Tag Archives: mental health

What causes hoarding? Hoarding is a severe psychological disorder where a person gathers an excessive number of items and stores them. The reasons someone become a hoarder include altered brain connections, genetics, stress, OCD, environmental factors and altered levels of serotonin. Doctors point to several potential causes for a person to become a hoarder. Altered …

What is repression? Repression is a psychological defense mechanism in which unpleasant thoughts or memories are pushed from the conscious mind. An example might be someone who does not recall abuse in their early childhood, but still has problems with connection, aggression and anxiety resulting from the unremembered trauma. Repression is the unconscious blocking of unpleasant emotions, thoughts, memories or …

What is a panic attack? A counselor can help you learn coping techniques to use when you have a panic attack. Many people with anxiety disorders experience panic attacks in their daily lives. While there isn’t currently a cure for panic disorders, treatment can help to manage and even prevent the attacks. If you believe you have the symptoms of …

How are neurotic disorders and psychotic disorders different? Neurotic behavior is rooted in reality. Someone with psychosis has lost touch with reality. Psychosis is worse than neurosis because with psychosis you are detached from reality and may be unable to care for yourself. Neurotic disorders and psychotic disorders are different in the fact that neurotic behavior is rooted in reality. …

What Is anorexia? Anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss. Behavioral and physical signs include obsessing about weight, weight gain fears, eating only low-calorie foods, distorted body image, excessive exercising, feeling exhausted, dizzy, bloated, constipated, cold, irritable, distracted and unable to concentrate. Food is vital to life, yet eating disorders like anorexia affect at least 9% of …

What is autism? Asperger's is a type of autism without intellectual or language impairment. The best treatment for Asperger's is therapy and medication. Asperger’s syndrome is one of several conditions now understood to be a type of autism spectrum disorder. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way people communicate and behave. Though Asperger’s is no longer a diagnosis, …

What causes kleptomania? Kleptomania is an irresistible urge to steal. It is believed to be caused by genetics, neurotransmitter abnormalities and the presence of other psychiatric conditions. Kleptomania refers to an irresistible and recurring urge to steal in the absence of the need or inability to afford the stolen items. It is a rare and serious mental health condition. The …

What are the early warning signs of psychosis? Psychosis is a condition that affects the mind and alters a person’s perception of reality. Early psychosis symptoms include change in thinking, feeling, perception and behavior along with hallucinations and delusions. Psychosis happens over a period of time and describes when someone starts to lose contact with reality. It is a condition …

Intense fear, feeling a need to escape, and palpitations are symptoms of a panic attack. "All of a sudden, I felt a tremendous wave of fear for no reason at all. My heart was pounding, my chest hurt, and it was getting harder to breathe. I thought I was going to die." "I'm so afraid. Every time I start to …

How do you know if you have body dysmorphia? Body dysmorphia is a misperception of your looks that causes distress or that interferes with daily life. Body dysmorphia or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a type of mental health problem. In this condition, you are usually distressed with imagined or minor defects in your appearance. All other causes of anxiety …