Book Review: Owning Bipolar
The subtitle of Michael Pipich’s new book, Owning Bipolar: How Patients and Families Can Take Control of Bipolar Disorder, should be enough for those with bipolar disorder and their family members to want to pick up this book and embrace it. Bipolar disorder takes away a person’s feeling of self-control and this book gives hope that control can be taken back.
People who are bipolar will appreciate that Pipich understands how it feels to the patient. He tries to remove the stigma of having bipolar, explaining that it is NOT the patient’s fault. This alone makes the book worth reading.
He then provides a thorough ...
Source: Psych Central - November 5, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Book Reviews Tags: Bipolar Book Reviews Disorders Family General Genetics Medications Motivation and Inspiration Psychiatry Psychological Assessment Psychology Stigma Treatment accepting bipolar disorder bipolar disorder stigma Michael Pipich Source Type: news
The Worst, Most Persistent Myths about OCD
This is what most people think obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) looks like: washing your hands excessively because you’re a germaphobe.
Sometimes, people think it’s also needing to have a neat, orderly home, and checking to see if you locked the door way too many times.
And while some of this is true for some people with OCD, it misses the majority of individuals with the illness. As psychologist Martin Hsia, Psy.D, said, “OCD takes many different forms that don’t get written about.”
The Many, Many Forms of OCD
“To paraphrase Tolstoy, in Anna Karenina, famously speaking about families, ‘All people with p...
Source: Psych Central - November 2, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Disorders General Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Self-Help Stigma Treatment Compulsions Intrusive Thoughts Obsessions Ocd OCD facts OCD myths Unwanted Thoughts what OCD feels like what OCD looks like Source Type: news
Childhood Abuse, Complex Trauma and Epigenetics
Epigenetics refers to the study of a natural phenomenon and to the phenomenon itself. Epigenetics is the study of the mechanisms that turn on and off the expression of our genes without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetics is also used to refer to the changes in expression of our genes.
Factors such as age, nutritional habits, psychological stress, physical activity, working habits and substance abuse can trigger changes in gene expression (Alegría-Torres, 2011). These changes in gene expression, epigenetics, happen all the time in the natural world.
For example, two identical twins, born with the exact same DNA sequenc...
Source: Psych Central - October 30, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Fabiana Franco, Ph.D. Tags: Abuse Children and Teens Genetics Neuroscience PTSD Trauma Child Abuse child neglect Childhood Trauma epigenetics gene expression Transgenerational trauma Source Type: news
Depersonalization: A Strange Mental Illness Captured in Films, Music & Celebrity Confessions
For many in the world, depersonalization isn’t really a familiar word. Sometimes, it is used to refer to the act of removing human characteristics or individuality from someone or something. Almost no one you meet on the street would be able to tell you what depersonalization means in the psychiatric sense of the word.
Depersonalization (DP) is a dissociative disorder whereby a person experiences a distortion in how they experience their self. A person going through DP may feel disconnected from themselves and often report that they feel like watching a movie of oneself. It’s a bewildering experience that can l...
Source: Psych Central - October 27, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Swamy G Tags: Creativity Dissociative disorders Essays Personal Stories Depersonalization Derealization Dissociation film media Mental Illness Music Source Type: news
Book Review: Little Panic: Dispatches from an Anxious Life
“Everyone is ahead of me; I’m always trying to catch up, but I never do. I’m always the littlest and the last to understand. I picture their brains with long legs racing down the block, but my brain has little-kid legs, too short to keep up,” writes Amanda Stern.
In her vivid memoir, Little Panic: Dispatches from an Anxious Life, Stern offers a poignant account of a life full of anxiety and yet teeming with strength, raw honesty, and the enduring desire to feel safe.
Early on, Amanda recognizes that she, unlike other children, does not feel safe. She writes, “One day, I’ll have to live on the street side of lif...
Source: Psych Central - October 25, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Claire Nana Tags: Anxiety Book Reviews Disorders General Memory and Perception Motivation and Inspiration Personal Stories Psychology Relationships & Love A Memoir Honesty Little Panic Source Type: news
Love Bombing as a Narcissistic Attachment Style
Getting hit by a love bomb feels glorious! The lavish attention and affection seems to answer our prayers. We’ve found Mr. or Ms. Right — our soul mate; unsuspecting that we’ve been targeted by a narcissist. The bomber abruptly changes colors and loses interest, and our dream comes crashing down. The rejection is excruciating, especially at the height of romance. It’s a traumatic shock to our heart. We feel duped, betrayed, and abandoned. We’re confused and try to make sense of the nightmare that was once a dream. What we thought was real was in fact a mirage. We search for answers, doubt and blame ourselves,...
Source: Psych Central - October 23, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT Tags: Abuse Codependence Narcissism Relationships & Love Attachment Style controlling behavior Emotional Abuse Emotional Intimacy Idealization and Devaluation love bombing Manipulation Narcissistic Personality Disorder narcissistic suppl Source Type: news
Book Review: The Worry Workbook for Kids
If the goal of child rearing is to help children develop into independent adults, it’s hard to imagine how that is possible if worry prevents them from doing the very activities that will build their confidence.
Further, much of life is uncertain, and fear of uncertainty can become a seemingly insurmountable barrier for kids and parents alike, leaving courage and resilience far out of reach.
In their new book, The Worry Workbook for Kids: Helping Children Overcome Anxiety & the Fear of Uncertainty, Muniya S. Khanna, PhD, and Deborah Roth Ledley, PhD, address this very issue, drawing on current and effective strategie...
Source: Psych Central - October 19, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Claire Nana Tags: Anxiety Book Reviews Children and Teens Disorders Family General Memory and Perception Mindfulness Parenting Psychology Self-Help Students Anxiety And Worry Avoidance kids The Worry Workbook for Kids worry cycle Source Type: news
Book Review: The Neuroscience of Emotion: A New Synthesis
Emotions, while ubiquitous across species and one of the most common topics of conversation, are still, it seems, misunderstood.
Do emotions have biological roots and, if so, where? And how do physiological factors influence how emotions are felt, expressed, and understood?
For Ralph Adolphs and David J. Anderson, developing a comprehensive science of emotions began with trying to create a framework that is scientifically rigorous, inclusive, cumulative, and yet provides clear operationalization of the relevant concepts of emotions.
Their new book, The Neuroscience of Emotion: A New Synthesis, offers a new way to understan...
Source: Psych Central - October 16, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Claire Nana Tags: Anger Book Reviews Disorders General Grief and Loss Happiness Memory and Perception Neuroscience Personality Psychology Emotions Feelings The Neuroscience of Emotion Source Type: news
Domestic Violence, PTSD and Triggers
People catch colds because they were exposed to a virus or infection.
Some people get cancer because cells have begun endlessly dividing in their body.
We get itchy because an irritant has affected our skin.
We get hungry because our body needs nourishment on a regular basis, or thirsty because we aren’t sufficiently hydrated.
I could go on and on … usually the things that we experience in our daily lives are a cause and effect thing; this happens because that happened, and so on.
PTSD is similar, but also so very different. It happens when someone has experienced a traumatic event and their mind and b...
Source: Psych Central - October 15, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Deborah Gray Tags: Personal Stories PTSD Trauma Abusive Relationship Domestic Violence Spousal Abuse triggers Source Type: news
Book Review: The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy
In her new book, The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation, Deb Dana offers a window into the inner life of a traumatized person and a way out of trauma and back to finding joy, connection, and safety through enlightening theory, rich experiential practice, and practical steps.
“The autonomic nervous system,” Deb Dana writes, “responds to challenges in daily life by telling us not what we are or who we are, but how we are.”
Informing, guiding, and regulating our experiences, the autonomic nervous system tells us when we are safe and can proceed forward and when we are under thre...
Source: Psych Central - October 14, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Claire Nana Tags: Book Reviews Disorders General Memory and Perception Neuroscience Psychology Psychotherapy Stigma Stress Trauma Treatment Autonomic Nervous System Deb Dana Polyvagal Theory Source Type: news
Anxiety Experts Reveal What They Really Want Everyone to Know About Anxiety
Anxiety seems like a simple, straightforward topic. After all, it’s a common emotion—everyone feels anxious from time to time. And it’s a common condition. In fact, it’s the most common mental illness in the U.S. Anxiety disorders affect about 18 percent of adults every year.
And yet there are many, many misconceptions. Misconceptions that affect how we view anxiety and how we see ourselves. Misconceptions that affect how we navigate anxiety and how we navigate our lives—limiting them and making them less joyful.
We asked anxiety experts to share what they really want readers to know about anxiety. Below, they re...
Source: Psych Central - October 13, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anxiety Disorders General Self-Help Stress Trauma Treatment Anxiety Disorder anxiety facts anxiety myths Source Type: news
Book Review: Calm Clarity: How to Use Science to Rewire Your Brain
While there are many goals we may pursue in life — a better career, a better relationship, a greater sense of meaning, and deeper connection with those around us — they all start with first gaining a sense of clarity over what is getting in our way, what is helping move us toward our goals, and how we can begin to take ownership of our brains in a way that allows us to live the kind of lives we want.
For Due Quach, a survivor of PTSD and a successful management consultant, understanding how to improve her brain function wasn’t just necessary, but advantageous.
She writes, “It took many years for me to event...
Source: Psych Central - October 13, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Claire Nana Tags: Book Reviews Disorders General Habits Happiness Memory and Perception Mindfulness Motivation and Inspiration Personal Stories Psychology Self-Help Trauma Calm Clarity Due Quach Higher Self Inner Sage PTSD Source Type: news
Pedophilia OCD: The Conundrum to Let Go of the Fight
If you experience pedophilia OCD, you are someone who loves children. You may also struggle with unwanted sexual thoughts. Before OCD began to trigger you with this type of thoughts, you may have believed such thoughts would never cross your mind. And when they did, you felt ashamed, guilty, and confused. Trying to suppress and fight those thoughts appeared to be the most logical solution.
The idea of not doing anything about intrusive thoughts seems despicable. Your mind may say, “If I let those thoughts happen without doing anything, it probably means I enjoy them!” You may respond, “Of course not! But what if I d...
Source: Psych Central - October 11, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Annabella Hagen, LCSW, RPT-S Tags: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Anxiety Anxiety Disorder Avoidance Pedophilia OCD pOCD Source Type: news
How to Recognize the Manipulation of a Drug Addict
Anyone who has a close friend or relative that has struggled with a substance use disorder knows all too well about the manipulative ways of a person who is controlled by their addiction. These behaviors cause extreme heartache and pain and they even have the power to break up families and end marriages.
Amid a relationship that has been damaged by addiction, it’s not always easy to identify manipulative behaviors, let alone how to respond in a healthy way. However, if you can take a step back and peel back the filter from your eyes, you might just see that your loved one is manipulating you into fueling his or her addic...
Source: Psych Central - October 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kelsey Brown Tags: Addictions Codependence Relationships & Love Substance Abuse Addiction Recovery Drug Addiction Emotional Manipulation Manipulative Behavior Source Type: news
Evening Eating —“Are You a ‘Light’ Eater?”
The following is an excerpt from Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food by Arlene B. Englander. (Copyright © 2018. Published by Rowman & Littlefield. All rights reserved.)
Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight or keep weight off realizes that evening can be the make or break time of day in terms of permanent success.
Consider this. In my community there currently is a radio-based advertising campaign touting the effectiveness of a weight loss formula that I will refer to as the Weight Loss Answer. This liquid, taken at bedtime, is to be consumed on an empty stomach. The purchaser is told not to eat or ...
Source: Psych Central - October 8, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Arlene B. Englander, LCSW, MBA Tags: Addictions Binge Eating Diet & Nutrition Eating Disorders Personal Stories calorie counting Eating Habits Source Type: news
