SSRIs like Lexapro are generally effective and have fewer side effects than older antidepressants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). They also lack the addictive potential of Xanax (alprozolam) and other benzodiazepines. Uses of Lexapro Escitalopram, the generic form of Lexapro, is primarily used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Initially, it was used only to treat depression, but research has shown that it is effective for treating both mood disorders and anxiety disorders....

When study participants were asked to explore online exhibitions of either a Monet painting or a display of Japanese culinary traditions, they reported improved mental health and reduced negative moods with just a couple minutes of engagement. Researchers note that their results bode well for making the benefits of art more accessible to the public in terms of positive mental health impacts. Just 5 Minutes of Art Can Help Your Brain This study found that people who view art digitally, even for a mere 5 minutes, experience the same positive effects as viewing art in person, including a reduction in negative mood, loneliness, and anxiety....

Types of Narcissism Malignant narcissism is one of several different types of narcissism. The five main types are: Malignant narcissism is considered by many to be the most severe type. That’s why it helps to recognize when you have someone with this condition in your life and what to expect from interactions with them. This knowledge can also provide insight into how to deal with them in the healthiest way possible....

Personal Finance Problems BPD can cause all sorts of problems that can harm your finances, including: Impulsive behaviors like excessive spending: One of the diagnostic criteria for BPD is impulsive behavior that is potentially self-damaging. Many people with BPD spend money excessively, triggering emotional reactions and worsening symptoms. Alcohol and drug use may also result in cash flow issues: If you struggle with BPD, you may be tempted to self-medicate or soothe your symptoms with drugs or alcohol....

Antidepressants Interestingly, while the symptoms of anxiety and depression are not the same, antidepressants are usually effective in managing anxiety. There are different classes of antidepressants used to reduce anxiety in GAD. Over half of people who are diagnosed with GAD also have depression, and antidepressants work to relieve those symptoms as well. Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) TCAs used to treat panic disorder include Tofranil (imipramine), Pamelor (nortriptyline), Norpramin (desipramine), and Anafranil (clomipramine)....

Native Americans have used mescaline for thousands of years in religious ceremonies and the treatment of various physical ailments. Evidence indicates the use of these cacti in cultural practices dates back at least 5,000 years. Although the use of mescaline products is illegal in the United States, peyote is recognized as a sacrament in the Native American Church of North America. When peyote is used in religious ceremonies, it is exempt from its classification as a Schedule I controlled drug under the 1994 American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA)....

This article discusses the differences between an open AA meeting and a closed AA meeting (and similar 12-step groups). It also explores how to determine which type of meeting might be right for you. Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Closed 12-Step Meetings Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon Family Groups, and Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings are generally closed meetings unless otherwise stated. Closed meetings are limited to members and prospective members only....

Types of Theories of Emotion The major theories of emotion can be grouped into three main categories: Evolutionary Theory of Emotion Naturalist Charles Darwin proposed that emotions evolved because they were adaptive and allowed humans and animals to survive and reproduce. Feelings of love and affection lead people to seek mates and reproduce. Feelings of fear compel people to fight or flee the source of danger. Understanding the emotions of other people and animals also plays a crucial role in safety and survival....

It is important to note that paraphobia is not recognized as a distinct disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the tool that doctors and mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health conditions. Instead, it may be diagnosed as a specific phobia, which involves an excessive and distressing fear of something such as an object or situation. Symptoms of Paraphobia A phobia differs from normal fear by its symptoms....

This article dives into the basics of a menstrual cycle, the hormones that affect your appetite, and some tips to help manage your hunger pangs during your period. What Is the Menstrual Cycle? It starts on the first day of a female’s period (menstruation) and ends on the day before their next period. On average, a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days; however, a normal range is between 21 and 40 days....

The following research-backed goals can help you to develop as a person (whatever your age), find what can lead you to happiness, and become your best self from this point on. Understanding your core values early on also helps guide your decision-making process. If you know what you stand for and where you’re headed, you are less likely to waste your time and energy on nonsense. Action Plan There are several ways that you can take this concept and work it into your personal goals....

Consuming a product that contains opiates, such as poppy seed tea, can potentially cause addiction, withdrawal, and overdose. Here’s what you need to know if you or someone you love is brewing unwashed poppy seeds and poppy plants to get high. Opiates in Poppy Seed Tea Poppy seeds contain codeine and morphine, and they can also be used to make opium and heroin. But not all seeds are not created equal, and everyone processes and metabolizes them differently....

The Four Horsemen That Predict the End of a Marriage All relationships have some degree of these characteristics. However, if more than one is present or one is unyielding, there will be doubts about the viability of your marriage. Here are some ways that these characteristics can signal trouble. Criticism Some criticism is unavoidable in a relationship, but it becomes unhealthy when you do it in a way that implies something is inherently wrong with your partner....

Researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that two doses of psilocybin, found in psychedelic mushrooms, reduces heavy drinking by an average of 83% in people with the condition. Ninety-three men and women took part in the study and were given either two doses of the compound or a placebo, and researchers monitored their drinking over an eight-month period. Whereas those who took the psilocybin reduced their drinking by 83%, those who took the antihistamine placebo reduced their drinking by an average of 51%....

What Is a Phobia? A phobia is an overwhelming and unreasonable fear of an object or situation that poses little real danger but provokes anxiety and avoidance. Unlike the brief anxiety most people feel when they give a speech or take a test, a phobia is long-lasting, causes intense physical and psychological reactions, and can affect your ability to function normally at work or in social settings. Several types of phobias exist....

How Does Sensory Memory Work? During every moment of your existence, your senses are constantly taking in an enormous amount of information about what you see, feel, smell, hear, and taste. While this information is important, there is simply no way to remember each and every detail about what you experience at every moment. Instead, your sensory memory creates something of a quick “snapshot” of the world around you, allowing you to briefly focus your attention on relevant details....