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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
Depression is a problem that affects many Americans. Up to four percent of the population may report depression over their lifetime, making it a serious public health concern.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 50 percent of the mental health disorders that last throughout life begin by age 14. Oftentimes, symptoms in adolescents go unnoticed and these children may battle depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders alone for years, putting them at risk for substance abuse and suicide.
A research study appearing in a recent edition of Biological Psychiatry strengthens the link between testosterone and depression. Testosterone is primarily thought of as the sex hormone in men, which is its primary function. But research is showing how the presence of the hormone also can work to combat depression.
If you saw the movie “As Good As it Gets” with Jack Nicholson, you probably have a pretty good idea of what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is. Much less well-known is another psychiatric disorder with almost the same name: Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). What’s the difference between the two?
These days, it seems as though everyone is addicted to something. From sex and shopping to chocolate and video games, there is no shortage of outlets for those seeking to numb their feelings or get a rush. And while all addictions have the capacity to destroy lives and must be taken seriously, a lesser known …
Your life experiences could be an indicator as to the health of your heart. An article in Science News shares information about a study that found a link between traumatic events in a person’s life to cardiovascular health.