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Sometimes, it is the concern of a friend, partner, or family member that is the tipping point for an individual to seek help. In other cases, a teacher, school, colleague, or employer is insisting that mental health needs be prioritized above all else so that a person can return to school (or work) on better psychological footing. Often, adults themselves are aware of ways in which they would like their relationships to be better, their mood or anxiety to feel more manageable, or of specific behaviors that they would like help to change; in these cases, people choose to seek therapy in the interest of personal growth, symptom reduction, and overall improved quality of life....

What Is Shame? We use the word all the time, but what exactly is “shame?” Shame is considered one of the self-conscious emotions; it is an emotion that relates to our behavior or self, often in relation to other people’s opinions. Other self-conscious emotions include embarrassment and guilt. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Although the lines between these emotions have been conceptualized in different ways, one way to think about this is that shame is different than embarrassment or guilt because we experience these two emotions in relation to our behavior, whereas shame is an emotion that relates directly to our sense of self....

But despite all that, many of us don’t even know what exactly a parasocial relationship is. As we’ve previously reported at Verywell Mind, “a parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship that a media user engages in with a media persona.” That could be anything from an obsession with a funny Twitter comedian who you think could make a good friend, to a real belief that you’re engaging in a friendship or romantic partnership with, for example, a famous athlete....

Looking at an information technology firm as an example of a standard workforce, researchers found that concern over the virus lowered engagement levels, leading to less motivation, work slowdowns, and struggle over the purpose and meaning of life. High Anxiety, Low Engagement In one experiment, surveys were sent to 163 employees twice a day, at noon and 6 p.m., to measure their levels of anxiety and job engagement. Researchers also collected information on whether career development felt like a priority to each employee’s supervisor....

The test is based in part on research conducted by psychologist Judith Siegel, whose work around trauma and reactivity is highly respected in the fields of psychology, counseling and social work, says Allison Kent, LSW, a licensed social worker based in Pittsburgh. In 1986, Siegel developed the multidimensional anger inventory (MAI), which assesses several dimensions of anger including frequency, duration, magnitude, mode of expression, hostile outlook and range of anger-eliciting situations....

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of therapy that aims to restructure and change the way a person thinks and behaves. Whether or not this therapy is beneficial depends strongly on the relationship between the individual and their therapist. The individual’s willingness to make a change is also a crucial factor. Examples of techniques used by a cognitive-behavioral therapist include cognitive restructuring and behavioral changes, like reducing self-defeating behaviors and learning how to respond to problems in a healthy, adaptive manner....

Digital self-harm refers to the anonymous or pseudonymous posting of negative or hurtful content toward oneself on the internet or social media platforms. This type of behavior focuses on emotional harm rather than physical, and can indicate the state of a child’s mental health, whether it’s being used in seeking attention, regulating emotions, or as a defense mechanism. A recent study published in Deviant Behavior examined the connection between bullying victimization and digital self-harm and revealed that the negative emotions and low self-esteem caused by veing bullied contribute significantly to this behavior....

To put it simply, water in the body needs to contain enough salts and other ions, called electrolytes, to keep the body’s cells functioning properly. If you take in too much water without enough electrolytes, the water can move into the cells of the body, causing them to swell. Who Is at Risk for Hyponatremia? Most people are not at high risk for hyponatremia because the body is good at keeping fluid and electrolytes balanced....

The subject of abuse can be both difficult and embarrassing for them to discuss outside of the household. Therefore, many speculate that intimate partner violence is probably vastly under-reported, especially among certain ethnic groups in the United States, since it’s more likely to be kept secret. Research suggests that while around 25% of the population experiences domestic violence, only about 2.5% to 15% report this abuse. Overview Even with low reporting, though, the number of women of color who are impacted by domestic violence is shockingly high....

In 2000, Elavil was discontinued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to the severe side effects people experienced while using the medication. The reasons why the brand name form of the drug was discontinued remain unclear. It’s thought that Elavil was discontinued because of the risk it posed of developing a heart condition while using the medicine. However, in 2017 the FDA put out a notice stating that the reason for discontinuing the drug was unrelated to its safety or effectiveness....

Overview First developed in the 1930s by Bini and Lenletti, ECT continues to have an important role in the treatment of resistant psychiatric conditions. ECT works by sending an electric current through the brain. This electrical current, in turn, is thought to alter the chemicals in the brain related to mood. How It’s Done ECTs are given in safe environments—usually recovery rooms in hospitals where medical professionals and equipment are present....

One reason people may find it hard to discuss masturbation is that there are many misconceptions that persist despite evidence that masturbation is normal, healthy, and can be beneficial regardless of relationship status. A person might also feel differently about masturbation when they are single versus when they are partnered or married. For example, you might worry that your partner’s desire to masturbate means that you are not meeting their sexual needs—but this is not necessarily the case....

DBT focuses on teaching behavioral skills like regulating emotions, living in the moment, tolerating distress, and managing relationships with other people. DBT is done in both individual and group therapy sessions, in addition to phone coaching sessions. Finding a Dialectical Behavior Therapist Near You DBT therapists can be hard to come by. However, there are a few resources that may help you with your search. The best place to begin your search is with the DBT Clinical Resource Directory maintained by Behavioral Tech—an organization founded by Marsha Linehan, Ph....

Symptoms Free-floating anxiety is characterized by feelings of: Anxiety Concern Discomfort Dread Fear Jitters Misgiving Nervousness Panic Unease Restlessness Stress Worry It is important to note that these feelings may come and go and do not have an easily apparent source. This type of anxiety is most commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive anxiety about a wide variety of things. Other common symptoms of GAD include:...

Friday Fix: Episode 189 Boundaries involve setting rules that make it clear how you want to be treated. Sometimes, that means saying no to something like, “No, I won’t loan you my car.” Other boundaries involve telling someone what you expect like, “I expect you to call before showing up at my house.” Sometimes, it’s important to announce your boundaries to other people. You might say, “Please don’t ask about my health issues in front of other people....

People living with other mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, may also experience hearing voices. Auditory perceptual illusions are not as uncommon as was once thought. In fact, up to 10% of the general population have had the experience of hearing one’s name called, especially during the twilight times of falling asleep (hypnagogic) or waking up (hypnopompic). This article discusses the different types of auditory hallucinations that may occur when someone has schizophrenia....

One parent may believe that accusing the other parent of child abuse will increase their own chances of winning custody. But it’s a flawed strategy. It’s true that judges err on the side of caution when it comes to children’s safety. However, judges do not favor limiting parental rights unless it’s absolutely necessary—and they’re well aware that false accusations are made often. As a result, the court will thoroughly investigate any and all claims of abuse....

Written expression can also be quite a challenge for a student with ADHD due to several possible factors. These may include slow processing speed; problems retrieving information in a timely fashion because of working memory impairments; difficulty organizing thoughts and getting them down on paper; and challenges with handwriting due to poor fine motor coordination. As a result, a student may take a lot longer than most classmates to get work completed and may produce less work overall as compared to their classmates....

Oftentimes, assignments simply don’t get done. If they make it home, the energy that must be used to recall the instructions, understand the assignment, and focus on the tedious task of getting it completed with all the other distractions around may prove too much. Homework really does involve numerous steps. One missed step can create loads of problems. For the child, it can become so overwhelming that it is easier to just not do it....

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other psychiatric disorders that involve intense emotional experiences have trouble accepting emotions. They may engage in unhelpful behaviors to avoid experiencing those painful feelings. This article discusses emotional acceptance and why it can be so difficult for some people. It also explores why accepting emotions is so important to mental well-being. Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts What Is Emotional Acceptance?...