Often people with obsessions will try to reduce or suppress their obsessions by acting out certain rituals, or specific ways of doing things.
mental health
When The Mirror Lies: Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder
By Scott M. Granet, LCSW Introduction Case Example Prevalence Indications of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Considerations for Treatment Conclusion Introduction Putting on make-up. Looking in the mirror. Brushing teeth. Combing hair. Billions of people worldwide...
Psychiatric Advance Directives: Empowering People With Serious Mental Illnesses
A Psychiatric Advance Directive or PAD is a tool that can help people experiencing a crisis have more control over their care .
Panic Attack and Agoraphobia
By Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW Panic Attack A panic attack is defined as the abrupt onset of an episode of intense fear or discomfort, which peaks in approximately 10 minutes, and includes at least four of the following symptoms: A feeling of imminent danger or...
Grief and Loss: What you need to know
Be patient. It can take months, even years to fully process your grief after losing a loved one.
The ABCs of Stress
By Bette J. Freedson, LCSW, LICSW What Makes Situations Stressful? Stress is a normal part of life. It can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry or anxious. And what is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another....
About Stress Management
Introduction What Is Stress? Impact of Stress on the Body Self-Help Strategies Keeping Diaries and Journals Introduction As you wait impatiently in the crowded supermarket check out line after work, your daughter calls on your cell phone, announcing that she...
Getting Treatment for Eating Disorders
If a person with anorexia is admitted to the hospital, there are two components to the insurance coverage. One is the mental health, or behavioral component. The other is the medical component.
Eating Disorders: Overview and Trends
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness—20 percent of affected individuals without treatment. The mortality rate drops to 2 to 3 percent with treatment. One percent of females between the ages of 10 and 20 have anorexia nervosa and 2 to...
Anxiety in America
Nearly 20 million Americans (1 in 9) are affected by anxiety, which is the most common mental health problem in the United States. Statistics show that: At some time in their lives, nearly one-quarter of the American population will have an anxiety disorder. Women are...
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Recent Articles
How to Prevent Burnout in an Always-On World
By Kristen Lee, EdD, LICSW High stress, heavy workload, a lack of control over job situations and lack of emotional support all contribute to burnout. In the U.S., we work longer hours, take fewer vacation days and retire later than employees in other industrialized...
Wealth and fame are no protection from suicide
The deaths by suicide of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and world-famous fashion designer Kate Spade in 2018 surprised many. How could people so successful and at the top of their careers die in such a way? "It's a myth that wealth and fame protects people from...
How to Help Your Child Develop Empathy
By Bette J. Freedson, LCSW, LICSW Wouldn’t it be simple if you could just say to your kids, “Now look you guys, be empathetic!” The blank looks you would get would be enough to let you know that a different starting point might be more effective. How you go about...