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Although a natural reaction for many people with OCD is to try and push these intrusive thoughts away, that may make obsessions worse. Thought suppression may lead to a “rebound” effect, where the effort to push a thought away actually causes it to return. Of course, this leads to more thought suppression, which leads to experiencing more distressing thoughts. It can turn into a vicious cycle. Obsessions Obsessions are recurring thoughts, urges, or mental images that feel intrusive, unwanted, and distressing....

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts How to Get Started Whether people want to lose weight, stop smoking, or accomplish another goal, no single solution works for everyone. You may have to go through a process of trial and error to achieve your goal. It’s during this period that many people become discouraged and give up on their behavior change goals. The keys to achieving and maintaining your goals are to try new techniques and find ways to stay motivated....

Indication The term mood stabilizer is used to describe any medication that reduces the frequency of intense mood shifts, or lability. Types of Medication Different types of medications are prescribed as mood stabilizers for people with BPD. Medications originally developed to treat seizures, called “anticonvulsants,” are commonly prescribed for their mood-stabilizing effects. Examples include: Tegretol, Equetro (carbamazepine) Lamictal (lamotrigine) Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) Topamax (topiramate) Depakote (valproic acid, divalproex sodium) Lithobid (lithium carbonate) is an anticonvulsant mood stabilizer that has been a mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder for years....

You may also experience grief and denial after the loss of other things that are important to you, such as a job, a business, a friendship, or a relationship. This article discusses denial as one of the five stages of grief, explores the characteristics of denial, and suggests some coping strategies that may be helpful. What Are the Five Stages of Grief? The concept of the stages of grief was first introduced by the psychiatrist Dr....

It doesn’t help that panic attacks may sometimes appear without any warning or trigger in what is known as an ‘unexpected panic attack.’ Other times, cases of panic attacks may be anticipated, otherwise known as an ’expected panic attack.’ These attacks commonly occur during triggering situations like proximity to a feared animal or a dreaded work emergency. Regardless of the circumstances from which panic attacks emerge, it is widely accepted that these encounters can seriously disrupt daily, social, and even work life....

Here are a few highlights of the history of schizophrenia as well as how we understand it today. Schizophrenia or Schizophrenias? When it comes to classifying schizophrenia, there are lumpers, who like to group things into broad categories, and splitters, who divide things into smaller categories. Lumpers view schizophrenia as a unitary or single disorder while splitters say it is different disorders conveniently grouped under one category. The best way to understand these points of view is to review the historical development of the schizophrenia concept....

This article discusses the history of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the different versions of the test, and how the test is used. It also explores the benefits and limitations of the WAIS. History of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Wechsler was dissatisfied with what he believed were the limitations of the Stanford-Binet intelligence test. Among his chief complaints about that test was the single score that emerged, its emphasis on timed tasks, and the fact that the test had been designed specifically for children and was therefore invalid for adults....

Alcohol can play a part in domestic violence because it can impair the abuser’s judgment, reduce inhibition and increase aggression. There have been many studies done on the relationship between alcohol abuse and domestic violence and the prevalence of alcohol abuse during a violent episode has been reported from 25 percent to 80 percent. But there is no scientific evidence indicating a cause-and-effect relationship between substance abuse and intimate partner violence....

This is a common concern, but one that is rarely talked about. Let’s take a look at why people may ask this question, what typically causes these concerns, how to decide whether having kids is right for you, and what to do if you end up feeling regrets after becoming a parent. How Common Is It to Regret Having Kids? The idea that a parent might regret having kids is a concept that is cloaked in shame....

Hate crimes may be directed toward individuals because of their sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, language, physical appearance, or nationality. What Constitutes a Hate Crime? While the word “hate” is often used to describe rage, anger, or general dislike, in the legal sense, hate refers to the bias against people or groups of people with specific characteristics that are defined by law. Motivation While it’s difficult to understand why anyone would commit a hate crime, extensive research has gone into trying to better understand the motivation behind hate crimes....

Ageism affects everyone, both young and old. Age discrimination can be seen in a wide variety of settings and situations including the workplace and in healthcare. This article discusses how ageism is defined and how stereotypes contribute to age discrimination. It also explores how often it happens, the effects it can have, and what you can do to help combat ageism. History of Ageism The term ageism was first used by gerontologist Robert N....

Atypical Anorexia Nervosa in the DSM Traditionally, eating disorders like anorexia has been characterized by low body weight. However, in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), published in 2013, atypical anorexia was included in the category Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED). Diagnostic Criteria Diagnostic criteria for anorexia include: Taking in an inadequate number of caloriesA fear of gaining weightBeliefs that body size impacts self-worth Atypical Anorexia Is Often Misdiagnosed or Overlooked Even though people who have atypical anorexia show the same symptoms as people with anorexia, the fact that they’re not underweight leads to people overlooking or misdiagnosing them....

It is related to other emotions such as sympathy, empathy, and altruism, although the concepts have some key differences. Empathy refers more to the general ability to take another person’s perspective and feel the emotions of others. Compassion, on the other hand, is what happens when those feelings of empathy are accompanied by the desire to help. This article discusses the definition of compassion and how to recognize this emotion....

Advocates of this movement work to improve quality of life for fat people and fight discrimination against them in industries such as healthcare, fashion, and employment. Fat acceptance activists have also been described as “fat rights” or “fat liberation” advocates. The history of fat acceptance dates back decades. Get a better understanding of this movement by reviewing its origins, legal challenges against fat discrimination, and the barriers fat people continue to face today....

In assessing the parent, there are categories that focus on competence, isolation, health, depression, marriage status, and healthy attachment. There is a range of characteristics for children, including distractibility, demandingness, and mood. Uses of the Parenting Stress Index Parents of children up to 12 years old can use this tool. While this assessment tool is used to intervene and provide support in parent-child relationships where there is a risk for abuse and neglect, it raises important questions about how a parent is responding to their child....

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress “Good stress,” or what psychologists refer to as “eustress,” is the type of stress we feel when we are excited. Our pulse quickens and our hormones surge, but there is no threat or fear. We feel this type of stress when we ride a roller coaster, compete for a promotion, or go on a first date. There are many triggers for this good stress, and it keeps us feeling alive and excited about life....

Given the American history of Indigenous genocide and enslavement of Black folks, white supremacy tends to be ingrained in the DNA of this country. Impact on BIPOC Mental Health It is impossible to review all of the ways in which white supremacy harms BIPOC folks, as its ramifications are complex both on the personal and societal level. Lack of Adequate Services There is no shortage of ways in which white supremacy negatively impacts the mental health of BIPOC folks, and this issue is further compounded by how many barriers they confront when attempting to access culturally competent services, given how mental health can often be treated by practitioners who lack understanding of systemic oppression....