Am I a Hypochondriac? Living with Illness Anxiety Disorder
If you have ever openly questioned your health status or worried aloud about a medical condition, it is possible that a family member or friend will have asked whether you have hypochondriasis. If you have recurring concerns about your health, you may also start to question whether you are a hypochondriac. While hypochondria is […]
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What Is Dependent Personality Disorder?
Living with dependent personality disorder can be a challenge and it’s understandable that many people find it difficult to manage. However, there are plenty of options for help, ways to cope and to live a happy, healthy life. Dependent Personality Disorder: What Does It Mean? Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is a mental health disorder that […]
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Misophonia
It is natural for people to sometimes be annoyed with sounds throughout their day. Nails on a chalkboard, loud chewing, incessant pen clicking, etc. However, those with misophonia suffer extreme physical and emotional reactions to sounds. Feelings of anger and anxiety can arise from hearing innocent, everyday sounds others might not even notice. Misophonia is […]
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Hypervigilance: A Guide to Understanding
There are many different times in our life when we are in a state of “high alert.” Think about some of those times. Perhaps it was the first night in a new home or maybe you recently experienced trauma from a car accident or another unsettling event. During that time, something as simple as a […]
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Muscle Dysmorphia: A Brief Guide
Most would assume that more women suffer with body image issues than men. With society and the media putting serious pressure on the female body, and many women undergoing cosmetic surgery, men are often forgotten about. The truth is that many men also suffer with their own body image issues. For example, most men are […]
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Anhedonia: What To Do When You’ve Lost Your Joy
What is Anhedonia In the simplest of terms, anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure while participating in pleasurable activities. It is a core symptom of a condition known as major depressive disorder (MDD). Many people view anhedonia as only a symptom of major depressive disorder, but don’t realize that it is also a symptom […]
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Cyclothymia: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments
Most people have heard of the condition referred to as bipolar disorder (also known as manic depressive disorder). Individuals with bipolar disorder experience extreme shifts in their mood and cycles of highs and lows. These highs and lows are clinically referred to as mania and depression. Interestingly enough, despite the majority of people being familiar […]
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Existential Depression: The Mental Illness of the Gifted & Talented
Let’s Define Existential Depression How often have you heard someone who is depressed say “I am depressed because of …” Often when we think about depression, it is in relation to what may have caused or triggered it. Existential depression is no different. However, the exact cause may be harder to identify. Any type of […]
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Enmeshment: How To Unmesh From Your Family
Enmeshment Definition What is enmeshment? Enmeshment is a term used to describe the blurring of personal boundaries in relationships. It usually begins between family members, but it often spreads into other relationships. It involves a lack of individual independence or autonomy. The relationships are too close for comfort. For instance, someone in an enmeshed relationship […]
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Aspergers in Adults: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
What is Aspergers Syndrome Asperger’s syndrome is a neurobiological, developmental disorder related to autism. People with Asperger’s syndrome tend to be higher functioning than other individuals on the autism spectrum. Aspergers in adults is typically seen as an individual with an above average intellectual ability paired with severely inadequate social skills and often an all-absorbing, […]
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