Underneath the Narcissism: Shame Is Ugly Face Behind the MaskMental HealthBy Promises AustinOctober 1, 2013Although Eric and Christine had been married 12 years, their lives never felt settled or comfortable. Eric could be incredibly charming and was a man of fantastic charisma; indeed these traits were the very things that had originally attracted Christine and swept her off her feet. But behind closed doors, he could be an entirely…
Treatment-Resistant Depression: When Your Loved One Still HurtsDepressionBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2013For some people, receiving the diagnosis of depression is akin to receiving nearly any other diagnosis at the doctor’s office: the doc gives you the news, hands you a prescription, and your job is simply to do as he or she says and get better. In a certain percentage of cases of depression, this is…
Change Your Inner Narrator, Change Your LifePersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 18, 2013A week after her latest breakup with a guy who has done this to her before, more than once, Chloe is still crying. She’s inconsolable. On the first day she was in absolute denial, begging him to tell her “why” and she’s still asking the same questions, though he won’t take her calls. She stayed…
Don’t Be Defined by Your IllnessPersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 4, 2013Has your search for feeling better reached the level of obsession? The more you acknowledge that there is a part of you that is OK, the more you can feel OK and just relax. Depression, anxiety, personality disorders–for many women, we manage our symptoms while we manage a busy family life. Feeling bad (and “bad”…
Tips for Living With Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderPersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 4, 2013Obsessive-compulsive disorder (often referred to as simply OCD) is a complex and challenging mental health condition that impacts millions of people. Symptoms that typically begin in childhood or adolescence will often plague an individual throughout his or her lifetime, especially if the disorder is never treated. Even with proper treatment, the nagging symptoms of OCD…
Five Obstacles to Effective TherapyTherapiesBy Promises AustinAugust 30, 2013Whether you have a serious psychiatric disorder, such as major depression or OCD, or are struggling with a major life issue, such as going through a painful divorce, therapy can be highly effective and very beneficial. It can also be a waste of valuable time and money. So what makes the difference between effective therapy…
fMRI Brain Scans May Diagnose Mental IllnessMental HealthBy Promises AustinJuly 30, 2013Problems with the heart have long been diagnosed using tools like electrocardiograms, otherwise known as EKGs. Scans of the brain can already help doctors determine physical and physiological problems, and now researchers think they could improve the accuracy of mental illness diagnoses. The idea holds a lot of promise. If doctors can order a simple,…
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for BulimiaEating DisordersBy Promises AustinJuly 14, 2013Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a form of therapy originally developed to address the symptoms of the mood disorder called major depression. Practitioners of this therapy view interpersonal difficulties as one of the primary sources of mental health issues, and work with patients to improve four areas of interpersonal function. Current evidence supports the use of…
Borderline Personality Disorder: Enlisting a Community of CareBorderline PersonalityBy Promises AustinMay 4, 2013This article is written for people who have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or who believe themselves to have many of the traits of this personality disorder, but it may be helpful to anyone who is a family member, partner, or friend of someone with BPD. By now, you are familiar with the…
What Lies Beneath the Fear of Choking?Mental HealthBy Promises AustinApril 25, 2013Many people suffer from an irrational and unreasonable fear of becoming ill or dying that is so strong it can actually bring on terrifying medical symptoms that seem entirely real. These fears, which come in a variety of forms, are often grouped under the catchall term “hypochondria,” and give a clear indication of just how…
