General Mental Illness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 million children in the United States have asthma--that's 9.4 percent of all children. Seeking proper treatment is crucial,...

A child with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) shows a pattern of hostility, defiance and disobedience toward authority. ODD may occur before conduct disorder, a more serious behavior disorder,...

A mental health evaluation usually includes verbal and written assessments given by a psychiatrist or psychologist. The purpose of the questions is to establish an overall picture of your...

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a book that mental health professionals consult for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

White matter disease, leukodystrophy, gradually takes away the ability to form or make decisions. Lesions form when blood supply is disrupted, resulting in hardening of the arteries which feed the...

Lexapro is a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used to treat depressive and/or anxiety disorders. There may come a time when you feel that you no longer need to take...

Managing your anger can be difficult to do alone. Sometimes managing your anger requires figuring out the underlying reason for the anger and learning coping mechanisms to deal with the anger....

Personality refers to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that we exhibit over a long period of time. Personality is not only who we are but determines how we see the world around us. When a...

Like the dream, the nightmare is a physiological and psychological reaction that occurs during the paradoxical phase of sleep. The word nightmare comes from "quauquemaire" from the term...

Narcotic drugs are useful medications that allow doctors to treat patients suffering from acute pain. At times these drugs can become habit-forming and addictive, leaving the user wanting more and...

Certain endorphins and brain chemical such as serotonin and dopamine are linked to pleasure. If dealing with a chemical imbalance, you may have a short supply of these essential chemicals. As a...

Alzheimer's disease is a mental Illness causing dementia. The condition can last more than 10 years. It develops gradually and can cause a slow decline in the individual's cognitive abilities....

According to Cummins Behavioral Health Systems, environmental factors such as violence, severe stress or grief from loss can adversely affect a teen's mental health. Biological factors such as...

Though both classified as mental disorders, bipolar and dementia exhibit a wide variety of differences in type, cause, symptoms and treatment, as well as in the progression of the disease. Bipolar...

Dopamine and serotonin are two neurotransmitters that are necessary for many aspects of human behavior. Inadequate production and regulation of either neurotransmitter is a cause of many medical...

To comfort someone, you really need to be with them, listen and show empathy. Provide comfort to to someone with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on life skills.

To solve a conflict in a group, you'll use the same principals as solving a conflict between two people. Discover how to solve group conflicts with tips from a licensed mental health counselor in...

Developing a positive attitude towards life starts with unconditionally accepting ourselves as human beings. Learn to have a positive attitude towards life with guidance from a licensed mental...

When trying to better communicate feelings more effectively with a spouse, it's important to differentiate between a thought and a feeling. Educate yourself on communicating better with your...

Coping with jealousy becomes much easier when we have a healthy sense of self-acceptance. Learn to cope with jealousy from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on life skills.

To help a friend overcome depression, it's important to identify the needs and demands of that person. Help your friend overcome depression with advice from a licensed mental health counselor in...

Anger management is a topic that is either taken very seriously or kind of humorously. Find out if you truly need help managing your anger with advice from a licensed mental health counselor in...

Grief over the loss or separation of a loved one can usually be classified into sadness and is more severe if it turns out to be depression. Determine how to deal with grief from a licensed mental...

To overcome nervousness, you need to really check in with yourself and discover what you're thinking about that is making you nervous. Determine how you can overcome your nervousness with advice...

Overcoming fear is directly related to overcoming the anxiety associated with fear, as well. Discover how to reduce your fear and anxiety with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this...

Overcoming awkwardness in certain situations can be done by simply practicing what to do in the situation with a friend. Learn how to overcome awkwardness with tips from a licensed mental health...

Suicidal ideation is defined as having thoughts of suicide. It is a medical term used when an individual has contemplated suicide but has made no present plans of actually committing suicide.

According to the Online Newshour, dementia afflicts five million elderly Americans. Almost half of these are suspected cases of Alzheimer's. New treatments are being sought every day in a puzzling...

The cerebrum is the largest part of the human brain and is composed of two parts, the left and right hemispheres. Each hemisphere consists of four lobes--frontal, parietal, temporal and...

OCD. Do you have it? How to know if you or others have OCD

Why are people hoarding? It was really hard for me to understand when I was in a relationship with a man that had hoarding problems. It was not a healthy relationship. I was in love with him...

When it comes to determining the reason why people commit suicide, research reveals the main cause is mental illness, in particular, depression. It's vital to recognize all the risk factors for...

Addictions involving food are a well know problem in our society. Sugar addiction is related to other eating disorders but specifically relates to addiction to sweet foods and the effects of sugar...

Mental diagnoses are identified through self-report or observation of patient symptoms. The current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the Fourth Edition...

Depression affects millions of people worldwide, making it probable that you know someone dealing with depression. Depression, not only affects the person who is depressed, it affects family and...

Serotonin is a hormone (also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine) found in the pineal gland, digestive tract, blood platelets and brain, where it works as a neurotransmitter that sends nerve signals...

Mental health generalist are middle-level professionals employed to assist other professionals in providing quality care to consumers. Companies and government agencies may employ the mental...

Too many children are diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) every year. Ironically, the families that are hit hardest by the condition are those who cannot afford the...

Mental health professionals face many challenges and one of those challenges is ensuring the safety of their patient. To ensure safety, one tool that is used is called a risk assessment. A risk...

Alcohol is a highly addictive substance that can carry with it numerous short- and long-term effects. While it can be physically damaging to your health, it can also be mentally damaging to your...

An alter ego is defined as the "other self," but it also can mean a second self or the manifestation of another personality within the same person, as in a personality disorder. It may also mean a...

Alfred Binet developed the first test that quantified intelligence. His idea of intelligence quotient (IQ) represented a ratio of mental age to chronological age. Today, IQ scores are measured in...

C.G. Jung developed the theory of personality types in the 1920s. Since then, people have sought to use information about personalities to improve their lives and businesses have done the same to...

The human brain is composed of billions of nerve cells that control our every thought, movement, sensation and emotion. Although often thought of as a single unit, it actually consists of three...

When you're feeling down or having emotional problems, you may be told to see a doctor. But mental and emotional problems aren't like a broken finger or a cold, meaning you can't just call up your...

Autism is a disorder that makes communicating and relating to other people difficult. This is stressful not only for the autistic person but also for those who interact with him regularly. ...

There are many types of mental health services, provided by many different professions and agencies. Generally accepted standards within the U.S. can depend on which profession is in question, and...

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-IV defines pathological gambling as an "impulse control disorder" characterized as "persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling...

There are two types of pregnancy termination: spontaneous abortion or miscarriage, and induced abortion. Spontaneous abortion occurs when a woman expels a fetus that stopped growing in her uterus....

Parents and teachers understand the care and guidance needed to help children become productive autonomous individuals. Sometimes children exhibit behavior that may be difficult to manage. ...