Mental Health and Addiction - Symptoms

Panic attacks can be terrifying. But if you know what s happening, it may be easier to cope.

For some, even positive life changes can bring on bouts of severe anxiety or depression. But there is good news.

There's a common belief that writers and artists are more likely to have mental health issues than the general population. We explore if there is any truth to this relationship.

It's easy to over-indulge on festive occasions, but if you do, you're likely to suffer the consequences the next day. Read on for the fact-based tips that will actually cure the dreaded hangover.

Think you may have ADD, depression, or another psychiatric disorder? Learn how this type of assessment differs from other psychological tests—and why it may give you the insight you need.

Make "keep calm and carry on" your new motto. Take our advice for worrywarts.

Talking to a friend or family member about her alcohol problem can be difficult. Here's help in saying the right thing.

While some people are at higher risk, nervous breakdowns can happen to anyone. Here's what to look for.

Find out why new moms are at increased risk and how to get help.

Here's what parents need to know about this easily accessible drug that teens are using to get high.

It's not just your internal organs that can be harmed by excess drinking; your skin, hair, and nails can suffer as well.

Nearly one in four women who receive a diagnosis of breast cancer will also develop this second condition. Learn more about the connection.

It's the fear of being out of cell phone contact, and two out of three adults have this phobia. Are you one of them?

With so many stigmas surrounding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it's especially important to separate fiction from fact.

Discovering new treatments for mental health diseases is a complicated endeavor with plenty of dead ends. Sometimes, however, an impractical finding opens the door to new possibilities.

Dysthymia is a depressive condition that isn t quite as severe as full-blown depression, but lasts longer and can affect your life in many of the same ways.

There are five main categories of intense, unrealistic fears about certain things and situations.

Depression is not a normal part of aging, but it is common. Be aware of these triggers.

Approach this sensitive situation with these steps.

Distinguish the signs of mental illness from other behaviors that may seem odd.

It's more than just a party trick. Hypnosis has been shown to deliver real mental health benefits for some.

It isn't an easy condition to diagnose. Here's how to discern if your drinking habits, or those of someone you love, are becoming problematic.

If someone you care about is struggling with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition, helping them find the support they need can be frustrating, complicated, and necessary.

Review these red flags to determine if you're dealing with sociopathic behavior.

By looking at patterns of mental illness in families with twins and those who have experienced trauma, researchers have uncovered new answers.

This medication can be a blessing and a curse. Here's how to tell if you, or a loved one, have crossed the line into addiction.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe, but with the right treatments, patients can manage the disease. Here's a look at bipolar disorder by the numbers.

Your condition is real. Here's what to say and do when people say your depression is "all in your head."

Do you recognize these telltale signs of the fear of being out of cell phone contact? Here's how to manage your obsession.

One startling example of the mind-body connection is the link between back pain and depression.

Commonly used to prevent coronary heart disease, statins may also lower the risk of major depression.

When it comes to mental health disorders such as anxiety, there are big differences between the genders.

It's a real and hidden danger among the older generation. Here are ways to combat isolation.

Typically diagnosed based on questions and answers, it's possible that the blood holds the truth about who is depressed.

This sleep disorder can do more than interrupt your rest.

How do doctors measure and diagnose conditions from anxiety to personality disorders, especially when there is more than one condition involved?

For millions of Americans, depression is more than just a bout with "the blues"; it's a serious psychiatric disorder. Here's a look at the disease by the numbers.

Not only is it emotionally painful, grief takes a toll on your physical health as well.

Strip away the stigma and misconceptions. Here are four common myths debunked.

What are common concerns about these highly-prescribed drugs?

Millions of Americans suffer from irrational or excessive fears. Learn about the five most common phobias.

It's not always easy to pinpoint ADHD in adults, but spotting the symptoms is the first step toward getting the right diagnosis and treatment.

When it comes to bipolar disorder, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Here, we debunk the biggest myths surrounding the disease.

It's common for seniors to experience sadness and grief, but when these feelings are persistent, they may be a sign of depression.

Are your feelings of discomfort just shyness, or a sign of a more serious health condition? Here's how to tell the difference.

Find out if you're sending the right signals.

Although depression is treatable, some patients, especially those with more severe cases, can suffer a relapse.

Millions of women and girls are affected by ADHD, but they're rarely diagnosed. Learn how to spot the symptoms.

Studies demonstrate that proper napping techniques can relax your mind and focus your thoughts. What's the right way to catch some z's?

Strange, wild, passionate, frightening. Your dreams may provide insight into who you really are.

Mind over matter: You've heard it so many times, it may seem meaningless. But new research shows how emotional therapy helps to make pain symptoms easier to bear.

Depression related lethargy is frustrating and can interfere in your daily activities. Here are simple steps you can take to lessen the impact.

Sadness is the most widely recognized symptom of depression. But it is possible to be clinically depressed without being sad. Could you or someone you know be suffering and not know it?

For many adults, there's nothing like a good, hot cup of coffee to get you going in the morning. Few people, however, know the profound effect caffeine has on their mood.

Depression is particularly prevalent and overlooked in older adults. Despite the high incidence among seniors, it's definitely not a normal part of aging.

Research shows that people in stable, supportive marriages are generally mentally and physically healthier than couples in relationships fraught with conflict.

Everyone copes with loss in his or her own way. If you've lost a child, you can find a multitude of organizations, books, blogs, and support groups to help you. Behind them all, you'll find parents who have also suffered the same loss.

During the Great Depression, suicide rates hit their highest level ever, increasing almost 23 percent over the four years of the depression. Since then, suicide rates have consistently risen during times of economic downturns.

Some mental health experts believe social networking can increase stress and anxiety, and they've have even coined names to describe this phenomenon, such as Social Media Anxiety, Social Networking Anxiety, and Facebook Depression.

Does summertime make you sad? While most people welcome the warm weather, long days, and opportunities for outdoor activities, a small percent of the population feels depressed instead.

One of the challenges in diagnosing mental health disorders is that symptoms of different diseases tend to overlap. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) are two related conditions that are easy to confuse.

Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medication in the country, so mental health experts are trying to understand if, when, and how patients should cease taking them. Here, a guide to the transition to life without depression medication.

Work in the United States has become a 24-hour phenomenon. Working irregular hours may also lead to a condition characterized by insomnia, excessive sleepiness during work, difficulties concentrating, headaches, and lack of energy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a new risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) to combat widespread prescription painkiller abuse. How will it impact patients who take prescription medications for chronic pain? Get the facts here.

You're a smart person. So why, when you're under the most stress, does it seem your brain shuts down and your intelligence disappears?

Just because your symptoms are gone, doesn't mean your depression is. In fact, many relapse as soon as six months after treatment. Read on for triggers and preventative measures.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and chronic mental health condition that disrupts a person's ability to regulate their emotions. Read on to get the comprehensive information you need to navigate the condition.

Mental health disorders such as depression permeate every aspect of your life, and may cause a multitude of other complications, some of which are even life threatening. Most, however, are easily avoided.

Do you tend to worry too much about everyday things, even when there's no real reason for worry? Do you have trouble relaxing, concentrating, or sleeping? Are you plagued with unexplained aches and pains? If you answered yes, you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

If you've struggled with giving up a bad habit, or trying to create a new one, don't be too hard on yourself; it's not a personal weakness or lack of self-control. Turns out, there's a whole science behind habit formation.

Appropriate treatment not only makes you feel better and improves the quality of your life, it helps prevent a relapse in the future. Read on for 7 tips to guarantee you're receiving the treatment you need.

You may not realize that something as mundane as a car accident could put you at major risk for this disorder.

In discussing substance dependence, most individuals focus on the use of only one substance at a time. On the other hand, some individuals do not have a drug of choice and will use any substance in order to achieve intoxication.

You ve probably heard of anorexia and bulimia, two widely recognized eating disorders. However, binge eating disorder is far more prevalent.

You know it as the club drug. However, ecstasy may also play a role in treating a prevalent anxiety disorder called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

You may be surprised to learn that some of your favorite athletes and celebrities have a condition called Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations.

You re probably familiar with some of the more common mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder. However schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder may be two of the least understood mental health problems.

Popularized by cable TV, hoarding has become a well-known occurrence. Here, forensic psychologist Debra Warner examines this phenomenon in part 2 of her weekly series.

Popularized by cable TV, hoarding has become a well-known occurrence. Here, forensic psychologist Debra Warner examines this phenomenon in part 1 of her weekly series.

Boredom may be shaving years off of your life, scientists have found.

Is your city getting you down? Find out if where you live made our list.

As its name implies, individuals with this mental health disorder alternate between obsessive thoughts and behaviors, and compulsive rituals to try to control the obsessions. This cycle is disruptive and causes stress and anxiety. In many cases, OCD interferes in an individual s ability to engage in work, school or other daily activities. Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from OCD.

Stuart Koman, Ph.D., answers a reader's question about approaching a friend about her erratic behavior.

Dementia and pseudo-dementia are two conditions whose symptoms closely resemble one another. The recommended treatments and probable outcomes for each condition, however, vary greatly.

Have you or a loved one survived a life-threatening disease? Are you currently struggling with depression, chronic pain, heart disease, or other health-related condition? Have you gone to extraordinary lengths to help someone in a health crisis? If so, we want to hear from you!

At least one in five men in developed countries are at risk of abusing or becoming dependent on alcohol during their lifetimes, said a study published earlier this year.

Many believe that panic attacks and mitral valve prolapse are linked. But is this the truth? Read on to get what the studies are really saying.

Once widely considered an inhumane practice, electric shock therapy finds increasing support as a treatment for depression.

You have the power to change your attitude for the better.

Using the Internet to diagnose your symptoms can be dangerous for your health.

Depression has been linked to a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

Here's what you need to know about this crucial topic.

A service of The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health reports that a study has been published suggesting that measuring the levels of hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy may predict whether a woman is likely to develop postpartum depression or not.

Is medication necessary, or is talking it out enough?

See how this disorder that affects 6 million Americans can be a burden to your heart.

From causes to treatments, learn more about this common problem.

Learn about the symptoms of alcoholism and what kinds of treatment are available for this disease.

Some studies suggest our favorite foods might be as habit-forming as controlled substances.

Skepticism and pessimism can wreak havoc on your health. Here, how to make some important attitude adjustments.

When it comes to decision-making, relationships, and even health, intuition may be one of the greatest tools to have.

As it turns out, heartbreak may be more than just a metaphor.

Bipolar disorder represents not a single disease, but a spectrum of disorders. Learn about the most common forms.

An addiction to your job could compromise your health. Find out whether you're a workaholic, and get on the road to recovery.

Nearly 7 percent of Americans suffer from depression, but the disease is often misunderstood. Here, we separate fact from fiction.

An ever-growing topic among psychologists, emotional intelligence can play a significant role in your job, your relationships, and your own self-worth.

For centuries, we have attempted to decode our dreams. Here, find out what experts say they could symbolize.

Nearly everyone has procrastinated, perhaps putting off a load of laundry, but for some, procrastination rules their lives. Here are five reasons people procrastinate.

An estimated 10 million Americans, or about 6 percent of the U.S. population, experience these feelings in their most extreme form--a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Schizophrenia affects millions of Americans, but the illness and its causes are often misunderstood. Here, we dispel the disease's most common myths.

Research points to a complex combination of known factors.

Spotting the signs and getting an accurate diagnosis are the first steps toward treatment.