We often don’t make these change because of inertia, lack of focus, or other factors; changing one’s life is often easier dreamed than done. By creating a specific action plan and following it, your process will be far easier and less stressful and your chances of success will be far greater. If you find yourself getting off-track, simply refocus and try again. Here are simple and effective steps to take stock of your life and start on a new life plan....
Unlike holiday love stories and romantic comedies in which all is resolved after one or two conflicts, maintaining thriving relationships takes some effort. But it doesn’t have to be difficult. With the daily grind of responsibilities and frayed nerves, it’s understandable why dealing with partner issues falls to the bottom of your list. Just keeping up with all of life’s responsibilities—work, kids, family, friends, neighbors, your home—is taxing, and many of us are plain tired....
Every day, we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors, including postures, facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, our nonverbal communication reveals who we are and impacts how we relate to other people. 9 Types of Nonverbal Communication Scientific research on nonverbal communication and behavior began with the 1872 publication of Charles Darwin’s The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals....
A recent large-scale meta-analysis of Medicaid recipients published in JAMA found that while access to care has expanded in general, Black patients were receiving medication for OUD at a much lower rate than their White counterparts. This signals a pressing need for further evaluation of equitable treatment distribution along racial lines. Understanding the Research This Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN) study was based on over a million patients in 11 states and found medication use for the treatment of OUD increased from 47....
For many patients with eating disorders, binges and purges typically follow negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness, anger, or boredom. Exercising a delay means, upon noticing the surge in negative emotion, to try to stop, wait, and manage that emotion through another means. Delays work best when paired with an alternative: an activity that takes the place of bingeing or purging. These tools, which stem from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are also a component of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) commonly referred to as distress tolerance....
This theory is over 50 years old and originates from the work of American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg. As simple as the theory sounds, however, it’s not a simple concept in the least—which is why research on gender development has continued to this day. It’s also true that the theory of gender constancy was developed at a different time in history, and doesn’t reflect current social norms as far as what is acceptable or what children should be taught as they grow and learn....
The information below will give you a head start on learning about what is involved when you stop smoking. Don’t fear what is ahead. Stub out your last cigarette and get started. Things to Know After You Quit Your body begins to heal within minutes of your last cigarette. The human body is amazingly resilient, and within just 20 minutes of the last cigarette smoked, physical healing begins. The benefits continue to grow for years as well....
Anxiety at night can keep you from sleeping, while lack of sleep can increase your anxiety. Luckily, there are ways to manage your anxiety so you can rest, function the next day, and live a fulfilling life. Why Anxiety Increases at Night There’s no one easy explanation as to why anxiety increases at night for some people. Instead, it can be the result of a variety of factors. One explanation is that when the lights go out and all is quiet, there is less distraction and more opportunity for worry and rumination about your career, finances, or relationships....
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 19.1% of adults in the United States have some type of anxiety disorder. Women are also more likely to be affected by anxiety, which is why experts now recommend that women and girls over the age of 13 should be screened for anxiety disorders as part of routine medical care. Types of Anxiety Disorders There are several types of anxiety disorders....
ARFID vs. Picky Eating It may be helpful to understand the characteristics of picky eating typically seen in children at different stages of development and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Picky Eating Picky eaters are people who avoid many foods because they dislike their taste, smell, texture, or appearance. Picky eating is common in childhood, with anywhere between 13% and 22% of children between three and eleven years of age considered picky eaters at any given time....
Even those who are not artistically inclined can still benefit from artistic creation. Studies that examine the effects of art on stress and mood don’t analyze the talent of the subjects or the quality of their creations—just the effects on how they feel afterward—and these effects are highly positive! So if you’re looking for a great way to relieve stress, you may want to try delving into an art activity anyway....
“This type of trauma usually relates to primary attachment figures like a parent, caregiver, or other important relationship from childhood. In adulthood, it tends to repeat among romantic partners,” says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University. This article explores the causes, symptoms, and impact of betrayal trauma, as well as some coping mechanisms that may be helpful. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts...
Some variations of the experiments involved placing the monkeys with surrogate mothers made of either wire or cloth to see which the young monkeys preferred. In other instances, the monkeys were raised in total isolation for as long as 24 months, leading to profound and lasting emotional disturbances. Contributions to Psychology Best known for his social isolation experiments with rhesus monkeys, Harlow’s research contributed a great deal to our understanding of the importance of caregiving, affection, and social relationships early in life....
Brain fog feels like a lack of mental clarity; it can affect your ability to focus and make it difficult for you to recall things, says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a professor and clinical psychologist in New York City. Causes of Brain Fog A number of factors and health conditions can cause brain fog, including: Lack of sleep Increased stress levels Depression Dementia Perimenopause Medication Hormonal conditions, such as thyroid disorders Chronic health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis Nutrient deficiencies, such as a vitamin B12 deficiency Viral infections, such as COVID-19, SARS, and H1N1...
Where Can Psychologists Prescribe Medications? Psychologists are able to prescribe medications anywhere in the military and the Indian Health Service if they are credentialed in Louisiana or New Mexico. Psychologists can prescribe in five states: Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho. Professional psychologists gained prescribing privileges in New Mexico in 2002 and in Louisiana in 2004. In 2014, Illinois became the third state to grant prescribing powers to psychologists who hold appropriate training....
Researchers assessed therapists’ judgments of the appropriateness of different clinical CBT strategies to treat depression in Black and white patients. They found that therapists thought cognitive change strategies were better suited for white patients while validation techniques were more aligned with the needs of Black patients. Given how extensively CBT approaches tend to be used, these findings should inform best therapy practices for working with Black clients. Understanding the Research Researchers recruited 218 North American therapists who found that validation strategies were deemed more crucial than cognitive change strategies for Black clients....
A study recently published in the European Journal of Pain found that people with chronic pain have significantly lower levels of certain chemical messengers in the medial prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that helps regulate emotions. The findings help provide a deeper understanding of the connection between chronic pain and mental health conditions. The Study Using neurological imaging technology, researchers from Australia and the U.S. compared the brain chemistry of 24 people with chronic pain with 24 other people who had no history of persistent pain....
Typical OCD Thoughts Each person with OCD will have a different experience with obsessions, but common thoughts or thought patterns include: Aggressive or disturbing ideas (e.g. thoughts of murdering a spouse or child) Concerns about unwittingly causing injury (e.g. hitting a pedestrian while driving) Constant worry about catching a deadly disease and/or contaminating others with your germs Disturbing sexual and/or religious imagery that might include sexual assault or inappropriate sexual acts Fears about contamination with environmental toxins (e....
In this article, learn more about why communication in relationships is so important. Also, explore some of the characteristics of good communication, learn to spot the signs of potential problems, and explore tips that can help you improve your communication skills. Benefits of Communication in Relationships According to Dr. John Gottman, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Gottman Institute, a couple’s communication pattern can often predict how successful a relationship will be....
CVS is one company is taking steps that may make mental health care more accessible. This year CVS introduced mental health counseling at a few locations nationwide. Currently, it’s available at select stores in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Florida, with counseling starting soon at a few stores in New Jersey. “CVS Health is adding licensed therapists primarily focused on treating mental health issues as a part of the MinuteClinic care team at select HealthHUB locations, establishing a new channel for real-time support and connection to appropriate mental health care,” says Ashley Karpinski, director of behavioral health strategy and innovation at CVS Health....
