Mental Health Topics

Mental health professionals are always looking to use the most successful techniques—and deciding which method or approach to use is highly dependent on the individual’s needs and wants.  One of the most successful and broadly-used methods in contemporary practice is known as solution-focused brief therapy. Solution-focused brief therapy offers a…

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a common mental health disorder that occurs when obsessive thoughts reoccur in an unwanted or intrusive way, and is followed by a compulsive behavior to relieve the unwanted thoughts. While many people with OCD are able to manage their symptoms and live normal lives, OCD…

In western culture, men are expected to be stoic providers—individuals who are valued for what they offer society, first and foremost. They have also been traditionally valued based on their physical strength and mental toughness, without a tendency to show softer emotions.  Although recent years have seen this outdated perspective…

Schizoid personality disorder is a condition that causes a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotions in interpersonal settings. Someone with schizoid personality disorder typically will avoid social interaction and others may perceive the person with schizoid personality disorder as odd or cold or…

Receiving an education is an important step in the lives of many — it can be both useful and rewarding. However, school is often a cause of stress and anxiety for a large number of students. While it can seem overwhelming, with the right techniques, the stress caused by school…

Vacations are a wonderful and exciting part of life. They can expose you to new adventures and experiences that can change your life as you know it, or give you the relaxation and time off you need to be the best version of yourself.  However, returning to normal life after…

Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a high sensitivity to perceived judgment from others and extreme discomfort with social contact and relationships. This distress is so great that a person will likely avoid any situation that may require a lot of socializing or closeness to others…

It is entirely natural to experience a range of emotions after a traumatic event. Most people recover from these initial reactions and feelings within a few weeks. However, if you have ongoing problems, there could be something else going on, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This practical guide will help…

Eating disorders are serious conditions that affect both one’s mental and physical health, and they can be extremely difficult to endure alone. Not to be confused with bulimia or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, anorexia nervosa, more commonly known as anorexia, causes a person to restrict their food intake with the…

There’s an old woman sitting on a bench, sobbing loudly into her hands. Surrounding her are countless people: a man sitting on the bench next to her, a few people standing at a nearby bus stop, and many walking right by. While some clearly notice the distressed woman, nobody asks…

How many of us have felt suddenly unwell for a time, and out of concern, googled our symptoms? Later on, when we’re better, we might feel a little bit embarrassed that we were so concerned—maybe our mysterious symptoms were all in our heads.  Experiencing this fear of illness or disease…

Individuals who suffer from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder seek to uphold a feeling of control through their meticulous attention to rules, details, procedures, instructions, schedules, or lists—to an extent where the behavior can interfere with everyday functioning, relationships, or quality of life.  They are very careful in all of their actions…