Press & Media

 Have you ever wondered if a friend or colleague is toxic for your mental health? Humantold’s Javier Moreira explains the signs to look for and what you can do to address the situation. 

Navigating the relationships in our lives can be challenging. Disagreements will happen occasionally—but when conflict becomes a constant part of your relationship with someone close to you—they might be toxic to your mental health and well-being. So why do we keep toxic people around?

Javier Moreira (LMHC) says it’s natural to opt for “Preserving the few friends you might have, whether they are toxic or not. [It] could just be a self-preservation mechanism that leads to overlooking toxic qualities and characteristics for the sake of maintaining any bond or connection.” You can maintain healthy relationships through regular self-reflection and a few helpful signs that a person is harmful to your mental health. 

Check out the complete list of signs to watch for (and how to distance yourself) on Fatherly.

Many offices are moving back to in-person work. Humantold’s Christina Arceri provides valuable insight on how to talk to your boss if you’re feeling worried or concerned about returning to the office.

Many people are starting to return to the office after working from home for over a year—and with it may come natural feelings of worry and anxiety. The best way to deal with the change is to check in with your feelings and talk with your boss openly. 

Christina Arceri (LMHC) says, “In these moments, focus on where these feelings are appearing in your body: often anxiety appears through pressure on the chest or muscle tension. While you’re preparing for the discussion, these sensations may increase.” But rather than trying to get rid of the anxiety immediately, she suggests supporting yourself through it by taking the time to move, meditating, and using calming affirmations if you feel stressed or overwhelmed. You can also prepare for the conversation with your boss by brainstorming questions and refreshing your memory on company policies. 

Explore more tips for talking to your boss on Apartment Therapy. 

Seasonal affective disorder is a mood disorder that can appear in the fall, winter, or summer months. Humantold’s Rachel Landman explains why some people experience summertime sadness and provides the best ways to cope. 

Did you know that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) doesn’t just happen in the fall or winter—some people experience it in the summer? Prolonged or recurring feelings of depression make SAD stand apart, and it’s linked to seasonal changes in natural light. You may feel summer sadness due to the heat, unpredictability in your routine, or body acceptance and confidence issues that arise with swimsuit season. 

Rachel Landman says, "There are many different ways to address SAD, and the most important is finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with and who has experience with mood disorders such as SAD." You can also cope with SAD using exercise and mindfulness techniques, limiting screen time, finding time to laugh each day, or talking with your loved ones. 

Find out more on Real Simple.

Work-related stress is a real obstacle for everyone. Humantold’s Abby Ruben dives into some expert advice for dealing with stress at work in this Next Luxury article.

Work can be incredibly stressful—no matter your profession or the amount of time you spend on the clock. Mental health experts suggest that releasing energy through movement is an excellent way to cope with work-related stress, especially if you have a desk job. 

Abby Ruben (LMHC) is a licensed mental health counselor at Humantold. She says, “shaking out your hands and feet, stretching, doing a few jumping jacks, walking around, or putting on a song and dancing it out” can help you embrace movement throughout the workday. You can also initiate many other helpful workplace habits to manage stress, like writing out how you feel, turning off digital notifications, creating a to-do list, and setting aside 5 to 30 minutes to take a break from work.

Get the full story from Next Luxury.