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People with a labile affect might think they simply have mood swings, but they tend to have more intense emotional reactions to situations than the typical person. The condition is also called emotional lability, pseudobulbar affect, or inappropriate affect. A person with labile affect might sometimes not even be aware of the emotions they are exhibiting or that the emotions are inappropriate. They will experience frequent and sudden mood swings and, sometimes, could even be aggressive....

However, it’s common practice for some medications to be prescribed off-label, especially when it comes to mental health conditions. Off-label means that a drug has been prescribed for reasons other than the original intended use for which it was approved. For instance, medications like antidepressants formulated explicitly for treating depression symptoms have been prescribed for conditions such as anxiety, nerve pain, and bipolar disorder. So much so that it’s now a globally accepted medical practice....

Several studies have demonstrated how the thick skin bias influences how low-income individuals are viewed as being less harmed by negative experiences than their more wealthy counterparts would be. Especially given how the pandemic has impacted the economy, social inequity in this country needs to be taken seriously, as there is no shortage of research that demonstrates the impact on mental health. Understanding the Research This study used data from 45 million mobile phone users in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Phoenix, Boston, and San Francisco from January to August 2020....

Fortunately, treatments can help to control the symptoms of ADHD in most kids. These treatments typically include ADHD medications and behavioral strategies, which could be more formal, such as behavioral therapy with a child psychologist or counselor, or just simple steps that parents and teachers learn to help them get more organized, avoid distractions, and behave more appropriately. ADHD Medications ADHD medications have long been a core part of the treatment plans for many kids with ADHD....

The first problem is that a mental health professional must first decide exactly how to define “disorder.” How do you determine if there is something psychologically wrong or unhealthy about a person? How do you decide what’s normal and what’s abnormal? If you were to define disorder as something that lies outside of the statistical norm, then people who are considered exceptionally talented or gifted in a particular area would be regarded as abnormal....

Former inmates face numerous psychological challenges when released from prison, including stigma, discrimination, isolation, and instability. This can lead to devastating outcomes, like failed relationships, homelessness, substance misuse, recidivism, overdose, and suicide. Individuals who end up in prison can be some of the most vulnerable or traumatized members of society, and the experience of prison itself is traumatic on top of that. In some ways, the entire family is incarcerated, or at the very least deeply affected....

As you work on the underlying issues behind your phobias, consider these relaxation techniques and find the one that works best for you. Meditation Meditation can soothe your nerves, making you more relaxed overall. Although you may still experience a phobic reaction, meditating before facing the situation can make your symptoms less severe. Research shows that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), which is based on mindfulness meditation, helps people with social anxiety disorder regulate their emotions better, for example....

Neurodegenerative diseases include conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive, which means that they get worse over time. Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure, and this progression can’t be stopped. Symptoms of Neurodegenerative Diseases Neurodegenerative diseases share a lot of common symptoms. Symptoms of these diseases progress in severity the longer you live with the condition. While medication can help manage and sometimes even slow progression, it can’t stop it....

A new major study has analyzed brain scans from people with anorexia around the world. Researchers found that people with anorexia are more likely to show noticeable reductions in three key measures of the brain. These three measures are cortical surface area, cortical thickness, and subcortical volumes—this suggests that there’s either a loss of brain cells or a loss of the connections between cells. Why Anorexia Changes Brain Structure Brain structure can also change in people with other conditions, like depression, ADHD, OCD, and stress....

What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Many people feel anxious from time to time, especially during times of stress. However, when you worry excessively, so much so that it interferes with day-to-day activities, you might have GAD. Some people develop GAD as a child while others do not see symptoms until they are an adult. Either way, living with GAD can last a long time. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders....

Panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are marked with similar qualities, such as persistent fear, nervousness, and physical sensations, including trembling and shaking. However, each of these disorders has a specific set of diagnostic criteria that make them unique and distinct conditions. To understand each diagnosis more clearly, these disorders are compared by several factors. Social anxiety disorder involves a fear of being the center of attention, criticized, or somehow behaving in a way that would cause embarrassment in front of others....

Symptoms Individuals with paranoid personality disorder typically experience symptoms that interfere with daily life. In general, people with this condition feel suspicious of others. While this mistrust is unfounded, their distrust of others makes it difficult to form relationships and can interfere with many aspects of life including at home, at school, and at work. People with PPD do not see their behaviors as out of the ordinary but are perceived by others as hostile and suspicious....

Persuasion can be a powerful force that affects the decisions and actions that people take. Persuasive messages are symbolic (using words, images, and sounds) and may be transmitted verbally or nonverbally, via media or face-to-face communication. Persuasion may be overt or subtle. Understanding how it works can help you become more aware of how you are influenced by persuasive messages. 6 Principles of Persuasion Psychologists recognize six characteristics of persuasion, originally identified by Robert Cialdini, PhD, in 1984....

Pure O is sometimes mistakenly seen as a “less severe” form of OCD. For those who experience symptoms of this disorder, the characteristic intrusive thoughts can be very disruptive and distressing. How Pure O Differs From OCD While some studies have suggested there may be different subtypes of OCD, others suggest that the term “pure O” may be something of a misnomer. While people who experience these obsessions without any obvious behavioral compulsions, they do still engage in rituals that are mental and unseen....

However, purging can be present in teens who eat normal amounts of food, or those with anorexia nervosa. If you suspect your teen has an eating disorder, it’s important to seek professional help right away as the consequences can be very serious. Purging by Vomiting The most common type of purging is self-induced vomiting. Various objects and methods that trigger the gag reflex are used to purge. Purging behavior is commonly done in secret....

The study authors conclude, “Whether through improvisation, writing about difficult emotions, seeking uncomfortable information, or relating to other people with opposite views: Instead of avoiding the discomfort inherent to growth, people should seek it as a sign of progress. Growing is often uncomfortable; we find that embracing discomfort can be motivating.” The question then becomes, how can the public identify when their discomfort is helping rather than hindering their motivation?...

Unfortunately, these repetitious thoughts are an easy mode to slip into when people are stressed. This pattern often begins with the simple desire to solve the problems that people are experiencing. While it seems like solving the problem with resolve the stress, rumination does not lead to any solutions. Examining memories, situations, and feelings can be an important part of processing our experiences, but processing and ruminating are different things and learning how to distinguish between the two can be important for your mental well-being....