, gatherings, and good cheer; but for many, it can also stir up feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and grief. At Population Health’s Healthy Minds Philly Initiative, we recognize that the holidays can look different for everyone. As part of our community commitment to mental well-being, we’re inviting you to Take the Pledge to Mind Your Holidays - to bring mindfulness, compassion, and care into every part of the season. Why "Mind Your Holidays" Matters Behind the glitter and festivities, some people [...]