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Holiday Coping TipsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article was originally published in 1996. (Source: Psych Central)
Source: Psych Central - November 15, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Depression Disorders General Grief and Loss Happiness Holiday Coping Stress Close Friends Contemplation Experience Feelings Feelings Of Depression Few Words Going To The Library Holiday Blues Holiday Depression Holiday Season Source Type: consumer

Involuntary Emotional Expression DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
, or IEED, is a condition in which a person experiences uncontrollable episodes of emotional expression. That is, they have episodes of crying, laughter, or anger that are not in line with their present mood. The condition is also known as labile affect, pseudobulbar affect, emotional lability, and pathological laughing and crying. It can have a severe impact on the lives of both patients and caregivers, as symptoms may leave sufferers feeling guilty, awkward, embarrassed and reluctant to take part in social interaction. IEED is seen most often following brain injury or in people with dementia, motor neuron disease, and m...
Source: Psych Central - November 1, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Aging Alzheimer's Antidepressants Caregivers Disorders General Medications Amyotrophic Lateral Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Array Bipolar Bipolar Disorder Brain Injury Deleterious Effect Dementia Depression Anxiety Emotion Source Type: consumer

Anticipated Fullness Is Crucial to Calorie IntakeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study is unique in that it compares palatability and reward (measured as monetary value) across foods. It also compared foods on a like-for-like (calorie-for-calorie) basis, to understand their relative effect on energy intake. “It is now widely assumed that palatability plays a key role in decisions about meal size,” they researchers write. “However, an alternative, and previously unexplored possibility, is that decisions are largely motivated by non-affective beliefs, such as those relating to the post-ingestive consequences of consuming food.” Foods differ considerably in their expected sati...
Source: Psych Central - October 20, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Eating Disorders General Healthy Living Psychology Bristol Uk Cakes Chocolate Cashew Nuts Causes Of Obesity Chicken Chow Mein Chicken Tikka Masala Comparison Food Energy Dense Foods Energy Density Fish Fingers Food Choices Fo Source Type: consumer

Teen Drinking: Limits vs. PunishmentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
According to the National Institute of Health, drinking — the drug of choice among youth — plays a major role in death from injuries, and injuries are the leading cause of death for kids under 21. Alcohol also significantly increases the likelihood of risky sexual behavior, including unprotected sex, multiple partners, and physical and sexual assault (NIAA, 2007). How do we set limits on our teenagers so that the limits are actually protective and not just a reaction to anger? It’s easy to take teens’ provocative behavior personally and (Source: Psych Central)
Source: Psych Central - October 20, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lynn Margolies, Ph.D. Tags: Addictions Children and Teens Family General Parenting Students Substance Abuse Calm Tone Cause Of Death Demeanor Driving Force Drug Of Choice Institute Of Health Leading Cause Of Death Likelihood Losing Sight Multiple Part Source Type: consumer

Weekends at BellevueEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Ever wanted to go beyond the doors of a psychiatric hospital? To have a key to the locked units? To witness the day-to-day at a legendary institution mired in mystery and folklore? Weekends at Bellevue, a medical memoir by psychiatrist Julie Holland, gives readers this very opportunity, taking them inside the infamous New York City hospital. As the doctor in charge of Bellevue’s psychiatric emergency room (known as CPEP), Dr. Holland had a front row seat to the “madness” and mayhem from 1996 to 2005. Her job was to decide who was admitted — whether voluntarily or involuntarily — and who was released, which didn�...
Source: Psych Central - October 20, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Book Reviews Disorders General Medications Personal Stories Psychology Treatment Ambulance Service Barney Miller Cop Show Dr Holland Emergency Ward Hal Linden Infirmary Inner Workings Julie Holland Madness And Mayhem Magi Source Type: consumer

Does Your Teenager Want To Get Caught?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Travis was 15. He’d always been a good kid – no trouble, unlike his brothers. His parents saw him as the perfect child. That’s why it was jolting and perplexing to his parents that this semester he started breaking rules, getting into trouble, and seeming downright provocative. Travis was recently caught drunk after being at friends’ houses and engaging in risky and dangerous activities. He recently remarked to his father, “I can’t wait to get my dirt bike. Then I’ll be able to go anywhere I want and go scary-wild!” Travis’ dad was shocked by this comment and angry that Travis seemed to be purposely and ...
Source: Psych Central - October 7, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lynn Margolies, Ph.D. Tags: Addictions Children and Teens Family General Parenting Students Substance Abuse Anger Brain Development Breaking Rules Contrary To Popular Belief Dad Dangerous Activities Dirt Bike Friends Houses Frustration Good Kid Judg Source Type: consumer

What’s the Difference Between Depression and Manic Depression?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sometimes people are confused about the differences between clinical depression and manic depression. And it’s no wonder — they both have the word “depression” in their names. That’s one of the reason’s manic depression’s clinical name changed to “bipolar disorder” many years ago, to more clearly distinguish it from regular depression. The difference is really quite simple, though. Manic depression — or bipolar disorder — includes clinical depression as a part of its diagnosis. You can’t have bipolar disorder without also having had an episode of clini...
Source: Psych Central - October 1, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Bipolar Children and Teens Depression Disorders General Bipolar Depression Bipolar Disorder Clinical Depression Commonality Depression Symptom Depressive Episode Diagnosis Hypomania Judgments Manic Depression Manic Episode Source Type: consumer

The Depression AdvantageEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Depression, like other mental illnesses, is rarely seen as a good thing. While many can articulate positive things about having a mental illness (or knowing someone who does), the illness itself is almost never looked upon as providing an advantage. In The Depression Advantage, Tom Wootton attempts to do just that—to show that depression, despite the challenges and distress it can bring, can also be helpful. Drawing on personal experience with bipolar disorder, the lives of the saints, and feedback received through workshops he has led, Wootton suggests a new paradigm for understanding and coping with mood disorders...
Source: Psych Central - September 22, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Erin Whittaker, BSW, RSW Tags: Bipolar Book Reviews Depression Disorders General Psychology Self-Help Spirituality Array Bipolar Disorder Clinical Depression Conclusive Evidence Counselor Easygoing Style Emotional Illness Forties Lives Of The Saints Me Source Type: consumer

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Linked to Earlier Poor HealthEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are higher among military personnel who had mental or physical health problems before combat, a recent study has found. Cynthia LeardMann and colleagues at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego wanted to see whether there are predisposing factors for PTSD. Most previous studies have used retrospective figures, so the team examined volunteers before military deployment. They write on the website of the British Medical Journal that, “It has not been temporally established if those with poor mental or physical health status are more vulnerable to developing PTSD....
Source: Psych Central - September 22, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Disorders General PTSD Stress Treatment Anxiety And Depression Anxiety Depression British Medical Journal Dsm Iv Criteria Functional Health Half Times Health Rates Health Research Center Levels Of Anxiety Military Deployment Source Type: consumer

Taking Medication: 16 Ways to Become a Smart Self-AdvocateEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
When we walk into the doctor’s office, for many of us, the scenario looks like this: We list off our symptoms, the doctor asks a few questions, writes out a prescription and we go on our way. From her work in primary care settings, Risa Weisberg, Ph.D, assistant professor (research) and co-director of the Brown University Program for Anxiety Research at Alpert Medical School, has seen “firsthand how a great many patients accept a prescription from their provider without asking many questions about it, or often, without even knowing for what symptoms/disorder it is being prescribed.” Such a scenario can stall or sab...
Source: Psych Central - September 16, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anti-anxiety Anticonvulsants Antidepressants Antipsychotics Atypical Antipsychotics Benzodiazepines Disorders General Medication Reference Medications Mood Stabilizers Stimulants Treatment Anxiety Research Assistant Professor Source Type: consumer

The Genetics of Compulsive HoardingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Is compulsive hoarding inherited? People who compulsively acquire and hoard clutter to the extent that it impairs their daily activities are labeled “compulsive hoarders.” The condition is classed as a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), present in 30 to 40 percent of individuals affected with OCD. It may damage relationships, cut the individual off from society, and even endanger lives. Compulsive hoarding is distinct from bad planning and disorganization because it is believed to be a pathological brain disorder. It is often a symptom of other disorders, such as impulse control disorder or attenti...
Source: Psych Central - September 1, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Disorders General Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder American Journal Of Psychiatry Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Brain Disorder California San Diego Chromosome 14 Chromosome 3 College Northampton Source Type: consumer

Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most difficult conditions for anyone to bear. Many who encounter life-threatening events or situations that threaten physical or emotional safety become burdened by a variety of intense symptoms, including intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares. People with PTSD often become hypervigilant and employ desperate coping strategies to avoid situations that remind them of their trauma. They may experience mood, anger and anxiety problems, unexplained aches and pains, addictions, and difficulties in work, relationships, self-esteem, faith and worldview. Many who have suff...
Source: Psych Central - August 25, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Gary Seeman, Ph.D Tags: Abuse Anger Book Reviews Depression Disorders General Grief and Loss PTSD Psychology Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Substance Abuse Treatment Anger And Anxiety Anxiety Problems Array Beckner Brief Summaries Coping Strat Source Type: consumer

Purge: Rehab DiariesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, I wrote this book to inform the public, counteract myths surrounding eating disorders and treatment, and provide eating disordered individuals with hope. I think she accomplishes all three. Purge: Rehab Diaries By Nicole Johns Seal Press, April 2009 288 pages Paperback, $16.95 (Source: Psych Central)
Source: Psych Central - August 25, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Addictions Anorexia Book Reviews Bulimia Disorders Eating Disorders General Anorexia And Bulimia Anorexia Bulimia Bingeing Bits And Pieces Bod Bulimia And Anorexia Bulimia Anorexia Eating Disorder Center Emptiness Group The Source Type: consumer

Ordinary HeroesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Last night I went to a convenience store. I was joking with one of the two female cashiers working the late night shift when this guy stormed in, shouting obscenities, totally agitated. I was scared—sure he was on methamphetamines—drunk and dangerous. He was about 30 years old, of average height and weight. He was pacing, swearing repeatedly, saying he’s going to kill ‘this guy.’ Then he grabbed a glass bottle from the cooler. He said he would use it to smash in the other man’s skull; he wishes he had a gun on him; all this in a total rage. I was too shocked to make out anything this ...
Source: Psych Central - August 18, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Katrin Reichhold Tags: Anger Essays General Personal Stories Substance Abuse Black Woman Cashier Convenience Store Cops Drunk F Word Feelings Gesture Glass Bottle Grabs Height And Weight Insults Katrin Late Night Maniac Meth Amphetamines Source Type: consumer

Hiding Behind the Pulpit with Bipolar DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I have an illness that affects nearly 1 out of every 17 Americans, and affects 1 out of every 5 families. This disease is chronic in nature, and can only be controlled, not cured. It is not consistent in either symptoms or treatments. Controlling the symptoms is a lifelong struggle, and can only be accomplished through therapy, medication and developing coping skills. People with this illness are treated like modern-day lepers. They are ridiculed, stereotyped and misrepresented in society. No matter how skilled or educated they may be, the dark cloud of this disease follows them everywhere. In order to maintain employment,...
Source: Psych Central - August 11, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Michael W. McKinney Sr. Tags: Bipolar Caregivers Disorders Essays General Personal Stories Spirituality Work Issues 35 Years Antidepressants Attitude Attitude Change Bipolar Disorder Commonality Coping Skills Dark Cloud Diagnosis Dreaded Illness Few Source Type: consumer

A Brief History of Anxiety: Yours and MineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the U.S., 40 million adults have an anxiety disorder. Author Patricia Pearson is one of them: She is a regular visitor to Flu Wiki, an online community that fears an impending influenza outbreak. She compares her “uncomfortable but meaningless” angst to Edvard Munch’s The Scream . In A Brief History of Anxiety: Yours and Mine, Pearson describes the Flu Wiki: “The conversations ranged widely, from scientific discourses on virus mutation to historical analysis of pandemics, to tips for home fuel storage—on the presumption that self-quarantine would be the only effective protection from contracting the virus.�...
Source: Psych Central - July 29, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Agoraphobia Anxiety Book Reviews Disorders General Panic Disorder Phobias Social Phobia Anxiety Disorder Anxiety Disorders Brief History Chameleons Discourses Embodiment Freeze Dried Vegetables Fuel Storage Guises Home Fu Source Type: consumer

Media’s Damaging Depictions of Mental IllnessEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A man who suffers from schizophrenia goes on a shooting spree in Times Square and later stabs a pregnant physician in the stomach. These are the opening scenes from Wonderland, a drama set in the psychiatric and emergency room units of a New York City hospital. Premiering in 2000, Wonderland was promptly canceled because of dwindling ratings and heavy criticism from mental health groups (though it was brought back in January 2009). The series portrayed a bleak life for people with mental illness and groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) criticized its theme of hopelessness. But images of individuals ...
Source: Psych Central - July 22, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Disorders General Policy and Advocacy Psychology Central Florida Common Misconceptions Common Myths Emergency Room Film News Graphic Depiction Hopelessness Individuals With Mental Illness Mass Media Mental Health Groups Nationa Source Type: consumer

How To Talk to Your Kids About ADHDEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Your child is in school and either you are frustrated, your child’s teacher is frustrated, or both. You have most likely seen behavioral problems and your child’s teacher has called to tell you that your child is disrupting the classroom and is not listening. You are at your “wits end” and finally decide, after much deliberating, to take your child to a health care professional —who tells you that your child has ADHD. Now what? Your child most likely is as frustrated as you are with constantly getting in trouble at school for not sitting still and not paying attention. He or she also may have been labeled at...
Source: Psych Central - July 20, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kara Tamanini, M.S., LMHC Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Disorders Family General Parenting Adhd Adhd Children Behavioral Strategies Brain Brain Works Children With Adhd Classmates Constructive Manner Daydreamer Diagnosis Health Care Source Type: consumer

Setting Up a Behavior Management Plan for an ADHD ChildEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are at a much higher risk of developing noncompliant or negative behaviors than a child who does not have ADHD. The very nature of ADHD implies that the child will have difficulty with self-control, paying attention, listening to instructions at home and school, and following directions. Some children seem to be predisposed to develop behavior problems by their temperament; however, the symptoms of ADHD—including hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention—seem to exacerbate these negative behaviors. Managing these negative behaviors often becomes a full-time job for p...
Source: Psych Central - July 15, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kara Tamanini, M.S., LMHC Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Disorders Family General Parenting Treatment Adhd Adhd Child Adhd Children Adhd Treatment Array Behavior Management Behavior Modification Behavior Problems Behavioral Management T Source Type: consumer

Premenstrual Dysphoric DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Most women have a variety of physical or emotional symptoms related to their monthly usuaperiods. Symptoms are usually present during the five days before their period and then disappear within a day or two of the period starting. Most of the time, these symptoms aren’t an indication of a mental disorder or other mental health concern. Such mild symptoms are a normal process of menstruation. Severe cases of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can be diagnosed as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD significantly interfere’s with a woman’s ability to function in her everyday, normal life — including...
Source: Psych Central - July 8, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Disorders General Happiness Healthy Living Herbs & Supplements Psychotherapy Stress Women's Issues Additional Research Depressed Mood Emotional Symptoms Feelings Of Hopelessness Health Concern History Of Depression Interpersona Source Type: consumer

Overcoming Fears, Phobias and Panic AttacksEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There are many ways that a therapist might work with someone to help them overcome their fears, a phobia (like being afraid of snakes) or having a panic attack (where a person feels their heart beating, they are short of breath, and feel like they might die). Many therapists use what are called cognitive-behavioral techniques to help a person gain control over these kinds of irrational fears. You can also learn more about these techniques on your own, and through self-help books. Keep in mind that not every technique is appropriate for every kind of concern or every person — some may work better than others for you....
Source: Psych Central - July 2, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Anxiety Cognitive-Behavioral Disorders General Panic Disorder Phobias Psychology Psychotherapy Treatment Elevator Experimental Method Fears Phobias Gain Control Grocery Stores Having A Heart Attack High Anxiety Irrational F Source Type: consumer

Living with an Anxiety DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Learning that you have an anxiety disorder may bring relief (finally having a name for your struggles), more questions (why me?) and more worry (not knowing what to do next). The good news is that anxiety disorders are among the most treatable. According to Peter J. Norton, Ph.D, Director of the Anxiety Disorder Clinic at the University of Houston and co-author of The Anti-Anxiety Workbook, anxiety disorders have success rates that make other researchers jealous. The key is to get the right treatment and stick with it. Here’s a look at what effective treatment entails, including the ins and outs of psychotherapy and me...
Source: Psych Central - June 26, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anti-anxiety Cognitive-Behavioral Disorders General Medications Psychotherapy Anxiety Disorder Anxiety Disorders Anxiety Disorders Research Anxiety Research Brown University Program Care Patients Character Defect Chronic Course Source Type: consumer

Anxiety in the AthleteEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Michael Phelps is from my hometown, Towson, Maryland and no, I don’t know him personally. I have seen him around town several times and have been known to swim where he trained; however, we aren’t buds. But I can offer you this: I have competed at very high levels in art, pretty high levels on horseback, and not so high levels of downhill skiing, ice skating, shooting, and dance. What I have learned over the years is that it’s MUCH easier to compete without an animal! That being said, competition is about learning a skill very, very well. So well, in fact, that it becomes automatic. While you are always perfecting ...
Source: Psych Central - June 4, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Diana L. Walcutt, Ph.D Tags: Anxiety Disorders General Psychology Psychotherapy Self-Help Anxiety Attacks Anxiety Panic Attacks Athlete Buds Crowd Dance Step Deep Breathing Downhill Skiing Guided Imagery Hometown Horses Michael Phelps Mind And Body Source Type: consumer

Ricochet: The Truth About PTSDEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Some of you may have read the article “Ricochet: My shot made Joseph Dwyer famous. Did it also help lead to his death?” If you haven’t, you might want to. It’s about this young medic, Joseph Dwyer, who was photographed during the 2003 invasion, running toward safety with an injured Iraqi child in his arms. Dwyer was found dead in his apartment a week before the article ran, having overdosed on drugs. We know that he was haunted by the war and likely exhibited many or all of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. He was hypervigilant, anxious, fearful, and haunted by the war. His mo...
Source: Psych Central - June 3, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Diana L. Walcutt, Ph.D Tags: Disorders General Grief and Loss Men's Issues PTSD Psychotherapy Abnormal Situation Array Boredom Car Crashes Combat Soldiers Crazy People Dichotomy Dwyer Flashbacks History Of Trauma Horrible Experiences Incoming Missile Source Type: consumer

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
If you’re a parent of a child who’s recently been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may be devastated and overwhelmed. If you’re an adult who’s recently been diagnosed, you may be going through “various stages of grief” after learning that your “lifelong difficulties can now be explained by a medical condition,” said Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW, licensed psychotherapist and founder of ADD Consults. Fortunately, ADHD is highly treatable and whether one is diagnosed at 30 or 80, “your quality of life will change for the better,” Matlen said. But knowing what treatments are e...
Source: Psych Central - May 26, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Cognitive-Behavioral Disorders General Medications Parenting Psychotherapy School Issues Self-Esteem Self-Help Stimulants Students Treatment Work Issues Add Adhd Arthur L Robin Source Type: consumer

Q & A with Eating Disorder Specialist Sari Fine Shepphird: Part 1Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sari Fine Shepphird, Ph.D, a Los Angeles clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist, is the author of 100 Questions & Answers about Anorexia Nervosa. Psych Central contributor Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., spoke with her about common myths surrounding anorexia, the media’s impact and healthy body image in kids. Be sure to check out Part 2 of the interview next week. For more information about Shepphird and her book, please visit her website. Q: In your book, you discuss several prevailing myths, including: people choose to have anorexia; they’re just trying to get attention; anorexia is about vanity; a p...
Source: Psych Central - May 20, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anorexia Bulimia Children and Teens Disorders Eating Disorders Family General Healthy Living Parenting Self-Esteem Self-Help Women's Issues Anorexia Nervosa Body Image Clinical Psychologist Common Myths Contributor Coroll Source Type: consumer

Mother’s Day Thoughts by a Mommy of AngelsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I have been thinking. I have 6 Angels waiting for me in Heaven. I have miscarriages. The couple weeks surrounding Mother’s Day contain several significant dates for me anyway. May 8th was the 7th anniversary of losing the 2nd twin. The first one was in April. May 11th is the day I discovered we had SIGNIFICANT problems in our marriage which ended in a divorce. It is full of dates that are bittersweet and a few that were downright heartwrenching. But with 6 miscarriages I have dates spread throughout the year so it is an unavoidable time of remembrance for a person who is good with dates. But Mother’s Day…...
Source: Psych Central - May 9, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Colleen Lemmon Tags: Anger Children and Teens Disorders Essays Family General Grief and Loss Parenting Personal Stories Spirituality Women's Issues Angels Anniversary Antibody Syndrome Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Blood Clotting Disorder Source Type: consumer

We Shouldn’t Need a Day of Our OwnEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Everybody in the United States is terribly aware the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day — the floral and greeting card industries won’t let you forget it. Mother’s Day is big business. (Whether people buy into it out of guilt, because they “feel like they should” even though they have lousy relationships with their mothers, or because they genuinely want to honor their mothers is an investigation for another time.) But the Saturday before Mother’s Day is also Mother’s Day. It’s just the one nobody wants to admit a need for. Birth Mothers Day began in Seattle in 1990 to recognize the ...
Source: Psych Central - May 9, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Candy Czernicki Tags: Depression Disorders General Grief and Loss PTSD Parenting Personal Stories Relationships & Love Self-Esteem Stress Women's Issues Assorted Types Birth Mothers Birthmom Birthmoms Church Groups Counseling Centers Financial Source Type: consumer

Demystifying Treatment for Body Dysmorphic DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Some dismiss body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) as vanity; others believe it’s a rare and extreme condition. Though many misconceptions continue to circulate, BDD is a real, fairly common body image disorder. It affects men and women equally and has shades of severity. Fortunately, BDD can be successfully treated with medication and psychotherapy. In fact, both cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs or SRIs) are considered the first line of treatment for BDD, according to Jennifer L. Greenberg, Psy.D, Clinical and Research Fellow in Psychology (Psychiatry) at the Massachusetts G...
Source: Psych Central - May 4, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anorexia Bulimia Children and Teens Cognitive-Behavioral Eating Disorders General Medications Parenting Psychotherapy Treatment Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body Dysmorphic Disorder Bdd Body Image Cbt Cbt Training Clinical Psycho Source Type: consumer

Coffee May Prevent DementiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Further evidence has come to light that drinking coffee may have a protective effect against dementia. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are common problems in the elderly population. Although research is improving our knowledge of the underlying biology of these disorders, we still have little understanding of the “modifiable” risk factors. Caffeine has been suggested to have a protective effect against dementia. This new study comes from the University of Kuopio, Finland and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Miia Kivipelto and colleagues are involved in the ongoing Cardiovascular Risk ...
Source: Psych Central - May 4, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Aging Alzheimer's Disorders General Healthy Living Seniors Treatment Array Cardiovascular Risk Factors Central Nervous System Clinical Manifestation Coffee And Tea Coffee Consumption Coffee Drinkers Dementia Dietary Intervent Source Type: consumer

Teens Who Self-HarmEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sandy’s mother, Lily, is beside herself. “I didn’t notice anything was wrong all winter,” she said. “Oh, she was quieter than usual and her grades weren’t the best. But we moved last fall and I figured she was just adjusting. Last week, though, spring really came on with 80-degree days and she insisted on wearing a wool sweater to school. Sandy got furious when I told her to go change. I’ve never seen her that upset! Three days of long sleeved shirts and I finally caught on. I’d heard about this, of course. But I never thought my daughter would be doing it. There are scars al...
Source: Psych Central - May 4, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. Tags: Abuse Borderline Personality Children and Teens Disorders Divorce Family General Healthy Living Parenting Psychotherapy Stress Students Accidental Injury Dare Degree Days Emotional Pain Ethnic Group Lily Long Sleeved Sh Source Type: consumer

Is Alcohol Spoiling Your Romance?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
When I first talk to people about couples therapy, I usually ask: “Do you drink alcohol? Does your partner?” and if so, “How much?” I also ask whether they use other mind-altering drugs and intoxicants. Please understand — I’m not opposed to having a good time. Some people can drink in moderation without ill effects. But I want to know whether drinking or drugs may be spoiling your romance. With alcohol especially people may not make the connection between drinking and relationship problems. They may not be ready to let go of a partying lifestyle. Or they may prefer to deny problems with alc...
Source: Psych Central - April 28, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Gary Seeman, Ph.D Tags: Addictions Alcoholism Disorders Dual Diagnosis General Relationships & Love Substance Abuse Alcohol Affects Alcohol Effects Alcohol Problems Beers Bottle Of Wine Couples Therapy Drink Alcohol Drug Effects Great Time Guilt Source Type: consumer

Extreme Thinking and Moods Are The Death of CreativityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
You probably have heard that many of the world’s most creative people often had some sort of mental illness. While I can see some truth in this viewpoint, I offer a different opinion: In nearly every case, a person with mental illness experiences some form of extreme thinking, a black-and-white viewpoint. Let’s profile bipolar disorder and depression right now to see what I’m talking about. Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings, sleep disruption, and extreme behaviors. These mood swings can include irritability, energetic happiness, impulsive and erratic behavior, deep depression, anger, or e...
Source: Psych Central - April 22, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Erika Krull Tags: Bipolar Depression Disorders General Psychology Suicide Behavior Changes Bipolar Depression Bipolar Disorder Clinical Depression Cyclothymia Despair Disruption Eating Habits Emotional State Emptiness Endless Energy Endles Source Type: consumer

How To Keep Your Head in a Bad EconomyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
When a recession hits and then gains momentum, it’s natural to feel scared, helpless or hopeless, and these feelings can get the better of us. People who feel overwhelmed often try to cope by avoiding the difficulties coming at them. Sometimes it’s just too much, and it’s okay to take a break. But excessive escape and avoidance lets problems pile up, so they’re even more overwhelming. Certain types of therapy, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, help people build coping skills that include paying attention to what’s important, or mindfulness. But there are other ...
Source: Psych Central - April 15, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Gary Seeman, Ph.D Tags: Anxiety Disorders General Healthy Living Procrastination Psychology Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Substance Abuse Treatment Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Avoidance Bound Break Coping Skills Dbt Decisions Dialectical Source Type: consumer

Another Antidepressant JourneyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Today I have spent a lot of time on the phone with both a nurse and my psychiatrist. Our big topic of the day? How to get me off Celexa. I started taking Celexa a few weeks ago. I had previously been on Remeron, but it didn’t seem to be doing much. At the suggestion of my psychologist, I asked my psychiatrist about switching to Celexa. My psychiatrist explained that Celexa is part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). While I can’t honestly say I understand the precise differences between an SSRI and any other type of antidepressants, I know that SSRIs work on different neurotran...
Source: Psych Central - April 15, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Stacey Goldstein Tags: Antidepressants Depression Essays Medications Personal Stories Ambien Array Celexa Consistent Problems Few Days Flu Fog Nausea Neurotransmitters Prozac Psychiatrist Psychologist Remeron Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhi Source Type: consumer

Sylvia Plath’s LegacyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For someone who has only read her biography and never read any of Sylvia Plath’s actual poetry, I spend an awful lot of time thinking about her. That’s because I suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. Sylvia’s poetry to me is what whiskey is to an alcoholic or what heroin is to a drug addict. It is something to be aware of, but avoided at all costs if I am to keep my sanity. So rather than lean toward the warm, seductive, siren-like pull of identification and immersion with the dead poet and her writing, I try to spend my time reading books that make me feel happy while at the same time not denying that unhappi...
Source: Psych Central - April 7, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Sonia Neale Tags: Depression Disorders Essays General Personal Stories Self-Help Chronic Depression Constancy Dead Poet Depression And Anxiety Depression Anxiety Diaphanous Wings Drug Addict Garrison Keillor Good Poems Peace And Goodwill Pia Source Type: consumer

Yoga for Treatment of Anxiety and DepressionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Can yoga help in the treatment of anxiety and depression? Since the 1970s, meditation and other stress-reduction techniques have been studied as possible treatments for depression and anxiety. One such practice, yoga, has received less attention in the medical literature, though it has become increasingly popular in recent decades. One national survey estimated, for example, that about 7.5% of U.S. adults had tried yoga at least once, and that nearly 4% practiced yoga in the previous year. Yoga classes can vary from gentle and accommodating to strenuous and challenging; the choice of style tends to be based on physical abi...
Source: Psych Central - April 6, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Harvard Mental Health Letter Tags: Anxiety Depression Disorders General Healthy Living PTSD Psychology Self-Help Stress Anxiety And Depression Controlled Breathing Deep Relaxation Heart Rate Variability Intriguing Study Lowering Blood Pressure Medical Literatu Source Type: consumer

Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony BinEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
By Norah Vincent New York: Viking, December 2008 Hardcover, 283 pages $25.95 Immersion journalism, as it’s called, can be kind of fun on a limited basis. In my days as a reporter, in pursuit of stories I volunteered to get Tasered and learned how to snowshoe. (The Tasering was fun for the cops who got to watch a journalist get nailed; the snowshoeing – a 5K race my first time on the things – was fun mostly in retrospect.) Then there are immersion journalists who do it up big. Stefan Fatsis, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, became a professional Scrabble player, then a placekicker for the Denver Broncos. AJ Jac...
Source: Psych Central - April 6, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Candy Czernicki Tags: Addictions Book Reviews Depression Disorders Dual Diagnosis General Medications Personal Stories Treatment 21st Century Life Aj Jacobs Denver Broncos Economic Spectrum Encyclopedia Brittanica Esquire Magazine Immersion Journa Source Type: consumer

ADHD Behavioral Interventions for the HomeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article based upon a presentation by Dr. William E. Pelham Jr., October 2008. (Source: Psych Central)
Source: Psych Central - April 3, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Disorders Family General Parenting Psychology School Issues Adhd Adhd Child Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Disorder Behavioral Interventions Children With Attention Deficit Source Type: consumer

Comprehensive Treatment of Childhood ADHDEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
While learning of the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) makes many parents feel relief, the real work begins in finding the right treatment approach for a child or teen diagnosed with ADHD. If the diagnosis was made by a pediatrician or family physician, the first thing you should ask for is a referral to a mental health professional trained in the treatment of attention deficit disorder. This should happen before any treatment is prescribed, because, as you’ll learn, the order and focus of treatment is important. Although the inclination may be to start medication treatment immediately (with drugs such...
Source: Psych Central - March 29, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Disorders Family General Parenting Psychotherapy School Issues Treatment Adderall Adhd Adhd Child Adhd Children Behavioral Interventions Comprehensive Treatment Diagnosis Family Source Type: consumer

The Healing Power of a Good TherapistEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The precursor of the mirror is the mother’s face. —D.W. Winnicott, Playing and Reality, 1971 Thirteen years ago I gave birth to my very much wanted third child. Eight months later I ended up in the psychiatric ward of a public hospital for exhaustion and post natal depression. That was when I met my therapist. For a long time in therapy I did not have a coherent narrative. My stories were long, rambling, confused and disordered. I did not have the discretionary powers to summarize a situation in a succinct, global and philosophical sense. This gave my therapist a pretty clear idea what sort of upbringing I had...
Source: Psych Central - March 24, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Sonia Neale Tags: Depression Disorders General Parenting Personal Stories Psychology Psychotherapy Treatment Biological Mother Black Stockings Business Shirts Casual Clothes Child Therapist Coherent Narrative Color Eye D W Winnicott Discreti Source Type: consumer

The Stress of Severe WeatherEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It’s coming up to that time of year in many places of the country — tornado season. The southern states have already experienced some storms; Oklahoma was struck by a deadly twister just before Valentine’s Day. Yes, it’s time to get the flashlights, portable radios, and your tornado safety plan ready. It’s also time to get your severe weather stress plan in place. For those of you who experience hurricanes each summer and fall, this is your respite time. You won’t really need to be ready for another few months at least. However, even you need to watch for tornadoes and dangerous lightnin...
Source: Psych Central - March 24, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Erika Krull Tags: Anxiety Family General Grief and Loss Parenting Psychology Self-Help Stress Bad Weather Beep Deadly Twister Flashlights Livelihood Mental Aspect Mental Stress Meteorologist Portable Radios Respite Severe Thunderstorms Source Type: consumer

Managing Worry: Action and DistractionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Everyone worries about things from time to time: the economy, an ill parent, safety concerns. For parents, it seems to come along even more naturally. There are endless things that a mom or dad could worry about from sunup to sundown. This can paralyze you if you let it get too big. At some point, it turns a corner. The worry either moves into something useful or it spirals into something more emotionally painful. Here’s a case in point from my own life to demonstrate how this can work. One of my daughters has been sick way too many times this winter, including this week. I was told there wasn’t anything unusu...
Source: Psych Central - March 23, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Erika Krull Tags: Anxiety Caregivers Children and Teens Family General Parenting Self-Help Stress Case In Point Collateral Damage Distraction Germ Germs Ill Parent Infectious Illness Loose Cannon Major Surgery Narration Notch Safety Co Source Type: consumer

Lifestyle Tips for Dealing with DepressionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
If you are affected by depression, you are not “just” sad or upset; you have a condition that involves intense feelings of persistent sadness, helplessness and hopelessness, together with physical problems such as sleeplessness, loss of energy, and physical aches and pains. Depression is an illness and you need support to help fight it. Treatments can involve a variety of different approaches including antidepressants and psychological therapies. But there are also many self-help techniques you can use to complement professional treatment. Options include attending a self-help group, making changes to your diet...
Source: Psych Central - March 23, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Depression Disorders General Psychology Self-Help Treatment Coping Strategies Dealing With Depression Employer Health Gathering Information Health Facilities Helplessness Herbal Medicines Hopelessness Information Support Inte Source Type: consumer

About Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Clinical depression can sometimes be difficult to treat. When a person has tried multiple types of treatment options to treat their depression (sometimes even with multiple professionals) over the course of months or even years, professionals may refer to the depression as “treatment resistant” or treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Treatment resistant depression is simply an episode of depression that resists typical treatments, such as psychotherapy or medications. If treatment for your depression has not yet worked, don’t give up! Virtually all clinical depression is treatable, but it’s often a...
Source: Psych Central - March 23, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Antidepressants Depression Disorders General Medications Psychotherapy Treatment Acute Treatment Antidepressant Medication Beneficial Effects Clinical Depression Depression Medications Depression Treatment Fluoxetine Fluoxetine Source Type: consumer

What is Exposure Therapy?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Exposure therapy is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy technique that is often used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias. In PTSD, exposure therapy is intended to help the patient face and gain control of the fear and distress that was overwhelming in the trauma, and must be done very carefully in order not to re-traumatize the patient. In some cases, trauma memories or reminders can be confronted all at once (”flooding”), while for other individuals or traumas it is preferable to work gradually up to the most severe trauma by using relaxation techniques and either st...
Source: Psych Central - March 10, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Anxiety Cognitive-Behavioral General PTSD Phobias Psychotherapy Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy Conjunction Exposure Therapy Fears Gain Control Imagery Exercises Life Stressors Piece At A Time Post Traumatic Stress Post Tr Source Type: consumer

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Fact SheetEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children and teens. Its hallmark symptoms include hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. Children have difficulty concentrating, following instructions, sitting still and interacting with others. Some kids may call out answers without waiting their turn and make inappropriate comments. Others might be quiet and keep to themselves, daydreaming away at their desks. ADHD also affects approximately 4 percent of adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These adults have problems with organization, time managemen...
Source: Psych Central - March 9, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Disorders General Medications Parenting Psychotherapy School Issues Stimulants Treatment Adhd Adhd Symptoms Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Source Type: consumer

ADHD and Head Injury Link ExaminedEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Recent evidence disputes the theory that head injury early in life increases the risk of developing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is a well-established link between ADHD and traumatic head injury, with some experts suggesting that brain injury in school-age children causes ADHD. But this has not been conclusively confirmed, and it may be that children with ADHD are more likely to sustain a head injury due to a pattern of riskier behavior. Writing on the website of the British Medical Journal, Professor Heather Keenan of the University of Utah and her team state that “the direction of the rela...
Source: Psych Central - February 16, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jane Collingwood Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Children and Teens Disorders General Parenting 10 Years Adhd Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Brain Injury British Medical Journal Children With Adhd Concussion D Source Type: consumer

Schizophrenia Fact SheetEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Speak the word “schizophrenia” and you’ll likely receive reactions peppered with misunderstanding and fear. The disorder is largely shrouded in myths, stereotypes and stigma. For instance, many equate schizophrenia with violence and criminals. But schizophrenia sufferers aren’t likelier to be violent than others, unless they have a criminal history before becoming sick or unless they abuse alcohol and drugs (see Schizophrenia and Violence). Also, despite its etymology and its portrayal in movies, schizophrenia isn’t a split personality: It literally means “split mind.” Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitatin...
Source: Psych Central - February 16, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Antipsychotics Atypical Antipsychotics Disorders General Medications Psychotherapy Schizophrenia Treatment Alcohol And Drugs Attempt Suicide Brain Chemistry Correct Diagnosis Criminal History Delusional Thoughts Etymology Eve Source Type: consumer

Bipolar Disorder Fact SheetEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
All of us experience changes in our moods. Some days we might feel irritable and frustrated; other days, we’re happy and excited. However, individuals with bipolar disorder experience severe mood swings that impair their daily life and negatively affect their relationships. Approximately 2.6 percent of American adults have bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression and manic depressive disorder), according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These mood swings include “highs” (mania), when individuals feel either on top of the world or on edge, and “lows” (depression), when they feel sad and hope...
Source: Psych Central - February 6, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tags: General Disorders Psychology Psychotherapy Medications Antidepressants Antipsychotics Bipolar Treatment Mood Stabilizers Benzodiazepines Atypical Antipsychotics Source Type: consumer