Eating Disorders, Mental Health Topics Anorexia nervosa: What is it? What are the symptoms? by Alexandra Cromer, LPC on Jun 6, 2023 Eating disorders are serious conditions that affect both one’s mental and physical health, and they can be extremely difficult to endure alone. Not to be confused with bulimia or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, anorexia nervosa, more commonly known as anorexia, causes a person to restrict their food intake with the…
Mental Health Topics, Psychology What is the bystander effect, and why does it occur? by Alexandra Cromer, LPC on Jun 5, 2023 There’s an old woman sitting on a bench, sobbing loudly into her hands. Surrounding her are countless people: a man sitting on the bench next to her, a few people standing at a nearby bus stop, and many walking right by. While some clearly notice the distressed woman, nobody asks…
Anxiety, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Illness anxiety disorder: What is hypochondria? by Theresa Lupcho, LPC on Jun 1, 2023 How many of us have felt suddenly unwell for a time, and out of concern, googled our symptoms? Later on, when we’re better, we might feel a little bit embarrassed that we were so concerned—maybe our mysterious symptoms were all in our heads. Experiencing this fear of illness or disease…
Disorders, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Topics Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD): How it differs from OCD, therapeutic treatment options, and more by Christine Ridley, LCSW on Jun 1, 2023 Individuals who suffer from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder seek to uphold a feeling of control through their meticulous attention to rules, details, procedures, instructions, schedules, or lists—to an extent where the behavior can interfere with everyday functioning, relationships, or quality of life. They are very careful in all of their actions…
ADHD, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Topics What is ADHD? A straightforward guide to symptoms, features, and treatment solutions by Alexandra Cromer, LPC on Jun 1, 2023 This guide is for parents who are struggling to understand their child’s ADHD symptoms or diagnosis of ADHD, and for the adults who grew up believing that something was wrong with them – because their brains didn’t work like other people’s. The ADHD mind has its own rules. When you know…
Mental Health Topics, Sleep Thriveworks research unveils trend: Anxiety, stress, and sadness reach their peak in online searches at 2 AM by Theresa Lupcho, LPC on Jun 1, 2023 The definitions for anxiety, stress, and sleep are quite different: Anxiety is a feeling of fear or apprehension, stress is a response to a perceived threat or challenge, and sleep is a natural state of rest that is essential for physical and mental health. However, these conditions might be more…
Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics Why does everyone hate me? Revealing unhelpful thought patterns and improving the way you feel by Laura Harris, LCMHC on May 31, 2023 Most people struggle with self-esteem and perception at some point in their lives. During these times, it can be difficult to believe that those around us really do care about us. Sometimes, it seems more logical that they actually don’t like us, or may even hate us. Other times, we…
Behavioral Issues, Mental Health Topics What are maladaptive behaviors? Examples, types, and treatment by Theresa Lupcho, LPC on May 31, 2023 Life can get stressful and overwhelming, and sometimes our methods of dealing with it are helpful in the short term but become more problematic over time. These unhelpful behaviors are referred to as “maladaptive behaviors” or, more specifically, actions or responses that are not suitable or effective in a given…
Disorders, Mental Health Topics, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? by Wistar Murray on May 31, 2023 Humans subscribe to patterns of behavior that are influenced by their thoughts, and their thoughts are influenced by their patterns of behavior. For instance, we might wash our hands (an action) because we want to cleanse them of germs (a desire). Or we might start thinking of ourselves negatively (a…
Mental Health Topics, Research Expert perspectives on ChatGPT therapy: Will AI become a larger part of the mental health field? by Ryan Culkin, LPC, Chief Counseling Officer on May 25, 2023 Artificial intelligence has become a focal point of conversation in many fields, each looking to discern whether technology like chatbots or digital assistants will—or should—play a larger role. Now this question is being posed in the field of mental health. Though having access to therapy services via ChatGPT and other…
Anxiety, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Generalized anxiety disorder: Symptoms and effective treatment options by Alexandra Cromer, LPC on May 22, 2023 Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) will affect nearly seven million adults in the U.S. each year. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder often have difficulties controlling even the most mundane of daily worries. They may worry more than is realistically necessary about actual events or expect the worst outcome when there seems…
Disorders, Mental Health Topics Antisocial personality disorder: Causes, risk factors, & treatment options by Kate Hanselman, PMHNP-BC on May 22, 2023 Antisocial personality disorder can be a problematic mental health condition, both in its presenting symptoms and in how it’s discussed. In regard to matters of right and wrong, those with antisocial personality disorder may often choose to serve their best interests first, and the manipulative and antagonistic behavior they display…