Many patients who take the FAST test only have to answer the first question. So, depending on your response to the first question of the test, you might not need to answer the other questions at all. This is what makes the FAST test potentially the shortest hazardous drinking screening tool available today. Questions on the FAST Alcohol Screening Test Here are the four questions on the FAST test:...
While these aren’t always easy conversations to have, it may be helpful to talk to your employer about your struggles so that you can partner with your boss, co-workers, direct reports, or human resources department to find solutions that help you feel better and take greater control of your mental health. Should You Tell Your Employer? There can be a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic concerns to consider if you are contemplating talking to your employer about your mental health challenges....
Moreover, loved ones can be an excellent source of social support, which has been found to be incredibly beneficial for people with PTSD. Social support may speed up recovery from PTSD and help someone overcome the effects of a traumatic event. Still, telling others about a PTSD diagnosis can be a stressful thing. Learn the best way to break the news with the tips that follow. Learn About the Diagnosis of PTSD Before you tell anyone about your PTSD diagnosis, it is important that you understand the diagnosis yourself....
What Is Purging Disorder? Purging disorder is an eating disorder that is diagnosed when a person purges to influence body shape or weight but does not binge. It can be thought of as bulimia nervosa without bingeing. Many who write about the disorder seem to assume that vomiting is the default form of purging, but laxative and diuretic misuse are also common. Some people also engage in other behaviors to compensate for eating, including excessive exercise and extreme fasting....
For starters, everyone should know that starting with therapy doesn’t automatically mean that just by showing up every week, you will feel better every time you walk out the door or log off a telehealth session. Therapy is hard work, but it is worth it. In fact, research shows that more than 70% of people who attend therapy see some improvement. Knowing when therapy isn’t a good idea for you is as much self-care as going to therapy is, so read on to find out how you can know if therapy is the wrong treatment for you right now....
The impact of this crisis is far-reaching, and new research shows that it’s affecting parents’ well-being, plus their ability to succeed at work and provide for their families. On Our Sleeves, a national movement that aims to break stigmas around children’s mental health, surveyed more than 3,000 working parents across the US and found that six in 10 respondents were “very” to “extremely” concerned about their child’s emotional health and development or behavior in the past two years....
Eventually, however, Freud came to believe that life instincts alone could not explain all human behavior. With the publication of his book “Beyond the Pleasure Principle” in 1920, Freud concluded that all instincts fall into one of two major classes: life drives and death drives—later dubbed Eros and Thanatos by other psychologists. The Life Drive (Eros) Sometimes referred to as sexual instincts, the life drive deals with basic survival, pleasure, and reproduction....
Being in love is a beautiful emotion everyone deserves to experience. Having someone to love and be loved by is something almost everyone strives for. However, being in love can manifest in an unhealthy way. It can make some people act in strange and irrational ways to the detriment of themselves and the people they love. Someone addicted to love will also find it challenging to create and maintain healthy relationships....
What Is Low Libido? Low sex drive in men should not be confused with erectile dysfunction (ED), although the two conditions can co-exist. It’s essential for couples to communicate honestly with each other while identifying possible causes. Treatments can vary and may involve psychotherapy, hormone replacement, lifestyle changes, and/or adjustment of medications. Causes of Low Libido in Men Low libido can be caused by a single factor but is more often related to a combination of several....
Common Mild to Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be divided into mild, moderate, or severe, with the majority of withdrawal symptoms being mild to moderate. When you stop drinking alcohol, you may be agitated, experience trembling, have no appetite, and have trouble sleeping. With mild and moderate symptoms, you may be treated on an outpatient basis. If you have severe withdrawal symptoms, inpatient treatment is needed....
Between 2012 and 2017, the number of people who reported meditating in the National Health Information Survey more than tripled. In this large sample size of nearly 100,000 people, more women than men (16% of women versus 11 % of men) also report meditating regularly. This article explains the benefits, some different styles of meditation, and how to get started. What Is Meditation? Ask someone what meditation is, and you will get as many answers as there are many different types of meditations....
Especially as limited abortion access continues to threaten bodily autonomy across the country, it is crucial to consider other ways in which anyone with a uterus may experience challenges relating to the reproductive system, including the effects these changes have on cognition. Understanding the Research For this longitudinal study, data were collected from 85 people aged 40–60, with self-reported menopausal symptoms, hormone level measurements, and cognitive test completion twice annually for up to 9 years....
Whether you’re running your first 5K or you’re a seasoned runner, here are 10 ways to get involved in a mental health awareness walk or run near you. Raise Funds for Still I Run If you’ve already signed up for a race but are looking for a charity to raise funds for, Still I Run could be a fit. The organization is on a mission to change the stereotypes surrounding mental illness, build community, and motivate those living with depression, anxiety, and other disorders to cope through exercise....
This article will focus primarily on psycho-social activities you can increase doing which have been proven to aid in healthy aging. It will also incorporate mental health tips that will better your chances of living a good life in your advanced years. It Begins With Physical Health Although you will learn mental health tips for successful aging, we have to start with your daily activities which involves taking good care of your body....
The study, which will be presented at The American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session & Expo on May 17, evaluated data on more than 53,000 people and found that those who drank moderately experienced a lower risk of death from heat disease compared with teetotalers and heavy drinkers—results that are bolstered many earlier studies. What’s new about this research is its findings on why alcohol may benefit the heart....
Whether it’s heading off to university, moving close to family after a long time away, moving as far away from your relatives as humanly possible, or somewhere in-between, that shift requires preparation and recovery. And as rent and housing prices have skyrocketed in the past year, many Americans have been forced to make stressful transitional decisions. Mental health professionals agree that, regardless of whether a move can be characterized as a good thing or a bad thing, there are strategies to make the change easier on your brain...
Some experts say the change will help reach more people, as calls to emotional support hotlines have increased in recent years, particularly during the pandemic. Others are wary it will place additional stress on crisis centers that are already overwhelmed and underfunded. Expanding The Lifeline Could Save Lives Having a crisis line that’s only three digits is important, simply because it will be easier to remember, says Leela Magavi, MD, regional medical director of Community Psychiatry....
Here are just some of the challenges therapists have been facing as they try to keep up with patients’ needs during the pandemic, along with ways you can get mental health support if you’re struggling to find help. Heavier Caseloads and Long Waitlists Adults across the United States have faced real mental health challenges during the pandemic. According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in June 2020, more than 40% of adults were struggling with substance use or a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, trauma, or serious thoughts of suicide....
