It is a natural response to look for something to ease feelings of emotional pain, but many people fall prey to addiction, as they seek a way to dull unwanted feelings or emotions. Emotional pain can be related to memories of physical, sexual or emotional abuse by a loved one or family member. It can
Keep ReadingUnless you live in a perpetually warm climate along the equator, winter means colder, shorter and darker days. This lack of sunshine can lead to depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that appears during the colder months of the year, and symptoms tend to be at their worst in
Keep ReadingAs the dialogue continues about mental health issues, researchers continue to look for new connections and causes related to mental illness. One of the causes looked at in a recent study was spanking, as researchers asked if corporal punishment could possibly cause a mental disorder. Past research has shown that severe child abuse can have
Keep ReadingThere is an ongoing debate among medical professional to determine what constitutes an addiction and which behaviors deserve the status of a full-fledged disorder. Overeating, video gaming, gambling, texting and shopping are all being scrutinized. It’s easy to see how some of those behaviors could turn into addictions (we all know someone who can’t be
Keep ReadingThe mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in idyllic Newtown, Connecticut left 20 children and 6 adults dead and sent a nation into mourning. News outlets and social media sites are buzzing with stories, conjecture, sympathy and strong opinions. Reporters were still clarifying early misconceptions – the shooter’s mother had been a teacher at
Keep ReadingAs daylight savings time approaches, the days get shorter and the sky gets grayer. It’s also time to be on the alert for signs of depression in ourselves and those we love. While many of us grumble about “falling back,” those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) definitely don’t welcome the change of seasons.
Keep ReadingWhen it comes to healthcare, we often focus on physical ailments, but there are many psychological issues that affect millions in the US. These mental health concerns impact work and home life and cost our country billions of dollars. OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults each year
Keep ReadingIt’s a disease like cancer or diabetes, but when someone is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is often shrouded in secrecy. The people carrying this burden have to worry not just about getting well, but also about the sort of reaction they will get if they disclose their condition. Will it hurt their careers? Relationships?
Keep ReadingThere were 61,561 infants born in 2010 with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). While those babies were no doubt seen as gifts to their parents who had struggled with infertility, a new study shows that fertility treatment is stressful – even for those who manage to conceive. The process is so stressful, in
Keep ReadingWe continue to talk about the issue of mental health disorders among US troops because new studies show that the problem is increasing at an alarming rate. The latest figures, released in a report by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, claim that mental health disorders in active-duty troops has increased a whopping 65 percent
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