Mental Health

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, up to 10 million females and 1 million males are suffering from the eating disorders bulimia or anorexia. While it is not entirely clear what causes some people to develop these eating disorders,…
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According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 5 percent of the population will develop Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, at some point during their lifespan. There are many effective pharmaceutical treatments for GAD. Most anti-anxiety medications fall under the benzodiazepine…
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Mania most often occurs in Bipolar I Disorder, as its most elevated mood stage. Thus, mania is not diagnosed if the patient is affected by substances, or a medical condition. To be characterized as mania, the patient’s mood must be…
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Overview Nutrition is critical for health and well-being and is important at every stage of life. Foods provide energy, nutrients and other substances needed for health. Optimal nutritional status helps ensure a healthy pregnancy and a robust newborn. Poor nutrition…
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According to a survey by B. Sivertsen and associates (2009) published in the “Journal of Psychosomatic Research,” insomnia affects about 13 percent of the population. A survey by M. Lee and colleagues (2009) presented in the “Journal of Nutrition, Health…
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Overview Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) was pioneered in the 1990s by neurosurgeons Benabid, Pollak, and Gao, et al., as a means to provide relief from Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms related to degeneration of body movements and tremor activity. A startling…
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Easy exercises provide plenty of health benefits that can rid you of anxiety, whether something bothers you for the moment or you have concerns lasting for a longer period. By helping your body relax, you can gain confidence, focus on…
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Overview Pregnancy is both a joyous and difficult time. On one hand, a woman gets to prepare for the arrival of her baby and the wonderful new life that comes with the child. On the other hand, pregnancy is physically…
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1. Get Help Fast Recovering from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia is a life long process. The most important thing you can do to recover is visit a mental health professional that can help you to better…
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The South Carolina Department of Mental Health estimates 2 to 3 percent of women in the United States suffer with bulimia, characterized by episodes of extreme overeating followed by purging. Methods of purging include self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic abuse…
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Eating disorders are intense psychological illnesses with numerous physical implications. Though generally based on poor self-esteem, body-image or a perceived need to gain control, these disorders manifest themselves through severe calorie restriction, self-induced vomiting (a form of purging) and other…
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Depression, as common as it may be, is not a one-size-fits-all illness. It takes on a variety of forms and its symptoms vary per person. For this reason, every person’s plan of treatment will vary as well. The National Institute…
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1. Is She Acting Normal? Watch for signs that your teen is not eating well, or not eating at all. Does the food stay in the house longer than usual? Is there a change in her shopping habits, or in…
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Overview Depression is generally treated with medication, therapy or a combination of the two. There is growing evidence that exercise may also be an effective preventative and treatment for this disorder. Harvard Health Publications cites multiple studies proving physical activity…
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Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness in which a person can experience sudden mood changes. The National Institutes of Health warns that bipolar disorder can strike people at any age and can be dangerous if left unchecked. Diagnosing a…
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Ambien (zolpidem) is a prescription sleep aid indicated for short-term treatment of patients who suffer from insomnia, a sleeping disorder. If you are concerned about whether there are any side effects to taking the Ambien sleeping pill, speak with your…
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Overview Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which your body either does not make enough insulin or is unable to use it properly. When you eat, your body breaks down the food into glucose, or blood sugar. Glucose is…
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Overview Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of low mood, sadness and hopelessness. It causes a wide variety of symptoms, some of which may include fatigue, insomnia, and changes in appetite and sleeping patterns. There are many…
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1. Determine why the child’s tantrums are occurring It is important to remember that 23 to 83 percent of all 2-to-4-year-olds display occasional outbursts of anger associated with temper tantrums. Therefore, these aggressive flare-ups are a natural part of the…
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“USA Today” discussed the costs of wellness programs in businesses during the recession in 2009, and the Health Care Bill helped to propel discussion of the cost effectiveness of preventive health programs and habits that will help to reduce individuals’…
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Overview Sluggishness and low energy are often symptoms of lack of exercise and poor nutrition choices. When combined with a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition will often lead to weight gain, and the result is a decreased feeling of energy. Kick-starting…
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According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, bipolar disorder–also known as manic-depressive disorder–causes serious alterations in a person’s mood, thinking and behavior. Dramatic mood swings range from the euphoria and heightened energy of mania to the lows…
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There are many forms of depression, the most common being major depressive and dysthymic disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Regardless of the type of depression one suffers from, it is a serious illness requiring treatment…
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1. Don’t Be Embarrassed; You’re Not Alone Adult bedwetting, also called enuresis, is a situation that is becoming more and more common. It is nothing to be embarrassed about. As the matter of fact, it happens to millions of adults…
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Stressful situations result in anxious feelings. Family problems, work difficulties, grief, depression or health conditions may result in anxiety. Anxiety is a natural response in coping with stress, but anxiety can magnify troubles when a person focuses too much attention…
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Overview Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety. It’s normal to feel anxious when you drop your son off for his first day of kindergarten, when you lose your job or when you have to give a presentation in class. For some…
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Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are complex illnesses that involve poor body image and low self-esteem, obsession with weight loss and harmful dieting behaviors. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), schools, local communities and the media…
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Although stress and anxiety are a normal part of life, it is dysfunctional and counterproductive to allow stress and anxiety to affect functioning to the point where it has an effect on health and mental well-being. According to the Mayo…
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Ambien, also known as zolpidem, is a prescription sedative-hypnotic sleeping pill, designed to help treat insomnia. It is only intended to be used for a short period of time, and not recommended for long-term use. Ambien can be very effective…
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Tramadol (Ultram) is an opioid analgesic that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because it acts on the brain, tramadol can have bad side effects if it…
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