Specific phobia is a medical term used to describe a persistent, irrational fear-based reaction to things or situations that have a minor or nonexistent potential to cause harm. Various people can develop this type of response to almost anything. However, some phobic reactions occur much more frequently than others. Women and girls develop specific phobias …
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition marked by deep-seated insecurity hidden behind such things as outsized displays of arrogance, self-importance, and self-adulation. This condition affects a small but significant percentage of American adults. Both women and men develop NPD. However, the condition’s impact on women differs from its impact on men in …
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by highly dramatic and/or emotional attention-seeking conduct that disrupts a person’s ability to participate fully in everyday life. It belongs to a larger group of conditions commonly referred to as Cluster B personality disorders. Women develop histrionic personality disorder roughly four times more frequently than men. …
Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of excessive shyness, sensitivity, or sense of inadequacy that hinders full involvement in social and/or interpersonal aspects of everyday life. Avoidant personality disorder in women develops at roughly the same rate as men, and it affects people from both genders in essentially …
Dysthymia is a psychiatric condition that belongs to a larger group of conditions known as depressive disorders. People with the disorder have somewhat less severe forms of some of the symptoms found in people with major depressive disorder (major depression). However, by its very nature, dysthymia lasts for extended periods of time, and its overall …
A huge closet full of clothes. An endless array of shoes. Multiple pets. In popular culture, it’s common to accuse women of “hoarding” certain types of objects. While oftentimes the female “pack rat” image is merely a joke, there are many instances in which the behavior indicates a serious disorder. Compulsive hoarding, which is often …
Mental illness statistics show that tens of millions of Americans struggle with a mental health condition each year. In 2018, 19.1% of Americans struggled with mental health problems, while another 11.4 million Americans battled a serious illness. Mental health disorders can be difficult to live with, especially if you don’t receive treatment. While mental health …
ADHD and anxiety are two extremely common conditions in the United States. In fact, millions of people are diagnosed with either ADHD or anxiety; however, these conditions can also occur together, which is referred to as a comorbidity. Comorbidity is two conditions occurring simultaneously. Some conditions, such as ADHD and anxiety, occur together more frequently. …
Do you notice thought patterns that make it uniquely challenging to relate to others? Do you agree that they’re mostly illogical? If so, you might wonder, “Do I have a personality disorder?” If you do, there’s hope. Do I Have a Personality Disorder if I’m Different from Everyone around Me? The American Psychiatric Association recognizes …
Every year some 4 million women give birth in the United States, and as many as 20% will suffer from some type of maternal mental health disorder during the postpartum period. The American Academy of Pediatricians refers to postpartum depression as “the most common but most underdiagnosed obstetrical complication in the country.” Only 15% of …
Casting Light on America’s Maternal Mental Health Crisis Read More »