“The famous line from Jaws, ‘Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water,’ could easily apply to us and the pandemic,” says psychologist Sheila Forman, PhD. “Just when you thought it was safe to celebrate the holidays with loved ones, a new variant shows up that disrupts everything.” Some people can take this news in their stride and accept another less than jolly Christmas, while others find their anxiety kicking backup into high gear....

With that in mind, many of the supplements and home remedies you’ll see online don’t have much scientific evidence to back them up. To help you navigate the vast and confusing world of ADHD treatment alternatives, here’s an overview of the non-prescription options with the most substantial evidence backing their efficacy. Caffeine Caffeine is perhaps one of the most thoroughly studied and one of the most widely used forms of self-medication among people with ADHD....

Neurons carry messages throughout the body, including sensory information from external stimuli and signals from the brain to different muscle groups in the body. In order to understand exactly how a neuron works, it is important to look at each individual part of the neuron. The unique structures of the neuron allow it to receive and transmit signals to other neurons as well as other types of cells. Characteristics Have many dendrites, or only one dendritAre short and highly branchedTransmit information to the cell body...

What Is a Perceptual Set? When it comes to our perceptions of the world around us, you might assume that what you see is what you get. However, in truth, research shows that the way you see the world is heavily influenced (and biased) by your own past experiences, expectations, motivations, beliefs, emotions, and even your culture. For example, think about the last time you started a new class. Did you have any expectations at the outset that might have influenced your experience in the class?...

Changes in Personality Disorder NOS in DSM-5 In the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), personality disorder not otherwise specified has been replaced by personality disorder—trait specified (PD-TS). This diagnosis is given when you have the characteristics of a personality disorder, but you don’t fully meet the criteria for any specific one. You may even have a variety of symptoms of several different personality disorders....

Treatment usually includes a combination of psychotherapy, case management, and medication. Typically, antipsychotic medications are the medications of choice, sometimes combined with mood stabilizers or antidepressants. Psychotherapy Often, many psychosocial (the combination of psychological factors and their intersection with social factors) methods are used when treating psychosis since it can be very overwhelming to both an individual going through it and their loved ones. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is most often used in the treatment of psychosis....

Quotes on Self-Efficacy “Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations.“From Self Efficacy in Changing Societies, 1995"If efficacy beliefs always reflected only what people can do routinely they would rarely fail but they would not set aspirations beyond their immediate reach nor mount the extra effort needed to surpass their ordinary performances.“From Encyclopedia of Human Behavior, 1994"Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure....

Selected Kurt Lewin Quotes “There is nothing so practical as a good theory.“ “If you want truly to understand something, try to change it.” — From “Problems of Theoretical Psychology” “Experience alone does not create knowledge.“ “The chief methodological approach would be that of developing actual group experiments of change, to be carried on in the laboratory or in the field.” — From The Practical Theorist: The Life and Work of Kurt Lewin “Social action, just like physical action, is steered by perception....

There are dozens of possible contributing factors, from the current focus on three sessions or less brief therapy to the tendency to treat with psychotropic medications rather than hospitalization. For many clients, however, mental health disorders tend to be cyclical. This may be particularly true for those with anxiety disorders, including phobias. Researchers are uncertain exactly what causes phobias. However, it is commonly believed that certain factors may increase the likelihood that a phobia will develop....

It’s not completely understood how the medication works, but scientists believe that it helps balance chemical messengers like dopamine and serotonin in your brain, which in turn helps to improve some symptoms of depression and schizophrenia. Uses Rexulti is approved by the FDA for the treatment of the following disorders: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Rexulti is prescribed as adjunct treatment for people with MDD who aren’t responding well to antidepressant medications....

Scopophobia is often, though not always, associated with other social phobias. Untreated, the fear may worsen over time. This article discusses the symptoms of scopophobia and how it is diagnosed. It also explores some treatments that can help people cope with this condition. Symptoms of Scopophobia A few common symptoms of scopophobia include: Avoiding eye contactAlways feel as if others are watching youFeeling threatened when people look at youHypervigilance...

These symptoms are among those commonly reported by people experiencing ongoing, negative effects after the virus has left their system. Other long-term effects of COVID-19 can include shortness of breath, joint pain, depression, and loss of smell and taste. While drawing attention to these occurrences can create further awareness, Paltrow uses it as an opportunity to promote unsubstantiated detoxes and cleanses, while plugging Goop-brand products under the guise of relieving discomfort....

Separation anxiety a healthy and normal part of your child’s development between the ages of 8 and 14 months. Separation anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is a diagnosis for children who fall outside the boundaries of this otherwise normal developmental stage. Symptoms The symptoms of separation anxiety as a developmental stage are considered normal until the age of 2 and always include elements that cause the parent to question leaving, including:...

A new report from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that the extent to which women are prototypical, or conventionally attractive and feminine, affects the likelihood of others believing their sexual harassment claim. Feminine Presenting Individuals Were More Likely to Be Believed Across 11 studies, 4,065 individuals were provided various scenarios of sexual harassment against a woman, and asked to complete tasks such as drawing or identifying how they pictured the woman to look....

Signs of Sleep Talking Sleep talking can range from mumbling a few words to carrying on full conversations. It usually happens during the transition from wakefulness to sleep (the hypnagogic state) or from sleep to wakefulness (the hypnopompic state). However, it can also occur during deep sleep. Sleep talking is considered a parasomnia, which is a type of sleep disorder that involves abnormal behaviors or experiences that happen during sleep:...

This article explores a few different social psychology topics and research questions you might want to study in greater depth. It covers how to start your search for a topic as well as specific ideas you might choose to explore. How to Find a Social Psychology Research Topic As you begin your search, think about the questions that you have. What topics interest you? Following your own interests and curiosities can often inspire great research questions....

However, in the sea of stress-inducing posts, there is also a completely different (and often under-appreciated) category of social content: pictures and videos of cute animals. Light-hearted, heart-warming, and even silly at times, such content is sometimes seen to be lacking substance or considered a time-waster—but there might be more to it. Research has found that it might actually be beneficial for us to take in more “fluffy” (literally and figuratively) social media content....