Posts by Alisa Foreman, MA, LMFT
BPD Symptoms: Recognizing the Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness often misunderstood by society. The associations made with BPD symptoms are scary and usually include self-injurious behavior, suicidal behavior, and extreme difficulty maintaining an interpersonal relationship. While these are included in the many BPD symptoms, what most people don’t understand is that these behaviors are caused by deep…
Read MoreAsperger’s Disorder and Failure to Launch Syndrome in Young Adults
Many people wonder why young adults with Asperger’s often struggle when it is time to launch into adulthood and independent living. Is it due to their difficulties in the social world? Is it due to their thinking style? Is it due to their challenges with day to day independent living skills? At OPI, we believe…
Read MoreFailure to Launch due to Anxiety
In my experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist at Optimum Performance Institute, I have seen many young adults struggle with Failure to Launch Syndrome due to anxiety. It is not surprising that these two issues are related and even interconnected. When people think about anxiety, they often think about excessive worrying and irrational…
Read MoreBipolar Disorder Medication: Compliance in Young Adults
Living with Bipolar Disorder can often feel like a roller coaster ride with the highs of mania and the lows of depression. In addition, there are also the twists and turns on that ride based on a person’s environment, including stressors, coping skills, support system, and lifestyle. While some people go to amusement parks, ride…
Read MoreIs it Sadness or Depression?
Sadness vs. Depression It is not uncommon in our society for the terms sadness and depression to be used interchangeably. However, not only is this inaccurate, but it also diminishes and belittles the severity of depression. In working here OPI’s residential treatment program, I have seen and treated many young adults suffering from depression, and…
Read MorePet Therapy: The Healing Power of a Pet
What is pet therapy? Take a moment and think about your favorite current or childhood pet. Doesn’t it just put a smile on your face and give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside? What many people don’t realize is how much we, as humans, gain from our pets and how owning and caring for…
Read MoreAsperger’s and Getting Unstuck (Overcoming Failure to Launch Syndrome)
Why is it that young adults with Asperger’s often struggle when it is time to launch into adulthood and independent living? Is it due to their difficulties in the social world? Is it due to their thinking style? Is it due to their challenges with day to day independent living skills? I believe that it…
Read MoreThe Healing Power of a Good Laugh
Alisa Foreman, MA, MFT, Director of Outpatient Services at OPI, explains why genuine, prolonged laughter doesn’t just make us feel better in the moment, but also helps to heal our bodies and psyches. Think back to a time where you had a good laugh. I don’t just mean a quick “ha-ha” laugh, I mean a…
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