It is very difficult to get an accurate understanding of the number of individuals who suffer from eating disorders. Many who have an eating disorder hide their condition for years, with some delaying treatment even after admitting to themselves that there is a problem. Some never receive treatment.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his/her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and can make a contribution to his/her community." Healthy functionality for less than perfect people is what it boils down to.
The 9th U.S. District Circuit Court of Appeals in August determined that Blue Shield of California is required to cover a policyholder’s inpatient treatment of her severe diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. The court made the decision based on the fact that California insurance providers are obligated under the state’s mental health parity law to cover…
Is America more comfortable with vulnerability? A soon-to-be-released study says that more Americans than ever are reporting feeling depressed and anxious along with a host of other emotional health issues. If we are ready to acknowledge our mental health struggles, then why aren’t health care professionals seeing more Americans in their offices?
Ileana Arias, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says that the levels of mental illness in the United States are “unacceptably high” and that nearly 25% of adults in America reported having some sort of mental illness in the past year. Additionally, the CDC estimated the costs associated with mental illness in the…
More than 70 million Americans are battling obesity, and another 25 million are struggling with binge eating disorder. To a large extent, treatment for these conditions has focused on dieting and weight loss. But a newer, more effective form of treatment is emerging: integrative medicine.
The treatment of eating disorders is a complex process. Though they are designated as a mental disorder, there are many physical aspects of eating disorders that require the combination of both psychological treatment and physical treatment by a range of healthcare professionals.
Bipolar I, also known as manic depressive disorder, is a mental illness. In order to be diagnosed with bipolar, a person must experience a manic episode. Mania is characterized by abnormally high or “up” feelings accompanied by abnormal behavior. The person with bipolar disorder will often cycle between episodes of mania and depression, hence the…
Detox is a fairly popular topic in today’s society. In fact, with all the advertisements on television, in print, and online for products promising to rid the body of accumulated toxins, you might think that detoxing is a simple and easy process with no ill-effects or risks involved.
Anorexia nervosa often ensnares women into a pattern of recovery and relapse, making it difficult for individuals suffering from the eating disorder to maintain healthy eating habits after completing treatment. Anorexia is the most deadly of the various types of eating disorders and has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, including depression and…