But according to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, people can take the experiences of stress and give them new purpose. “[Stress] is not always negative, and in fact, can fuel growth, innovation, and achievement,” Jeremy P. Jamieson, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and lead author on the study, tells Verywell. During his study, Jamieson and fellow researchers taught adolescents and young adults at a community college how to reappraise their stress....

The results of the study found that countless individuals consider following politics a significant source of stress, even after a change in administration. This suggests that the real issue might be that, regardless of who’s in power, we continue to witness a combination of governmental inaction and endless political drama. The Research The 32-question survey conducted in 2020 served as a follow-up to the 2017 study that covered the same topic....

In the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), OCD was moved to its own disorder class of “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.” Related conditions in the class include body-dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, and trichotillomania. Symptoms Symptoms of OCD usually appear gradually and can be long-lasting if not treated. People with OCD may experience symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. Such symptoms interfere with many areas of life including school, work, relationships, and normal daily functioning....

Let’s take a look at the various medications used to treat OCD, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, that have been found to be effective in scientific studies. Antidepressant OCD Medications The most commonly prescribed antidepressant medication used to treat OCD is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Though they’re traditionally used to treat depression, research has shown SSRIs to be the most effective medications for OCD, as well. Around 70% of people with OCD experience some benefit from medication, with a symptom reduction rate between 40% to 60%....

In the first of its kind in the United States, a new study examined the impact of stress on people’s periods. The findings reveal that, for many people who menstruate, feelings of stress coincided with irregular periods. Researchers set out to determine whether the two are linked. The Research For the study, researchers evaluated the online survey responses of 210 women and people who menstruate over a two-month span in the summer of 2020....

Below we’ve broken down what peer pressure is and how the uptick in our daily lives might impact our well-being. We’re also helping you navigate how to effectively respond to peer pressure, including ways to avoid doing it yourself. What Is Peer Pressure? At some level, we all want to feel like we belong. To feel that way, we often follow societal “rules,” lean toward political correctness (or away, depending on our circle), and do our best to get along without controversy....

Examples of personality can be found in how we describe other people’s traits. For instance, “She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist,” or “They are loyal and protective of their friends.” The word “personality” stems from the Latin word persona, which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers to play roles or disguise their identities. Explanations for personality can focus on a variety of influences, ranging from genetic effects to the role of the environment and experience in shaping an individual’s personality....

This article discusses some of the causes and symptoms of the fear of kissing. It also explores available treatments that may help and strategies that you can use to cope with your fear. Symptoms of Philemaphobia Symptoms of this phobia are similar to those of other types of other specific phobias. Your own experience may vary depending on the severity of your fear, but some common physical symptoms include:...

The exact causes of psychosis are not entirely clear, but factors such as genetics, environment, illness, and mental disorders can all play a potential role. This article explores some of the common causes that are associated with psychosis. Common Causes Some of the most common causes associated with psychosis include: Schizophrenia and other mental disordersPhysical illnessSubstance useTrauma Genetic Causes of Psychosis Some evidence suggests that genes can increase your risk of developing psychosis....

Frustration in the marriage is one common trigger; the cheater may make several attempts to solve problems to no avail. Maybe they had second thoughts about getting married or they were jealous over the attention given to a new baby and neither partner had the skill set to communicate these feelings. Perhaps the straying spouse has childhood baggage — neglect, abuse, or a parent who cheated — that interferes with their ability to maintain a committed relationship....

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that provide a pathway for transmitting signals released by nerve cells (neurons) across synapses (the spaces between cells) from one nerve cell to another. Why Is Reuptake Important in Treatment for BPD Depression? Depression in BPD and other mental health disorders are associated with low levels of certain brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. If you have BPD and are taking medication to treat depression (in other words, an antidepressant), you may be taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI....

Meet Dr. John Umhau John Umhau is a physician and addiction medicine specialist. His telemedicine practice focuses on the treatment of alcohol use disorder through diet, medication, and The Sinclair Method. He spent more than 20 years as a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He’s authored more than 50 scientific publications. Some of his research has focused on measuring the brain update of the essential omega-3 fatty acid DHA as well as the link between vitamin D deficiency and suicide....

What Is Serum Blood Level? Blood serum is the liquid part of the blood that contains no clotting factors or blood cells. When doctors check for serum blood levels, they are usually checking for lithium levels in the bloodstream to be sure that the right dosage is being administered. If other medications are being taken, blood serum levels could be monitored regularly to ensure that lithium is not interfering with the medication....

In other words, are you the social media rep for a large corporation deciding how to address consumer complaints on Facebook, or are you a stay-at-home mom wondering how to deal with that envious friend who keeps cutting you down on Instagram? The stakes will be very different depending on your situation as well as who is leaving negative comments on your social media profile. In general, this means that each comment needs to be considered on a comment-by-comment basis....

This article explains what trauma is, what childhood abuse may look like, and how childhood trauma impacts adulthood. What Is Childhood Trauma? Trauma in childhood not only constitutes physical, emotional, or sexual abuse but exposure to traumatic events as well. These traumatic events could be when children witness natural disasters, or even when they witness violence within their communities. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database....

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), AAPI refers to “approximately 50 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages, with connections to Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian, and other Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries.” While some may feel well represented by the AAPI umbrella term, that may not be the case for all members of South Asian communities. Navigating a South Asian Identity Licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder and director of the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness, Suraji Wagage, PhD, JD, asks, “When you hear the term “Asian American,” who do you picture?...

While popular perceptions often presume that sports psychology is only concerned with professional athletics, this specialty area includes a broad range of scientific, clinical and applied topics involving sports and exercise. Sports psychologists may also choose to specialize in a particular area. Some examples of major specialties within this field include: Applied sports psychology focuses on teaching skills to enhance athletic performance such as goal setting and imagery. Clinical sports psychology involves combining mental training strategies from sports psychology with psychotherapy to help clients who are experiencing mental health problems including eating disorders and depression....

There many types of reuptake inhibitors, including: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (SNDRIs) While the drugs all have similar mechanisms of action, they differ in which neurotransmitters they target. To understand how reuptake inhibitors work, you need to get a better sense of what neurotransmitters actually do. Neurotransmitters and Mood A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries, boosts, and balances signals between nerve cells (neurons) and target cells throughout the body....

To get some help, Verywell Mind spoke with Dr. Mike Dow, PsyD, PhD, a psychotherapist with extensive experience in helping people who have experienced emotional abuse in relationships. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that all narcissists exhibit a very easy-to-spot grandiosity,” explains Dow. “While many do, there are also those who can appear shy or quiet on the outside, but secretly harbor grandiose plans, negative views of others, and a fragile ego on the inside....

Behave impulsively rather than thinking things throughBlurt out thoughts without tempering themGet distracted by their partner’s conversationsHave difficulty controlling their negative emotionsForget important eventsNeglect to follow through with promises When these issues arise—and are not addressed constructively—it can be easy for a spouse to feel like their ADHD partner is deliberately causing them harm and pain. How ADHD Behaviors Affect Marriage As a result of their ADHD partner’s behaviors, spouses may feel like they are being forced into a parenting role in their marriage....