Posts

If you think your teen could benefit from talking to a mental health provider, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with a professional. Talk to your pediatrician or schedule an appointment directly with a therapist. Sometimes, even just a few therapy sessions can make a big difference to your teen’s overall well-being. Teens can benefit from meeting with a therapist to talk to about a variety of topics, ranging from relationship issues to questions about sexual identity....

There are plenty of days (and times throughout any given day) when I doubt myself, give in to temptation or let my emotions cloud my judgment. Here are 10 things I like to do when I don’t feel mentally strong. Remember Hard Times I’ve Been Through Before When I doubt whether I can get through something, I pause and remind myself of the tough things I’ve done before. In the past, I’ve been able to draw upon inner strength that I never even knew existed....

1. The Too-Frequent Compliment While it’s great to be quick to offer compliments, if you give them too often to the same people (or in front of the same people), you may quickly be viewed as someone who does not take compliments too seriously. We value what is in short supply, so give compliments sparingly. Others will appreciate and be flattered when they do receive words of praise from you....

Unfortunately, sleep is something that many people struggle with. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 70 million Americans deal with chronic sleep problems. A poor night’s sleep can cause fatigue, concentration problems, moodiness, headaches, and more. This article offers tips on how to improve the quality of your sleep. It also covers the possible reasons why you may not be sleeping at night and how to address them....

“Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not easy.” The quote perfectly sums up a concept that has become a hot topic in psychology, education, and business: emotional intelligence. People sometimes refer to emotional intelligence as EQ (emotional quotient). Emotionally intelligent people have a number of habits and behaviors that contribute to their ability to manage their own emotions and understand the feelings of others....

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Below are eight ways that social anxiety changes the way you think about everything, and then some ways you can get back control and stop letting your anxiety take the reins. How You Think About Yourself Research has shown that SAD is associated with high self-criticism and lower self-esteem. People with SAD have a tendency to view themselves in a negative light....

This article discusses how Step 2 works, how it fits within the 12 Steps of AA, and what you need to do to complete this step. It also covers how this step works for people who do not believe in God. What Is Step 2? Many members of Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon Family Groups come into the program with a strong faith in God, and with the encouragement of other members of the fellowship soon learn to apply that faith to the situations in their lives created by alcoholism....

Origins of the Theory Harvard psychiatrists J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley first proposed their theory in 1977, suggesting that dreaming results from the brain’s attempt to make sense of neural activity that takes place during sleep. Even when you are sleeping, your brain is active. Hobson and McCarley suggested that during sleep, activity in some of the lower levels of the brain that are primarily responsible for basic biological processes are then interpreted by the parts of the brain responsible for higher-order functions such as thinking and processing information....

In this article, we explore the connection between ADHD and addiction, how ADHD contributes to an individual’s risk for addiction, and how ADHD impacts treatment for substance use disorders. The Connection Between ADHD and Addiction According to the International Collaboration on ADHD and Substance Abuse, approximately one out of six adults with a substance use disorder has ADHD. While there is not one exact reason why people with ADHD are at higher risk for substance use disorders compared to those who do not have ADHD, a few different variables are thought to contribute to this connection:...

If you have a child who seems to bounce off the walls or who can’t focus long enough to get work done, it’s wise to be concerned about the possibility of ADHD. Symptoms Just like adults, children may present with one of three types of ADHD: Predominantly inattentive presentation: Children with the inattentive presentation of ADHD struggle to focus and stay on task. They may appear to be daydreaming often, and they may struggle to stay organized....

Who Should Take It AP Psychology is a good choice for students who are interested in obtaining college credits while in high school. Introductory psychology classes are often part of the core class requirements at many colleges and universities, so taking AP Psychology is a great way to get a jump start on your college education. Students who are interested in majoring in psychology or another social science can also benefit from taking the course....

In other words, if you have developed alcohol tolerance you have to drink increasingly greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effects you used to feel with fewer drinks. You may think that not having alcohol interfere with your behavior and ability to function like it used to do is a positive occurrence, however, the development of tolerance to alcohol can actually signal pending problems. Tolerance to the effects of alcohol can influence drinking behavior and consequences in many ways....

Although it has its limitations, Binet’s IQ test is well-known around the world as a way to assess and compare intelligence. It also set the stage for the development of several of the IQ tests that are still in use today. History of Intelligence Assessments In the late 1800s, Sir Francis Galton—the founder of differential psychology—published some of the first works about human intelligence. Galton proposed that intelligence was hereditary and that it could be tested by looking at how people performed on sensorimotor tasks....

For instance, in “Proof of Heaven,” Dr. Eben Alexander recounts what he experienced while in a week-long coma brought on by meningitis. Meanwhile, in “To Heaven and Back,” Mary C. Neal discusses her near-death experience while submerged in a river after a kayaking accident. Both books spent a considerable amount of time on the New York Times Bestseller List demonstrating that this is a topic that has not only captivated the interest of the country but demands additional research by the medical community....

Antidepressants That Can Cause Weight Gain While each person responds differently to antidepressant medications, the following are some of the ones that may be associated with weight gain in some people: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant. Long-term use of these medications may lead to weight gain. SSRIs include Prozac (fluoxetine), Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline). Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are an older class of antidepressants that are used less frequently today because newer medications are less likely to cause side effects....

While it might take a while to get used to, learning how to write an APA paper is a useful skill that will serve you well whether you are a psychology major or just taking your first social science class. What Is APA Format? APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is commonly used to cite sources in psychology, education, and the social sciences....

Astraphobia is not a recognized mental health condition but is considered a specific phobia. Specific phobias involve an extreme fear of a particular object or situation and are one of the most common types of mental disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 9.1% of adults in the U.S. experience a specific phobia each year. Symptoms Astraphobia can cause some symptoms that are similar to those of other phobias and some that are unique....

Most of the unpleasant symptoms experienced during a hangover are caused by alcohol’s diuretic effects, causing the body to become dehydrated, and the toxins that are produced as the liver metabolizes alcohol. With a little planning, the effect of these processes can be greatly reduced. The Bottom Line If you drink any alcohol at all you can experience some negative effects the next morning. Generally, the more you drink the greater the chance of experiencing more severe hangover symptoms....

This surgery targets two parts of the brain: The cingulate gyrus, which helps regulate emotions and painThe frontal lobes, whose functions include reasoning, impulse control, and judgment Surgical procedures in psychiatry are controversial, and most doctors will not perform a bilateral cingulotomy unless all other avenues of treatment have been exhausted. Many neurosurgeons, in fact, will require consent from both the patient and a close family member before proceeding with the operation....