Most people know someone who’s a “packrat” – You know the type: they have a hard time discarding certain items, claiming those items all have “sentimental value” or because they’re certain they’ll find some good use for them down the road. They may have several boxes in the basement or garage that haven’t been opened […]
Compulsive Hoarding (Part I) – Signs, Causes, and Complications Read More »
Agoraphobia is a serious psychiatric disorder that afflicts millions of adults. If you or someone you love struggles with agoraphobia, you know that it can be a severely debilitating disorder. Individuals with this disorder are frequently portrayed as having “a fear of everything.” However, the underlying issue for agoraphobics is the often paralyzing fear that
Understanding Agoraphobia Read More »
Social anxiety disorder is a challenging psychiatric condition that affects tens of thousands of Americans. Those who suffer from it find normal social interactions extremely uncomfortable. As a result, they go out of their way to avoid interacting with others, often to the point that it interferes with their daily life.
Coping with Social Anxiety Disorder Read More »
Cutting is a form of self-mutilating behavior that involves intentionally harming oneself with a sharp object. It belongs to a larger group of behaviors, known collectively as self-injury or self-harm, which most commonly appear in teenagers. Despite the violence involved, people who engage in these behaviors are not typically trying to kill themselves. Instead, they
Cutting and Self-Mutilation Read More »
When a child gets a “boo-boo,” parents respond promptly with a Band-Aid and sympathy. If we see someone in the grocery store hit their child, we shake our heads and question their parenting skills, and perhaps report them to child services. But when parents ignore their kids’ mental and emotional needs, we often don’t even
All in Your Head? Mental Abuse as Damaging for Children as Physical Abuse Read More »
Addiction stems from a complicated blend of psychological, social and physiological factors. But is there a recipe for addiction? Are some of us doomed to predispositions toward addiction? While some experts say that addiction is far more complex than a list of personality traits, most agree that there are commonalities worth mentioning.
Addictive Personality Read More »
If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it would be understandable if you are feeling a combination of things. Relieved that there is finally an explanation for your behavior the last few months or even years can be followed by dread. Manic one moment could find you shopping as if it were an Olympic
Celebrities Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Read More »
In every tired old cliché regarding psychotherapy there comes a point with the patient lying on the couch talking about his or her mother when the therapist asks, “and how do you feel about that?” What would therapy be like if feelings didn’t matter? If talking about your past wasn’t necessary, or even desired? In
Behavior Therapy: An Overview Read More »
Military service is a career choice that may come with many significant sources of stress. The challenge of being deployed and leaving a spouse and children may create major difficulty, even if the deployed individual never encounters a combat zone.
Comparing Mental Health Among Reservists And Active Duty Military Personnel Read More »
Diagnosing an individual with a substance use problem involves following criteria provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders. The current manual is the 4th edition, but work is being completed now to publish the new manual, due out in 2013. With each new edition, physicians and other mental health experts have
Changes in the DSM Stir Up Controversy Read More »