If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder – or symptoms that strongly suggest you may have one – treatment is crucial to your health and well-being. In severe cases, it may even save your life. In Part 1, the initial steps toward getting help were discussed. This second part covers…
Bipolar disorder is one of the most challenging psychiatric disorders. With moods that often hit crippling extremes and bizarre behavior that is difficult to understand – let alone explain to others – bipolar sufferers can feel very isolated and alone. Medication is often necessary, but has its limits. Individual and family therapy can also be…
Alcoholism is a destructive addiction that can literally ruin people’s lives. Whether you’re struggling with excessive drinking yourself or you love someone who is, you understand all too well the path of devastation this chronic condition can bring, from splintered relationships to serious medical issues. Professional addiction treatment, individual therapy and attending support groups can…
People suffering from a mood disorder are 30 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. Finding an effective treatment that reduces the likelihood of suicide in individuals with mood disorders is therefore an important area of research. Previous studies have indicated that lithium may possess this effect, but concerns about its side…
The celebrity drug addiction story is one we’ve all heard numerous times. From the Keith Richards to the Lindsay Lohans and the Charlie Sheens, we expect excess from some of our celebrities. Others, however, cultivate such as wholesome image or play seemingly innocent characters in movies or TV shows that we’d never expect them to…
“Mainstream psychology views disturbing feelings, behaviors, or experiences as an indication that something is wrong with us—an attitude that often shames people.” — David Bedrick Ruby had been described as a fearful child, one who shied away from pets, playground equipment, other children—even her teachers. Twenty-four years old, she sat on her hands in her…
Over the last three decades, non-profit groups and public health agencies have waged a relentless campaign to spread the word about the risks of drunk driving. In response to these efforts, a number of laws have been passed at the state and federal levels that have reduced allowable blood-alcohol content percentages for drivers, strengthened DUI-related…
Current findings indicate that significant numbers of people throughout the world may have a phobia called trypophobia, which is characterized by an unusual revulsion to the visual appearance of clustered holes or hole-like shapes, such as those found in certain plant species or in groupings of soap bubbles. In a study published in August 2013…
While eating disorders impact both men and women, women tend to suffer from them to a much greater degree. This may be largely due to society’s relentless pressure on females to be supermodel thin and cellulite-free. Sadly, it’s the exception not the rule to fit such unrealistic and unhealthy standards, yet many females strive to…
The town of Decatur, Georgia, is like a lot of college towns. It’s known for its hip downtown atmosphere, its influx of brainy students, its coffee shops, brew pubs and unique bistros. Decatur sits inside Atlanta’s metropolitan perimeter but is like a whole other world—a safe and sanctified landscape all its own. Decatur is a…