It is a long-term condition in which moods cycle between hypomania and depression—but the moods are not incapacitating or suicidal. Hypomania is a “high” that can be mild to fairly severe, but it does not include delusions, hallucinations or other psychotic features. Cyclothymia is milder than bipolar I or bipolar II in that the depressive and hypomanic episodes are not as intense as those found in the other two disorders....

You might also have concerns about the future of your relationship. How will your partner’s anxiety affect your day-to-day life together? What can you do for them if they begin to experience an anxiety spiral or a panic attack? Will you be able to cope with it all? Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of dating someone with anxiety—what to know about anxiety disorders, how anxiety affects intimate relationships, and how you can be a supportive partner to someone with anxiety....

This article discusses the effects of cognitive distortions and why they happen. It also covers some of the most common types of cognitive distortions and what you can do if you recognize this kind of thinking in yourself. Cognitive Distortions and Mental Health Conditions such as depression and anxiety can sometimes lead to habitual negative thoughts, but in many cases, depression actually is the result of cognitive distortions. When bad things happen, we begin chastising ourselves with thoughts such as I’m no good, I’m a total failure or Nothing ever goes my way....

Fears and phobias grow stronger the more that we avoid them. In order to overcome them, it does seem natural that we would need to face them. However, coming to terms with our fears head-on may feel unbearable, if not impossible, to do. Imaginal exposure (self-control desensitization) is a technique that allows a person to gradually confront panic triggers by tackling them first in their imagination. What Is Imaginal Desensitization?...

While the drive-reduction theory of motivation was once a dominant force in psychology, it is largely ignored today. Despite this, it’s worthwhile for students to learn more about Hull’s ideas in order to understand the effect his work had on psychology and to see how other theorists responded by proposing their own theories. Overview Hull was one of the first theorists to attempt to create a grand theory designed to explain all behavior....

Coping Skills to Increase Emotional Awareness You can use a number of coping skills to monitor your emotions and increase your emotional awareness, including: Expressive writing Seeking out social support Self-soothing Deep breathing You’re probably using one or more of these. But not every coping skill is effective in every situation. So how do you know if the skills you’re using are actually working in situations where you need to get strong emotions under control?...

But if that relationship is strained and/or you’re heading for divorce or separation, those simple actions could be deliberately misrepresented in court in a way that could result in your being removed from your home. You might be temporarily—or even permanently—prevented from seeing or spending time with your children. Domestic Violence Allegations Allegations of domestic violence or abuse that arise as part of divorce and separation proceedings are all too common....

If you’re feeling this way, don’t worry, everyone feels lost from time to time. “It’s a natural emotional process that signals a need for change or an opportunity for growth,” says Angeleena Francis, LMHC, executive director for AMFM Healthcare. This article discusses some of the reasons why you may feel lost, how it can feel, and how to cope if you’re feeling this way. Reasons Why You May Feel Lost These are some reasons why you may feel lost:...

Do you feel like you have so much going on that you’re struggling to cope with it all? Or, are you going through something stressful that’s making it difficult for you to function? These are some of the signs of being overwhelmed. Everyone feels overwhelmed from time to time and it is a completely normal response to everyday stressors, says Dr. Romanoff. Stress can sometimes be helpful, because it fires up your system and helps you be more productive....

Uses Fetzima has been FDA-approved for the treatment of MDD in adults. It is not approved for use in children. Before Taking Prior to prescribing Fetzima, your doctor will likely take into consideration the following factors: The symptoms of MDD that you struggle with mostIf you have thoughts of suicide or self-harmWhat’s worked for you in the past (unless this is your first major depressive episode)What’s worked for other family members with MDD (genetics can play a role in how you respond to an antidepressant)Other medications you are currently takingOther types of non-medical treatment you’re receiving, such as talk therapyOther medical problems or co-occurring psychiatric conditions, including a history of bipolar disorderIf you are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnantCurrent drug or alcohol use...

First described in the 1920s, the fight or flight response is the first part of the involuntary general adaptation syndrome. In the fight or flight response, stimuli result in stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system then sends a message to the adrenal glands which result in the release of the stress hormones, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and cortisol, among others. These hormones, in turn, lead to the symptoms associated with the response....

While bipolar disorder is generally considered a mood disorder, symptoms can also include disorders of thought—particularly during manic episodes. People in a manic state may have difficulty filtering out meaningful versus non-meaningful input and may thus respond to their environment in surprising ways. When this happens, ordinary sensory input, such as the sound of traffic or blinking lights, may become severely distracting. As a result, people experiencing mania focus attention on nonessential information....

Each component adds its own unique contribution to personality and the three interact in ways that have a powerful influence on an individual. Each element of personality emerges at different points in life. Here’s a closer look at each of these key parts of the personality, how they work individually, and how they interact. The Id According to Freud, the id is the source of all psychic energy, making it the primary component of personality....

Professionals in the field, whether they’re disabled or not, agree that grieving function loss over time is a fluid and important experience that not all medical or therapeutic practitioners know how to support. The First Step is Acknowledgment Harrison Orpe, BA, MC, is a registered provisional psychologist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His graduate research, conducted at the City University of Seattle, looked at the qualitative mental health impact of spinal cord injuries and the lack of support available....

Learn more about the differences between histrionic personality disorder and BPD. If you have symptoms of either condition, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. Symptoms There is a marked overlap between the symptoms of HPD and BPD. For example, both share the features of rapidly shifting and reactive emotions, impulsive behavior, and strong expression of emotion. There is some argument about whether the two are genuinely distinct conditions....

The parallels between gambling addiction and drug addiction have been drawn by experts for decades, although whether or not behavioral addictions share similar characteristics to substance addictions has always been controversial. Symptoms To meet the criteria for gambling disorder, a person has to have at least four of the problems identified below, within a 12-month period, in conjunction with “persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior:” Needing to gamble with more money to get the same excitement from gambling as beforeFeels restless or irritable when trying to reduce or stop gamblingKeeps trying to reduce or stop gambling without successGambling is frequently on the person’s mind—both reliving past gambling experiences and planning future gambling eventsGambles when feeling depressed, guilty, or anxiousTries to win back gambling lossesLies to cover up how much they are gamblingLoses not only money, but also relationships, their job, or a significant career opportunity as a result of gamblingBecomes dependent on other people to give them money to deal with financial problems that have been caused by gambling...

If you are considering a career in psychology, it is important to be aware of all of the educational and training requirements it takes to become a licensed psychologist. Take the time to research all of your options and carefully examine your goals before you decide if this is the right career for you. Educational Requirements At a minimum, you will want to earn your undergraduate degree in psychology or in a related field such as sociology, education, anthropology, or social work....