General Mental Illness

Pathological or compulsive gambling is described as gambling that goes beyond the point of normal recreation such that it interferes with the person's life. Pathological gamblers often go to great...

Seratonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters. What this means is that they act as chemical messengers between brain cells to relay "messages" between the cells. Insufficient seratonin and...

Alcoholism and depression are two serious ailments that many people suffer from. If a person suffers from both, treatment and recovery can be a difficult process, but it is not impossible. If you...

Depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, are two mental illnesses that affect approximately 16 million Americans each year. Both men and women of all ages can be affected by both...

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2007, 14.5 percent of American high school students cited that they had seriously considered suicide in the past year. Suicide is responsible...

Postpartum psychosis is the most severe form of postpartum depression or postnatal depression. It is a mental condition faced by new mothers after the birth of the child. The symptoms vary from...

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 25% of the American adult population experiences some form of depression each year. There are multiple types of depression disorders...

It is normal to suffer from a mild case of depression from time to time. However, sometimes individuals need proper tools to overcomet their depression. Read this article to learn some tools to...

Bipolar disorder and depression, two potentially debilitating mental disorders, have many similarities, but there are also several important distinctions. Both ailments have their own diagnostic...

People who are having symptoms of depression or ADHD may be confused as to what condition you are actually experiencing. However, dealing with the symptoms of depression and ADHD can become...

A mental health assessment by a trained psychologist may be necessary if you're seeking help for depression, suicidal thoughts, or you're being evaluated for psychiatric treatment. These...

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression and bipolar disorder affect over 20 million American adults per year. While both mood disorders have overlapping traits,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Everyone experiences stress as a part of everyday life. And even though it is not as severe as clinical depression, we've all gone through the blues and felt down. Both stress and depression...

A chemical imbalance refers to the availability of neurotransmitters in the brain. There are more than fifty different types of neurotransmitters, each governing a certain set of responses and...

If you are looking how to beat depression related loneliness you are taking a step in the right direction. We usually have to identify a problem before we can find solutions to it.Depression and...

One early sign of mental illness is a radical change in personality or activity. If a gregarious person spends more and more time alone, or an overweight person stops eating, that may be cause for...

The following five stages are part of the grief process. People may skip stages or move backward and forward at any time as part of their grieving.

Mental fatigue can affect any person at any point in life. It is the result of the brain being overworked. This occurs from studying for extended periods or working extended hours. Symptoms of...

Some mental disorders, specifically mood and anxiety disorders, are more common than others. Mental conditions are identified using criteria based on symptom profiles listed in the Diagnostic and...

We all want to be energized happy and joyful but sometimes we do feel depressed. there are many reasons for it, and at times, no reason for it...it just...is. Fortunately you can help yourself...

Depression and generalized anxiety disorder are diagnosed when significant symptoms of each impact performance at school or work. These conditions can also cause problems in relationships with...

Feeling unhappy might be a direct result of your home life or your family. The pressures of your job might make you feel unhappy. An extreme and more prolonged state of unhappiness, however, could...

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and manic depression are sometimes confused with each other, especially in children and adolescents. The differences in the diagnostic profiles...

Childhood is often seen as an exciting and adventurous time of life. New experiences, ideas and possibilities abound as children learn about the world around them. A child's sense of self is also...

Dementia is a category of symptoms that can be caused by various problems and diseases that affect the function of the brain. In general, dementia describes symptoms that impair the intellect,...

Many people who suffer from depression eat more and end up gaining weight. Once they have begun treatment and are starting to feel better, they may try to lose weight and find that they are still...

When mood swings reach a level where treatment is required, you have the choice to take over the counter medications or to see a physician and get a prescription. The type of medication used in...

Celebrity dj Adam Goldstein was found dead in his apartment in New York City from an apparent overdose of drugs. The average person will think this is yet another celebrity dying of an apparent...

Bipolar Disorder or Manic Depression is a condition that causes severe shifts in a person's mood, energy and behavior. The individual can experience highs in a mania phase and sink to the lowest...

Anxiety and depression affect millions of American families every day. There are many things you can do to reduce symptoms in addition to therapy and medication. Although they are different mood...

There is a fine line that separates depression and anxiety because they tend to go hand-in-hand. They share many similarities and some psychologists even believe they are the same disorder, but...

As common as the common cold, depression plagues many of us from time to time. This disease can vary in severity. People who feel that their depression won't disappear or who have suicidal...

Depressive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults are separate conditions that respond well to treatment. Depressive disorders are considered mood disorders, whereas ADHD...

"The five stages of grief" is a term coined by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book "On Death and Dying." In her years as a psychiatrist, she discovered the stages people generally go through as...

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain. This chemical helps to relay signals from one area of the brain to another. Ninety percent of serotonin is found in the digestive tract and in blood...

There are specific signs and symptoms to look for if concerned about someone having a mental breakdown. People may have their own awareness of symptoms or signs that can be observed by friends and...

There are specific signs and symptoms to look for if concerned about mental illness. People may have their own awareness of symptoms, or signs can be observed by friends and family members. If...

When an individual suffers from a mood disorder, her ability to function and lead a productive and full life may suffer. Some emotional shifts are normal, especially as a reaction to current...

The suicide rate is rising not only with adults, but with school-age children as well. Even still, it is 100 percent preventable. Knowing the warning signs and the causes allows you to identify a...

Major Depressive Disorder is one of the four major mental illnesses. The other three are bipolar disorder (feelings of both depression and mania), schizophrenia, and schizoaffective (a combination...

Statistics compiled by the American Academy of Family Physicians show the overall suicide rate as 11.2 per 100,000 people, making it the ninth-leading cause of death. The causes listed for this...

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is triggered by changes in season. SAD is typically found in people over the age of 20, and is more common in women than men....

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that most often hits during the winter when the daylight hours are few. SAD, as it is called, can at times be hard to differentiate from other...

Beating depression is possible by getting an evaluation for medication, by relying on friends and support groups and by combating negative thoughts with positive ones. Fight depression, keeping a...

Living with depression is taxing both on the emotions and on the body, but getting a doctor's evaluation for medication or simply finding joy in everyday aspects of life can help on a day-to-day...

Unipolar depression is characterized by signs of depression, including restlessness, anger and irritability. Look for signs of despair and sadness over a period of time with advice from a mental...