How to Foster Better Self-Awareness: 3 Tips
Self-awareness entails seeing yourself honestly and becoming aware of your behaviors, traits, and feelings, including both your strengths and flaws. Developing self-awareness has been found to improve self-control, creative abilities, self-esteem, and an understanding of other people’s perspectives.[1] I’ve found three core strategies to be effective in nurturing the capacity for self-awareness and improving overall…
How to Cope With a Midlife Crisis?
A midlife crisis is a period in a person’s life, typically sometime between ages 40 to 60 when they evaluate the choices they have made during their lives and experience anxiety resulting from thoughts about their mortality. Feeling confronted by end-of-life concerns, regret over missed opportunities, questioning self-doubt, and contemplating the way forward are all…
How to Bring Romance Back Into Your Marriage
Marriage can be difficult, and many couples experience moments where they feel less connected, less intimate, and less engaged in the romance and passion they experienced when the relationship began. This is a normal part of a relationship and is not something to worry about or fear; it is a result of seeping into the…
How to Cope With Parental Anxiety
Parents have much to worry about, the health and well-being of their family, finances, and much more. While worry and stress are common feelings from time to time, some people experience these emotions intensely, with little or no respite. If you find yourself worrying excessively, to the point that it interferes with your daily functioning,…
How to Stop Panic Attacks: 7 Helpful Tips
For those who suffer from panic attacks, the onset of symptoms is undeniable. They often seem to come out of nowhere and mimic medical emergencies such as a heart attack. The pressure and mounting stress set off a chain of unpleasant events in the body leading to a panic attack. Why Panic Attacks Happen Panic…
What is Stendhal Syndrome?
The condition of experiencing rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion, or even hallucinations when encountering artwork or objects of great beauty is known as Stendhal syndrome, a rarely documented psychological condition first identified back in 1817. While many mental health professionals are skeptical about the true nature of this condition, people have reported experiencing it for…
Are Children With ADHD More Likely to Lie?
Fibs, white lies, or straight-up whoppers, call them what you want, but at one time or another, parents may catch their kids in a lie. Sometime around the age of three, children discover that conjuring up tales can impress their friends, get them what they want, or keep them out of trouble. Older children may…
How Does Trauma Therapy Work?
Trauma therapy refers to the various psychotherapy treatments for helping individuals manage the intense emotional response triggered by experiences of extreme fear, stress, or danger. Such responses can include irritability, guilt, shame, flashbacks, emotional distress, difficulty sleeping, and many more. For those who have experienced trauma, support groups and counseling, such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, are…
An Overview of How PTSD Service Dogs Can Help
Post-traumatic stress disorder may result from a single encounter with trauma or from a series of traumatic episodes. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can greatly impact a person’s quality of life and ability to function. Symptoms can include nightmares, flashbacks, and avoidance of triggering memories. Other symptoms may include agitation, irritability, anxiety, or isolating behaviors. Specially trained…
How to Deal With Enochlophobia (Fear of Crowds)
Enochlophobia is the fear of crowds and crowded places. It is categorized as a specific phobia, an intense, excessive, and irrational fear of certain objects and situations that are not actually harmful. The anxiety experienced as a result of this phobia can be unbearable enough to make you resort to avoidance behaviors. On the one…
What Is a Serial Monogamist?
Serial monogamy is a term used to refer to people who follow a pattern of frequently entering committed relationships for short periods (generally a few months). Then, after a breakup, they quickly enter into another committed relationship. The serial monogamist is not ‘cheating’ on their partners but rather jumping from one relationship to another. Relationships…
How Is Anxiety Linked to Appetite Loss?
Fight-or-flight mode is our body’s natural response when we’re in jeopardy. It helps people cope in dire situations and causes various changes in the body including reduced appetite. Sometimes anxiety can cause you to enter fight-or-flight mode, leading your body to respond as it does to danger. Prolonged anxiety often causes changes in appetite and…
20 Things Not to Say to Someone With PTSD
Imagine you are the survivor of a horrible car crash. One day, while you’re walking down the street, you hear a car horn followed by a screeching noise. Before you get a chance to look around and figure out what happened, you feel a sudden rush of adrenaline. Fear paralyzes you from head to toe,…
Signs of a Female Psychopath
People tend to associate the term “psychopath” with an evil criminal or serial killer. We have books, television, and movies to thank for that distorted perception. In reality, though, a psychopath is not necessarily evil. Psychopathy typically refers to those with antisocial personality disorder, a condition in which one exhibits signs of manipulative and anti-social…
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is an integrative or complementary treatment that is used in the treatment of a variety of mental health conditions. This science-backed treatment can help reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance the overall quality of life of patients. Practitioners of music therapy are called music therapists, using specific evidence-based interventions to help clients meet…
8 Simple Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels
Cortisol is a stress hormone in the human body that is released by the adrenal glands and helps the body manage stressful situations. The brain initiates the release of cortisol to mitigate stressors. Cortisol regulates sleep, controls blood pressure, decreases inflammation, and handles the way that the body uses nutrients. When cortisol levels are elevated for…
Is Skype Secure for Online Therapy Sessions?
One of the most common video conferencing platforms used for online therapy is Skype. While it’s among the oldest and most popular communication tools on the Internet, it’s wise to explore how Skype handles your personal information and what security measures are taken to protect your sensitive data. Are Skype Therapy Sessions Secure? The short…
Is Online Therapy Secure and Confidential?
It’s not always easy to decide to engage in mental health treatment. Yet for many, it is a choice that has transformed or even saved their lives. While the traditional, in-office model for therapy is still the default option people think of when deciding to seek help, online therapy is proving to be an increasingly…
What is Acute Stress Disorder?
Acute stress disorder refers to the aftereffects someone experiences following an intense event where the person believed that they were witnessing a serious threat to their life or someone else’s, or when they or someone close to them experienced a serious injury, accident, or violent physical encounter or death. This diagnosis is similar to a…
Can Daith Piercing Reduce Anxiety?
Piercings are incredibly popular and prevalent in today’s culture. People engage in piercing for various reasons, such as self-expression, artistic appearance, or for religious and cultural purposes. One popular trend is the piercing of the daith, which is believed by some to alleviate anxiety and migraines. The daith is a tiny piece of inner cartilage that folds…
Using EMDR to Treat Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can be extremely dangerous for those who suffer from them. Drastic changes to food intake can make a person seriously ill, therefore it is crucial for those who struggle with managing their relationship with food to enlist help and support from a professional. The types of treatment approaches for eating disorders vary depending…
What You Should Know About PTSD Triggers
For those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be a highly painful and disruptive psychological condition. It is estimated to impact almost 7% percent of the adult population in their lifetime and involves symptoms that develop due to experiencing a single or series of traumatic events. If you have no experience with trauma…
How to Spot People That Use Others
Can you recall a time in your life when you were used by someone else? Unfortunately for most of us, this usually occurs sometime early in life. Some of us might have been used for our intelligence, some for our athleticism, and others for our popularity. Can you remember the moment when you realized that you were being…
Dating Someone With Anxiety: Tips and Advice
Dealing with your own anxiety can be difficult, but it can also be incredibly hard to watch anxiety affect someone you love. Anxiety is different for every person and managing it is not “one size fits all.” The first thing to do when you love someone with anxiety is to do your best to understand…
How Are Therapists Different From Psychologists?
When searching for mental health services, being knowledgeable is crucial. Although the terms therapist and psychologist both describe professionals committed to enhancing their patients’ emotional and mental health, they do not carry the same meaning. Understanding some of these distinctions can aid you in your quest for the appropriate expert. The two titles can often…
How to Gain a Strong Sense of Self
Life is extremely unpredictable. From flat tires on the way to work and unexpected bills in the mail to a call into our boss’ office, things happen every day that throw us off course. Usually, when we least expect it, we are faced with a new set of challenges and surprises that fill us with…
What Is Smiling Depression?
Smiling depression refers to people who hide their depression behind their smile and an otherwise normal, happy exterior. Those who suffer from this can appear well-adjusted, presentable, professionally successful, and content. However, in truth, they are not, and they need to be helped no less than those who outwardly display the classic signs of depression.[1]…
The Dangers of Diet Culture and Eating Disorders
Our culture is obsessed with beauty, weight, and appearances in general. This is reflected in our advertising, media, and in how we treat and talk about our bodies. While improving our health is certainly a worthy cause for society to focus on, it’s clear that health has little to do with our obsession with being…
Solvable vs. Perpetual Problems in Relationships
Being in an intimate relationship for the long haul is both challenging and demanding. As you and your spouse encounter new experiences and grow through life, the challenge of maintaining an intimate and rewarding relationship becomes very real. It’s so easy to get lost in the busyness of day-to-day life that the stresses of dealing…
Intimacy vs. Isolation: Erik Erikson’s Theory
Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist most famous for creating the eight stages of psycho-social development. Each stage of life involves a person working through an issue or crisis where a specific virtue may develop. Throughout every stage, the individual is attempting to answer an existential question that will ideally help them make sense of…
Why More Seniors Should Try Online Relationship Counseling
Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is harder. So, when we see a couple who has been together for many years, decades even, it’s easy to assume they have a rock-solid commitment and a fulfilling marriage. What’s actually going on, though, may be very different. Senior couples, like all couples, experience relationship issues….
An Overview of Bulimia Nervosa
Food and eating can be a source of comfort for many people, but for others, it can be a source of anxiety, stress, and shame. Thanks to the massive influence of media and entertainment in modern society, many people have developed unrealistic ideas about body size and shape, and this has contributed to the development…
Can Online Therapy Help With Eating Disorders?
Over the last few years, online therapy has emerged as a new convenient way to provide therapeutic services. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sudden surge in demand but also an intensifying controversy over the efficacy and ethics of whether all mental health concerns could and should be treated in this way. However, the…
How to Prepare for Your Online Therapy Session
When you go into a therapy session, it’s best to prepare so you can get the most out of your experience. With in-person therapy, that means knowing the location of your therapist’s office and giving yourself enough time to get there. You might also want to let your family and co-workers know not to call…
Play Therapy: An Overview
Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that is used to help children explore life and their surroundings freely. Play therapy uses play to help deal with psychological issues that a child might be experiencing. This form of psychotherapy is mainly geared towards children ages 2-13, to help them communicate, explore suppressed emotions, address unresolved trauma, and…
Polyamory and Polygamy: Understanding the Difference
Various kinds of relationships exist, with monogamy being the most commonly known practice of being married to a single person at a time. Apart from monogamy, there are other types of relationships that people sometimes mistake for one another. Polyamory and polygamy, for instance, can be easily confused. Although these two relationship types share some…
What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
Animal-assisted therapy, also known as animal therapy or pet therapy, has become popular in mainstream psychotherapy practice, and for good reason. It works. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has proven to be clinically useful for several populations and issues. Although it seems “new”, animals have unofficially been in the therapy room for a long time. It might…
Can Online Marriage Counseling Prevent Divorce?
People seek marriage counseling for a variety of reasons: infidelity, communication problems, and lack of intimacy, to name a few. Those who opt for online marriage counseling typically do so with the same motivations as those who prefer the in-person alternatives but prefer the added convenience and cost savings associated with online sessions. Whatever the…
An Overview of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is a holistic psychotherapeutic approach that is used to help treat symptoms of PTSD as well as other mental health conditions by engaging the mind, body, spirit, and emotions. It incorporates mind-body exercises, in addition to talk therapy, into the healing process.[1] The Principles of Somatic Therapy Somatic psychotherapy focuses on the connection between…
What Is Reunification Therapy?
Parents and children can become separated for a variety of reasons. A parent may struggle with addiction, or experience mental illness. In some cases, parents have incidents of abusing or neglecting their child, which leads to a temporary placement of the child with another caretaker. Or, parents may be separated or divorced, and financial or…
What Is Anhedonia? An Overview
Anhedonia is characterized by reduced motivation to engage in pleasurable activities and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. It is the diminished capacity to feel pleasure and is always indicative of another underlying condition or disorder. Anhedonia comes from the Greek suffix “an,” meaning without and “hedone,” meaning pleasure. The concept…
An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a highly debilitating eating disorder. Even though it may be the most recognized eating disorder, most people cannot tell you about the specific causes, symptoms, and treatments of anorexia nervosa. Many people believe that it is easy to tell if a person has anorexia because they will look emaciated, but the truth…
What is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?
Do you feel like you’re a particularly picky eater, or are you close to someone who is? While picky eating alone doesn’t suggest a disorder, some people struggle with this problem to the extreme. Such symptoms are sometimes diagnosed as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID. ARFID is an eating disorder that is generally characterized…
Eating Disorder Recovery Apps: Can They Help?
As the telehealth industry continues to grow, we are seeing the emergence of more and more mobile apps and online platforms that help users cope with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and stress. Although researchers are still investigating the efficacy of mobile apps for eating disorders, the first results seem promising….
Living and Coping With Bipolar Hypersexuality
Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of depression and mania. Manic episodes consist of symptoms that include (but are not limited to) increased self-esteem, increase in risky activities, excitability, and grandiosity. The symptoms that occur during a manic episode make it easier for individuals to experience hypersexuality. Individuals experiencing hypersexuality may deal…
How Online Therapy Can Work for Adolescents and Teens
Online therapy has become a mainstream option in the mental health landscape. Over time, it has proven to be a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-office therapy. While it’s utilized by users from diverse demographic groups, online therapy seems to be exceptionally appealing to adolescents. Adolescent Mental Health by The Numbers While teenage angst…
Separation Anxiety in Children: Causes and Treatment
Separation anxiety is a common issue for many kids. The fear of leaving a parent or caregiver can cause kids to experience anxiety and display anxiety-related behaviors such as crying, avoiding, and physical responses. Separation anxiety commonly happens for toddlers and young children but can persist and worsen throughout a child’s development. What Is Separation…
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy can be defined as an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of clients through active art-making, creative processes, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. While art therapy may be viewed as a non-traditional therapy, it does not necessarily need to be an alternative if…
Autophobia: Fear of Being Alone
Autophobia refers to the fear of being alone. It is categorized as a specific phobia, a type of anxiety disorder in which people experience irrational fear in response to specific objects or situations. Most people desire to be around others. Even the shyest and most introverted people have moments when they want and need to…
How to Reduce Back-To-School Anxiety
For most kids, returning to school after a long break such as summer vacation can include a broad mix of emotions. Excitement and trepidation about what lies ahead are very common. However, for children who struggle with academics or social situations, going back to school can be a time they dread, filled with stress and…
An Overview of Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting)
Emetophobia is a specific phobia characterized by an intense fear of vomiting or being in situations that could lead to vomiting. As with other specific phobias, being diagnosed with emetophobia requires the fear experienced by individuals to be irrational and in response to situations that pose little or no real danger. Emetophobia can be triggered…
Why Am I So Paranoid? Learning to Cope
Paranoia is a thought process that involves an irrational distrust trust in others without justification or cause. It is fueled by intense thoughts that will not go away and is perpetuated by powerful anxiety and fear. Paranoia is often accompanied by illogical thoughts that one is being threatened or targeted by an outside entity, even…
When Your Therapist Goes Digital: A Review of Quenza
In recent years, psychotherapists have embraced change and integrated online resources and services into their practices, allowing them to treat patients remotely. Not surprisingly, new technologies and innovations have developed around making online therapy treatment more convenient and effective. One such tool, designed to simplify the therapy process and greatly improve treatment outcomes is Quenza,…
What is Chronophobia?
Chronophobia is an anxiety disorder in which one experiences an irrational fear of the passing of time. It is a disruptive and persistent stress that is related to thoughts of mortality, having limited time, or having limited means to monitor it. Chronophobia is a specific phobia, a category of anxiety disorders in which people experience irrational fear…
How to Find an Affordable Therapist
Finding an affordable therapist can be a daunting task, especially when you’re already dealing with mental health issues like anxiety or depression. The mere thought of it can plunge you deeper into panic and despair. Not only do you have to navigate the decision to seek therapy, but you also have to figure out how…
Does Marriage Counseling Really Work?
Marriage counselors are often asked if therapy can be effective in fixing troubled relationships, or if it simply postpones the inevitable. You might think that the answer is a straightforward “yes” or “no,” but the truth is, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Several factors contribute to the success of marriage counseling. Some are…
The Link Between ADHD and Procrastination
Every day, countless Americans suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with some remaining undiagnosed. While the impact of ADHD on an individual’s life and the strategies for managing it can differ, one common trait among those with ADHD is a tendency towards procrastination. Although each case is unique, this tendency towards procrastination is a…
How to Break up With Your Therapist
Working with a therapist can be beneficial in many ways; when you have a trusted relationship with a mental health professional, it can help you to feel as if you have a safe space that’s free from judgment to work through your feelings, thoughts, and negative emotions and behaviors. The process of choosing a therapist…
Free Online Counseling: What You Should Know
The concept of free psychological services is not new. We only need to look at services such as Alcoholics Anonymous, court-ordered psychiatrist visits, and crisis intervention programs to find examples of free or mostly free psychological services. Technology has propelled the rise of online therapy chat providers, not only in America but across the world….
Nomophobia: Cellphone Separation Anxiety
Nomophobia is the term used to describe the panic and stress people experience from losing access to their mobile devices. While it is not officially a mental health condition, studies have shown that for some people the stress they feel when separated from their phones is very real and quite common. Mental health professionals suggest…
Online Grief Counseling: Your Options Explained
The grief associated with going through a significant loss can be one of the most distressing experiences of a person’s life. It’s perfectly normal to face a wide range of emotions such as shock, numbness, guilt, and sadness. In fact, if you are experiencing intense grief, it may feel like life as you know it…
Afraid of Snakes? You May Have Ophidiophobia
Ophidiophobia refers to an atypical and illogical fear of snakes that falls under the larger category of herpetophobia or the fear of reptiles. Ophidiophobia is fairly common and can range in severity, as some individuals may only be mildly afraid, while others may possess a severe and incapacitating fear. A minor phobia might encompass a fear…
How to Deal With Stonewalling
Over time, conflict is inevitable in close, romantic relationships. How you choose to respond to these conflicts will determine whether they bring you closer together or pull you apart. While the obvious preferred way to handle discord would be to practice healthy communication skills and respectfully work out issues, emotions often get the better of people and…
Are Millennials the Most Depressed Generation?
It’s hard to think that adults born between 1981-1996 could be a generation more depressed than others. With fast growing technologies, lifestyle, the use of social media, and a new “hot” topic developing every minute, they’re probably too busy to be depressed, right? Wrong! Although there are a lot of common negative stereotypes attached to…
Are Online Psychological Tests Reliable?
How often do you come across online ads for psychological tests that claim to measure your intelligence, personality, or some other trait? Of course, it’s enticing to think that you can find out intriguing things about yourself in just a few minutes. It’s certainly easier when compared with having to consult with a mental health…
How to Cope With Depression at Work
Depression impacts nearly all aspects of a person’s life; from personal relationships to completing daily tasks. It’s therefore not surprising that it can have a major impact on work performance too.[1] Living with depression and trying to maintain your career can be challenging. However, you can still keep your career on track by identifying the…
What is Narcissistic Abuse?
A narcissist, or one with Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), is someone who lacks empathy, has an overblown sense of self-importance and an overwhelming desire for attention and esteem. Such a person may appear confident, but in reality suffers from low self-esteem and shatters under even the smallest critique. Friends, family members and romantic partners of…
Personality Disorders and Trauma: Is There a Link?
My new patient, a middle-aged man, sat in the chair opposite mine and stated in a somewhat aggrieved tone: “Hey doc, I hear you specialize in treating personality disorders. My partner looked on the internet and said that I am a narcissist and that there is not much hope for me. What do you think?”…
What Are Gestalt Therapy Techniques?
When providing therapy, there are various theories a professional can utilize to inform treatment. The theory of choice is dependent on the educational background of the therapist. It is similar to how certain cultures greet one another. In some cultures, it is a handshake whereas in other cultures, it is a kiss on the cheek….
6 Tips to Stop Overthinking
Do you tend to overthink or overanalyze things? Think back to a time you gave an important presentation, had a conversation with someone you wanted to impress, or went to a party and talked to people you had never met before. When it was over, did you find yourself mulling over the events and conversations…
Anger Management: How to Regain Control
Anger is a natural emotion. Everyone gets angry at some point in their lives. When you hear the word anger, you most likely picture someone hitting something or screaming at another person. What is important to remember, though, is that anger is a feeling; not a behavior. We control our behavior, so ultimately, it is…
What Is Grief Counseling?
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something that was important to you. Although grief is an inevitable part of life, there is no real way to prepare for its impact on your life. Grief is often associated with an array of emotions and physical symptoms that can sometimes feel unbearable. Understanding Grief…