What Is Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)? A Psychiatrist Explains By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, Ed.D., PMHNP — Founder of the Mentally STRONG Method Updated 6/2/2026 This post on persistent depressive disorder is part of Dr. B’s ongoing series, “Demystifying the DSM” — breaking down clinical diagnoses..
Your Questions About Emotional Resilience, Answered By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC | Mentally STRONG® You’ve probably landed here because something isn’t working. Maybe you’ve tried the journaling, the podcasts, the self-help books. Maybe you’ve got more insight into yourself than most people will ever have,..
How to Reset Your Mental Health: Four Real Stories That Will Change the Way You Think If you have ever Googled “how to reset your mental health” at 11pm when you cannot explain why you feel so heavy, you already know something most people are..
Mental Strength: How to Build Resilience, Clarity, and Confidence Mental strength is one of the most valuable skills a person can develop. Life brings pressure, uncertainty, disappointment, and change. Although no one can avoid hardship completely, people can learn to respond in healthier and more..
Personal Development Coaching: The Ultimate Guide to Building Resilience and a Stronger Mindset Personal Development Coaching has become one of the most effective ways for individuals to unlock their potential, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful change in their lives. In today’s fast-paced world, many people..
Emotional Regulation Skills: How to Build Them for Adults and Children Emotional regulation skills are not something we magically develop with age. They are learned. And if they are not learned intentionally, they often show up as stress, reactivity, shutdown, or overwhelm in adulthood. Many..
Emotional Triggers in Relationships: How Mental Strength Helps You Respond Instead of React Emotional triggers in relationships can feel confusing, exhausting, and deeply personal. One moment everything feels fine.The next, a comment, tone, or situation sparks anger, sadness, defensiveness, or shutdown—and you may not even..
Mental Health Goals: How to Keep Going When You’re Not Feeling It January is often framed as a season of motivation, discipline, and fresh starts.But for many people, it feels like the opposite. Energy is lower.Days are darker.Momentum feels harder to access. If you’re struggling..
Why is life so hard? Use this 3-Step Mental Strength Framework Let’s be honest: Life can feel impossibly hard sometimes. Whether it’s stress, grief, trauma, mental health challenges, or just the overwhelm of daily life — it’s not uncommon to find yourself thinking: “Why is..
Sometimes you just feel… off. You’re not falling apart, but things don’t feel manageable either. You’re not sure if what you’re going through is “serious enough,” but you also know you’re tired of guessing. A mental health assessment gives you a way to start sorting..
You know that moment when you’re spiraling, feeling completely out of control, and your brain throws in the bonus punch: “Why are you like this?” Not helpful, brain. Most of us have lived far too long thinking our reactions are evidence of a broken character…
We’re told self-preservation is an instant, automatic act of protecting ourselves when we’re in danger. But in real life, most of the danger we face isn’t a tiger in the woods or a car swerving into our lane. It’s a slow and quiet erosion of..
Let’s be honest: therapy has been trending for a while now, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right move for you. Maybe you’re tired of advice that feels like a catchy slogan, or maybe you’ve tried therapy before and felt like it missed the mark…
Let’s first skip the toxic positivity, how’s that? There’s something deeply patronizing about most affirmation lists. Like, “I am a radiant goddess of light”? Okay, cool. But what about when I haven’t washed my hair in four days and I’m rage-texting my group chat because..
There’s nothing more human than wanting to help someone you love when they’re in pain. But if that pain is grief of losing someone they love… the usual things will not work. You’ll find yourself aching at their loss, wanting desperately to help, and having..
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