Excessive reassurance seeking is the need to check in with someone over and over again to make sure everything is OK with respect to a particular worry or obsession. While responding may seem supportive, it only serves to perpetuate OCD behaviors and thoughts. Excessive Reassurance Seeking Examples Excessive reassurance seeking is a compulsive act done in hopes of reducing the anxiety associated with an obsession. The compulsion often goes up when levels of distress are high and/or when the person feels unable to tolerate uncertainty....

Researchers have long believed that psilocybin could provide powerful benefits for many mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. But opportunities to potentially use psilocybin as a treatment dissolved when it was added to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of Schedule I illicit drugs in 1970. Now, Oregon’s new law is opening the door for the creation of a psilocybin-assisted therapy program, which could become a template for similar programs in other states if legality is expanded....

Psychologists, clinical social workers, counselors, and certain medical professionals can offer outpatient therapy. Interns and students working towards degrees or licensure in mental health may also offer outpatient therapy with supervision and oversight from a qualified, licensed professional. Types of Outpatient Therapy Outpatient therapy can take many forms, depending on the client’s needs. Individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and couple’s therapy can all be provided in an outpatient setting....

Pediophobia and Children Many parents want their children, especially little girls, to love dolls. They may become distressed if their child screams or cries when a doll is presented. It is important to keep in mind, though, that small children are just learning to separate fantasy from reality. A doll, which appears to be human but is not, can be terrifying to a child who does not yet understand the concept....

According to current research, 98% of positive cases have been in gay or bisexual men, and transmission has largely been thought to occur during sexual activity. These facts have lead to the spread of misinformation that monkeypox is a sexually transmitted infection, and that its transmission is strictly limited to the LGBTQIA+ community. Both of these claims are inaccurate, and their spread could endanger not only LGBTQIA+ folks, but the population at large....

James’s own assessment of his ability was far less glowing. At one point he wrote, “I have no facility for writing, as some people have.” The following quotations offer insight into William James’s beliefs, theories, and philosophy. On Thinking “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” “Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing....

In research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, a team of Swiss and Italian researchers found that proteins produced by certain intestinal bacteria could modify the interaction between the immune and nervous systems. That modification may lead to development of amyloid plaques in the brain, previously found to raise risk significantly for Alzheimer’s. Strong Connection To reach their conclusions, researchers looked at 89 people between 65 and 85 years old, with some of the participants diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but others with no memory issues at all....

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. This article covers the steps in preparing a clear and comprehensive safety plan. This is not something that can be done when you are already in the midst of a mental health emergency but should be done ahead of time so you are ready. Talk to Your Therapist About a Safety Plan If you have BPD and have been going to therapy, talk to your therapist about developing a safety plan or emergency plan....

Learning to make small talk can help build the confidence you need to start conversations, make connections, and develop your social skills. Even if you are uncomfortable, avoiding small talk all together only serves to worsen anxiety in the long run. Rather than being scared of small talk, make a point of overcoming your fear of it. One good way to alleviate anxiety is to know what things to talk about and what to avoid....

It may involve religious traditions centering on the belief in a higher power. It can also involve a holistic belief in an individual connection to others and the world as a whole. Spirituality has been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. While people use many different paths to find God or a higher power, ​research has shown that those who are more religious or spiritual and use their spirituality to cope with challenges in life experience many benefits to their health and well-being....

Tips for Increasing Your Happiness Even When Life Is Stressful While you may not be able to control all of the factors that are causing stress in your life, there are a few things you can do to take the edge off of your stressors, so you feel less overwhelmed, and you can more easily shake off a bad day. Likewise, there are a few ways to increase happiness levels, even when life is stressful....

Meet Dr. Eger & Dr. Engle Edith Eger was a Jew living in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe when she and her family were sent to Auschwitz, a death camp. Dr. Eger and her sister survived, but their parents did not. Now, she’s written two books, “The Choice” and “The Gift,” where she chronicles her journey and the lessons she learned along the way. Dr. Eger’s first child, Marianne Engle, also became a psychologist....

Type A traits can also create obstacles to stress management. Some of the more effective stress management techniques can feel frustrating for someone who has a more intense personality. For example, the quiet stillness of meditation can be difficult and even frustrating to achieve for those who are impatient, competitive, and used to making every second count at work. However, certain techniques can work quite well for those with a Type A personality, and other techniques require just a few adjustments to work well for Type A stress relief....

In the previous edition of the manual, known as DSM-IV-TR, problems with these drugs were reflected in the diagnoses of stimulant abuse and stimulant dependence. Now the diagnoses have been combined, with either a mild, moderate or severe diagnosis of stimulant use disorder being given, depending on how many symptoms the person has. There is now no difference in diagnosis or severity simply because the person has the physical aspects of dependence, even though previously the physical symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal were considered to be central to substance-related problems....

“A person who wants to heal from betrayal and work on self-growth can often benefit from two (or three) well-crafted self-help books that work in tandem," Dr. Carla Marie Manly, clinical psychologist and relationship expert, tells Verywell Mind. “Infidelity can be life-shattering, so it’s truly important to do solid work from the inside-out to create deep healing.” Here are the best books about infidelity for every type of relationship. Michele Weiner-Davis, acclaimed relationship expert and therapist, guides couples in a step-by-step program to make amends and rebuild trust following an affair....