The emotional effects of mental illness are bad enough, but there are also social effects—including, all too frequently, exposure to insensitive or biased attitudes. Even loved ones who desire to help are often bewildered by, and at a loss for how to respond to, the symptoms of schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive...
The holidays commemorate togetherness and love, but they can also be a bit isolating. If you are new to town, have anxiety in social situations, or feel worn out from everything going on, it is easy to disconnect from others. Are you feeling lonely this holiday season? Here are some...
We’re excited to see that the stigma around mental illness has lessened in recent decades. Indeed, many prominent people are now speaking openly about their own mental-health struggles. Nonetheless, negative stereotypes persist, and fewer than half of people with mental illness seek treatment. Today, we want to clear up...
Most people have heard of borderline personality disorder, if only in passing. BPD is characterized by reckless behavior, mood swings and chronic feelings of emptiness and/or entitlement. Another symptom is alienating others, who frequently see only intolerable behavior and not an illness. Such is the case with most “personality disorders”:...
Anhedonia is the technical term for a lack of ability to take pleasure in daily life. People who experience this condition often lose interest in previously enjoyable activities. While it does not always signify depression, anhedonia is a core symptom of major depressive disorder. How can you tell if...
Depression is a complex mental illness that can diminish your joy in life and make simple, everyday activities feel like a nearly insurmountable challenge. If you live with depression, you know it is more than a fleeting bad mood or a passing phase you can quickly overcome. When persistent,...
If you worry all the time and feel anxious about everything, you aren’t alone. In response to a 2018 survey by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 40 percent of American adults reported increases in their personal anxiety levels, while fewer than 20 percent said their anxiety levels were lessening....
Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a condition that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood and behavior. People with this mental health issue alternate between bouts of depression and manic episodes where they have ample energy and enthusiasm. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity,...
Contrary to popular stereotype, people with acute psychosis are rarely violent or dangerous. Nor are they necessarily homeless and disheveled, or the products of dysfunctional families. And they definitely are not beyond help. Much of the stereotypical “psycho” image likely results from confusing “psychosis” and “psychopath.” To mental-health professionals, a...
If you’ve ever experienced a sudden onset of intense, overwhelming fear, it might have been a panic attack. Because symptoms such as sweating, shaking, nausea and a racing heartbeat can come on so unexpectedly, it’s challenging to predict what circumstances might precipitate a panic attack. Panic attacks can be unpleasant...
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