Witnessing a friend have a panic attack can be an alarming thing. You feel helpless in what seems like a very simple situation (but often isn't). To help the episode pass as swiftly as possible, follow these guidelines.


Live With Someone That Has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D.)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with a certain aspect of live they feel is dangerous, life threatening, embarrassing, or condemning.


A panic attack is a very sudden and frightening experience that can feel like you are having a heart attack, dying, or losing control. Many adults experience only 1 or 2 attacks in a lifetime, but others have recurrent attacks, which may be an indication of an underlying condition called panic disorder.


OCD is a complex and harmful disorder, and it can be confusing when you're wondering how to help a friend. Here is how to be supportive and helpful.


Compulsions, which are part of  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) , are behaviors, thoughts, or rituals that someone repeats over and over. This is done in an effort to neutralize or eliminate obsessions or threatening thoughts.


Deal With Panic Attacks As a Child or Teenager

Do you get anxious? Do you ever feel trapped and just want to run, but you can’t? You might be having a panic attack. Panic attacks are bursts of fear that usually include trouble breathing, shaking, sweating, or feeling like you’re choking.


Anxiety is an experience everyone feels from time to time. Panic attacks can be scary, but with a little mindful attention and practice, you can help relieve the symptoms, manage your anxiety, and prevent attacks from occurring in the future.


While most everyone experiences some level of anxiety, panic attacks can make you feel out of control.


Some studies suggest that meditation can be a useful tool to treat patients suffering with PTSD.  [1]   Transcendental meditation, or mantra meditation, seems especially promising, since it redirects focus away from emotion and toward a higher state of consciousness.


Having PTSD can affect every aspect of your life. Not only does the PTSD affect you, but it also affects all your relationships. You may know that you need to tell your partner about your PTSD to help explain your behavior or get the support from your partner you need.


If you have recently been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may feel uncertain about the appropriate way to tell family members about your condition.


Treat PTSD with the Emotional Freedom Technique

The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is a method of therapy that was invented in the 1990s, but is in fact based on concepts from Chinese acupuncture that have been practiced for thousands of years.


Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a psychological condition that you might experience after enduring a dangerous or frightening ordeal. During the actual event, you might have gone into autopilot, or a "fight or flight" reaction, to survive the experience.


PTSD is a condition that affects your entire life, including your relationships. You may get to the point where you want to tell your friends about your condition.


Traveling can be difficult when you have  PTSD . It’s common for PTSD symptoms to flare up more than usual when you’re in an unfamiliar place, out of your routine, and stressed about whether you remembered to pack everything you need.


Autistic people are especially vulnerable to trauma. They often experience intense emotions, challenging environments, discrimination, and sometimes abuse, leaving them at risk of trauma.


Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex disorder that is the reaction to a traumatic event. Traumatic events that can result in PTSD often include war, rape, kidnapping, assault, natural disasters, car or planes crashes, terrorist attacks, sudden death of a loved one, sexual or physical abuse, extreme bullying, death threats, and childhood neglect.


Take Legal Action if Fired for Having PTSD

If you have PTSD – whether as a result of military service or because of some other traumatic experience – your right to equal treatment in employment is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).


Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that afflicts individuals who have been part of or witness to a traumatic, life-altering event.


PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, can develop if you have experienced a traumatic event or injury and may cause you to feel great anxiety and re-experience the traumatic event over and over.


Post-traumatic stress disorder develops after a person endures a frightening, scary, or life-threatening situation.  [1]   While people without  PTSD  may feel afraid in situations where there is a clear source of danger (known as the “fight-or-flight” response), PTSD-sufferers may feel frightened in seemingly ordinary situations.


When a parent has post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be difficult to interact with them. They might be a war veteran, survivor of sexual abuse, or crime victim among other things.


Help Loved Ones with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental condition that occurs after a person experiences a traumatic event. Helping a loved one that has PTSD can be difficult and stressful.


PTSD makes every aspect of life harder to deal with – especially parenting. You know that your kids need you to be emotionally present for them, but when you’re dealing with flashbacks, exhaustion, or anger, that can seem impossible.


Handle Feeling Overwhelmed in PTSD Recovery

When you’re dealing with PTSD, everything in life can seem overwhelming – especially the prospect of recovery. Recovering from PTSD is a long and often painful process that requires you to face your fears.


Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that develops after a person experiences a life-threatening, traumatic event. The hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD are akin to experiencing the “fight or flight” response without any dangerous stimulus.


Identify if a Child Has Been Traumatized by an Event

Children who have experienced an initial traumatic event before they turn 11 years of age are three times more likely to develop psychological symptoms than children who experience their first trauma as a teenager or as an adult later on.


Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety condition that arises after a person experiences a frightening or life-threatening event.  [1]   Those who suffer from PTSD may find it challenging to cope in everyday life, but parents with the disorder have unique barriers to overcome.


When a member of your family has PTSD, it can have a negative impact on everyone in the family. People with PTSD tend to have more marital problems and issues with family violence than people without PTSD.


A sociopath can be defined as a person who has Antisocial Personality Disorder. This disorder is characterized by a disregard for the feelings of others, a lack of remorse or shame, manipulative behavior, unchecked egocentricity, and the ability to lie in order to achieve one's goals.


Hoarding is a condition often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder in which a person has trouble getting rid of items, buying too much, and losing valuables because their personal spaces are overly cluttered.


Depression is a clinical disease that can be diagnosed. If you're struggling with the symptoms of depression, there's help. You can learn more about this disease, as well as how to start yourself on the road to recovery, making lifestyle changes that can help you work on your happiness.


Depression drains your energy, wears you down, and leaves you exhausted. When getting out of bed each day is a battle, how can you maintain a clean living space?


Antidepressants are most often prescribed to patients with moderate to severe depression. However, they can also be effectively used on individuals who have mild depression or anxiety disorders as well.


Tell Your Friends About Your Anxiety Disorder

Dealing with anxiety disorders can be a difficult thing. It may be even more difficult if you are doing it alone. Friends and family can provide important support if you suffer from an anxiety disorder, but sometimes the thought of telling them about your condition causes even more anxiety.


Build Social Connections when You Have Depression

When you have depression, you might want to do nothing more than close your curtains, turn off your phone, and hide from the world. But as hard as socializing can be when you’re depressed, it’s actually necessary for recovery.


Tell Your Family About Your Anxiety Disorder

Fear is something we all struggle with from time to time. But, for some, anxiety is paralyzing. When a person’s feelings of distress and fear begin to interfere with daily life—in panic attacks, obsessive routines, nightmares, palpitations, or nausea—the problem is a serious mental illness called an “anxiety disorder.”


Tell if You Have Anxiety Attack Symptoms

An anxiety attack, or panic attack, is a physiological and psychological response that at times can have a behavioral component. Sometimes panic attacks happen just once during a lifetime and may be a response to severe stress or change.


Bond with Your Newborn when You Have Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PDD) is a serious mental illness that occurs after birth to some women. When you have PDD, you may feel depressed, question your role as a mother, and have difficulty connecting to your baby.


Anxiety can interfere with your daily life and disrupt your well-being. If you are feeling anxious right now, then you may be uncomfortable and frightened.


Beating depression in a relationship is never an easy feat. Not only is it mentally draining having constant strain on you and your partner, but it can be very frustrating when there seems to be no answer or resolution.


Stop Feeling Stupid when You Have Anxiety

If your anxiety makes you feel stupid or embarrassed frequently, you’re not alone. It’s common to feel awkward when you have social anxiety--many people do.


Tell Your Partner About Your Anxiety Disorder

Do you have an anxiety disorder and don’t quite know how to tell your partner? Do you worry that your partner won’t understand? Whether you already have a diagnosis or not, it’s important to have a heartfelt conversation with your loved one in order to get the best help that you can.


Seek Treatment for a Psychiatric Disorder

If you have a psychiatric disorder, or suspect you may have one, seeking professional help is key. With proper information and counseling, you can explore your treatment options and get help.


Mental illness in children can be hard for parents to identify. As a result, many children who could benefit from treatment don't get the help they need.


There are many reasons you may want to stop taking mood stabilizers, yet it’s important to stop medication use safely. It’s a very large decision to withdraw from mood stabilizer medication, so make sure to weigh the pros and cons of this decision beforehand.


It’s likely that either you or someone you know has experienced an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in the world, and researchers estimate that it affects more than seven percent of the global population at any given time.


Spot the Difference Between Normal Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder

Everyone feels anxiety sometimes. You may feel anxiety before a job interview, before an exam, or after an argument with someone. However, a generalized anxiety disorder may be present if anxious thoughts and behaviors are interfering with your normal activities, such as going to public places, meeting with people, or traveling.


Anger and anxiety are often linked in children. Anger is a common expression of anxiety when a child has no other way to cope with their feelings. When a child gets anxious, they may not have a better way to express it, so they turn to aggression and lash out at the people and things around them.


Seek Help from Others when You Have Low Self‐Esteem

If you have problems with self-esteem, it’s likely that you have a difficult relationship with yourself and negative feelings around who you are.  [1]   It can be hard to reach out to people if you have low self-esteem.


If you are looking to stop therapy or counseling but aren't sure how to do so, you may feel unsure as to how to move forward. Perhaps you feel ready to end therapy or are under circumstances that force you to leave, such as moving or changing insurance.


Returning to mental health therapy can be a deeply emotional choice for many people. However, the decision becomes easier when you view mental health recovery through a more realistic lens.


Recovering from a mental illness is a difficult process but it is, in many cases, feasible. If you have not already sought treatment, it's important to do so right away.


It is common to worry or think about your appearance. It is normal and natural to want to be beautiful and popular. But there are some people who are extremely and excessively worried about their appearance – they suffer from body dysmorphic disorder.


Reveal Mental Illness to a Prospective Partner

Despite significant advances in awareness, recognition, and treatment, having a mental illness can still carry a stigma that most physical ailments do not.


Chronic stress is a potentially serious condition that can cause other ailments over time, including hypertension, heart irregularities, insomnia, and depression.


Depression can really change the way you look at life. You may have lost relationships, jobs, direction, hobbies, your health, dreams and goals, and your self-confidence.


Prevent Someone with Cognitive Problems from Wandering

If you have a loved one with a cognitive disability due to Alzheimer’s, brain trauma, autism, or any other disorder, you may find it challenging to care for them sometimes, particularly if they wander.


Sleeping when anxious is one of the toughest things to do. This is mostly because anxiety causes your thoughts to race. As a result, anxiety may prevent you from relaxing enough to fall asleep.


Learning to live a full and satisfying life when you have a chronic illness can seem overwhelming. A chronic condition is a health condition, illness, or disease that is persistent or long-lasting or a disease that times time to develop.


Seek Social Support when You Have Anxiety Disorder

Social support is an important part of any healthy lifestyle, yet it’s even more important when you struggle with things like anxiety. Social support can help buffer stress and provide you with a safe place to express your feelings and thoughts.


Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is a condition that involves excessive worrying, even when there’s nothing to be afraid of. This disorder can seriously impair a person’s ability to function at home and in the workplace.


Many children experience anxiety at some point in their lives. This apprehension includes separation and developmental anxieties, as well as environmental stresses such as test-taking worries or traumatic events.


Anxiety can feel debilitating and affect your overall health. If you regularly struggle with anxiety or are having anxiety about a specific situation (such as getting married, having surgery, or presenting in front of many people), there are lots of ways that music can help calm you and get you through the situation.


Reduce Anxiety by Spending Time in Nature

If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you may have tried therapy, medication, or even homeopathy. However, studies suggest that spending time in nature may be one of the best ways to treat anxiety.


You may feel like you’ve completed treatment and are successfully dealing with OCD. Then, you get triggered by something and everything falls apart, and you’re back to square one.


Panic disorder is a condition in which recurring panic attacks are experienced. Those who suffer from it live in constant fear of experiencing panic attacks.


Many people have anxieties about their physical appearances. You might dislike the gap between your thighs, the size of your lips, or the amount of space between your eyes.


Recover from an Anxiety Disorder Relapse

You may feel like your anxiety is under control, then be blind-sided by a sudden onset of symptoms. If you’re not prepared for anxiety lapses you may fall into a relapse, which can leave you feeling helpless, guilty, and ashamed.


Anxiety is characterized by worry, unease, or nervousness about a specific event or about the general uncertainties that may arise in the future. Though most people experience anxiety from time to time, if you constantly find yourself in a state of worry and want to know how to stop it, then it's time to put in the effort to prevent future anxiety so you can go back to enjoying your life.


Anxiety disorders can range from post-traumatic stress disorder to panic disorder, but there is one common thread in these conditions: fear. While everyone struggles with fears daily, in the case of anxiety, these fears significantly affect a person's ability to function at work, in school, or in relationships.


Anxiety is a psychological malady associated with feelings of tension, worry and dread. While a certain amount of anxiety is a normal feature of modern life, excessive anxiety can be extremely unpleasant, and can be harmful to long-term physical and mental health.


Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder that affects an individual's ability to speak in certain circumstances. The sufferer can add speak, but is mute at times, often in public, or at stressful times that's why it's "selective".


Undetected teenage anxiety can have many negative affects on the young person's life; therefore it is important to try to detect it so that it can be treated.


Anxiety is a healthy and normal emotion that everyone feels from time to time. Anxiety can, however, manifest to a mental disorder that reduces your capacity to cope with these feelings of anxiety.


Panic disorder is a condition characterized by a specific anxiety: anxiety over when your next panic attack will occur. On top of that, you may need to deal with the anxiety that triggered the initial panic attacks.


Overcome Postpartum Anxiety and Depression

Welcoming a child into your life comes with challenges, no matter how much you love your baby. Having the ‘baby blues’ right after you give birth is relatively normal, but if your blues get worse and last more than a couple weeks, you may have postpartum depression.


Use Distraction As a Bipolar Coping Skill

When you have bipolar disorder you may explore several different coping mechanisms as a way to manage it on a day-to-day basis. Daily stressors can be a trigger for bipolar symptoms, but you can use distraction as a way to decrease stress.


Once you’ve obtained a diagnosis of postpartum Bipolar disorder, it’s important to begin treatment right away. When Bipolar is left untreated, symptoms can worsen and functioning can decrease.


Over two and a half percent of the adult population of the United States has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with 83% of those diagnosed as severe and average age of onset at 25.


Treat Co‐Occurring Bipolar Disorder and Social Anxiety

Bipolar disorder  is a mood condition that consists of intense highs and lows in temperament. It's called bipolar because it causes people to switch between two poles of mood, depression and mania.


Bipolar disorder in children is marked by mood swings, irritability, trouble concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. Left untreated, bipolar disorder can have poor effects on a child's ability to succeed in school and social situations.


Bipolar Disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a disorder of the brain that results in shifts in mood, activity, energy, and day-to-day functionality.


While most cases of bipolar depression begin in adulthood, some cases can begin in childhood. If your teen or child has bipolar depression, it can be very hard for both you and your child.


Bipolar disorder - also known as manic-depressive illness - can be a frightening, confusing condition for both the sufferer and their loved ones. Although there is no cure, bipolar disorder can be effectively treated with a combination of psychotherapy and mood stabilizing drugs, and the sufferer can go on to lead a happy, normal life.


Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder. It causes unusual changes in mood, energy, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.


Tell Your Partner About Your Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes people to have major shifts in mood, usually from elation and activity (mania) to depression (bipolar depression).


Bipolar disorder, previously called manic depressive disorder, causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy level and behavior. People with the condition experience intense highs and lows.


Tell Your Friends About Your Bipolar Depression

It can be hard to share personal issues with people, even if they are people that care about you. It can seem even more challenging if the personal issue is bipolar depression.


Talk to Your Teachers About Your Bipolar Disorder if You Are a Teen

Living with bipolar disorder can come with many challenges. One of the more difficult social challenges facing those affected by bipolar disorder is knowing when and how to discuss it with educators.


Learned helplessness describes a psychological construct in which a person, after repeatedly experiencing negative, uncontrollable events, starts to see themselves as “helpless.”


Overcome Depersonalization Disorder Naturally

It is common for many people to have fleeting experiences of depersonalization or derealization, but recurrent or ongoing episodes can impair normal daily functioning and cause distress.


If you were diagnosed with bipolar disease while in school, you aren’t alone. In fact, the first episode of a mood disorder typically occurs in people before the age of 25.


The United States celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Typically, the month sparks significant media coverage as well as numerous advocacy and awareness events.


Live with Someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder, is a condition in which a person has more than two identities, each demonstrating different behaviors, moods, and emotions.


Mysophilia refers to a sexual attraction to dirty or unclean items or scenarios. The most common example is an attraction to soiled underwear. While people with all sorts of different sexual proclivities learn to live safely and happily with conditions like mysophilia, some also choose to seek treatment.


Live with Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a serious and complicated condition characterized by the development of two or more separate identities, which have their own distinct personalities and seem to take turns controlling a single person.


A person who is described as neurotic will tend to be in a depressed mood, and tends to cope poorly with the daily stresses of life. These people may also suffer from strong feelings of guilt, anxiety, and anger.


Having good mental health positively benefits your life in a multitude of ways. When your overall psychological well-being is in good shape, you are better able to cope with life’s ups and downs.


Manage Behavioral Problems in Gifted Children

Sometimes a gifted child may act out as a way to communicate something such as, “I’m bored!” or, “This isn’t interesting to me!” These behaviors can be difficult to manage when you have other children at home or more students in the classroom.


Throughout human history, people have consumed blood for nutritional and ritual purposes. However, if you have a strong psychological desire to drink blood, you may worry that you have another condition.


Interact With Someone Who Has a Mental Illness

With all the stigma surrounding mental illness, it's easy to get the wrong idea about people who live with it on a daily basis. Here are some simple steps that will help you understand someone who has it.


Include Pets in Your Recovery from Depression

Depression is hard enough with all the advice to take medication and to put yourself through rigorous therapy treatments to try to find your way back to the bright side.


If you're plagued by feelings of worthlessness, sadness, and lack of hope, then you may be suffering from depression. Depression is different from being in a bad mood or having a bad week — it's a debilitating condition that can prevent you from enjoying your life.


Have you ever noticed how bad weather seems to drag the spirit down with it? There's nothing you can do about the weather, but there are various things you can do to keep your spirits up until spring.


As days get shorter and the temperature drops, it's not uncommon for the winter blues to set in. All you want to do is stay in, curl into a ball, and eat.


Feeling down or blue is a natural part of life. People let us down, things go wrong, we lose people we love or the dreams we've valued. When feeling down stretches over weeks or months, is occurring frequently and interfering with your ability to interact with people and enjoy your life, it is likely that you're experiencing some form of depression.


Going to college is exciting, but it can also be an overwhelming and even lonely experience. Many college students struggle with depression and related mental health issues.


New Year's Eve is a time of partying, celebrating accomplishments made in the soon-to-be-gone year, and for making toasts and resolutions for the upcoming three hundred sixty-five (or six!)


Working on a suicide hotline is important, serious work that can truly make a difference in someone’s life. While you will receive thorough training before you ever take your first call, remember that one of the most valuable tools you will bring to a caller is your ability to listen.


If someone is considering suicide, your first move should always be to call 911 or the National Suicide Hotline (1-800-273-TALK). The two most important things you can do with someone considering suicide are to listen and keep them in your sight at all times.


Has someone in your family or local community recently committed suicide? If you are a parent, this can be an especially troubling time. In addition to coping with the loss on your own, you may also have to attempt to explain what happened to your confused children.


Your family is often made up of the people closest to you. Sometimes, though, those are the people that it can be the hardest to talk to. This can be especially true when the topic is a sensitive or difficult one like suicide.


Most people experience anxiety from time to time, but if you experience anxiety on a daily or almost daily basis, then you might have an anxiety disorder.


When you’re living with an anxiety disorder, the thought of opening up before a group of strangers may seem like the last thing you want to do. However, sharing your experiences and feelings with others who truly understand how it feels to be in your shoes can be very therapeutic.


Improve Your Relationship when You Have Anxiety Disorder

If you have an anxiety disorder, some of your worries and fears may begin to appear in your relationship or affect your partner in a negative way. If you wonder whether your anxiety is negatively contributing to your relationship, know that you can have a healthy relationship.


If you have a  friend contemplating suicide , you may be scared and unsure how you can reach out to help them. You may be worried you may say the wrong thing or afraid you can’t handle the responsibility.


Learning your anxiety triggers can help you cope more effectively with anxiety. Every person with anxiety has different triggers, so it’s important to know what specific things make you feel anxious.


Depression and anxiety are difficult illnesses to face. Coping with either or both can feel like an insurmountable task at times. But with the right medication, open communication, and proper dieting and exercising, you can begin to fight both depression and anxiety.


Hypochondriasis, also known as health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder, is a mental illness where you worry excessively about being ill to the point of being anxious enough to become sick.


Performance anxiety is a common and treatable problem that many people experience. No matter what performance you do, the anxiety you experience may be debilitating and stressful.


Heal Anxiety and Find a Life Worth Living

Learning how to heal anxiety and find a life worth living is vital if you or someone you know have been harmed by this condition. Anxiety is considered by many experts today to be caused at least in part by a chemical imbalance and may be genetic.


People with anxiety problems may experience anxiety in social situations, because of triggers and other symptoms related to Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and for many other reasons, some of which are often unidentified.


Anxiety can be triggered even in the smallest of ways. Learn to accept that some triggers are simply unavoidable. By first acknowledging the anxiety you have, you can begin to handle and cope with these triggers when they occur.


Get Out of Bed when Dealing with Anxiety

Is your anxiety particularly bad in the morning? Do you have trouble getting out of bed due to an ambush of worries and fears that rush into your head the moment you open your eyes?


For a gadget that is beloved the world over and found in just about every purse, pocket, and palm, you’d be surprised by how many people fear making phone calls.


Stay Creative While Treating Your Bipolar Disorder

The manic episodes of bipolar disorder, which involve elation, increased energy, and a reduced need for sleep, have been linked by researchers to enhanced creativity.


Seek Help for Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental disorder that causes mood swings and other mental health issues. If you have bipolar disorder, you may swing from high, or manic, moods to low, or depressed, moods.


Disruptions in sleep are common in bipolar disorder. These disruptions can create a downward spiral into hypomania (near constant irritability) and even full-blown mania.


Pursue Friendship if You Suffer from Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression can cause you to have trouble forming relationships. The mood swings and phases where you don’t want to spend any time with people can make maintaining friendships difficult.


Recover from Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

Bipolar depression is characterized by extreme mood swings. The two easiest to identify are mania (an energetic, euphoric state) and depression. There are other associated states such as hypomanic or mixed state (both manic and depressive).


Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by periods of mania and depression. The length and severity of these mood swings vary widely from person to person.


Bipolar disorder is a challenging mental illness to live with, but it does not mean that you cannot lead a fulfilling and productive life. Self-honesty and perseverance are important aspects of not only feeling better but living up to your potential, despite your limitations.


One of the 7 criteria required for bipolar disorder is to have sleep disturbances, most often in the form of insomnia or an inability to sleep.  [1]   When the body is in the manic phase it is extremely energetic, irritable, restless and euphoric, which makes it difficult for you to calm down and fall to sleep.


Manage Bipolar Depression with Journaling

Journaling can be a therapeutic way of expressing your thoughts and feelings. Keeping a journal allows you to reflect on your life in different ways, take note of patterns in your life, and track your progress over time.


Prevent a Depressive Episode if You're Bipolar

A bipolar disorder can be a truly debilitating condition, and if you are feeling extreme depression, or are noticing the signs of a depressive episode arising, it is always beneficial to seek help from friends or a professional.


Munchausen syndrome, also called factitious disorder, involves pretending or intentionally producing symptoms of a physical or psychological disorder.


Help Someone with Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety can greatly impact people’s lives and leave them feeling isolated and unable to cope with daily life. It’s difficult to see someone you care about struggling with mental health problems and not know how to help.


Help Somebody With Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also known as body dysmorphia, is a psychological disorder that can be debilitating and chronic. People who suffer from BDD often believe they are being judged by others based on their physical appearance.


Trichotillomania is a hair pulling disorder that causes significant distress to the affected person. As a result of the hair pulling, bald patches or sores can occur, making the person feel ashamed or embarrassed about his or her appearance.


Keep a Positive Focus with Bipolar Disorder

Some people that have bipolar disorder may feel that their illness makes their life miserable and unhappy. They may not see anything positive about life with bipolar disorder.


Panic anxiety disorder is a mental condition whereby a patient experiences panic attacks continuously. In America alone, nearly three million individuals suffer through this malady.


Hypochondria, sometimes referred to as "heightened illness concern," occurs when a person experiences and overwhelming fear that they have a serious illness or ailment, even though their healthcare providers find no evidence.


Help Someone Suffering from Dissociative Amnesia

When a loved one in your life is suffering from dissociative amnesia, it can be devastating to witness. Your loved one may not remember important events or people in his or her life and may experience confusion or disorientation on a daily basis.


Help Loved Ones with Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental illness that presents with symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar, and depression. This can make it difficult for you to help loved ones who have been diagnosed with this condition.


Children and teenagers with conduct disorder may demonstrate extreme emotional and behavioral problems. They may be aggressive to people and/or animals, tell lies, steal, destroy property, and act in defiance of rules.


Many kids are shy around people they don’t know very well, or feel anxious and “clam up” when they’re in a large group. While shyness and anxiety are completely normal, a small percentage of kids (and adults) have a social anxiety disorder known as  “selective mutism”  (SM).


Kleptomania is a mental illness considered to be a type of impulse control disorder, related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and substance-related addictions.


Help Loved Ones with Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is diagnosed when a person experiences uncertainty about who they are. They may have several different identities and memory problems when switching between identities.


Handle People Who Believe Mental Illness Is Made Up

People with mental illness are exposed to all sorts of  stigma . One of the worst, perhaps, is the misconception shared by others that their conditions are “in their heads.”


Help Loved Ones with Attachment Disorder

Someone with attachment disorder has trouble forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Attachment disorders are generally rooted in childhood and may impact a person’s ability to communicate with others, show affection, and demonstrate trust or empathy.


Have a Successful Career with Mental Illness

Balancing work life and personal life can be difficult if you suffer with mental health problems. While it can be difficult to maintain a job and perform certain job-related duties, there are ways to help you cope with stressors and difficulties at work.


It can be difficult to handle when someone you know is considering suicide. You may feel that you don’t know how to help them or prevent them from acting on their suicidal thoughts.


Help Someone Who Is Dealing with the Suicide of a Loved One

Trying to help someone deal with a  death  is awkward and difficult and  suicide  is a million times worse matter. People who have lost loved ones not due to ordinary death, but something as painful and awful as suicide, don't just have grief weighing on their shoulders - they are experiencing  anger ,  guilt ,  confusion ,  shock , horror and  trauma  that goes beyond the "normal" after emotions of a  death .


It may not always be easy to prevent suicidal thoughts. There will be days when you feel like life just isn't worth living. The most important thing is that you don't feel guilty or ashamed for having these thoughts and know that you are not alone.


Help an Acquaintance Cope with Suicidal Ideations

Do you know of someone who is on the  verge of  suicide  , but is not a very close friend of yours? You must not allow the fact that you aren't close to keep you from helping him or her.


While it can be scary, it is fairly common to contemplate life and death. One in five U.S. teenagers seriously considers suicide every year, according to the CDC.


Make Friends With People After Attempting Suicide

After attempting suicide, many people try to get back on track with their life and reconnect with their relationships. Feeling disconnected or alone during this time can lead to increases in suicidal thinking.


Having a friend who you believe to be considering suicide is not to be taken lightly. Being suicidal is a temporary state that appears as an answer to severe depression, and the act of taking one's own life is preventable when the correct measures are taken.


Autistic people are especially vulnerable to mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts present a significant problem in around 14% of them.  [1]   If you love an autistic person, how can you help?


A suicide cluster may be defined as a group of suicides (or attempts) that happen in close proximity of time and/or space than one would expect in a certain community.


If you have anxiety, finding the right treatment may seem like a daunting task. One treatment option for anxiety is medication, though finding the right medication can be even more confusing.


Research on anxiety shows that making adjustments to your diet and diet routine may help you reduce your levels of anxiety.  [1]   Develop a diet plan that includes eating balanced meals, drinking plenty of water, and having healthy snacks readily available.


When you’re facing a problem, it can be easy to allow anxiety to take over. You may find yourself feeling nervous, overwhelmed, and tense. You may get stuck thinking about what else can wrong or how your efforts to solve the problem can fail.


Stress response syndrome (previously known as adjustment disorder) is a short-term condition affecting your ability to cope with current life difficulties.


Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects your thoughts and behaviors in a way that might make you feel weird or different. If you feel like you cannot control your thoughts, you may start to feel shame about your OCD.


Diagnose Anxiety Disorders in Elderly People

Elderly people frequently experience anxiety disorders, possibly even at twice the rate of elderly depression.  [1]   Many elderly people worry about deteriorating health and finances, yet clinical anxiety can occur outside of these domains.


Hypochondria, also known as health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessively worrying that you have a serious medical condition.


Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that affects many people. Trauma can impact one’s functioning greatly and cause severe distress.


Anxiety and depression frequently come hand and hand, so chances are if you have anxiety, you have depression, as well as the other way around. This article will give you some advice and tips to help not completely get rid of your anxiety and depression, but to lessen it.


The symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can include problems with organization, listening skills, and trouble concentrating.


Anxiety is the general feeling of worry, stress, and tension we all live with to some extent. It can be difficult to deal with anxiety at any age, but teenagers also have school, friend, and family issues to deal with that can make anxiety a huge burden.


Keep a Job when You Have Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder  is characterized by intense highs and lows—mood swings that could complicate your ability to hold down a job. It’s not impossible to maintain stable employment with bipolar.


Holidays can be bittersweet for people with PTSD: while you may want to enjoy yourself and celebrate with everyone else, things like fireworks can stop you from enjoying your time and instead, make you want to avoid it altogether.


If you have bipolar disorder, the mood changes and episodes you experience may seem to be random to you. If you take a closer look at what happens before you have an episode, however, you may see that your mood swings happen because of “triggers” you experience.


Making the decision to tell others about your bipolar disorder may add stress to an already unsettling process. Sharing your diagnosis should involve tact and discretion.


Help Someone Suffering With Bipolar Disorder

Living with bipolar disorder can be extremely trying on a person's relationships with their friends and family. Struggling with difficult emotions or manic episodes is hard, but it's even more challenging without the support of a good friend.


Everyone worries. However, if the level of your worry is excessive, intrusive, persistent and debilitating you likely suffer from GAD, general anxiety disorder.


Help Bipolar Disorder with Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Many studies have been performed on whether taking omega-3 fatty acids can help those with bipolar disorder. While there's some conflict on how much these help this disorder, the risk of taking them is fairly low.


Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by highs and lows. These cycling peaks and valleys can significantly disrupt a person’s life and ability to function.


If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you may be wondering how you will explain it to others. Although it can be hard to speak out about mental illness, a lack of understanding and social support can make dealing with bipolar disorder much more challenging.


When you have seasonal bipolar disorder, you may have bipolar or manic symptoms during a particular time of year, while feeling like your normal self the rest of the time.


Handle Physical Hypersensitivity with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder  does not cause hypersensitivity on its own, but people who have bipolar disorder are more likely to have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that affects your muscles and joints.


Enjoy the Holidays with Bipolar Disorder

Between traveling, visiting family, and checking off to-do lists a mile long, the holidays can be a stressful time for anybody. If you have bipolar disorder, the months of November and December might feel more like a minefield of anxiety and mood swings than a time of happiness and peace.


When a child is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it can be a major challenge to convince them to take their medication. This is understandable, because as children, they likely do not understand or agree with the idea of taking medication for a disorder they cannot actively recognize.


Get Someone Committed to a Mental Hospital

Someone you know has possibly become a threat to themself or others. This is the threshold of behavior that once crossed, instigates the need for action.


Disciplining a child with bipolar disorder can be a challenge. Your child’s mood swings might make it hard for you to come up with a way to discipline him or her without making the mood swings worse.


Find a Social Support System when You're Bipolar

An important part of coping with mental illness is a stable support system. Support can include emotional support, information and advice, and daily support, such as help with housework.


Cyclothymic disorder closely relates to  Bipolar disorder , yet is less severe. You may experience cycling mood swings, intense feelings of joy followed by sadness and irritability.


Form Healthy Relationships when Recovering from Mental Illness

If you are going through  recovery for mental illness , the idea of starting a new relationship can bring about trepidation. In addition to being concerned about your own health and well-being, you may have concerns about whether you will be mentally strong enough to handle the dating scene, or you may be worried about how to break the news of your mental illness to a potential partner.


Social support is important to most people, but it's particularly vital for individuals living with a mental illness. Studies have shown that having a social support network can help improve a person's psychological state and overcome stress.


Encourage Kids to Develop Healthy Attachments

Healthy attachments are most important with the primary caregiver or caregivers, such as parents. It’s important for a child to feel safe around the adults in his or her life.


Do Mental Health Anti Psychiatry Activism

The anti-psychiatry movement believes that modern-day psychiatric practices, particularly the use of drug treatments, are harmful to mentally ill people.


Disclose Mental Illness at Your Workplace

While you are not required to disclose a disability to an employer, doing so may protect your rights to any accommodations you may need.  [1]   Receiving accommodations is a major reason why people chose to disclose mental illness at the workplace.


Schizoaffective disorder is a mental disorder where a person experiences symptoms of both schizophrenia and either bipolar disorder or depression. Because of the variety of symptoms the illness can have, schizoaffective disorder can be difficult to diagnose.


Enjoy the Holidays with Mentally Ill Loved Ones

The holidays can be exciting and stressful for everyone. When someone you care about has mental illness you may wonder how you can enjoy events with them or what to do if they come for a visit.


Your spouse, child, parent, friend, or another person close to you has recently committed suicide. Your world is spinning. The loss of a loved one by any means can be devastating.


Dealing with suicide can be difficult personally, for those around you, and for society in general. It may be the death of someone close to you. Perhaps, someone in your community has died by suicide.


Having a suicidal parent is a uniquely difficult experience. If your parent has expressed suicidal thoughts, or if you suspect he or she may be suicidal, there are steps you can take to provide support and increase the chance of healing for all involved.


Explain a Family Member's Suicide to a Child

Suicide  is hard enough to deal with on its own. Aside from grief and  loss , there may be confusion, bitterness,  anger ,  guilt , and many other painful  emotions .


Suicidal thoughts can happen when feelings of hopelessness, isolation, or despair become too heavy to bear. You might feel so overwhelmed with pain that suicide seems like the only way to release yourself from the burden you've been carrying.


Get Help from an Online Suicide Prevention Chat Line

If you have suicidal thoughts, are in despair, or are dealing with overwhelming feelings of depression, you can get help from an online suicide prevention chat line, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's  chat  (or call 1-800-273-TALK).


Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-24-year-olds. Girls tend to think about suicide and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, yet boys die by suicide 4 times more often that girls.


Empathize with People Who Have Suicidal Tendencies

Over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and there are many more who try to attempt it.  [1]   Having suicidal tendencies is actually a call for help that shouldn’t be ignored by the society.


Anxiety can be a mental state experienced occasionally or a persistent condition that can interfere with your life. It’s natural to feel stressed before a big event or even during a busy period.


Believe it or not, you can become more at peace with death. When dealing with your anxiety, return the present moment to help calm your mind and your body.


If you are constantly worrying, feeling tense, or thinking negative or catastrophic things will happen, you may be struggling with anxiety. Although the exact causes of anxiety are uncertain, people who suffer from this condition often share risk factors, such as having a family member who has anxiety, experiencing trauma, or having other forms of mental illness.


Being with someone during an anxiety or panic attack can be stressful and scary. Helping someone deal with his or her anxiety can be a confusing task if you do not suffer from anxiety yourself.


School can be a source of anxiety for youth and is becoming more prevalent. Here are some ways to reduce the stress and anxiety that may be dredged up by school.


Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is the currently accepted medical term for what used to be called hypochondriasis.   [1]   A study from 2001 found that between 5 and 9% of primary care patients exhibited symptoms of IAD.


It’s normal to experience fear, and most people have at least one or two irrational fears. However, sometimes fears can turn into phobias and begin to interfere with your normal living.


Fear is your brain's pre-programmed response to something scary.  [1]   It is completely natural for a spooky thought or image to be imprinted in your head, and make it hard for you to sleep.


Everyone has times in their life when they're scared of things. Human brains are hardwired to have fear and to get scared, but that doesn't mean you have to live with constant and overwhelming fear.


Are you always scared that something is going to happen to you? Do you frequently find yourself looking over your shoulder or thinking others are talking about you?


Fear is a common emotion, but it can be unpleasant. In some cases, fear can even interfere with your life. For mild to moderate fears, you may be able to use a gradual approach to face and overcome your fears.


Ghost stories have been part of human culture for thousands of years. It is widely believed that ghosts are the spirits of the living who have passed away.


Homophobia is discrimination, fear, or hatred of homosexuals. It takes many forms including acts of violence, feelings of hate, or gestures of fear.


The fear of long words is ironically called  hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia . It may seem daunting at first, but if you take your time and break the word up into pieces, it is actually quite easy to pronounce.


Stop a Panic Attack Due to Fear of Sickness

Being scared of being sick is a difficult fear to face. You may have a panic attack due to a fear of becoming sick, or having a serious illness. In the moment, you can take measures to calm yourself down.


Overcome Your Fears Through Visualization

Visualization is a relaxation technique in which you imagine pleasant scenarios or scenes. There are two basic ways you can use visualization to overcome fear.


Many women are diagnosed with major depression during the postpartum period, also called postpartum depression. Yet, a diagnosis of depression alone can prolong symptoms that may be more accurately linked to Bipolar disorder.


Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness that can be confusing for other people to deal with. Someone with bipolar disorder might be so depressed that he or she cannot get out of bed one day and then seem so optimistic and energetic the next day that no one can keep up.


Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness that affects everyone around the person who has bipolar. When you are married to someone with bipolar, it can significantly impact your marriage.


Diagnose and Manage High Functioning Bipolar Disorder

High-functioning bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose and treat. People who don’t look outwardly ill may struggle to get the support they need from their doctor, family, and friends.


Deal with Bipolar Medication Side Effects

Medication for  bipolar disorder  can be a literal lifesaver – but it doesn’t always feel like it. There are many different types of bipolar medications available, and almost all of them cause side effects.


Bipolar disorder can be tough for the person affected; some people learn to control it, some don't, but it's important to understand how they're affected and how you can help them.


Cope with Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

You are beginning to suspect that things might not be quite "right." Your moods change at the drop of a hat, your mind races and you just don't know what to do.


Mental illnesses present an invisible yet enormous challenge to many people around the world. While a diagnosis may initially seem terrible, there are ways to manage your disorders and learn to live a good life.


Do you know someone with a theft problem and uncontrollable urges to steal? Your friend or loved one may have kleptomania. Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder.


Do you have friends or loved ones with lots of clutter? Do you wonder whether they might suffer from a compulsive hoarding problem? Compulsive hoarding is a distinct mental disorder according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5.


Dissociation is often experienced through daydreaming or losing yourself in a book. When a dissociation affects identity to to a point that cannot be “snapped out” of, this may be considered a fugue.


Avoid Spending Sprees with Bipolar Disorder

If you have bipolar disorder, you may experience manic episodes in which your judgment is likely impaired. You may be blinded by a sense of unwarranted optimism, euphoria, or grandiosity, and this may lead to a spending spree.


Irritability is an emotionally or physically excessive way of responding to something. Irritability can be uncomfortable for both you and those around you, and your feelings may be intense.


Bipolar , commonly referred to as manic-depression, is a psychiatric disorder characterized by periods of intense lows of sadness or hopelessness (depression) coupled with episodes of extreme highs of incredible energy or elation (mania).


Trichotillomania is a hair pulling disorder. While some people bite their nails, twirl their hair, or pick at their skin, trichotillomania is a more extreme body focused repetitive condition than can interfere with one’s social, professional, or personal life.


Hypochondriasis, also known as hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder (IAD), is a mental condition that causes people to obsessively worry about their health.


Dissociation occurs when you disconnect from your thoughts, feelings, memories, and sense of self/identity.  [1]   Dissociation occurs for many people in simple ways, such as getting lost in a book, daydreaming, or “spacing out” on a long drive; however, it’s fairly easy to come back to the present reality.


Diagnose and Treat Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder  (BPD) interferes with someone's ability to regulate emotion. Because of this emotional instability, the individual experiences extreme and sudden mood swings, impulsive behavior, poor self-image, and intense interpersonal relationships.


Conversion disorder typically occurs after a stressful event and includes experiencing life-altering neurological symptoms. This disorder can come on when an intense stressor occurs and you avoid emotionally dealing with it.


Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) occurs in children, and affects six to 10% of all children.  [1]   It can be challenging to parent a child with ODD, as it may feel like there’s a constant power struggle and you just can’t seem to get along.


Suicidal thoughts happen when the deep pain you're feeling seems impossible to overcome. It might hurt so much that suicide seems like the only way you can find relief from the thoughts and circumstances that are troubling you.


Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also known as dysmorphophobia, is a relatively common psychiatric condition that causes people to become consumed with negative thoughts about non-existent or minor physical flaws.


Sometimes symptoms of a psychotic disorder can come on suddenly and result from a stressful event.  [1]   It can be scary to see yourself or someone you love go through a brief psychotic disorder, but getting proper help can make things easier.


Because mental illness is often publicized in the media in association with crime or violent acts, people develop negative perceptions of those with these conditions.


Deal with Mental Illness Linked to Childhood Bullying

Childhood bullying can have a number of negative effects when it is happening and in the future. Bullying can leave victims feeling nervous, anxious, or humiliated.


Cope when Someone You Care About Is Suicidal

Are you concerned about someone who is thinking about suicide? It can be tough to know what to do or how to handle the situation. Being a source of support rather than judgment is key.


Handling the death of a child is one of the most challenging experiences a person can go through. It is even harder when the child has died from suicide.


Break Up With Someone Who Is Threatening Suicide

Breaking up is hard enough under normal circumstances, and if your soon-to-be-ex is threatening to hurt or kill themselves, ending the relationship can seem impossible.


Thoughts of suicide can be very scary and difficult to cope with. Feeling suicidal can include: feeling extremely hopeless or depressed, thinking that you want to harm yourself, thinking about ways to harm or kill yourself, and making a plan to harm yourself.


Be Friends with Someone Who Attempted Suicide

If you're friends with someone who attempted suicide, then you must be worried for your friend while feeling like you don't know what to say or do. The best thing you can do is offer your care and support, and be there as your friend moves forward from this difficult time.


Meeting new people can be a bit frightening, and it is okay to have a little anxiety when you will be around lots of new people. However, a fear of strangers can interfere with daily life if it is severe.


For those with a strong fear of swimming, learning to swim can be a significant challenge. Preparing by facing your fears of water and swimming, and then gradually acclimating yourself to being in water, can help you reduce your fear, and focus on learning to swim.


Overcome Your Fear of Going over Bridges

Fear of crossing over bridges (gephyrophobia) can be debilitating, but there are things one can do to cope and eventually move beyond this phobia. Gephyrophobia is experienced in different ways; for some, driving over high bridges and gorges is especially intimidating, whereas other people find walking over bridges especially scary.


Going to the dentist can be a literal and proverbial pain for many people. A large percentage of the population is even afraid to go to the dentist.


Trypophobia is a relatively new term used to describe a fear of clusters of holes. People who suffer from trypophobia have an irrational fear of clusters of holes that causes them to experience anxiety and other negative effects.


You've been to Wikipedia, wikiHow, and other wikis. Are you still afraid to edit? Everyone who has ever written on a wiki can remember the nerves the first time he or she pressed "save".


An embarrassment around using the washroom in public, also known as “bashful bladder” syndrome or Avoidant Paruresis, can affect men, women, and children.


Hate them all you might, injections are largely unavoidable. Most commonly, injections are used to vaccinate patients, and without such vaccinations, one may contract many deadly diseases.


Ophthalmophobia is the fear of being watched or stared at. It is not a common fear, but it can be severe for those who suffer from it. If it is not addressed, it can potentially lead to more serious struggles with anxiety.


Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder affecting somewhere between one and 4.3 percent of the US population.  [1]   It commonly manifests in periods of elevated mood known as mania.


Clowns. Spiders. Heights. Needles. Flying. What do these things all have in common? They're some of the most common phobias. A phobia is actually an intense form of anxiety with a deep sense of fear to which the body reacts.


Hypochondria is when a person, as a result of misinterpreting their normal bodily sensations or minor bodily complaints, believes they are suffering from a serious illness.


Mood disorders can be very difficult for teenagers to handle, especially as they are at an age where mood swings can be a problem in themselves. So, if regular mood instability is even further increased by a mood disorder, your teen might feel like there is no way out and become incredibly frustrated and angry.


Add Exercise to Your Bipolar Treatment Plan

Treating bipolar disorder is not just about taking medications. Treatment includes taking care of your body, mind, and emotions, and exercise can play a big role in addressing and improving your overall health.


It’s incredibly difficult to watch a loved one suffer from depression, and at time you might feel helpless. You may feel like your life has been taken over by your wife’s needs, desires, stressors, sensitive emotions, or demands.


Hearing that you have bipolar disorder can be a difficult moment. You may not believe your doctor or think there is nothing wrong with you. Around two-thirds of people who are diagnosed with bipolar have trouble accepting the diagnosis  [1]  .


Having a mental illness means that you have many more hurdles to overcome than those without. Simple tasks like cleaning your home or even getting dressed in the morning can become uphill battles when mental illness flares up.


Avoid Food Triggers of Bipolar Mood Swings

If you have bipolar disorder, you may have identified triggers that negatively affect your mood. Food can also trigger mood swings or emotional imbalances.


As a society we have become better at diagnosing mental illness and other disabilities, leaving many parents and teachers to deal with teens who have been diagnosed.


Help Someone Who Is Thinking About Committing Suicide

If you have reason to believe that someone you know is contemplating suicide, you should help that person get help immediately. Suicide, the intentional taking of one’s own life, is a serious threat, even to those who are unable to fully understand the finality of death.


If you’re experiencing recurring feelings of inadequacy despite considerable personal success, you may be suffering from something called imposter phenomenon.


Cope with the Fear of Abandonment with a Mental Disorder

The fear of abandonment often goes hand-in-hand with some mental disorders, such as  borderline personality disorder ,  bipolar disorder , major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and more.


Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychological illness that causes suffering to millions, but has received little attention from the general public.


Cope with Being in a Teen Psychiatric Ward

In TV, movies and books, psychiatric wards (more often referred to as  mental hospitals ) are depicted as places with the padded rooms, patients who hallucinate and claw at the walls, and has an overall dark tone to it.


It's hard enough getting through your own life, but when a parent threatens suicide, it can rock your world in ways you can hardly imagine. What do you do?


Choosing a mood stabilizer depends on many factors that you should discuss in depth with your psychiatrist or provider. Mood stabilizers are often prescribed for people diagnosed with  bipolar disorder  and aim to reduce symptoms and severity associated with mania and fluctuating moods.


If you are having suicidal thoughts or feelings, you should seek immediate assistance, preferably from a mental health professional. Whatever the source of your feelings, they can be dealt with appropriately, and things can get better.


The loss of a child, especially if it is by suicide can have a devastating impact on anyone. You may think there is no way possible to get over such a thing.


Does the thought of going to the hospital fill you with anxiety? You're not alone. Many people have a very real fear of hospitals. Some are afraid of contracting germs and others are worried about being around death.


Illness anxiety disorder, also known as hypochondria, is a potentially debilitating mental health condition in which a person believes they have an illness without any symptoms.


Some people can have serious problems trying to communicate with peers that are associated with feelings of anxiety or fear. If this is something you deal with, you may have a social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder.


A fear of water or swimming, referred to as aquaphobia, is very common. If you are afraid of swimming, there is something you can do to overcome your fear.


Stairs can be tricky to navigate for some people. Whether you're a bit uneasy about falling down the stairs or you have a more serious phobia such as bathmophobia (a fear of stairs or steep slopes) or climacophobia (a fear of climbing stairs), you can conquer your fear.


Humans may be evolutionarily conditioned to fear the puncture of sharp objects, such as needles. That probably doesn't help you, but at least it makes it easier to understand why the threat of needles sends a cold shiver down your spine.


While there is no specific name for the fear of fire alarms, the blanket term “phonophobia” refers to any irrational, debilitating fear of a particular sound, which is generally how a fear of fire alarms or sirens is categorized by experts.


Talk to Loved Ones About Their Mental Illness

Supporting and talking to a loved one with mental illness can make a world of difference. To have a meaningful conversation, find a safe place where your loved one can open up to you about their struggles.


Know If You Have DID Or Dissociative Personality Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a disruption of identity where the person has at least two distinct personality states.


Know if Someone Has a Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder is characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.


A panic attack can strike suddenly and without warning, sending your heart and mind racing and filling you with dread. It may be a single event or a recurrent pattern; in certain people, it might part of a chronic psychiatric problem called panic disorder.


Trichotillomania (TRIK-a-TILL-o-may-nee-ah) is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows or other areas of one's body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots, which people with trichotillomania may go to great lengths to disguise.


Be Patient when Recovering from Mental Illness

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about one in four adult Americans experience mental illness each year. The main objective for just about every one of them is recovery.


So you've just been diagnosed with a mental illness. You may feel lost, scared, and confused. This is normal. You will be okay.


Extreme fear of heights, also known as acrophobia, is estimated to affect up to 5 percent of the general population.  [1]   While nearly everyone experiences some degree of anxiety at the thought of a great, perilous drop, the fear is debilitating for some.


A person may be diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder if he or she is extremely distrustful and suspicious of others. Common symptoms of paranoid personality disorder include believing that people are constantly lying to or trying to manipulate others, believing that private information will be shared freely, thinking hidden messages are encoded in everyday things or situations, or believing that a partner or spouse is cheating, even if there is no evidence.


You may have a fear of doctors because you are afraid of getting bad news. Or you may have a phobia of doctors because you are afraid of needles and the sight of blood.


Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is a common personality disorder. The disorder is characterized by feelings of helplessness, unusual dependence on others, and a need to be taken care of by other people (when one is competent enough, otherwise).


Have you ever felt that your being shy or timid in public has led you to live a boring life? This article will help you recognize and face your inhibitions, thereby helping you live a happier and fulfilled life.


Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a need to be the center of attention, overly provocative behavior, and overly theatrical or dramatic actions.


You're either obviously afraid of frightening stories that you recently just read/heard, or maybe you're just curious about what to do next time you get scared of a spooky, chilling story.


Tell if a Child Has Reactive Attachment Disorder

Most interpersonal relationships are built on the basis of trust. When an infant or young child has a physical (as in hunger or some kind of discomfort) or emotional need (loving and tender care, smiles, hugs, kisses) which is not met, then the infant starts losing trust in the caregivers.


Chiropractic is one of the most established alternative medicines available, but it can still be a little scary to go to a chiropractor.  [1]   To have a productive appointment with a chiropractor, you should look for a reputable chiropractor so you know you are in good hands.


Does your child have a fear of the water? Are they reluctant to swim? Try soothing your child's fears by making time in the water fun, being patient with their fears, and ensuring that they are safe at all times when close to water.


Anthropophobia is a fear of people or groups of people. With anthropophobia, you may find it difficult to socialize in groups of people, to be out in public, or even to spend time one-on-one.


The fear of water is one of the most common phobias around. Trying to overcome it may feel like a terrifying ordeal, but with time and intent, you can teach yourself to be more at ease in water of any depth.


Phobias, or extreme fears, can be debilitating. They can affect your ability to function in work or social settings and can cause debilitating physical or psychological responses.


Getting on and off an escalator is simple for most people. However, some people are scared of riding an escalator because of a previous bad experience, stories they may have heard, warning signs or just because escalators are big and make a lot of noise.


Xenophobia is the  fear  and stigmatization of foreigners. People who look different, speak a different language, or have different customs can appear threatening to those who are used to only one particular ethnic group, lifestyle or set of behaviors.


It is a primal fear, that feeling of fear that creeps over one in the face of raw thunder. The sound sends a chill down to the very marrow of your bones, splitting asunder your usually calm exterior and leaving you trembling, afraid, and in need of flight.


Schizophrenia is a complex clinical diagnosis with a very controversial history. You cannot diagnose yourself with schizophrenia. You should consult with a trained clinician, such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.


Distinguish Between Reactive Attachment and Autism

Determining why a child acts unusually can be a difficult process. Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and autism can look similar on the surface, but they work very differently and involve different therapies.


Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that can significantly impact the mental functioning and well-being of those who suffer from it. People who have schizophrenia may hear voices, have disordered emotions, and may sometimes talk in ways that are difficult to understand or that do not make sense.


Psychotic depression is a sub-type of major depressive disorder, characterized by the presence of psychotic features. Psychotic depression may involve hallucinations and delusions.


Once your child has received a diagnosis of schizophrenia, it’s important to begin treatment right away. Early detection and treatment of childhood schizophrenia is crucial to managing symptoms effectively.


This is for the people out there feeling alone and who need help with coping


Support Somebody Living With Schizophrenia

If you are reading this, there is likely somebody in your life who has been diagnosed with this severe  mental illness  - whether it be a family member, close friend, partner, spouse or someone else you know.


Psychosis is a scary disorder. Hallucinations, delusions, hearing voices, and general confusion are the hallmarks of the psychotic individual. Fortunately, there are number of things you can do to prevent psychosis.


Schizophrenia relapses can be very dangerous. The more relapses you have, the more likely another will occur. A relapse is when you experience psychotic symptoms that have been treated and managed previously.


Living with someone who has schizophrenia can be incredibly challenging. However, it is important to remember that your loved one needs you, even if he or she doesn’t act like it.


Living a normal, happy life with schizophrenia may not be easy, but it is certainly possible. In order to do this, you will need to find a treatment (or treatments) that work for you, manage your life by avoiding stressors, and create a support system for yourself.


Helping a loved one with schizophrenia can seem like an impossible, daunting situation, even if it is only when you are around the person; however, there is hope and ways in which you can be more prepared for the situation and provide help for your loved one.


Tell if Your Partner Has a Personality Disorder

Everybody has personality quirks and flaws. In uncommon cases, though, unhealthy patterns of behaviors and thoughts are severe enough to be considered a personality disorder.


If you have had encounters with a narcissist, then you may be concerned about avoiding another one. You might also have heard about how people who are narcissistic can be controlling, emotionally draining, and unpleasant to be around.


Recognize the Symptoms of Martyr Syndrome

A person with martyr syndrome puts everyone else’s needs above his or her own so that he or she can suffer for the sake of others and thus give his or her life meaning.


A psychopath is someone who suffers from a personality disorder called psychopathy. This personality disorder is characterized by a lack of empathy, fearlessness, and uninhibited behavior.


Recognize if Your Partner is a Sociopath

Many people wrongly assume that all sociopaths are cold-blooded serial killers you hear about on the news. In reality, though, sociopaths are skilled at blending in with the rest of society, and you probably know a few in your everyday life.


Overcome an Avoidant Personality Disorder

It may be hard to live a full, satisfying life when you have avoidant personality disorder (AVPD). People with this disorder usually have low self-esteem, get nervous when they have to interact with others, and dislike drawing attention to themselves.


Help Loved Ones with Delusional Disorder

Delusional disorder is a mental illness called a “psychosis.” This is when a person can’t tell what’s real from what’s imagined. People who suffer from delusional disorder have fixed, unshakable beliefs in things that aren’t real — like being convinced that aliens are watching them or that they are close friends with celebrities.


Paraphrenia is a psychotic disorder that is sometimes called late-life schizophrenia. It is a psychotic disorder that occurs in people starting in the late 40s and after, characterized by delusions and hallucinations.


Schizoid personality disorder (schizoid PD) is a cluster A personality disorder characterized by odd or eccentric social behavior that is consistent across a wide range of relationships and situations.


Psychopathy is a personality construct consisting of a cluster of characteristics used by mental health professionals to describe someone who is charming, manipulative, emotionally ruthless and potentially criminal.


Diagnose Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder involves behavior that is centered on drawing attention to the self in an often dramatic or very emotional way.  [1]   Histrionic personality disorder is grouped with other personality disorders that involve problems with emotional regulation and impulse control.


Diagnose Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder that is characterized by an excessive sense of self-worth and a lack of empathy for others. Many people who have the disorder actually have very low self-esteem, but hide this behind their inflated egos.


Bisexuality exists, no matter if some people want to deny it, and so too does biphobia. People reject, denigrate, discriminate against, and bully bisexuals for a host of reasons, among them ingrained worldviews, misinformation, and internal insecurities.


Help Loved Ones with Dependent Personality Disorder

People with Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) are often described as “clingy.” They feel the need to be taken care of, show acute fears of abandonment, and act submissively and passively to the point that they can’t make decisions for themselves.


Are you a gay, lesbian or bisexual person who is often teased or discriminated against? Do others scrounge up their faces when they see you holding your same-sex partners hands?


Being afraid of elevators can feel debilitating and may even interfere with your work or social life. You fear may have to do with  claustrophobia , being in an enclosed space with other people, or with being stuck in a situation that would be difficult to escape should you have a panic attack.


Help Loved Ones with Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by impulsive, reckless, and destructive behavior. People with this often have no empathy or a lack of feelings, and they manipulate or hurt people.


To a certain extent, fear of fire is natural and understandable. Yet for some, fear of fire can become overwhelming, and occur so frequently that it interferes with their lives.


If you have a fear of certain weather conditions, it may severely limit your life. It can be difficult to manage fear of weather because you cannot avoid it or escape it readily.


Many people struggle with fear before their operations. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to deal with your fear. The most important thing is to talk to your surgeon about preparation for the surgery, aftercare, and the procedure.


Get Someone with Schizophrenia to Accept Help

Receiving a schizophrenia diagnosis is scary for the person affected, as well as those around them. However, this diagnosis and the help that is required with it may not happen unless you step in to help.


No one likes to feel lonely, but it is a part of life sometimes. You may experience loneliness from the end of a relationship, or just from spending an evening home alone.


Deal with Somebody Who Is Having a Psychotic Episode

Having someone around you going through a psychotic episode can be a scary and occasionally dangerous experience, for you as well as for the psychotic individual.


You may be reading this due to an interest in schizophrenia, or you are schizophrenic or schizo-affective. This article is written by a highly functional middle-aged schizo-affective person who hears voices only minimally now due to the efficacy of prescribed medications and therapies, and who is given to delusional thinking only a small percentage of each month.


Early-onset schizophrenia is classified as when the symptoms show up before the child is 18 years old. Very early-onset schizophrenia occurs in children who are under 13 years of age and is extremely rare.


Accept Having a Schizoaffective Disorder Diagnosis

Sometimes you may feel like something is chasing you. Having schizoaffective disorder may feel like a constant run or chase! However, it is possible to manage this disorder and live a happy life.


Delusional disorders involve holding fixed beliefs that are definitely false but remain plausible to the sufferer. Moreover, the sufferer believes in them very strongly.


Avoidant personality disorder (APD) is a relatively common personality disorder that causes people to be extremely shy and worried about being rejected or embarrassed.


Sociopaths come off as charming and personable, but once you get to know them their true personalities are revealed. If you know someone who's manipulative and remorseless, it's important to deal with the situation so you won't end up feeling emotionally drained.


Schizophrenia is a mental illness marked by delusions, erratic behavior, and hallucinations like hearing voices. Being diagnosed with schizophrenia may come as a shock, but it can help to make sense of the problems you’ve been having, give you access to treatment, and help you start to recover.


You may feel many emotions after receiving a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Perhaps you feel in shock or even angry at the person who diagnosed you.


Being around a control freak is never easy or pleasant, whether you're dealing with a bossy best friend, a micromanaging boss, or an older sister who wants everything done her way.


In the mental health field, sociopathy is also known as antisocial personality disorder, a condition that prevents people from adapting to the ethical and behavioral standards of his or her community.


Sometimes, the realization of being alive or being human can cause fear, anxiety, or distress. This is called existential fear.  [1]   You may feel overwhelmed with feeling the weight of your personal responsibility or the forces at work around you that you have no control over.


Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by a fear of small or enclosed spaces. Claustrophobic anxiety can manifest as both avoidance (steering clear of small places) and acute anxiety attacks (when a situation cannot be prevented).


Independence is learned, not inborn. Many people don’t become truly independent, even as adults, because they let fear dictate their choices and depend too much on other people’s approval.


When you're tired, you're less able to identify and dismiss illogical fears. The anxieties you normally keep under control sneak in, sometimes in new forms.


Successful people are often praised for being "fearless" in the pursuit of their goals. But living a fearless life does not mean living in the absence of fear.


Fear is something everyone faces, and in same cases it can even help keep you safe. There are times when fear may interfere in your daily life, however.


Living with homophobic parents when you are tolerant or homosexual yourself can be especially difficult. If your parents have said or done homophobic things in the past, you might try to gain an understanding of their viewpoints and work to change them.


Approximately 5% of the U.S. population suffers from agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder which in Greek translates to "fear of the marketplace.” It is best thought of as the fear of fear, or the fear of having a panic attack in a public place.


Everyone gets the hiccups sometimes. Chances are, if you’ve had the hiccups, you’ve had someone recommend a funny cure. Sometimes these “cures” are more annoying than waiting for the hiccups to go away.


A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland found in your neck, just below the Adam's apple. While some goiters are painless, they can become big enough to cause a cough, sore throat, and/or breathing problems.


Cope With Slipped Capital Femoral Epyphisis (SCFE)

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (known simply as SCFE) is the dislocation of the head of the thigh bone. If you are looking to cope with this uncommon condition, here are a few steps you can take.


Agoraphobia is a mental health condition characterized by irrational fears about being in public places. The condition causes afflicted individuals to avoid public places and remain trapped in their homes.


Car sickness can make you dread every long journey. Car sickness is a type of motion sickness that many people suffer from. It is especially prevalent in children between the ages of 2 and 12, pregnant women, and those suffering from migraines, vestibular disorders or psychosocial factors.


A hernia is the result of a weak point in the abdominal muscles that allows internal organs to bulge out of the abdominal cavity. Treatment is usually surgical, and is a very common recommendation for primary care providers.


Psoriasis can be a difficult condition to deal with at the best of times. Your skin may feel itchy or make you feel embarrassed, and psoriatic arthritis can cause pain and fatigue at work.


Hyperacusis, or hyperacousis, is a condition that causes people to develop an increased and potentially painful sensitivity to everyday noises. Although little is known about the exact causes of this condition, imagine living in a world in which a barking dog, a clanking dish, a noisy printer, or squeaking brakes caused you discomfort or even unbearable agony and the people around you couldn’t understand why.


Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes nerve cells in the brain to become disrupted, resulting in seizures or periods of unusual behavior, as well as sensations and occasional loss of consciousness.


Biastophilia  is the sexual fetish that is met by raping another person. This is caused by a desire to have sexual dominance over another person. Biastophilia is typically only satisfiable by rape, not by Bondage or BDSM.


Dealing with any chronic or serious illness is a stressful endeavor. When the illness is rare, you can feel like you are all alone in your struggle.


If you have had a surgery and need to know how to cope with a catheter, it's important to realize that you can easily keep it clean and well maintained by following a few easy steps.


Cope when Your Parent Is at Hospital With a Severe Illness

No matter what age you are, seeing a parent in hospital who's suffering from a serious condition is always a stressful and upsetting time. You feel helpless because they are helpless and vulnerable.


Convey Grief About Your Chronic Illness to Others

It’s natural to grieve for the loss of your health and your old life when you are coming to terms with a chronic illness. It can be hard to know how to express your grief to other people.


Computers might be a major part of everyday life for many people, but they don’t have to take it over. If you want to reduce the amount of time you spend using the computer, you can start by keeping a record of your usage time.


Thinking about sex is perfectly natural. We're hormonal, sexual beings, whose genes drive us to procreate. But sometimes, sexual thoughts can become overwhelming, making it difficult to focus and difficult to get simple things done.


Drinking and smoking go hand in hand for some people, and quitting both at the same time can be difficult. Recovery should be about experiencing freedom, and quitting alcohol and tobacco together means a deeper sense of personal freedom and a commitment to living addiction-free.


Pornography can become an unhealthy addiction that gets in the way of your professional and personal life. If you want to stop looking at pornography, read this wikiHow for some tips and advice.


Although it's not yet recognized as an official disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), internet addiction is an increasingly prevalent problem that affects a lot of people.


Watching TV is a huge pastime for kids, but when does a hobby turn into an addiction? If TV viewing is getting in the way of what your child needs to do or used to enjoy doing, it may be time to dial back the watching hours.


Texting is a great way to quickly communicate. Unfortunately, the convenience of texting can lead to a texting addiction. If you feel anxious when you are not checking your phone and need to constantly message your friends, you might be addicted to texting.


Stop an Adult Disposable Diaper Addiction

If you've found yourself becoming addicted to wearing a disposable diaper, you'll sometimes want to know how to stop and overcome the addiction. Although medical help is necessary, this article can give you some ideas to stop the addiction from becoming an everlasting point in your life, so you can live a full and successful life without this everlasting need.


In our digital era, selfies are everywhere, with friends, family, and acquaintances taking images of themselves to share with others or just to store on their phones.


You may be surprised how easy it it to spot unhealthy spending issues quickly. Furthermore, regularly assessing your spending habits can help you identify ways to address detrimental financial  habits .


Reduce Anxiety Associated with Social Media Addiction

Social media can be a great platform for keeping in touch with friends and networking with potential professional collaborators. For individuals with social media addiction, though, any social media account can be a source of great anxiety.


Quit Pornography and Masturbation Warm Turkey over a 7 Month Period

One way to quit a pornography addiction is cold turkey. However, this can lead to relapses followed by binge consumption. Abruptly quitting your addiction may not be best suited to you, so this seven-month plan is designed to reduce the chance of any relapse.


The task of drug addiction prevention may feel daunting, especially if you are newly out of treatment. You may feel overly confident of your ability to stay drug-free at times, then feel helpless at other times.


Regain a Sense of Faith and God in Addiction Recovery

After years of poor choices, hurt and loss from an addiction it may be difficult for the alcoholic or addict to hold on to previous beliefs in faith and God.


Perhaps you work for a company that requires routine standard drug tests, or perhaps a drug test is a condition of a legal settlement. A drug test might use a sample of your urine, hair, blood, or saliva.


Sex addiction, or hypersexual disorder (HD), means you repeatedly participate in sexual activity that causes detrimental effects to your relationships, job, and/or self esteem.


There are lots of benefits from being actively involved in your church. Getting to know people, and serving others gives you a sense of belonging.


God is our Holy Father. Ah, but, you have to understand him. This may make you think "What if I don't know him well; so, how will I ever get closer?"


The closer we get to Jesus, the stronger and happier we become in facing life and its ordeals. Sometimes in life you may not have that certain someone to encourage and push you forward, but when you experience radical intimacy with Jesus, every aspect of life seems to just fit in and fall into place.


Baptism is a religious rite that symbolizes death, resurrection, and the washing away of sins. It is a method of becoming a member of a particular Christian church.


Get a Newly Christian Preteen Living for God

If someone you know has recently became a Christian, then you should help them  live for God . It will bring a smile to your face when you see how much this person  grows in Christ .


Learning about Jesus, building a personal relationship/love -- following Him -- is open to you. To deepen your understanding while seeking fellowship with Christ and other followers, you decide how deeply to allow Christ to mold your life in new, fulfilling ways.


Find the Faith to Endure Life's Storms According to the Bible

Here is the account of one storm found in Mark 4:35-41 concerning how Jesus dealt with the disciples who were with Him. More than that there are key points relating to how we can overcome storms such as trials, afflictions and persecutions faced in everyday life - especially in this time of economic crisis in the world.


Have you ever felt too weak, lacking power to deal with your challenges whether in work, school and/or for  serving others  through your weakness. How can you find fullness, power...


Have you ever gone to a church seeking God and instead got the famous words: "If you want to be born again, then repent, do good, then tithe"? Even if you do complete all these churchly "tasks," does it still leave a hollow place inside of you where you wanted God and were fed religion instead?


Jesus came and dwelt among the people of Capernaum, so it was fulfilled that:         "The people who were dwelling in darkness have seen a brilliant light; and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them light has dawned."


Often times Christians are still in bondage to various sins or thoughts, but this should not be, since Jesus has set us free. People might still let Satan, or people, bring them into bondage again.


Forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply will probably be one of the hardest things you will ever do. The freedom you will experience when you do finally forgive will be worth all the pain and effort it requires!


"This is the Word of the Lord... saying, 'Not by might nor by [ordinary] power but by My Spirit says the Lord.' " If you follow these steps, then you will find and connect with the blessings and energy that will come through the limitless source found in the  Spirit of Truth  that we receive individually and one by one.


Do you want to be a person who  works for peace ? Want to have, and make peace and  honor God ? Here are some ways to do so.


A community of believers? A place of peace and meditation? The one true way? A social support? An important tradition? No one answer will guide your course.


Fasting is a sacred time in which Christians abstain from food, or other pleasures, and take the time to focus on God. If you are interested in focusing your life around God, while feeding the poor, deepening your faith -- read on and find out how!


Garlic may be a great way to ward off vampires, but it can also do the same for illness. Garlic has compounds that can promote heart health by limiting fats in your blood, relax your muscles, and even lower your blood pressure slightly.


Avoid Swine Flu on an International Flight

Since the beginning of the summer of 2009,  swine flu  has been a huge concern, globally and domestically. Considering the growing pandemic of the H1N1 strain of the flu, it's always best to have at least a precursory idea of how to minimize your chances of getting sick if you are planning to travel.


We're all taught as  children  that sharing is good, but when it comes to  cold viruses , we're all better off keeping them to ourselves. Plus, preventing the spread of infections may be easier than you think.


There are some common hygiene practices that you should take part in on a regular basis. Although you may think you follow common hygiene practices, there may be some of these activities that you might forget to do.


The tooth fairy is a magical being who leaves special gifts for children when they lose their teeth.  [1]   If you are playing the part of the tooth fairy or the tooth fairy’s helper, with a little preparation you can make the experience memorable for a child.


An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of the nail grow into the surrounding skin, which causes swelling, pain and redness.  [1]   The big toe is most often affected, but it can happen to any toe on your foot.


When someone you love falls ill they can lose all their energy, fall prey to pain, and become down and/or exhausted. However, this discomfort can be eased by the loving care of a supportive family member like yourself.


There are various forms of cancer that exist, but all are serious and can kill. Many can be treated, but at present, some still have no cure. Most cases of cancer develop over the course of decades, and can be attributed to various factors in a person's life, like their diet, their genetics, and their environment.


Oral health is an important part of maintaining your overall well-being. Studies have shown that both manual and electric toothbrushes can be effective at keeping your oral cavity clean.


Using a squat toilet can be a new experience for most westerners. The unfamiliar shape, style and method of use are largely unknown to those who live outside areas where these toilets are the preferred style.


Eating fish is recommended for the high levels of healthy omega-3 fats, the various vitamins and minerals contained in fish, and the high protein content; however, there are also constant reports about dangerous contaminants found in fish, particularly heavy toxic metals such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlordanes.


Since paper was invented, we’ve dealt with the small but painful effect of paper cuts. Because they often happen on the tips of our fingers, they seem more painful than other abrasions.


Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic retinal disease that causes a slow loss of vision, particularly in people older than 50 years. AMD is currently considered incurable and is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly population, affecting more than 10 million Americans.


Retirement communities are housing developments designed around meeting the needs of senior citizens who desire staff services, but who are functional enough to live independently.


No one wants to face the fact that their parents and other family members are aging. It’s scary and stressful, and it can seem like a daunting task to plan for or take on their care.


Getting older is something that happens to us all, if we live long enough. Because we live in a youth-based culture, it might be hard to face getting older.


Aging can bring up insecurities and uncertainties that are difficult to handle. Whether you are elderly or beginning to look or feel less youthful, aging can be anxiety-producing and affect the way you feel.