Tradition 10: Alcoholics Anonymous (and Al-Anon) has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. As Al-Anon’s preamble to the twelve steps and traditions says, “Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization or institution. It does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause.” Likewise, Alcoholics Anonymous does not lend it’s name to outside organizations, such as professional treatment facilities....

This approach is often described as the “gold standard” in the treatment of autism. It is widely used and has been shown to be effective for improving specific skills and decreasing problem behaviors. It is also controversial because it has been seen as disrespectful and even dehumanizing at times. ABA therapy is rooted in the principles of behaviorism, particularly operant conditioning and the use of rewards and consequences to mold behavior....

These scheduled breaks from medication might be used to manage side effects or evaluate how someone does without it. However, the resulting ADHD symptoms can interfere with your child’s behavior, relationships with family members, and how they do socially. That makes drug holidays less popular than they used to be. Pros and Cons of ADHD Drug Holidays There are pros and cons to taking a drug holiday. If you’re thinking about a drug holiday, make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks, just as you likely did when you first started your child on Adderall....

As with other addictive substances, such as alcohol, marijuana addiction does not develop in the majority of people who use it regularly. This has led many to question whether it is actually an addictive drug. An understanding of the process of how marijuana addiction can develop in some people will help to clarify this confusion. Top 5 Things to Know About Marijuana Use How Marijuana Is Addictive Several factors affect how addictive a drug is, including the pharmacological mechanism of the drug, the purity of the actual drug ingested, the set and setting in which the drug is taken, and most importantly, individual characteristics of the person taking the drug....

It probably hurts to think about your sister not talking to you. After all, it sounds like you were kind enough to open your home to her. And her decision to stop talking to you somewhat implies your relationship is conditional—she’ll only talk to you if you give her a place to live. She is disregarding the fact that you don’t feel like that is in your best interest right now....

There is a debate on the proper pronunciation of the word Hygge, either “hue-guh” or “hoo-gah,” but what is so intriguing about this concept is that there are actual health benefits to living a Hygge-focused lifestyle. Benefits of Hygge There have been a variety of benefits tied to the practice of hygge. Feeling increased happiness could certainly be a perk of practicing Hygge, but there may be other emotional, physical and relationship benefits as well....

The Phobia of Books If you experience bibliophobia, you may have difficulty when forced or encouraged to read. You may fear the stories themselves. Or, even the simple act of reading, holding a book, or being in a library may cause anxious behavior associated with your phobia. If you have learning disabilities or difficulty with reading, then it is natural to be nervous, particularly when reading out loud. It is important to determine and treat the root cause of the phobia....

It is possible for someone to meet the diagnostic criteria for both ADHD and bipolar disorder, but sometimes it can be difficult to determine which diagnosis best fits someone’s presenting symptoms. What Is ADHD? To meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, an individual must exhibit six or more inattentive symptoms, six or more hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, or both. The inattentive symptoms of ADHD are: Making careless mistakesHaving difficulty maintaining focus in tasksHaving difficulty listening when spoken toFailing to follow through on instructionsHaving difficulty staying organizedAvoiding tasks that require a lot of mental effort and focusLosing thingsBecoming distracted easilyBeing forgetful...

“When a person feels comfortable or safe, that opens the door for being able to discuss, process, emote and verbalize difficult experiences. Safety is paramount, and sometimes that similitude gives that. I have had clients say, I wanted a therapist that looks like me,” explains Erin Jones, LCSW, Epiphany Concepts and Consulting. Finding the right therapist can be a delicate undertaking, as you research websites and bios to find the right person....

Genetics may indicate a risk for depression, but do not always determine whether a person will develop this all-too-common mental health disorder. There is no “number one cause” of depression, and even more complex is the relationship between genetics, depression, and other known contributing factors. If you were told you have a “depression gene,” you might worry you will become depressed. However, having a genetic predisposition to a condition does not always mean you will get it....

Understanding the Research For this study, researchers assessed parents for antenatal depression at 18 weeks gestation, and postnatal depression at 8 weeks after birth, with screening for depression among their offspring between 10 and 24 years old. Based on data from 5029 individuals in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, exposure to both maternal antenatal depression and postnatal depression placed offspring at the highest risk for depression, while exposure to paternal antenatal depression and postnatal depression placed offspring also increased the risk of depressive symptoms....

Cognitive therapists have identified a number of cognitive distortions that seem to be particularly prevalent among people with OCD. Identifying and challenging these distortions is a central component of psychological therapies for OCD. Over-Importance of Thoughts Through a process called thought-action fusion, people with OCD are often prone to equating their thoughts with actions. For example, if you have OCD you might believe that having the unwanted thought of harming a loved one is morally equivalent to actually harming them....

Being an adoptive parent can come with complicated feelings. According to a 2019 study, while there is awareness about the postpartum mental health issues biological parents face, the mental health issues of post-adoptive parents are underrecognized. While adoptive parents may experience many of the same emotions and stressors as biological parents, there are some emotional experiences and challenges that are unique to adoptive parents. This article explores some of the complicated emotions adoptive parents may experience after the adoption, as well as coping strategies that may be helpful....

Whether you’re taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) such as Prozac (fluoxetine) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) such as Cymbalta (duloxetine), you may notice your energy levels feel much lower than usual. Given that depression itself can make you feel exhausted, it can be frustrating to find that the medication you’re taking to treat it isn’t helping your fatigue. This articles discusses some ways you may be able to still take your antidepressant without constantly feeling like you need a nap....

In old romantic movies that we viewed, we might have seen the good girl attracted to the bad boy. Or we may have a friend, a shy, retiring sort, who is attracted to an outgoing and friendly person. It seems to make sense that they’d be a good match. For example, if a college student studies day and night in his room and is academically driven, we might set that person up with a more social student who goes out on weekends and gets less than stellar grades....

This study was conducted with 27 individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder to see how expectations based on information provided impacted outcomes when treated with a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). If the verbal information provided can have such an effect on the treatment outcomes with an SSRI then healthcare providers can improve how they navigate those discussions to maximize the benefits of pharmacotherapy. Understanding the Research In this randomized clinical trial, participants underwent Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging before and after 9 weeks of Escitalopram treatment, with the experimental manipulation being their verbal instructions of whether or not medication was anticipated to be effective....

This article explores some reasons why you may keep dreaming about your ex and some steps that can help you explore the meanings of these dreams. It’s Not Uncommon to Dream About an Ex It’s not uncommon to dream about people in your life, including ex partners, says Vijayeta Sinh, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships. For instance, Dr. Sinh says you might dream about people who are meaningful to you in some way, such as your partner, children, friends, or pets....

Widely misunderstood, dyslexia is often written off solely as a disability or falsely considered a sign of low intelligence. But new research suggests that dyslexia is an essential contributor to the successful evolution and survival of humans as a species. Researchers aim to change the way we perceive and approach dyslexia as a neurological disorder. What Is Dyslexia, Really? As psychotherapist and school psychologist Amy Rollo, PhD, points out, dyslexia is one of the most researched learning disabilities, but also one of the most misunderstood....

The Foundation of a Psychology Experiment Does the color of the paper or the color of the text really have an impact on how much a student learns or how well they perform on an exam? These questions form a great basis for a psychology experiment that you can perform yourself. If you are looking for a psychology experiment idea for a high school or college course, consider testing whether the color of paper and/or the color of the text impacts test results or memory....