Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is also sold under the generic name sertraline. SSRIs prevent the reuptake of serotonin, allowing more serotonin to stay in the brain, which may improve your overall mood, sleep, and appetite, while also decreasing compulsive behaviors, symptoms of anxiety, and panic attacks. How Zoloft Works Zoloft belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As an SSRI, Zoloft blocks the reabsorption, or uptake, of serotonin in the brain, leaving more of the chemical available....

Joshua Coleman, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don’t Get Along suggests that because society is so focused on forgiveness, disliking or being estranged from your family can lead to feelings of guilt and shame. So what should you do if you hate your family? Coping with these difficult emotions may involve working on mending the broken relationships, or it may require setting and enforcing boundaries with people in your family....

This could stem from a combination of issues, such as the stigma surrounding mental illness as well as barriers that include lack of access to healthcare. Fortunately, there are some Black mental health influencers who are working on breaking down barriers to treatment. They’re spreading awareness, hope, and resources that can create positive change. If you’re looking to learn more about mental health issues that affect the Black community, check out these 10 influencers....

10 Facts About Social Psychology Here are 10 things that you should know about social psychology: These are just a few of the fascinating forces that influence our social worlds. Dive deeper into the world of social psychology to learn more about the myriad factors that influence our social behavior, perceptions, and interactions. 

Chronic disorganization can be debilitating to people with ADHD. Disorganization and forgetfulness are actually both included among the criteria for diagnosing ADHD. Impairments in these areas are often related to executive function deficits that make it harder to plan ahead, remember, prioritize, get started, self-monitor, and complete tasks. Kids with ADHD often need a lot of structure and support to help with organization, but they can develop good organizational habits early on with your assistance....

Here are nine strategies that can relax your mind, ease your anxiety, and help you regain control of your thoughts so that you can feel better. Understand the Connection Between Anxiety and Depression While not a specific strategy, understanding the connection between anxiety and depression can help you determine if what you’re dealing with is temporary or a sign of something more serious. According to Leela R. Magavi, MD, a psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry, anxiety and depression are intertwined and frequently exacerbate each other....

Sensory toys—which are gaining momentum both in and out of the mental health sphere—are an effective way to channel some of those behaviors. These toys can have calming or grounding effects by giving hands something to do and funneling wayward attention and fidgeting onto a physical, non-elaborate task. They can also help minimize feelings of boredom. Read on for nine types of toys that are good for ADHD. Using fidget spinners and other toys can be helpful in terms of harnessing focus and nervous energy....

Admittedly, it’s hard to find someone who is not nervous about step 5, and some people put it off as long as possible. However, this step is also one of the most fulfilling steps along the road to recovery because it allows us to let go of the past. What Step 5 Says In step 3 we surrendered to our higher power—our personal understanding of God—and step 4 had us take a detailed inventory of our behavior....

While long overdue, it is finally time to proudly prioritize mental health, bid farewell to any lingering stigma, and lean in to all the help online therapy has to offer—at a time when we need it most. Of those surveyed, 83% of people say they’re turning to their therapists to talk about the 2020 election, the coronavirus pandemic, racism, the economic recession, and more. The very foundation of online therapy has always been to provide people with a safe and accessible space to discuss concerns, conflicts, challenges, health conditions, everyday thoughts and needs, and more with a trained mental health professional....

This article discusses some of the signs and symptoms of addiction. It also explores some of the different types of addiction. Signs & Symptoms of Addiction There are a number of different signs and symptoms of addiction. Symptoms are experienced by the person with the addiction, whereas signs are observed by other people. You might see some of these signs and symptoms but not others in someone who is experiencing addiction....

ADHD is characterized by two types of symptoms: Symptoms of inattention: These symptoms can make it hard for the person to pay attention or stay organized.Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity: These symptoms can make it difficult for the person to sit still, causing them to move around constantly. They may have difficulty controlling their impulses and behaviors. There are three types of ADHD, which are distinguished based on the symptoms the person has:...

Alcohol use disorder replaced the designations that had previously been separately defined as “alcohol abuse” and “alcohol dependence.” Symptoms It is common for people to deny that they misuse alcohol. Furthermore, you may not recognize the signs of an alcohol use disorder in yourself or in someone else. The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition,” (DSM-5), published in 2013, has created a list of 11 symptoms that indicate an alcohol use disorder....

Genetic Factors When talking about biological causes, the first question is whether bipolar disorder can be inherited. This issue has been researched through multiple families, adoption, and twin studies. This is important for genetic theories because identical twins occur when one fertilized egg splits in two, meaning that they share the same genetic material. Fraternal twins, on the other hand, come from separate fertilized eggs, so their inherited genes can be different....

For many, astrophobia is strongly connected to a fear of aliens. Films such as “Alien” play into the fear that hostile intelligent life may exist outside of our own planet. Many of these films involve doomsday scenarios, in which life as we know it is threatened by an extraterrestrial attack. Symptoms If you have astrophobia, you aren’t just uneasy with the thought of space, stars, or alien life. You have a persistent fear and anxiety related to it which affects your life....

Use these tips to help you learn how to recognize thoughts that don’t serve you as you move through recovery from nicotine addiction and reprogram your mind with thoughts that do. 3 Quotes to Help You Quit The first quote is from Terry Martin. It’s a catchy little phrase, and very appropriate to quitting smoking. Or, it’s another meaningless expression that do-gooders like to chant. The choice is up to you....

If you live with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), meditation can also help to reduce worrying thoughts and bring about a feeling of balance, calm, and focus. For the 6.8 million Americans who live with chronic daily anxiety, meditation can offer a way to finally relax. What Is Meditation? Many methods of meditation have roots in Buddhist philosophy. When you think of meditation, it probably conjures up images of a room full of people sitting cross-legged and chanting the same word repeatedly....