Mental Health

A mood is defined as a temporary state of mind or feeling. As an emotional state, a mood may be expressed as one of the following, for example: serious, humorous, amused, angry, playful, cheerful, gloomy, and more. Put simply, moods summarize what’s favorable or unfavorable to us, based on external and internal information. Some psychologists believe that our mood is based somewhat on a stress threshold – researcher Roy Baumeister, for example, believes that when we’ve used up all our willpower to avoid a temptation – such as eating fast food when we’re on a diet, for example – we become irritable because we’ve drained up all our cognitive resources. Consequently, a bad mood causes us to have tunnel vision, making it more difficult to see things more openly and creatively. On the opposite side, a good mood can open our minds to a world of possibilities. We all love being in a good mood, but what happens when we are in a bad mood? Can we easily change this? If there is no mood disorder present, there are a few things that we can do to help improve our mood:

Narcissism lies on a spectrum, with increased severity taking on the role of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). A person diagnosed with this disorder will often exhibit a grandiose image of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power and more, a belief that he or she is uniquely “gifted” and can only be understood by high-status people, a sense of entitlement, a need for excessive admiration, and much more. An individual with NPD will often regard others as either high status (perfect, entitled) or low status (unworthy, defective). This can make friendships and romantic relationships difficult to maintain, because they often lack empathy and are very self-centered. If you have NPD, you may recognize some of the traits that you exhibit, but you fear discussing them with others because you do not want it to tarnish your image or status. Elinor Greenberg, PhD and internationally renowned Gestalt therapy trainer, has noted 5 things many of her clients with NPD have admitted to themselves, but not others:

Personality disorders are defined as a deeply ingrained and maladaptive pattern of behavior that is typically manifested by the time one reaches adolescence; they often cause long-term difficulties in relationships and other aspects of daily life. An estimated 9% of adults in the United States have a personality disorder. There are 10 specific types of personality disorders, and are identified based on the following:

Anxiety and panic attacks can affect anyone, including famous sports players. NBA star Kevin Love has recently opened about his own experiences with anxiety and panic attacks; on November 5th right after halftime, Love had his first panic attack. On The Player’s Tribune he stated that he physically couldn’t bring himself to finish the game because his heart was racing, his mouth felt “chalky”, and everything was spinning. It wasn’t until this incident that Love decided he needed to share his experience with others, because he realized just how important mental health discussions truly are. There’s no doubt that American society makes it more difficult for males to open about their mental health. Just last year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that men take up 76.92% of all deaths by suicide – this is the equivalent to almost four out of every five suicides. Many males are taught at an early age that they shouldn’t talk about their problems – that they should keep it in and get over their issues in silence. Kevin Love certainly lived his life by this mentality, and he believes it is what led him to the panic attack he experienced in that game against the Hawks. Previous research has shown that rather than men expressing their concerns through talking, signs of increased fatigue, irritability, anger, loss of interest in work or hobbies, and sleep disturbances may occur. Love expressed that after speaking with a therapist, he was able to dig deeper into the concerns that really bothered him – such as the fact that when his grandmother passed away, he couldn’t properly say goodbye and that sincerely bothered him. He went on to explain that he’s trying to better cope with life by addressing everything that comes with it to himself – sometimes our anxieties and fear creep in when we are no longer aware of how we feel. He stated, “I’m just starting to do the hard work of knowing myself. For 29 years, I avoided that…I’m trying to face the uncomfortable stuff in life while also enjoying, and being grateful for, the good stuff. I’m trying to embrace it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly.” We can’t escape pain in life. It will always occur in one way or another. What we can do is take control over how we manage that pain through seeking help, talking about it, and relying on people who love and support us. Don’t wait any longer to seek the help you need today.

Nearly 350 million people worldwide experience depression. If you have been struggling with this, it may feel as though your world is caving in – being in a relationship can make this even more challenging, as your significant other may not be aware of what to say or do to help you feel better. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne interviewed 135 couples of which either one or both partners had a history of depression. The ages of couples ranged from 20 to 83 years old, with couples’ history in length from 6 months to 49 years total. The couples shared the hardships their relationship has endured with depression involved. Here are some themes from what they said:

According to the Health Research Funding Organization, an estimated 1% to 3% of the general population in the United States have histrionic personality disorder (HPD), with two-thirds of individuals who have it consisting of women. HPD is a disorder that causes the person to experience instability in emotions with distorted views of themselves and fluctuations in their self-esteem. People with this disorder are prone to seek reassurance from others, to focus more on their physical appearance and aesthetic appeal, to use exaggerated motions and expressions, to have a lack of sincerity when engaging in social interactions, and more. HPD is intense in nature, making it difficult for people with this disorder to form and maintain close relationships. Our personality is ingrained within us from birth – how we behave and perceive ourselves and others can set a pattern for our lives. Personality disorders are considered inflexible and maladaptive, causing a person internal stress when their actions do not align with societal expectations and values. HPD exhibits excessive emotionality – and many with this disorder are regarded as “attention seekers”. Appearing as lively and dramatic, people with HPD may even embarrass friends and family in public with excessive public displays of emotion. The causes of HPD are unknown, and little research has been conducted on this disorder. However, many scientists believe that biological, developmental, cognitive, and social factors all play a key role. For example, studies have shown that people with HPD have highly responsive noradrenergic systems, which are mechanisms that release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (responds to stress). It is believed that the malfunction that occurs with norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters is responsible for high reactivity. Some psychologists theory that people with HPD have highly maladaptive defense mechanisms, causing them to engage in repression, denial, dissociation, and displacement. Social and cultural perspective could certainly have an influence on this area. If you have HPD and are experiencing a variety of difficulties in your daily life, make the decision to seek treatment today. There are many tools that you can learn to better cope with unsettling situations, allowing you to better connect with others. Recovery is possible.

There has been a longstanding debate of whether addiction arises from one’s environment or one’s genes. This debate is just as confounding as the one that involves mental illness; which is to blame? So far, a variety of studies have shown that it’s likely a mixture of both. However, each person’s story is different, making this not a one-size-fits-all case. Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, MD and psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, stated on Everyday Health, “Most mental illness is probably due to some combination of inheritance and exposure.” To answer this question, the Human Genome Project was established in 1990. Scientists conducted several different experiments to test the theory and see whether it was nature or nurture that came out on top. They were conflicted when they found that in their studies, most of the results represented a 50/50 split. However, latest research has shown that some mental illnesses are mostly genetic – mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for example, have been shown to have inherited genes for the most part; if either of your parents has one of these mental illnesses, you have a 40% to 50% chance of inheriting the disease. When it comes to addiction, however, it could involve genetics as well as a person’s environment, lifestyle, upbringing, mental health, and demographics. In addition, having any genes in the family that make a person more susceptible to addiction doesn’t mean that person is destined to become addicted. For example, a person with genes that predispose them to addiction could very well remain sober their entire lives. Conversely, someone who has no trace of addiction in their family could struggle with addiction for most of their life. There is still a constant debate with nature versus nurture, but what’s most important is seeking treatment. There are a variety of treatment programs available, with each one providing support and tools that are needed for long-term success in recovery.

An estimated 2.4 million Americans experience symptoms of panic disorder each year, with women twice as likely to experience them. If you’ve never had a panic attack, your first one may seem very frightening. You may feel as though you are going to die – thankfully, panic attacks are not deadly, but their symptoms can make you feel like something is very wrong. If you’ve had a panic attack before, you may be fearing another one. Recognizing the signs of a panic attack can be very helpful and may allow you to take preventative measures before you reach a full-blown panic attack; the following are some symptoms to look out for:

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in August of last year, 46% of U.S. adults say they have a family member or close friend who has an addiction now or has had one in the past. The illicit drugs included in the survey were marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, methamphetamine, and misuse of prescription drugs. Along with these different drugs comes different short and long-term consequences, as each person’s history with drugs are different. There are many reasons why each addiction is different:

On the surface, these two terms sound similar – mood and personality – in the world of psychology and mental disorders, they must be related, right? Somewhat, yes. While there are some overlapping symptoms associated with each, there are some key differences that are important to recognize if optimal treatment is to be received. If you haven’t been diagnosed but you think you may have a mood or personality disorder, learning some key differences may help you explain your experiences to your doctor. Mood disorders are based on the relationship a person has with their emotions. While all of us experience ups and downs when it comes to mood, a person with a mood disorder may experience these ups and down in much more severity and for longer or shorter durations. For example, one common mood disorder is bipolar disorder (BPD), which is often characterized as having manic and/or depressive episodes. Mania consists of feelings of elatedness – feeling “on top of the world” and a person with BPD may make large financial decisions or engage in risky behaviors while feeling this way. Depression, on the other hand, involves feelings of utter sadness and hopelessness, causing people who have this to no longer enjoy activities they once loved. Personality disorders are characterized as major differences between an individual person and other people regarding how they deal with emotion, how they interact with others, how they think about problems and how they interpret situations. There are 3 main subcategories of personality disorders: Type A, Type B, and Type C: Type A: The individual relates to others in a way that is considered odd. For example, paranoid personality disorder is based on a person’s mistrust and suspicions of others. Type B: Has difficulty regulating moods, often switching rapidly between high and low moods. For example, borderline personality disorder often involves unstable moods and at times, self-harm. Type C: Feelings of fear and anxiety dominant this person’s perception. For example, a person with avoidant personality disorder may avoid any situation that may cause them anxiety of rejection. It’s understandable how one could have confused mood with personality disorders. However, these differences place focus on whether a person should be diagnosed simply on the way they relate to their emotions, or whether they exhibit this relation in social aspects as well. If you have been struggling with a mental disorder, make the decision to seek out help at a reputable treatment center today.

Panic disorder is characterized by seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks, causing the person who experiences them to live in fear of them reoccurring. With this disorder, a panic attack can occur unexpectedly, even waking someone from sleep. Panic disorder typically begins in early adulthood (20s), but children may also experience this disorder. The reactions to panic attacks are often strong, with many people feeling as though they’ve had a heart attack. If you have panic disorder, you’ve likely felt ashamed or embarrassed to attend work, school, and social situations in fear that you may have a panic attack again.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, with around 40 million Americans experiencing it each year. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects 6.8 million adults, and women are twice as likely to be affected than men. People with GAD are likely to experience symptoms of restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, sleeping problems, difficulty controlling worrying, and being easily fatigued. If you have GAD, you can probably agree that these symptoms can be exhausting if not treated. Below are some very common situations that many people with GAD experience often: