Autism Spectrum Disorder is a condition that relates to brain development and impacts how an individual perceives and socializes with others. According to the Mayo Clinic, the term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity. Due to this spectrum,..
Grief is a deep and painful emotion that we will all, unfortunately, have to cope with at some point in our lives. Some people believe that grief comes in stages, but we know through The Mentally STRONG Method that we all experience and cope with..
Are you planning to make a resolution in the new year? Maybe you’ve had trouble keeping resolutions in the past. As we put away our holiday decorations and buy new calendars for 2026, it’s natural to start thinking about how to improve our physical, financial,..
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC When you are walking through the darkest seasons of life, being told to “be grateful” can feel deeply offensive. If you have just lost someone you love, the idea of gratitude might..
Losing a loved one is always difficult. The sadness, emptiness, and loss can be overwhelming, even if the loss is one that the person is prepared for. Losing a child, however, brings a level of sorrow and pain that no parent should ever have to..
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, EdD PMHNP — As part of the Raising Mentally STRONG Kids program, I developed what I now call “The Growth Wheel”. The Growth Wheel is divided into eight parts. Each part focuses on an area of normal development as we grow and age…
To continue the series on grief, this article is going to discuss grieving a living loved one. Grief can be experienced in many forms. It can be painful and overwhelming and is almost always handled differently by everyone who experiences it. Dealing with the grief..
As this series on grief continues, remember that grief comes in many different forms, and everyone experiences and handles grief differently. If someone is struggling with anticipatory grief that comes with preparing for the loss of someone, Mentally STRONG can provide them with healthy coping..
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC When you lose someone you love, you expect to feel sadness. What you might not expect is the crushing weight of guilt. In my work as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I see..
Life can be really hard, and no matter how hard you’re trying, if you feel like you are not getting any better, I want you to know that there are people and interventions that can help you. Even if you feel like you just want..
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC Practicing self-compassion can feel impossible sometimes. If you are struggling to manage all of the stress and tasks in your life, it is incredibly easy to blame yourself. You might feel like you are not..
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara EdD PMHNP — Do you feel like you are always repeating the same patterns even though you are trying really hard to make changes that positively impact your life? When this is happening, it’s important to remember that you are not..
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC Sometimes it can be incredibly difficult to feel like you are empowering your children. It always feels like there is so much to do, and you just need your kids to cooperate so you can..
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara EdD PMHNP — Every day you encounter people, and even if it was only a brief interaction with someone, you can choose to turn it in an opportunity for a positive relationship. It is important to take the time to evaluate..
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, EdD PMHNP — Let’s try to change our mindset. “Stress is Growth.” As a parent, protecting your child from anxious situations is a natural instinct, but letting a child move through a stressful time can teach them how to handle stress…
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