What I Do When Anxiety Infects My Favorite Relaxation Tool
I was on my belly, my cheeks snug against the massage table’s doughnut pillow, my muscles getting nudged this way and that, when the gal doing the magic asked this question.
Jean was short, shorter than me even. Round cheeks and a stocky build, conservative shoes and black clothes. Maybe fifty years old. Just minutes earlier, when I arrived at the quaint, creaky little massage studio desperate for relief both from my two toddler children and a bad case of winter cabin fever, she greeted me with a soft smile that made me want to curl up inside it and stay.
But once the massage started, I was distressed to learn her sw...
Source: Psych Central - October 15, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tricia Arthur Tags: Anxiety Mindfulness Personal Stories Massage negative energy Relaxation Stress Reduction Source Type: news
10 Tips for Gauging the Quality of an Inpatient Rehab Program, from an Expert in the Field
When you’re suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction and/or another serious mental health condition, quality inpatient treatment is often critical to recovery. But finding quality inpatient treatment isn’t always easy in an industry that has at times been prone to scams. A case in point: a recent story on NPR described how some addiction treatment clinics are claiming that nutritional IV infusions (or “NAD infusions”) can cure cravings and addiction. The news is the latest in a string of reports in recent years revealing how some rehab facilities have preyed on and profited from individuals’ and families’ des...
Source: Psych Central - October 2, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Rami Sleiman Tags: Addictions Substance Abuse Addiction Treatment Source Type: news
Can You Recover from Dissociative Identity Disorder?
We used to refer to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) as multiple personalities or Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). The creation of multiple identities occurs often in response to extreme abuse in childhood. Individuals who have developed different identities have described the experience as a way to escape the abuse.
Recently, an Australian judge made a landmark ruling allowing six of Jeni Haynes’s personalities to testify against her father for the horrific abuse she suffered as a child. In response to the extreme and persistent abuse, the woman created 2,500 different personalities to survive.1 The ruling...
Source: Psych Central - September 30, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Fabiana Franco, Ph.D. Tags: Dissociative disorders Personality Trauma Dissociative Identity Disorder Multiple Personality Disorder Source Type: news
Can Narcissism Be Healthy? Does It Differ from Self-Love?
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance,” wrote Oscar Wilde. Known for his wit and irony, was Wilde referring to narcissism or real self-love? There is a difference. His use of the word “romance” suggests the former. That’s a key to differentiate the two concepts.
In contrast to genuine love, romantic love is filtered by illusion and idealization. In the romantic phase of relationships, intense feelings are predominantly based on projection and physical pleasure. All is rosy, because we don’t really know the other person or see his or her flaws. In Wilde’s novel about narcissism, Dorian Gray...
Source: Psych Central - September 24, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT Tags: Codependence Narcissism Boundaries Ego Empathy Self Love Self Worth Self-Esteem Shame Source Type: news
3 Stages of Healing from a Toxic Relationship with Your Mother
“You were my home, Mother. I had no home but you.” – Janet Fitch
Healing is a journey, not a single strike of willpower. In this article, you’ll learn about three stages of healing so that you can gain clarity about where you are and what you still need to work on in order to complete your journey.
Healing is a path we must travel to live joyful lives aligned with our values — lives of our choice. There’s no quick fix. Rather, it requires commitment, courage, patience, and determination. But where does the journey begin?
At the moment, you may feel like you’re on a shaky boat in the...
Source: Psych Central - September 18, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Irina Bengtson, PhD Tags: Bullying Family Narcissism Trauma Boundaries Codependence Narcissistic Personality Disorder toxic mother toxic relationship Source Type: news
Controlling Screen Time for Children with ADHD
Parents are often concerned about their child’s screen time and report difficulty enforcing limits. Screen time includes time with all screens including social media, online gaming, and watching videos. Enforcing limits on screen time can be particularly challenging for children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to difficulties with self-monitoring and inattention. As a child therapist, parents often tell me that their child grabs their phone out of their purse, asks to use their tablet constantly, and cries when denied. This leads to parents often giving in to such requests, which only encoura...
Source: Psych Central - September 11, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Mercedes Pratt, M.A. Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Parenting Social Networking Source Type: news
What Is It Really Like to Stay at a Psychiatric Hospital?
Most of us have very specific, vivid ideas about what staying in a psychiatric hospital looks like. These ideas have likely been shaped by Hollywood or sensationalist news stories. Because how often do we hear about someone’s real-life stay at a psychiatric facility?
If going to therapy is rarely talked about, the conversations surrounding psychiatric hospitals are virtually non-existent. So we tend to imagine wild, worst-case scenarios.
To provide a more accurate picture, we asked several individuals who’ve been hospitalized to share what it was like for them.
Of course, every person’s experience is different, and e...
Source: Psych Central - September 6, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Disorders General Stress Suicide Treatment Bipolar Disorder hope Hospitalization Inspiration Manic Episodes Psychiatric Hospital suicidal Source Type: news
Vitamins for Depression
In trying to cope with the debilitating symptoms of depression, people often turn to vitamins, supplements, herbs, or home remedies first. And it’s no wonder — such efforts to alleviate symptoms are often far less expensive and easier to obtain. For some, it may be a part of their rationalization that their depression “isn’t all that bad,” if it can be treated with vitamins and supplements.
Many people find relief in taking vitamins and supplements for depression. It is also one of the most well-researched topics, so we know what the science has to say about the efficacy of such treatments. Bu...
Source: Psych Central - September 3, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Depression Diet & Nutrition General Medications Miscellaneous Drugs supplements for depression vitamins for depression Source Type: news
What Parents Can Do When Their Child Is Anxious
This article may assist you in helping your child with anxiety.
Consider Treatment Options
Anxiety disorders tend to persist without treatment. A psychotherapist or a psychiatrist can determine if your child has an anxiety disorder and what type of treatment is needed. Psychotherapy is an effective method for treating childhood anxiety disorders. In fact, psychotherapy is a first line treatment for anxiety disorders. Family interventions that focus on changing parent behavior have been shown to be effective in treating childhood anxiety disorders even when the child is not receptive to treatment. In general, psychotherap...
Source: Psych Central - August 14, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Matthew A. Carlson, Psy.D., ABPP Tags: Anxiety Children and Teens Parenting Psychology School Issues Adolescence anxious thoughts Avoidance Child Development Childhood Anxiety Coping Strategies education Exposure Therapy Family therapy Learning Source Type: news
Mother Teresa with a Blackbelt: An Interview with a Thriver Whose Own Trauma Helps Others Heal
Although I have not met Theresa Byrne face to face yet (my intention is certainly to do so), I feel a kinship with this conscious communicator whose musings inspire her readers, listeners, students and clients. If memory serves, we found each other through another site for which we both write called The Good Men Project. When I got to know her better, I was impressed with her ability to weave a story with a take home treasure in the form of the message. She earned a degree in Communication Studies (with concentrations in Psychology, Social Work, and Business/Marketing). This enables her to see beneath the surface of wha...
Source: Psych Central - August 5, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW Tags: Bullying Interview PTSD Trauma Compassion Resilience Source Type: news
Fighting the Loneliness
I haven’t always had to fight loneliness and isolation. When I was younger I loved going out to listen to live music. Dancing was a fun way for me to interact with others. I enjoyed being social and was always looking for a place to meet friends at a bar or show. All of that has changed since my diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. Fighting loneliness has become part of my new normal. Isolating myself because of my mental illness can easily lead to loneliness and depression in my life now.
One Saturday evening a few years ago I decided to count how many beers I had consumed in a 24 hour period. I counted 19. I re...
Source: Psych Central - August 2, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jason Jepson Tags: Antidepressants Antipsychotics Atypical Antipsychotics Personal Stories Schizoaffective Disorder Schizophrenia Combat Veteran Loneliness Mood Disorder Music Therapy Psychosis Seasonal Affective Disorder Social Isolation Suicidal Source Type: news
Could Your Pessimistic Personality, Deep-Seated Insecurity, or Sinking Energy Actually Be a Treatable Disorder?
You’re intensely insecure and self-conscious, so much so it feels like one of your prime attributes. You’d describe yourself as a true-blue pessimist or cynic. You don’t really get excited about anything. You have a hard time connecting with others. And you find yourself constantly exhausted and drained.
Because it’s been this way for so long—decades maybe, you’ve lost count—you just assume it’s you. You assume this is who and how you are. This must be your personality. This is just your way of life.
However, these supposed traits and tendencies might actually be a diagnosable and treatable disorder. In oth...
Source: Psych Central - August 1, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Depression Disorders General Personality Psychotherapy Self-Help Treatment Chronic Depression Dysthymia PDD persistent depressive disorder Source Type: news
Hopeful Research into Cannabis Treatment for Cannabis Dependency
Whether you believe you’re addicted to cannabis, or severely dependent on it, if you’re trying to reduce consumption and have been unable to do so with behavioral therapy alone, there may be some hopeful news. Researchers at the University of Sydney have found promising results from their study of a cannabinoid agonist medication that targets brain receptors in reducing cannabis relapse rates.
The study, which was published in the JAMA Internal Medicine noted that cannabis is the most widely-used psychoactive substance worldwide, with some 10% of Australians saying they’ve consumed it in the last year. About 10% of t...
Source: Psych Central - July 31, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Suzanne Kane Tags: Addictions Interview Medications Substance Abuse cannabis Marijuana Nabiximols THC Source Type: news
Eating Disorders You ’ ve Probably Never Heard Of
American culture seems obsessed with dieting. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 70% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight, including 35% that are considered obese. In kids and teens, it’s 17%. Meanwhile, the cultural ideal is to be fit, thin, and trim. The quest for body perfection has created a U.S. weight loss industry that was estimated to be worth $68.2 billion in 2017. In 2018, the fitness industry topped $30 billion.
While 45 million Americans go on a diet every year and 54 million Americans paid for gym memberships last year, the sad reality is that most diets fail and most people qui...
Source: Psych Central - July 24, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. Tags: Eating Disorders Exercise Healthy Living Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Disordered Eating food aversion Muscle Dysmorphia Orthorexia unhealthy dieting Source Type: news
Marijuana Legalization: Misgivings and Hopes
Marijuana legalization is in motion: step by step, state by state. Counting Washington, where I live, twelve states have already passed recreational marijuana legislation. At least seven more states, including New York and Minnesota, both traditionally liberal states, are slated for similar legalization in 2019.
While stopping the weed train is unlikely (there are profits to be made in this new frontier), ensuring that its brakes and safety protocols are in working order is imperative. Protections for our most vulnerable populations — adolescents, young adults, and people with mental illness issues — ought to...
Source: Psych Central - July 18, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Trisha Ready, PhD Tags: Addictions Medications Professional Stigma Substance Abuse Effects Of Cannabis Legalizing Marijuana Psychosis Stigmatization Substance Use THC Source Type: news
