Mental Health Topics

Money can be a major stressor—whether it’s budgeting or managing debt. Even with a strong economy, Forbes reports that around 71% of Americans (roughly 178 million) are struggling with their finances.  This type of stress can negatively impact a person’s life in a number of ways, be it in personal…

When it comes to addressing anxiety and depression, two widely prescribed medications often come into consideration: Lexapro (generic name: escitalopram) and Prozac (generic name: fluoxetine).  While both medications help increase the availability of serotonin in the brain, their individual characteristics and effects set them apart. In this comparison of Lexapro…

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the current diagnosis for what may also be called chronic alcoholism, alcohol addiction, alcohol abuse, dipsomania, and alcohol dependence. This comprehensive look at alcohol use disorder will provide an in-depth explanation of the disorder, its causes, diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and treatments. 

Antidepressants, and medications in general, work differently for different people. It’s common for there to be a bit of an experimentation phase when trying to find the right medication and dosage for you. A healthcare provider can help you determine if your antidepressant dose is too low or too high…

As hard as we might try, sometimes we aren’t very kind to ourselves. While being hard on ourselves may seem like no big deal, consistent negative thoughts often convince us that our mistakes and flaws are who we are, not what we’ve done. Though it’s a long process to quiet…

While life can be rich with meaning and joy, there are times when it becomes overwhelming and hard to manage. During these difficult moments, it’s important to set up supportive resources and habits. However, it can be difficult to know where to start—or even muster the energy to get out…

Most of us know how our stomachs can turn and cold sweat can break out when we start to get anxious. But when that uncomfortable tension builds, anxiety nausea—nausea caused by our physical reaction to feeling anxious—may develop. Learn the bodily effects of anxiety nausea, what immediate steps you can…

Mental disorders are health conditions that involve changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior—or some combination of the three. Mental disorders are connected with distress and/or impairment in functioning, whether that be socially, occupationally, or in some other dimension of life.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about…

If you’re wondering when to admit yourself to a mental hospital, chances are, you’re experiencing extreme amounts of stress, depression, or anger. These aren’t easy emotions to cope with, even under the best of circumstances. Determining the signs you need to go to a mental hospital can help you understand…

The image of a bipolar person with anger issues is something that has been perpetuated through the media for years; however, it is also very stigmatizing and not necessarily correct.  Though people with bipolar disorder struggle with emotional regulation and may have trouble managing feelings like anger or irritability at…

Why is it so hard to express your feelings? If you have ever found yourself unable to put your emotions into words, you’re not alone. Expressing feelings can seem daunting, whether it’s because of fear, discomfort with vulnerability, or not knowing how to articulate complex emotions. Many of us struggle…

Why is there a bipolar 2 and a bipolar 1? There’s no depression 2 or depression 1. There’s no anxiety 3.0. What makes bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) different? The quick answer is that people with bipolar 2 have enough variation in their symptoms from type 1 bipolar…