Have you seen a psychiatrist for a mental health disorder? Chances are, you walked out of their office with a prescription for antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, or some other medication. The pharmaceutical revolution has consumed psychiatry for the past 50 years, but unfortunately, outcomes have not improved along with the enthusiasm. The pharmaceutical revolution has consumed psychiatry for the past 50 years, but unfortunately, outcomes have not improved along with the enthusiasm. Click To Tweet One of the reasons why outcomes lag behind is that mental health professionals are working with ..read more

What’s one of the most misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and maligned mental health disorders? It’s borderline personality disorder (BPD). Although only 1-2% of the general population has been diagnosed with BPD, this complex and challenging mental health condition has the potential to substantially impact both individuals and society. For example, studies note that up to 10% of these individuals die by suicide each year, a rate 50 times higher than the general population. BPD is associated with a range of additional consequences, including cognitive, mental, economic, and public health impairments ..read more

Do you power through your day feeling like you’re putting out one fire after the next? Do you feel like you’re in “fight-or-flight” mode most of the time? Do you find it difficult to fully relax? Daily life is filled with many stressors and perceived threats triggering the “fight, flight, or freeze” stress response to the point that it dysregulates the HPA axis, and cortisol levels remain high. Click To Tweet If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may suffer from chronic stress and elevated levels of cortisol—and it’s likely affecting your mental health. You’re also not alone. Rece ..read more

When your memory begins to slip, it makes everything in your life more challenging. Your work, health, finances, relationships, and independence are all likely to suffer. If you’re like most people, you probably have certain beliefs about cognitive decline. However, many of those accepted views are wrong. And they could be hurting your memory. When it comes to your ability to remember, it’s important to know the facts. Here, we debunk 7 common memory myths and show you how to supercharge your brain and improve your memory. If you’re like most people, you probably have certain beliefs about mem ..read more

It’s easy to make light of phobias—until you or someone you love develops one. Imagine missing a vacation to Tahiti with your partner because of your debilitating fear of flying. Picture a teen who isolates at home and misses out on formative friendships because of their overwhelming social phobia. Imagine if someone you love failed to get a life-saving medical procedure because of their nervousness about medical treatments. People with phobias will make great efforts to avoid the very places, situations, or things that trigger their overwhelming feelings of fear and anxiety. Click To Tweet Un ..read more

When you think of divorce, you may envision screaming matches, resentment, and manipulative behavior. A divorce can be one of the most difficult events for a couple, or a family, to go through. Even divorces that start amicably can erupt in anguish as the process unfolds. However, separating from your spouse doesn’t have to turn into a nasty divorce. Couples can choose more positive and productive ways to work through this difficult event. Partners who are separating promote a much more peaceful experience simply by using some forethought, kindness, and awareness. Read on for 6 ways you can cr ..read more

Memory loss, getting lost in familiar places, forgetting how to complete routine tasks—these are all common signs of Alzheimer’s disease. New research, however, has found that in up to 15% of cases, the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s could be weird visual symptoms. Posterior cortical atrophy, also known as Benson’s syndrome, is an unusual group of visuospatial problems. It is a very strong predictor of Alzheimer’s, according to the study, which was published in a 2024 issue of the Lancet Neurology. Researchers suggest these visual problems could be a red flag that can help with early diagnosis ..read more

Although it’s not uncommon for two mental health diagnoses to intersect—mixed anxiety/depression, for example—the term “dual diagnosis” refers to a different kind of challenge. In these cases, a substance use disorder overlaps with a mental health condition. This is also referred to as a co-occurring disorder or co-morbidity. Dual diagnosis occurs more commonly than you might think. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 8 million of the 21 million people in the U.S. who have a substance use disorder also have a mental health disorder. Other studies have found that, among ..read more

Do you ever feel lonely or disconnected from others? You may feel like you’re the only one, but loneliness can affect anyone, and it can be devastating for your health. Alarming results from a 2024 study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Association show that loneliness is worse for your health than alcohol abuse, obesity, or even smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness can strike anyone at any age. In fact, a 2019 study in International Psychogeriatrics found that loneliness peaks at three periods in life: during the late 20s, mid-50s, and late 80s. Be aware that loneliness does not n ..read more

Ever since the pandemic began in 2020, research has been finding that infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is associated with harmful effects on cognitive function, memory, and mental health. New research in 2024 has found that the brain impacts from long COVID are so profound that they cause a significant drop in IQ. This alarming finding doesn’t bode well for the people who are among the more than 100 million cases of COVID-19 reported in the U.S. And it’s even worse for the nearly 25% of COVID-19 survivors who go on to develop long COVID, also known as post-COVID syndr ..read more