Find help or get online counseling now
advertisement

World of Psychology


Addiction

‘Fear, paranoia, and pressure’: Challenges to Accessing Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Barriers to access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) threaten addiction recovery and complicate the safety of clinicians’ jobs, thereby hindering the national response to the opioid epidemic.

MAT is a treatment approach that combines medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. Medications used in MAT are FDA-approved and clinically-driven; however, several MAT access issues create obstacles to achieving its full success in mitigating the opioid epidemic. Insurance access and coverage, geography/location, treatment cost, and drug policy emerge as the most formidable pain points to accessing MATs for opioid addiction treatment.
Continue Reading
Caregivers

What Makes a Good Mental Health Advocate?

I have been fortunate over the years to share the story of my son Dan’s recovery from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. The fact that he continues to do so well is concrete evidence that obsessive-compulsive disorder, no matter how severe, is indeed treatable, and it is gratifying to know that many who are suffering have found hope through my family’s story.

I hear from many people who are at various stages in their fight against OCD. When they tell me they have either read about Dan’s journey or heard me speak about him the first question they often ask is “How is Dan now?”
Continue Reading
General

Trans Lifeline Peer Support Helpline for Transgender

If you're a trans adult or teen who needs help and support for issues related to your trans identity, there's a fantastic support organization available. It's called Trans Lifeline and it offers valuable, life-saving resources for trans and questioning individuals.

In addition to a helpline -- 877-565-8860 (in Canada, please call: 877-330-6366) -- it also offers additional informational resources and micro grants.

Continue Reading
Anorexia

To Be Healthy Is to Be Loving

I went for a run because I had eaten a small, organic, dark chocolate cookie the day before and I felt that I had to punish myself. It was habitual for me to punish myself with strenuous, caloric compensation cardio whenever I felt guilty for enjoying life by eating tasty foods.

When I placed first in a fitness competition, my fitness goals went up a notch. Winning the competition was one thing, but people complimenting me on my extra lean body pressured me to stay that way. I couldn’t allow myself to look “bigger” again, and “bigger” really meant not seeing my defined ab muscles.
Continue Reading
Habits

The Road to Resilience

Do you ever get stuck in a funk?  

You feel miserable. The unexpected has happened. Too much is expected of you. You can’t keep up.

So what do you do?

You crawl back into bed (either literally or figuratively), telling yourself, “I can never keep up; I’ll always be stuck in this misery.”  Not only do you feel miserable; you keep obsessing about the “fact” that you feel miserable.
Continue Reading
Best of Our Blogs

Best of Our Blogs: September 18, 2018

There are as many ways to take care of as there are ways to neglect yourself.

Some of these are easily recognizable like self-injury, not seeking professional help or taking prescribed medications.

But there are subtler things we do that are also forms of self-punishment or self-sabotage.

If you're not making sure to eat regularly, get enough sleep and schedule in time for play and rest, these are also forms of self-neglect. Saying, "Yes," when you're over scheduled, people-pleasing and befriending negative people are also ways you're sabotaging your health.

One of our bloggers this week is inspiring me with what lengths she's willing to go to take care of herself.
Continue Reading
General

Psych Central Has Helped Over 500 Million in Past 23 Years

This month, Psych Central passed a truly historic milestone. We officially have had over 500 million people visit our site to find information and support on a mental health, relationships, or parenting problems. That is a humbling, amazing event, and one we do not take for granted.

Forgive us as we take a minute to celebrate and look back over the past 23 years of service to the public.

Continue Reading
Aging

The Benefits of Nostalgia

If unpleasant or obsessional, past memories can hurt -- but nostalgia is good for you. The benefits of this internal psychological state are touted in various academic studies exploring the art and practice of what could be deemed as "pleasant reminiscing."

According to experts, personal memories from long ago of family and friends can link us together in shared comforts of tradition, and also lend a gratifying sense of continuity in our lives.
Continue Reading
Page 1 of 1,201123...Last »