Happy Pride Month From Thrive: Nurturing Mental Health in the LGBTQAI+ Community

Thrive • June 1, 2021

Thrive celebrates Pride Month alongside the LGBTQAI+ community. The dynamic community is one of energy, art, creativity, and, of course, diversity. Pride Month offers us an opportunity to come together, despite our backgrounds. This month, let’s nurture our collective mental health by spreading love, seeking to understand different backgrounds, forgiving each other’s shortcomings, and above all, celebrating the LGBTQAI+ community. 

QUOTES TO ELEVATE YOUR PRIDE MONTH MINDSET

In need of some inspiration for your Pride Month mindset? Here are some of our favorite quotes celebrating the LGBTQAI+ community.

Be Authentic:

“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” — Jason Collins

You have an inner-magic, unique to you. Don’t apologize for it. Instead of trying to fit in, live honestly and confidently. As a result, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing you are true to yourself.

Practice the Golden Rule:

“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” — Barack Obama

Treat each other with dignity. There’s a reason it’s the golden rule. If you’re struggling to relate to someone, consider how you would be different if you faced the same circumstances as that individual. 

Love is the Answer:

“The only queer people are those who don’t love anybody.” — Rita Mae Brown

Love selflessly, and with your entire heart. When love wins, everyone wins. 

Be Kind:

“This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.” — Ellen Page

Smile at people walking by, even if they look different than you. Inquire about someone’s day, and really listen to their answer. Practice patience when people around you make mistakes. It’s the little things that make all the difference.

Celebrate eccentricity:

“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.” — George Takei

We are all unique. That’s what brings so much creativity to the world. Notice the little personality quirks in yourself and others that make life special. 

PROMOTING MENTAL WELLNESS IN THE LGBTQAI+ COMMUNITY

As a mental health wellness center, we are especially aware of the struggles the LGBTQAI+ community faces. Given the high rates of trauma, violence, discrimination, and barriers to care, the community is at a higher risk for mental health struggles, as evidenced in the statistics below. 

  • LGBTQAI+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than heterosexual teens. 
  • LGBTQAI+ youth are more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and over four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to heterosexual youth. 
  • Forty-eight percent of transgender adults report that they have considered suicide in the last year, compared to four percent of the overall US population.
  • Research suggests that LGBTQAI+ individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. 
  • Discrimination against LGBTQAI+ persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide.
  • Personal, family, and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity affects the mental health and personal safety of LGBT individuals.

THRIVE STANDS WITH THE LGBTQAI+ COMMUNITY

At Thrive we believe everyone should be treated equally, no matter how you identify. Our therapists are passionate about supporting LGBTQAI+ individuals. Many of our therapists even specialize in treating LGBTQAI+-specific challenges. You can learn more about our therapeutic offering by visiting our outpatient services page .  

Download our free wellness guide.

Discover the power of small, sustainable changes with "How to Thrive: 10 Simple Habits for Healthy Living." This guide offers practical, easy-to-follow habits that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

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When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. Parent Support: Educating caregivers that ARFID is not their fault, offering psychoeducation, and helping them reframe mealtime struggles as part of the disorder — not a parenting failure. Family-Based Interventions: Coaching families in structured meal support, communication strategies, and gradual exposure work so parents don’t feel powerless. Holistic Care: Involving therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical providers ensures that the family does not shoulder the weight of treatment alone. When families are validated, supported, and given practical tools, the entire household can begin to heal. Treatment is not only about expanding a child’s food repertoire but also about restoring peace, resilience, and connection at home. Moving Forward ARFID may begin with one individual, but its ripple effects are felt across the entire family system. By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.
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As a parent, noticing alarming behaviors around food or routines in your child can raise some important questions. You might be asking yourself, “Is this an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or something else entirely?” Understanding the signs and differences between these disorders is key to getting your child effective, timely treatment. In this blog, we’ll break down the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, what signs to watch for, and how to get professional help. If you're a parent wondering “Is my child’s eating disorder actually OCD?” or “OCD vs eating disorder in teens,” know that you’re not alone and you’re in the right place to find specialized care for your child. What Is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to ease that anxiety. OCD can be focused on any subject. Common obsessions include contamination, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and harm, but sometimes, the content of obsessions can be focused on food, body image, or weight. What Is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders , like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involve disturbed eating behaviors and intense concerns about body weight or shape. These conditions go beyond dieting or “picky eating” and can become life-threatening without professional intervention. The Overlap: Why It Can Be Confusing OCD and eating disorders often share similar symptoms : Ritualistic eating (e.g., needing to eat foods in a certain order or at a certain time) Rigid rules about food (like only eating certain food groups or certain amounts of food) Excessive checking (like weighing food or body or repeated checking of expiration dates or thorough cooking) Avoidance behaviors ( like avoiding carbs, fats, or other food groups or avoiding places or objects that can trigger obsessions) Distress when routines are disrupted (either around mealtimes or exercise routines) So, How Can You Tell the Difference? Use the following chart to compare and contrast symptoms of OCD and eating disorders.
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