Mental Health

Dissociative disorders are a category of mental illnesses characterized by an involuntary and unhealthy escape from reality through a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness and memory. An estimated two percent of people experience some form of dissociative disorder, with women being more likely than men to be diagnosed. Dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly called multiple personality disorder, is one of three types of dissociative disorders defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. In 2014, 15.7 million people over the age of 18 admitted to experiencing at least one major depressive event during the year. This constitutes 6.7 percent of adults in the United States who experienced depression, and those numbers are growing every year.

No one likes to be deceived. Whenever someone attempts to pull one over on us by misleading us or flat-out lying, we are rightly frustrated or offended. But what if the deception comes from within? Is it possible to lie to ourselves and be guilty of self-deception? Psychologists and philosophers who study the human condition respond with a resounding, “Yes!” Self-deception is incredibly common and occurs due to a combination of factors. It primarily involves two psychological components known as cognitive dissonance and compartmentalization.

Memories are a constant companion in life. Both good and bad, memories stay with you and inform your choices from day to day. Because memories are such an important part of life and a critical component of mental health, it's important to understand how your brain makes them and how you can keep your memory healthy.

Identifying the differences between mood and personality disorders isn't as easy as distinguishing between different medical conditions. Unless you have a background in psychology, you may not fully understand the differences between a mood disorder and a personality disorder. While there is some overlap between the symptoms of these two conditions, they each have unique aspects and require different treatment methods. If someone you love is struggling with the symptoms of a mental health condition, it's important for them to see a psychologist to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

With over 190 million smartphone users in the United States, it is no wonder that developers are feverishly working to create the next app that everyone has to have. Some of the more popular apps are designed to help users improve and maintain their physical health. Apps can track calories, log workouts, record steps taken throughout the day, promote better posture and much more. But there is a new trend featuring apps for mental health that offer therapy and other mental health services. This gives new meaning to the cliché, “there’s an app for that,” and has people talking about the pros and cons of such apps.

There is new research that reveals that a person’s music listening habits has the capacity to reveal a substantial amount about their mental health. A recent study published by the Academy of Finland revealed that men who process existing negative feelings through music tend to react to sad and aggressive music in a negative manner. What makes these new findings so significant is the fact that the ability to manage emotions is a vital component to effectively managing mental health.

Sleep disorders can be caused by a number of factors, but many people's sleep troubles are directly related to their drug or alcohol use. Prescription and non-prescription medications, illegal drugs and alcohol all have the potential to cause sleep problems, and the severity of these problems will vary from person to person. The most effective way to combat a substance-induced sleep disorder is by addressing the underlying drug or alcohol addiction; however, a number of therapeutic techniques can help individuals ease their symptoms and get a better night's sleep.

Losing someone you love or something you valued is a very painful experience. At times, you may feel like the sadness and pain will never get better, and you'll experience a huge range of emotions. These reactions are normal after a major loss. Grieving is a slow process that can last for months or years, but a few healthy coping strategies can help you deal with the pain and allow you to move on.

When the temperatures cool and the days get shorter, it's not uncommon to feel a bit of the "winter blues," but for some people, the onset of winter brings a more serious form of depression: a condition is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People afflicted with SAD are likely to experience symptoms of the disorder from the beginning of fall until the weather warms up in the spring. If you think you might be struggling with SAD, effective treatments are available to help you keep your mood stable all year long.

If you've ever had an anxiety attack, you were probably certain that death was imminent. Anxiety attacks are all too common for people who suffer from a panic disorder, which causes debilitating fear and anxiety that manifests through these attacks, which can be frequent and may not have a discernible cause. Around six million adults in America suffer from panic disorder, which, according to the National Institutes of Health, affects women twice as often as men. Anxiety attacks typically begin to occur in late adolescence or early adulthood, and although not everyone who experiences these attacks has panic disorder, anxiety attacks can nevertheless vastly reduce your quality of life.

Almost everybody has a fear or two. For most individuals, these fears are relatively minor. However, when a fear begins to interfere with everyday life and causes severe anxiety, it's called a phobia. If you suspect that you're suffering from a phobia, you're not alone. An estimated 19 million Americans have some type of phobia, with twice as many women affected as men. Fortunately, treatment for phobias is extremely effective, and you can successfully manage your fears with the help of a mental health professional.