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Both self-esteem and depression are thought to work on a sort of continuum, or scale, ranging from high to low self-esteem, and no depressive symptoms to debilitating depressive symptoms. Overview Self-esteem is the way you view yourself—flaws, positive characteristics, and all. It’s developed by your experiences, thoughts, feelings, and relationships. If your child has low self-esteem, they will generally view themselves as highly flawed, think little of their own ideas and opinions, and worry that they are not good enough....

Meet Dr. William Miller William Miller, Ph.D, is a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Mexico. His primary area of interest is on the psychology of change and he’s conducted research on a variety of topics including addictive behaviors, self-regulation, and the intersection of spirituality and psychology. Dr. Miller and Stephen Rollnick are the co-founders of motivational interviewing. Motivational interviewing is a respectful style of communication that uses change language in the client’s own words....

What the Research Says Aerobic exercise can be used therapeutically to improve mild to moderate symptoms of depression, as well as reduce overall stress and anxiety levels. One study examining aerobic exercise and OCD symptoms asked participants to continue their usual treatment adding moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as running, to their treatment regimen for 12 weeks. What they found was that the severity and frequency of OCD symptoms were reduced immediately following the exercise....

For example, friends and family may not acknowledge that you have a real mental health disorder. Some loved ones may not realize how difficult it can be to deal with panic attacks. Others may have false assumptions about anxiety disorders in general. Considering the many misunderstandings and myths about panic disorder, it can be difficult for your family and friends to understand your condition. They may have many questions that are hard to answer....

Still, regardless of specific denomination or group, a 2020 survey revealed nearly half of LGBTQ+ adults in the United States consider themselves religious. While some mainline religions have taken an anti-LGBTQ+ stance, other faith communities operate in strong support of queer affirmation and inclusivity. LGBTQ+ people exist within each of these categories. A recent study set out to further explore the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals within faith communities and found a much broader range of both positive and negative narratives....

In an attempt to address this ongoing concern, a recent study published in JAMA Network found that family-centered prevention programs focused on protective caregiving have the capacity to help mitigate some of the harmful effects that systemic racism and discrimination can have on long-term mental health. The study included an analysis of two randomized clinical trials, including 502 participants between the ages of 14 and 16, that tested family-centered prevention programs, titled the Strong African American Families–Teen (SAAF–T) program and the Adults in the Making (AIM) program....

Why Choose Family Therapy? Our families and their individual dynamics have a profound and lifelong impact on us. They are like their whole own social system, and certainly, along with peers, the most important influence. Research continues to clearly show that family therapy is an effective treatment and that it has the power to quickly identify problem areas. Finding a Family Therapist Get specific therapist referrals from informed sources, including friends who’ve participated in family therapy, health care professionals, insurance companies, clergy, employee assistance programs and/or professional organizations....

A recent study from Trauma, Violence, & Abuse looked at the frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault using a sample of 2,106 survivors. One month out from a sexual assault, 75% of people met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. The number dropped to 54% after three months and to 41% after one year. Symptom recovery was quicker in the first three months and then slowed as time went on....

The theory of fluid vs. crystallized intelligence was first proposed by psychologist Raymond Cattell; he further developed it along with his student John Horn. The theory suggests that intelligence is composed of different abilities that interact and work together to produce overall individual intelligence. People often claim that their intelligence seems to decline as they age. However, research suggests that while fluid intelligence begins to decrease after adolescence, crystallized intelligence continues to increase throughout adulthood....

Overview The id operates based on the pleasure principle, which demands immediate gratification of needs. The id is one of the three major components of personality postulated by Freud: the id, ego, and superego. An understanding of Freud’s psychodynamic perspective is important in learning about the history of psychology. You may also often see references to the id, ego, and superego in popular culture and philosophy. When Does the Id Emerge?...

As a result of this misconception, without the experience of panic attacks, a person may think they are “just worrying too much.” Their struggles with constant worry may be minimized or dismissed and, in turn, not properly diagnosed or treated. Most of us experience worry and situations that can cause us to feel anxious, so what are professionals looking for to help determine if someone’s worry and anxiety are related to GAD?...

Glossophobia and Social Phobia Glossophobia is a subset of social phobia, the fear of social situations. Most people with glossophobia do not exhibit symptoms of other types of social phobia, such as fear of meeting new people or fear of performing tasks in front of others. In fact, many people with glossophobia are able to dance or sing on stage, provided they do not have to talk. Nonetheless, stage fright is a relatively common experience in those with glossophobia....

Meet Michael Baldwin and Deborah Korn, PsyD Michael Baldwin has worked in advertising for more than 35 years. He’s also a firm believer in EMDR treatment. After seeing several different therapists and trying different types of treatment, he says EMDR saved his life. Deborah Korn, PsyD is a psychologist, teacher, and researcher who has been on the faculty of the EMDR institute for more than 25 years. She also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research....

Having an aversion to blood is natural—in fact, horror movies often prey on our discomfort by showing large quantities of fake blood to inspire fear and unease in their audience. However, hemophobia causes much more than discomfort, and someone with this condition will experience highly distressing and disruptive symptoms at the sight of blood. This article explores the symptoms, diagnosis, and causes of hemophobia. It also covers the treatments and coping strategies that can be helpful....

Worries About Germs Are Common Worries about contamination by germs and/or catching infectious diseases are common in our society. You need to look no further than the presence of hand sanitizer dispensers in public spaces or the barrage of advertisements for antibacterial products to realize that our society is, to some extent, preoccupied with germs. That said, on a day-to-day basis, most people do not spend more than a few moments, if that, worrying about their hands being contaminated after touching the doorknob in an office building, pressing a button in an elevator or tying a loose shoelace after being in a public restroom....

Cognitive Theory Basics The assumption of cognitive theory is that thoughts are the primary determinants of emotions and behavior. Information processing is a common description of this mental process. Theorists compare the way the human mind functions to a computer. The trend of the last decades has been to merge cognitive theory and behaviorism into a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT). This allows therapists to use techniques from both schools of thought to help clients achieve their goals....

You may be wondering what exactly takes place at an AA meeting, how the meetings work, and how you are going to prove that you attended one since it’s an anonymous program. Court-Ordered Into Alcoholics Anonymous Most people find themselves court-mandated to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as a result of a drunk-driving conviction. In addition, AA may be ordered for other alcohol-related convictions, as well as certain domestic violence situations....

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. My family and I went on our annual summer vacation in August of 2014, this time in New Smyrna, FL. We’d never even heard of it, but when you find a deal, you don’t ask questions; you book it and start shopping for cute swimwear. We enjoyed our stay of canoodling between the beach and the pool at our condo, that is, until we encountered pesky insects called “no-see-um” bugs....