Emotional Health

Common Questions & Answers
Emotional self-care involves relaxing activities, giving yourself the space to speak to people you love, and declining needlessly stressful tasks. Practicing acceptance and gratitude, improving self-love, and engaging in regular acts of kindness can boost emotional health.
Poor emotional health can lead to feeling run down, irritable, tired, and easily distracted; experiencing low self-esteem; lapses in looking after physical health; and sleep difficulties. If these feelings disrupt daily life, your emotional health may need some TLC.
Stress places high demands on you. Poor emotional health means you may have low resilience to stressful situations or life changes. If you avoid coping with stress, it can become chronic, which may start to affect long-term emotional health.
Exercise, meditation, leaning on your social support network, and talking to a therapist can support you during stressful or challenging periods. Daily practices like journaling may also help you process daily life and significant changes.
Friendships and social connections promote a sense of belonging, boost self-esteem, and help to counteract stressors. They can also encourage healthy behaviors and help you process stress and grief. Loneliness can increase a person’s risk of mood disorders.

Seth Gillihan, PhD
Medical Reviewer

Justin Laube, MD
Medical Reviewer
Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.
He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.
He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.
Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.

Adam Lake, MD
Medical Reviewer
Adam Lake, MD, is a family physician with expertise in LGBTQIA+ health, as well as an HIV specialist and addiction medicine specialist. He is medical director of a clinic specializing in primary care, HIV, and gender-affirming care. He received a bachelor's in biochemistry with an interdisciplinary concentration in linguistics from Grinnell College in Iowa in 2006. He then completed his MD at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed his family medicine residency, HIV area of concentration, and population health fellowship at Lancaster General Health in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2015.
Dr. Lake is an actively practicing physician with primary areas of interest in the intersectionality of marginalized populations and empowering people's health journey with compassion and collaboration. His work focuses on meeting people where they are and bringing care to them. His clinic has expanded access to STD testing and access to preexposure prophylaxis against HIV, and he serves as the tuberculosis physician for his local office of the department of health.
In addition to his work as a physician and for Everyday Health, Lake frequently teaches students and residents, lectures regionally and nationally on related topics, and has published in national journals.

Dakari Quimby, PhD
Medical Reviewer
Dakari Quimby, PhD, is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Southern California. He also has a private practice where he conducts individual therapy and leads programming to support workplace wellness for corporations.
Dr. Quimby specializes in treating mental health concerns for adults who are coping with the impact of past childhood and family stress, relationship challenges, or unfulfillment in where they are in life. He is passionate about conducting research examining trauma, social equity, and strategies to promote resilience amidst communities of color.

Ira Daniel Breite, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patients and helps run an ambulatory surgery center.
Dr. Breite divides his time between technical procedures, reading about new topics, and helping patients with some of their most intimate problems. He finds the deepest fulfillment in the long-term relationships he develops and is thrilled when a patient with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease improves on the regimen he worked with them to create.
Breite went to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for medical school, followed by a residency at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and a gastroenterology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Working in city hospitals helped him become resourceful and taught him how to interact with people from different backgrounds.

Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD
Medical Reviewer

Grant Chu, MD
Medical Reviewer
Grant Chu, MD, is an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also the associate director of education at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, using technology to further medical education.
He is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a diplomate of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
He received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University, where he also earned his medical degree. He has a master's in acupuncture and oriental medicine from South Baylo University and a master's in business administration from the University of Illinois. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a fellowship at the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA.
He has held academic appointments at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Queensland in Australia.

Sean Hashmi, MD
Medical Reviewer
Sean Hashmi, MD, is an experienced nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist based in Southern California. As the regional director for clinical nutrition and weight management at a prominent healthcare organization in Southern California, Dr. Hashmi oversees the development and implementation of cutting-edge nutritional programs and weight management strategies. With his innovative approach and unwavering commitment to providing evidence-based solutions, he is a highly sought-after speaker and a leader in his field.
Hashmi founded the nonprofit organization SelfPrinciple.org to provide accessible and accurate health, nutrition, and wellness information to the public. Through this platform, he shares the latest research findings, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being. Self Principle also supports children's education by providing scholarships, books, and supplies, so that students have the resources necessary to succeed academically and build a brighter future.

Chester Wu, MD
Medical Reviewer
Chester Wu, MD, is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine. He cares for patients through his private practice in Houston, where he provides evaluations, medication management, and therapy for psychiatric and sleep medicine conditions.
After training at the Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Wu established the first sleep medicine program within a psychiatric system in the United States while at the Menninger Clinic in Houston.

Ross Radusky, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum laude from the City University of New York and then received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine. There, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and served as chapter president for two years. He completed his residency in dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Radusky practices general and cosmetic dermatology with a focus on the early detection of skin cancer, and provides patients with a personalized approach to looking their best at any age. He has authored articles and textbook chapters on the clues that our finger- and toenails may provide us about internal disease, as well as on comprehensive therapies for cosmetic dermatology and reversing the signs of skin aging.
Complementing his medical practice, Radusky has a strong passion for the cultural arts, particularly in expanding access to youths and seniors. He previously served as an artist instructor for the Rockaway Artists Alliance, a New York City nonprofit arts and education organization, and then served as both a board director and treasurer of the organization throughout his medical school training.
Radusky enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Robyn, son Oliver, and poodle Lucy, where he can usually be found preventing photoaging and reducing the risk of skin cancer beneath an umbrella in a wide-brimmed hat. He is also the proud inventor of Sunshotz, the world’s only sunscreen measuring cup, designed to help patients of all ages apply the proper amount of sunscreen needed to enjoy all the sun without the burn.

Allison Young, MD
Medical Reviewer
Allison Young, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist providing services via telehealth throughout New York and Florida.
In addition to her private practice, Dr. Young serves as an affiliate professor of psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. She previously taught and mentored medical trainees at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She speaks at national conferences and has published scientific articles on a variety of mental health topics, most notably on the use of evidence-based lifestyle interventions in mental health care.
Young graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a bachelor of science degree in neurobiology and theology. She obtained her doctor of medicine degree with honors in neuroscience and physiology from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She continued her training at NYU during her psychiatry residency, when she was among a small group selected to be part of the residency researcher program and studied novel ways to assess and treat mental distress, with a focus on anxiety, trauma, and grief.
During her psychiatry training, Young sought additional training in women’s mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy. She has also studied and completed further training in evidence-based lifestyle interventions in mental health care, including stress management, exercise, and nutrition. She is an active member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, through which she helps create resources as well as educate physicians and patients on the intersection of lifestyle medicine and mental health.

Kelsey M. Latimer, PhD, RN
Medical Reviewer
Kelsey M. Latimer, PhD, RN, is a psychologist, nurse, and certified eating disorder specialist, and is the founder and owner of KML Psychological Services.
Dr. Latimer earned her PhD and master's degree from the University of North Texas, with an emphasis in child and adolescent development and in neuropsychology. Throughout her doctoral training, she became passionate about the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, women's issues, trauma treatment, and anxiety management. She has since overseen several nationally recognized eating disorder treatment programs.
She recently earned a bachelor's in nursing from Florida Atlantic University and is in the process of completing a master's of nursing, with a psychiatric mental health focus, which will allow her to become a medication provider. In addition, she has been accepted into an intensive research training and certification program at Harvard Medical School for 2024.
Latimer's focus is on empowering people to be informed and aware of their health and well-being, which includes increasing access to care. She has made over 50 invited appearances to speak about topics such as body image, dieting downfalls, eating disorder evidence-based treatment, college student functioning, and working with the millennial generation. She has been featured in dozens of media outlets and is a coauthor of the children's book series Poofas, which helps children understand their emotions and develop positive self-esteem and self-talk.

Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, FAPA
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Patrice Harris is Everyday Health's chief health and medical editor and the CEO and cofounder of eMed, a digital healthcare company. She is a board-certified psychiatrist in Atlanta with diverse experience as a private practicing physician, a county public health officer, and a patient advocate with experience in policy, legislative, and government affairs. She was the 174th president of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the first African American woman elected to the position. She is also a visiting professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Harris served on the AMA Board of Trustees from 2011 through June 2021 and as chair of the board from 2016 to 2017. Prior to serving on the board, she honed her broad knowledge and deep understanding of healthcare issues through various leadership roles within the AMA, including many years on the AMA Council on Legislation — and one term as chair — and on multiple AMA task forces on topics such as health information technology, payment and delivery reform, and private contracting.
Dr. Harris also led the AMA’s efforts to end the opioid epidemic, serving as chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force from its inception in 2014 until June 2021, during which time the task force worked across every state to eliminate barriers to treatment; provide patients with access to affordable, non-opioid pain care; and fight the stigma faced by those with substance use disorders.
Outside of the AMA, Dr. Harris has held leadership positions with the American Psychiatric Association, the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, and as chair of the Big Cities Health Coalition, a forum composed of leaders from America's largest metropolitan health departments. She is a member of the steering committee of the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (ARCHI) and is on the board of the Georgia AIDS Coalition. She has also served on the boards of the Georgia National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Mental Health Association of Georgia
Growing up in Bluefield, West Virginia, Dr. Harris dreamt of entering medicine at a time when few women of color were encouraged to become physicians. She spent her formative years at West Virginia University in Morgantown, earning a bachelor of arts in psychology, a master of arts in counseling psychology, and ultimately her doctor of medicine degree in 1992. It was during this time that her passion for helping children emerged.
After receiving her MD, Dr. Harris completed her psychiatry residency and fellowships in child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She also served as the senior policy fellow at the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at the Emory University School of Law.
Two themes that govern Dr. Harris’s professional life are a passion to improve the lives of children, and service to others. A recognized expert in children’s mental health and childhood trauma, she has led efforts on both local and national levels to integrate public health and behavioral health into overall healthcare and to provide support for employment, housing, and education to address the social determinants of health. She has long been a mentor and role model to others, as well as an advocate.
Dr. Harris is a highly sought after speaker at national and international conferences and has given invited lectures and presentations on COVID-19, children’s mental health, childhood trauma, the integration of mental health into overall health services, health equity, health policy, and the intersection of athletics and health. She has been a guest expert on multiple national radio and television networks, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox, and NPR. She has also received numerous awards in recognition of her service and leadership.
Dr. Harris is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, an adjunct assistant professor in the Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and an adjunct clinical assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
In her spare time, Dr. Harris loves to travel, especially if a beach destination is involved. She is both a self-described foodie and shoe fanatic who is devoted to her hometown sports teams: the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and Atlanta United. The WVU Mountaineers of her beloved alma mater are also always close to her heart.

Angela D. Harper, MD
Medical Reviewer
Angela D. Harper, MD, is in private practice at Columbia Psychiatric Associates in South Carolina, where she provides evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for adults.
A distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Harper has worked as a psychiatrist throughout her career, serving a large number of patients in various settings, including a psychiatric hospital on the inpatient psychiatric and addiction units, a community mental health center, and a 350-bed nursing home and rehab facility. She has provided legal case consultation for a number of attorneys.
Harper graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a bachelor's degree and cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency in adult psychiatry. During residency, she won numerous awards, including the Laughlin Fellowship from the American College of Psychiatrists, the Ginsberg Fellowship from the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, and resident of the year and resident medical student teacher of the year. She was also the member-in-training trustee to the American Psychiatric Association board of trustees during her last two years of residency training.
Harper volunteered for a five-year term on her medical school's admission committee, has given numerous presentations, and has taught medical students and residents. She currently supervises a nurse practitioner. She is passionate about volunteering for the state medical board's medical disciplinary commission, on which she has served since 2015.
She and her husband are avid travelers and have been to over 55 countries and territories.
- About Emotional Well-Being. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024.
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