http://psychcentral.com/lib Original articles in mental health, psychology, relationships and more, published weekly. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:28:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en For some families, holidays are just another excuse to get together to eat good food and to have a good time. They’re not looking for articles like this one because they’ve somehow figured out the formula for successful family togetherness with minimum stress. If you have a challenging family, it’s ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/10-tips-for-surviving-thanksgiving-with-the-dysfunctional-family/ The holidays are upon us once again, so I thought this would be an ideal time to review some of the common problems people experience during the holidays as well as some tips for coping with these problems. The main problems people experience are increased depression (or feeling blue), feeling ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/helpful-hints-for-navigating-the-holidays/ I thought I'd write a few words about the holidays and the blues, because this is the time of the year people commonly experience feelings of depression, sadness, and loss when many others are enjoying and celebrating the holidays. Holiday depression is common and perhaps up to ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/holiday-coping-tips/ How often has this happened to you: You enter a room and forget why you wanted to go into that room, or you cannot find your keys or your glasses? You may become frightened that you are losing your memory. But in fact, everyone -- in any age group -- ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/strategies-for-improving-memory/ If you have recently received a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome for one of your children, you may be asking yourself, "How could this be?" You are probably experiencing a lot of emotions right now, but your brain has also kicked into high gear as you search for an explanation. ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/my-child-was-just-diagnosed-with-asperger-syndrome/ Talking about one's financial situation early in a relationship is as important as talking about safe sex. It's something that needs to be shared just as early and just as deeply. When deciding whether to pursue a relationship, both people deserve to know what they are getting into. They ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/money-and-romance/ Involuntary Emotional Expression Disorder, or IEED, is a condition in which a person experiences uncontrollable episodes of emotional expression. That is, they have episodes of crying, laughter, or anger that are not in line with their present mood. The condition is also known as labile affect, pseudobulbar affect, emotional lability, ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/involuntary-emotional-expression-disorder/ Experts have challenged two basic assumptions behind food choices and the causes of obesity. Drs. Jeff Brunstrom and Peter Rogers of the University of Bristol, UK, investigated the theory that we eat larger amounts of tasty foods, and that these foods tend to be energy-dense. They explain that highly palatable food is ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/anticipated-fullness-is-crucial-to-calorie-intake/ According to the National Institute of Health, drinking -- the drug of choice among youth -- plays a major role in death from injuries, and injuries are the leading cause of death for kids under 21. Alcohol also significantly increases the likelihood of risky sexual behavior, including unprotected sex, ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/teen-drinking-limits-vs-punishment/ Ever wanted to go beyond the doors of a psychiatric hospital? To have a key to the locked units? To witness the day-to-day at a legendary institution mired in mystery and folklore? Weekends at Bellevue, a medical memoir by psychiatrist Julie Holland, gives readers this very opportunity, taking them inside ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/weekends-at-bellevue/ When I was a new therapist, I thought the hardest thing for couples to talk about would be their sex life. Not so. As long as neither one is cheating, talking about sex is a walk in the park for many couples. It’s when I bring up the ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/couples-facing-finances-in-lean-times/ Researchers have found that older people who take aspirin or certain other drugs to prevent blood clots are at risk of "microbleeds" in the brain. Elderly people often experience damage to the small vessels in the brain, as shown on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cerebral microbleeds can indicate that this type ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/high-aspirin-doses-and-brain-damage/ Travis was 15. He’d always been a good kid – no trouble, unlike his brothers. His parents saw him as the perfect child. That’s why it was jolting and perplexing to his parents that this semester he started breaking ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/does-your-teenager-want-to-get-caught/ My 20-year-old daughter tells me she thinks the reason so many young relationships fail is because of the “chick flicks.” You know: Those movies where the focus is entirely on the heady romance between a man and a woman for whom each other is the entire universe. She – ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/breaking-up-blame-the-chick-flicks/ I do not have any brothers or sisters. Yes, I am an only child. So what? It is okay with me that I don’t have brothers or sisters, so why is it often not okay with the rest of the world? Why do people often think they know ... http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/i%e2%80%99m-an-only-child-so-what/