Mental Health and Addiction - Causes

How bottled up stress can damage your physical and mental health, with five strategies to cope.

For some, even positive life changes can bring on bouts of severe anxiety or depression. But there is good news.

Think you may have ADD, depression, or another psychiatric disorder? Learn how this type of assessment differs from other psychological tests—and why it may give you the insight you need.

One study has found that moderate consumption of wine may improve your mental health. But don't uncork that bottle of Chardonnay just yet!

Make "keep calm and carry on" your new motto. Take our advice for worrywarts.

While some people are at higher risk, nervous breakdowns can happen to anyone. Here's what to look for.

Find out why new moms are at increased risk and how to get help.

Learn how changing your diet to eliminate sweet treats can help improve your mental health.

It's not just your internal organs that can be harmed by excess drinking; your skin, hair, and nails can suffer as well.

Nearly one in four women who receive a diagnosis of breast cancer will also develop this second condition. Learn more about the connection.

That thrill you get from tough challenges or risky behavior could actually be the result of a clinical addiction.

It's the fear of being out of cell phone contact, and two out of three adults have this phobia. Are you one of them?

With so many stigmas surrounding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it's especially important to separate fiction from fact.

Discovering new treatments for mental health diseases is a complicated endeavor with plenty of dead ends. Sometimes, however, an impractical finding opens the door to new possibilities.

Dysthymia is a depressive condition that isn t quite as severe as full-blown depression, but lasts longer and can affect your life in many of the same ways.

There are five main categories of intense, unrealistic fears about certain things and situations.

New research reveals that how you handle such emotions can make a big difference in your well-being.

Combining education, medication, and psychotherapy shows promise.

Depression is not a normal part of aging, but it is common. Be aware of these triggers.

Some anxiety is healthy. But these signs mean it's time to get support.

Approach this sensitive situation with these steps.

Distinguish the signs of mental illness from other behaviors that may seem odd.

Review these red flags to determine if you're dealing with sociopathic behavior.

By looking at patterns of mental illness in families with twins and those who have experienced trauma, researchers have uncovered new answers.

This medication can be a blessing and a curse. Here's how to tell if you, or a loved one, have crossed the line into addiction.

Your condition is real. Here's what to say and do when people say your depression is "all in your head."

Do you recognize these telltale signs of the fear of being out of cell phone contact? Here's how to manage your obsession.

One startling example of the mind-body connection is the link between back pain and depression.

Commonly used to prevent coronary heart disease, statins may also lower the risk of major depression.

When it comes to mental health disorders such as anxiety, there are big differences between the genders.

It's a real and hidden danger among the older generation. Here are ways to combat isolation.

Typically diagnosed based on questions and answers, it's possible that the blood holds the truth about who is depressed.

This sleep disorder can do more than interrupt your rest.

Smoking is a significant risk factor for lung (and other) cancers and is responsible for almost 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths. However, we all know individuals who smoke for a long time and never develop cancer.

It's now a proven fact. Being in and around nature makes people feel good.

How do doctors measure and diagnose conditions from anxiety to personality disorders, especially when there is more than one condition involved?

Stress can stir up an emotional appetite that can lead to overeating. The best solution is to find something other than food to take the edge off.

Not only is it emotionally painful, grief takes a toll on your physical health as well.

Strip away the stigma and misconceptions. Here are four common myths debunked.

What are common concerns about these highly-prescribed drugs?

Get the real story on America's most prevalent mental illness from symptoms and diagnosis to treatment.

When it comes to bipolar disorder, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Here, we debunk the biggest myths surrounding the disease.

Follow these tips to help reduce the likelihood of a manic episode.

Get the top eight signs, and learn how to break the cycle.

Learn how to find the middle ground between being accommodating and being stepped on.

Many people successfully kick the habit, and you can too. Here, the top 10 benefits of smoke-free living.

Although depression is treatable, some patients, especially those with more severe cases, can suffer a relapse.

Not so black and white: study concludes bipolar disease is more of a spectrum disorder.

Painkillers are powerful medicines, but with them come the real risk of abuse. Understand the myths and determine how to use painkillers safely.

Persevering through trying times may have long-term benefits, new research suggests. What can you reap from life's difficulties?

Mind over matter: You've heard it so many times, it may seem meaningless. But new research shows how emotional therapy helps to make pain symptoms easier to bear.

Depression related lethargy is frustrating and can interfere in your daily activities. Here are simple steps you can take to lessen the impact.

Neuroeconomics, a relatively new branch of science, is slowly unraveling how specific gene variations influence how we make decisions. Read on to find out how your may be affected.

Violent video games have been blamed for school shootings, increases in bullying, and violence towards women. What do the experts have to say?

Sadness is the most widely recognized symptom of depression. But it is possible to be clinically depressed without being sad. Could you or someone you know be suffering and not know it?

For many adults, there's nothing like a good, hot cup of coffee to get you going in the morning. Few people, however, know the profound effect caffeine has on their mood.

Despite the prevalence of mental health disorders and society's increasing awareness of them, stigmas about mental illness persist. Follow these tips to get past the misnomers.

Research shows that people in stable, supportive marriages are generally mentally and physically healthier than couples in relationships fraught with conflict.

During the Great Depression, suicide rates hit their highest level ever, increasing almost 23 percent over the four years of the depression. Since then, suicide rates have consistently risen during times of economic downturns.

Some mental health experts believe social networking can increase stress and anxiety, and they've have even coined names to describe this phenomenon, such as Social Media Anxiety, Social Networking Anxiety, and Facebook Depression.

Does summertime make you sad? While most people welcome the warm weather, long days, and opportunities for outdoor activities, a small percent of the population feels depressed instead.

One of the challenges in diagnosing mental health disorders is that symptoms of different diseases tend to overlap. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) are two related conditions that are easy to confuse.

While talking to a trained mental health professional can be invaluable for many patients, nothing compares to talking to others who are going through the same experience. But can the Internet substitute quality interpersonal dialogue?

Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medication in the country, so mental health experts are trying to understand if, when, and how patients should cease taking them. Here, a guide to the transition to life without depression medication.

Work in the United States has become a 24-hour phenomenon. Working irregular hours may also lead to a condition characterized by insomnia, excessive sleepiness during work, difficulties concentrating, headaches, and lack of energy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a new risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) to combat widespread prescription painkiller abuse. How will it impact patients who take prescription medications for chronic pain? Get the facts here.

You're a smart person. So why, when you're under the most stress, does it seem your brain shuts down and your intelligence disappears?

The topic of hoarding might make good fodder for TV program ratings and mindless entertainment for viewers. But it's a real problem that affects real people. Is it possible that you're among the 15 million who suffer from it?

Being sensitive can be an admirable trait. However, if you're highly affected by other people's moods and actions, you could be too sensitive.

Just because your symptoms are gone, doesn't mean your depression is. In fact, many relapse as soon as six months after treatment. Read on for triggers and preventative measures.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and chronic mental health condition that disrupts a person's ability to regulate their emotions. Read on to get the comprehensive information you need to navigate the condition.

Mental health disorders such as depression permeate every aspect of your life, and may cause a multitude of other complications, some of which are even life threatening. Most, however, are easily avoided.

Do you tend to worry too much about everyday things, even when there's no real reason for worry? Do you have trouble relaxing, concentrating, or sleeping? Are you plagued with unexplained aches and pains? If you answered yes, you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

If you've struggled with giving up a bad habit, or trying to create a new one, don't be too hard on yourself; it's not a personal weakness or lack of self-control. Turns out, there's a whole science behind habit formation.

Looking at pornography doesn't have to be a problem, but you do need to worry if it becomes uncontrollable, abusive, or detrimental to your intimate relationship.

Appropriate treatment not only makes you feel better and improves the quality of your life, it helps prevent a relapse in the future. Read on for 7 tips to guarantee you're receiving the treatment you need.

Has your unconscious come to surface and forced you into a sticky, embarrassing situation? If so, worry not. There are ways to bounce back.

Personality is a combination of thoughts and behaviors that are unique to each individual. It is the way everyone views the world and yourself. In general, individuals with personality disorders have different perceptions of life and thought processes.

You may not realize that something as mundane as a car accident could put you at major risk for this disorder.

In discussing substance dependence, most individuals focus on the use of only one substance at a time. On the other hand, some individuals do not have a drug of choice and will use any substance in order to achieve intoxication.

Joint pain may seem to naturally result from purely physical ailments such as arthritis, but there's significant evidence that joint pain can be caused or exacerbated by mental distress.

New research has now determined that men and women misuse pain medication differently.

Forensic Psychologist Debra Warner, Psy. D. explores cocaine's effect on the psyche.

Generally, society harshly judges people who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. We tend to assume these individuals have a character flaw or personality weakness. Addiction, however, is a very real and complex disease, just as heart disease is.

Users who inject the substance regularly over a long period of time are at risk for a number of other negative health effects.

While using, marijuana smokers can become irrational and behave erratically. Some users experience feelings of panic, anxiety or paranoia.

You ve probably heard of anorexia and bulimia, two widely recognized eating disorders. However, binge eating disorder is far more prevalent.

For several decades, researchers have associated pot (marijuana or cannabis) to an increased risk for developing schizophrenia, a severe and disabling brain disorder.

Research has demonstrated that substance abuse (illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco) is one of the most serious health problems in the nation. Here, the role the media plays in our understanding of substance abuse.

You know it as the club drug. However, ecstasy may also play a role in treating a prevalent anxiety disorder called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Popularized by cable TV, hoarding has become a well-known occurrence. Here, forensic psychologist Debra Warner examines this phenomenon in part 2 of her weekly series.

Popularized by cable TV, hoarding has become a well-known occurrence. Here, forensic psychologist Debra Warner examines this phenomenon in part 1 of her weekly series.

Boredom may be shaving years off of your life, scientists have found.

It s difficult to watch someone you care about hurting. Here are a few tips to help you cope when a loved one is self-medicating.

Forensic psychologist Debra Warner, Psy.D., examines how you perceive yourself and the world around you can affect your overall health.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 67.5 percent of individuals released from state detention facilities are arrested again within three years. The reason for the repeat behavior is that offenders often lack appropriate strategies for coping with problems in some or all of these areas: employment, substance abuse, marital or family counseling, social activity, emotional support, attitude changes, and education.

As its name implies, individuals with this mental health disorder alternate between obsessive thoughts and behaviors, and compulsive rituals to try to control the obsessions. This cycle is disruptive and causes stress and anxiety. In many cases, OCD interferes in an individual s ability to engage in work, school or other daily activities. Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from OCD.

If you have children, be aware of the symptoms of anxiety. According to researchers, the prevalence of anxiety disorders in young people is rising, putting youth at risk for long-term mental and physical health problems.

How one's parents can have a direct effect on a child's behavior including his outlook on the world around him.

Dementia and pseudo-dementia are two conditions whose symptoms closely resemble one another. The recommended treatments and probable outcomes for each condition, however, vary greatly.

Have you or a loved one survived a life-threatening disease? Are you currently struggling with depression, chronic pain, heart disease, or other health-related condition? Have you gone to extraordinary lengths to help someone in a health crisis? If so, we want to hear from you!

At least one in five men in developed countries are at risk of abusing or becoming dependent on alcohol during their lifetimes, said a study published earlier this year.

Studies show a daily routine may make a big difference for people with bipolar disorder.

Many believe that panic attacks and mitral valve prolapse are linked. But is this the truth? Read on to get what the studies are really saying.

New treatment for depression may be possible based on study that shows how this mood disorder affects areas of brain involved in pleasure.

Every fall, millions of Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a form of major depression.

Feeling anxious? Regain a sense of calm with these easy tips.

Depression has been linked to a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

Here's what you need to know about this crucial topic.

You exercise, eat right, get plenty of sleep, and avoid excess stress. Complete your health puzzle by learning your family's health history.

Learn how to address the largest threats to your child's health.

See how this disorder that affects 6 million Americans can be a burden to your heart.

If you're leaving carbs out of your diet, you may be losing more than just a quick pound.

Learn about the symptoms of alcoholism and what kinds of treatment are available for this disease.

Some studies suggest our favorite foods might be as habit-forming as controlled substances.

Skepticism and pessimism can wreak havoc on your health. Here, how to make some important attitude adjustments.

When it comes to decision-making, relationships, and even health, intuition may be one of the greatest tools to have.

As it turns out, heartbreak may be more than just a metaphor.

Bipolar disorder represents not a single disease, but a spectrum of disorders. Learn about the most common forms.

An addiction to your job could compromise your health. Find out whether you're a workaholic, and get on the road to recovery.

Do you see the glass as half-empty or half-full? Your answer could have major effects on your health.

Nearly 7 percent of Americans suffer from depression, but the disease is often misunderstood. Here, we separate fact from fiction.

A national survey recently examined 21 major occupational categories and found that people who change diapers, tend to the elderly, and wait tables have the highest rates of depression, while the lowest rates occur among engineers, architects, and surveyors.

An estimated 10 million Americans, or about 6 percent of the U.S. population, experience these feelings in their most extreme form--a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Research points to a complex combination of known factors.

Spotting the signs and getting an accurate diagnosis are the first steps toward treatment.

There is currently no cure for schizophrenia, but new research is improving the outlook for patients.