When dissociation continues when real danger no longer exists, however, it can prolong or even prevent recovery from abuse and neglect. There is also a connection between dissociation and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dissociation often occurs as a coping mechanism in PTSD. Changes in brain function due to trauma may further explain the connections between these causes and conditions. This article discusses the link between trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dissociative disorders....

Black Americans disproportionately face risk factors linked to mental illness, including poverty, homelessness, and violence, as well as significant challenges in their attempts to obtain adequate mental health care. According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Black Americans experience serious mental health issues 20% more often than white Americans. The NIMHD also reports that less than 50% of all Americans with a mental health disorder are actually able to get the treatment they need, and that the percentage of Black Americans who are able to obtain treatment is only half of that of whites....

William Glasser developed reality therapy in 1962, but he didn’t describe choice theory until 34 years later, in 1996. He described it as an update on an existing concept called control theory because he thought that name sounded more positive. Glasser believes that the solution to a happier existence is fairly simple: people making better choices will lead to better relationships and overall happiness. The choice theory dictates that people, at their core, are trying to satisfy five basic needs....

While other ethnic groups have higher overall numbers of deaths by suicide, the surge in rates is concerning for Black Americans. But many view suicide and the stigma surrounding it, as taboo topics. Not discussing the problem severely impacts the solution. “The stigma, I believe, is about shame. We don’t want to talk about it because shame says you’re bad, you’re not worthy of love,” states Anitra Rice, who lost two of her sons to suicide....

You might be angry and start sputtering. You may feel so overwhelmed that you are speechless. The words are there—you just can’t find them when you’re overcome by emotion. This can be particularly important in marriages and relationships where being able to communicate what you are feeling is critical. While you won’t want to consult a list in the heat of the moment, this list of words related to feelings can be helpful to return to occasionally or if you’re trying to write your thoughts down....

The condition can create repetitive thoughts that center on doubts or fears about the relationship. The person may experience uncertainty about whether their partner really loves them or whether the relationship will last. These thoughts can then lead to behaviors that are designed to gain reassurance. This pattern can create a great deal of stress for the person experiencing OCD symptoms, but it can also place a considerable amount of stress on the relationship itself....

Now, a new study published in Sport Sciences for Health reinforces this advice while also showing how increased sitting during COVID-19 lockdown adversely impacted mental health. Understanding the Research This study surveyed 284 participants in the U.K. with online questionnaires, which assessed physical activity, sitting time, and mental health, and demonstrated that domestic physical activity and gardening were helpful. Finding ways to stand up and move your body is key....

It states that people are motivated to grow and change by three innate (and universal) psychological needs. The concept of intrinsic motivation, or engaging in activities for the inherent reward of the behavior itself, plays an important role in this theory. Self-determination is an important concept in psychology since it plays a role in psychological health and well-being. Promoting self-determination is also an emerging best practice when working with certain populations, such as individuals with intellectual disabilities....

When facing a challenge, do you feel like you can rise up and accomplish your goal, or do you give up in defeat? Are you like the little train engine from the classic children’s book (“I think I can, I think I can!”), or do you doubt your own abilities to rise up and overcome the difficulties that life throws your way? If you tend to keep going in the face of obstacles, you probably have a high degree of self-efficacy....

Sexual repression is an age-long cycle in human beings. However, very little research has been made to better understand this behavior. This guide will take a look into sexual repression, causes of this behavior, as well as symptoms that can suggest a person is sexually repressed. It will also examine systems in society that worsen the chances of developing this trait, and possible methods to overcome sexual repression. Causes of Sexual Repression In society, sex has long been tainted as a taboo and immoral subject....

If you drink to excess, even occasionally, you have probably experienced sleep problems. “Three or more drinks will cause the average person to fall asleep sooner than usual,” says Shawn R. Currie of the University of Calgary. “However, falling asleep faster is the only real benefit of alcohol for sleep.” If you quit drinking and remain sober, you can have significant sleep problems long after you stop drinking. Most heavy drinkers who quit drinking find it difficult to sleep during the early days of sobriety; it is one of the most common alcohol withdrawal symptoms and one that causes many to relapse....

Emotional stressors that cause this condition could be grief, fear, or surprise, while physical stressors that may lead to stress cardiomyopathy include asthma or pain from an accident. Stress cardiomyopathy is also known as “broken-heart syndrome” or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Although complications might occur, people with this condition are usually able to make a full recovery in a couple of weeks. It also causes no permanent damage to the heart, unlike other heart conditions....

The SUDs can be a subjective tool used by your therapist or healthcare provider to evaluate your progress and the success of your current treatment plan. In this way, it can be used regularly over the months of your treatment to gauge different areas of distress or disturbance that require additional work. SUDs Rating Process A common technique in cognitive therapy is using the SUDs tool to gauge your distress or emotional state....

Friday Fix: Episode 194 Many listeners and readers have reached out to me to ask how to know when they’re growing mentally stronger. It’s a good question because mental strength isn’t easily measured like physical strength. And it can look a little different in each person. One person’s hallmark of mental strength might involve taking a little more time off to relax. Another person’s evidence of bigger mental muscles might involve pushing themselves to do more even though they don’t feel like it....

Despite the fact that anxiety is very treatable, only about 40% of people who struggle with anxiety receive help. While anxiety is a normal human emotion felt by all people at some point or another, anxiety disorders can make certain aspects of life unmanageable, such as social situations or test-taking at school. It’s important for each person to find a daily routine and treatment approach that works for them. Self-help books that target anxiety management can be a very useful part of the treatment journey....

Altruistic acts can improve your quality of life in several ways and are absolutely worth the effort. Here are some ways that helping others helps you. Psychological Well-being Studies show that altruism is good for your emotional well-being and can measurably enhance your peace of mind. For example, one study found that dialysis patients, transplant patients, and family members who became support volunteers for other patients experienced increased personal growth and emotional well-being....

We take more than eight million breaths per year—why is it so hard to get a deep one? And just what is a deep breath? Learn more about why you should try deep breathing and how to do it. Types of Breath You take breaths every moment of the day, but you may not know that there are different types of breathing. In fact, there are four! Here are the four types of breathing:...