Mental Health and Addiction - Prevention

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.

Not only is access to mental health care declining, a new study finds the majority of psychiatrists don t accept health insurance.

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.

What are you afraid of? We ask a few pros for their top tips on working through what scares them.

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.

A new study indicates a possible genetic link between these two issues.

Talking to a friend or family member about her alcohol problem can be difficult. Here's help in saying the right thing.

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

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.

Living with bipolar disorder presents an array of challenges. What if there was a way to prevent its onset?

Your teen's "high" may be as close as your medicine cabinet.

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.

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.

It's more than just a party trick. Hypnosis has been shown to deliver real mental health benefits for some.

It isn't an easy condition to diagnose. Here's how to discern if your drinking habits, or those of someone you love, are becoming problematic.

If someone you care about is struggling with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition, helping them find the support they need can be frustrating, complicated, and necessary.

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

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?

For millions of Americans, depression is more than just a bout with "the blues"; it's a serious psychiatric disorder. Here's a look at the disease by the numbers.

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?

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.

Learn how to spot the warning signs and break the vicious cycle.

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

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

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

Studies demonstrate that proper napping techniques can relax your mind and focus your thoughts. What's the right way to catch some z's?

Strange, wild, passionate, frightening. Your dreams may provide insight into who you really are.

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.

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.

Depression is particularly prevalent and overlooked in older adults. Despite the high incidence among seniors, it's definitely not a normal part of aging.

Although yoga advocates have long championed the physical and mental health benefits of yoga, the scientific community is slowly coming to the same conclusion.

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

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.

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.

Over time, it takes more and more medication to ease the pain and not all the pain is necessarily physical. What do you do when a loved one has a painkiller addiction?

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.

The stigma of alcohol and substance addiction is lifting as scientists learn more about the biology behind addiction. Understanding what drives people to become addicted can help you develop strategies for staying sober.

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

Several new therapeutic methods exist that are designed to help teens learn healthier ways to cope with emotional stress.

Current surveys indicate that approximately seven percent of teens throughout the United States admit to being gang members. Further, approximately 20 percent of teens personally know someone who has been killed or injured by gang members.

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.

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.

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

You have the power to change your attitude for the better.

The deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and DJ AM spark concerns about deadly drug interactions. Learn how to prevent them from happening to you.

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.

Certain foods really can enhance your memory and overall cognitive function. Are they part of your diet?

Learn how fitness can have a positive effect on your mind.

Some simple lifestyle changes can significantly improve your mood.

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

We all feel a little bummed from time to time, but could your diet be the cause? Find out here.

Find out how to control your excessive spending.

In these metropolitan areas, inebriation abounds, and residents rarely find themselves thirsty.

When you've been wronged, can you forgive and forget, or do you need to exact revenge?

Feelings of depression are significantly more common in people with chronic back pain. Find out more about how to manage your pain and your emotions.

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.

For years, researchers had been debunking the age-old notion of a midlife crisis. But a new global study may prove them wrong.

Do people walk all over you? Follow these tips to start becoming more assertive.

Everyone worries from time to time, but too much worrying can affect your health. Here, 10 ways to stop stressing.

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).

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