The skin cancer awareness campaigns of the past several decades have been so successful that many people don’t realize all of the good things time in the sun can do for the mind and body—or the dangers of not getting enough sunlight. Vitamin D is essential for bone, heart, lung, dental, immune, nerve, and muscular health, as well as for optimal mental health. Deficiencies in vitamin D (and calcium) can cause serious conditions, such as the bone disease called rickets....

Memory failures are an almost daily occurrence. Forgetting is so common that you probably rely on numerous methods to help you remember important information, such as jotting down notes in a daily planner or scheduling important events on your phone’s calendar. As you are frantically searching for your missing car keys, it may seem that the information about where you left them is permanently gone from your memory. However, forgetting is generally not about actually losing or erasing this information from your long-term memory....

We all make judgments about the people, objects, and events in the world around us. We are also aware that other people make judgments about us. Think about the last time you went to a party. You probably spent quite a bit of time getting ready, selecting the clothes you would wear as well as other aspects of your physical appearance. Once you are at the party, you immediately become aware that other people are taking in your presence and making judgments about not only how you look, but how you present yourself, your personality, and even your preferences....

Problems can begin to occur, however, if you find that you’re putting off these tasks, again and again, never getting to them “later.” This appears to happen quite often in people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for a variety of reasons. This article discusses why people with ADHD tend to procrastinate and the impact it can have on their lives. It also covers some of the different ADHD symptoms that contribute to procrastination....

Current research suggests that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an important dopamine component.Four decades of research have focused on the role of dopamine in schizophrenia, and it seems clear that excesses or deficiencies in dopamine can lead to symptoms of schizophrenia. What Is the Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia? The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia was one of the first neurobiological theories for this disease. The evidence for this theory comes from many sources, including post-mortem studies that have imbalances of dopamine as well as its metabolites in patients with schizophrenia....

However, research has shown that even infrequent drug use can have major, if not lifelong or life-threatening, consequences for young adults. Here’s what you need to know about the safety of prescription drugs and the risks of early-onset substance use. Teen Drug Use Experimenting with drugs and alcohol is common during adolescence. According to data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), substance use may start as early as age 12 or 13—if not earlier....

Spirituality can offer peace and emotional respite in many instances, but can also serve as a darker reminder of oppression and the remnants of settler colonialism. It’s important to consider both the positive and negative influences of religion when it comes to mental health because, in many cases, it’s tough to separate religion from culture. Still, it’s possible to cultivate mindfulness around religion especially when it comes to treatment plans and equitable care that doesn’t involve shame or suppressing one’s feelings due to religious doctrine....

Asian communication patterns stem from a variety of cultural structures and continue to influence generations even after immigration. Children of immigrants tend to adopt many of the same patterns as their ancestors, though with a more Western lens. But in moments of heightened emotions, a common type of reaction still comes forth strongly in Asian families: silence. Collectivistic Eastern culture believes that harmony in the household should be prioritized, which can lead to many non-verbal confrontations in lieu of verbal arguments....

Defining Personality While personality is something that we talk about all the time (“He has such a great personality!” or “Her personality is perfect for this job!”), you might be surprised to learn that psychologists do not necessarily agree on a single definition of what exactly constitutes personality. Researchers have found while some external factors can influence how certain traits are expressed, personality originates within the individual. While a few aspects of personality may change as we grow older, personality also tends to remain fairly consistent throughout life....

Formal thought disorder is also known as disorganized speech. It is marked by disruption to the structure or form of thought. It is one of the key symptoms of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. Because these symptoms can be observed, they can be used to help assess the severity of psychosis. Thinking requires the ability to think about a subject and organize those thoughts mentally and then express those thoughts in an understandable way....

Alcoholics Anonymous Tradition 5: Each group has but one primary purpose: to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Al-Anon Tradition 5: Each Al-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics. The Purpose of 12-Step Groups Individual members bring their own needs into the 12-step rooms and each progresses through the journey of recovery at their own pace....

Historically, AAPI communities have been assumed to be a thriving ‘model minority,’ viewed as more highly educated, financially prosperous, and successful compared to other communities of color in the United States. But this harmful and inaccurate stereotype shrouds a far more complex reality. For example, this stereotype ignores the various disparities and structural inequalities that affect different ethnic groups. Furthermore, the collective assumption of AAPI success can also create a kind of internal pressure for individuals to ignore their mental health or other needs in the pursuit of living up to that image....

For this study, 1200 participants were asked about their views on the COVID-19 vaccine over a period of 7 months, and while Black people reported less intention to get vaccinated than white people in December 2020, Black participants had surpassed white participants by March 2021. While hesitation is understandable following the abhorrent violations suffered during the Tuskegee study, Black people may also be facing the barriers of access to time off from work and transportation for vaccines....

Psychosis has long been treated with a class of drugs known as typical antipsychotics. These were first developed in the 1950s and, while effective, are known to cause Parkinson-like side effects. Today, a newer class of medication known as atypical antipsychotics are commonly used. These were introduced in the 1980s and boast a different side effect profile with far fewer of the Parkinson-like and other movement effects compared to the older agents....

Dopamine levels can have an impact on mood, memory, and behavior. Dopamine agonists are sometimes used to treat disorders linked to problems with dopamine, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This article will explain how dopamine agonists are used to treat psychotic conditions. This effect is best illustrated by Abilify (aripiprazole) and Rexulti (brexipiprazole). These second-generation antipsychotic/atypical neuroleptics are different from all the other atypical antipsychotics because of how they work....

Although not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, autistic burnout is a condition that has recently gotten the attention of providers, researchers, and the autistic community. Baden Gaeke Franze, 2017 president of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network of Winnipeg, has written, “On the most basic level, autistic burnout means being exhausted. Our brains and bodies get tired out, and we don’t have the energy to do the things that used to come easily to us....

Primal therapy was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Arthur Janov, a psychologist and psychoanalyst.In his book “The Primal Scream,” Janov outlined his theory of primal therapy. Janov’s theory is that psychological issues are caused by repressed emotions and feelings. He believes that these repressed emotions can cause a variety of psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, and rage. Janov’s theory further asserts that repressed pain from a person’s life can be converted into physical symptoms, such as ulcers, headaches, and asthma....

People who are high in self-monitoring are more likely to change their behavior in order to adapt or conform to the situation. Those who are low in self-monitoring tend to behave in accordance with their own internal needs and feelings. Signs The concept of self-monitoring was introduced by psychologist Mark Snyder during the 1970s. He also developed a self-report scale designed to determine how self-monitoring influenced a person’s behaviors in different situations....

The Serenity Prayer is one of the key spiritual tools used by virtually all 12-step recovery support groups. The following is the adaptation that’s generally used in these groups: God, grant me the serenityTo accept the things I cannot change;Courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference. This article discusses the history of the Serenity Prayer and how it is utilized as a part of a 12-step support group....