The perception you have of your own body is your body image. In today’s society, we are often coerced into believing that we can only be considered to be attractive if we’ve got clear skin, an ideal shape and a thin body. For many of us, this just isn’t the case. When we fail to […]
Between changing dirty diapers and soothing screaming babies, the struggles of being a new mom are real. Given the challenges of being a new parent, every new mother deserves someone in their court — and for many women, that means consulting a licensed therapist and getting help with handling the stresses of being a new […]
If you grew up shy, then you’re probably familiar with the more obvious symptoms of social anxiety: blushing, clammy palms, refusal to speak to strangers. But what happens when normal childhood shyness becomes a full-blown psychological disorder? Social anxiety disorder, otherwise known as ‘social phobia’ or ‘social anxiety,’ develops when a person’s fear of facing […]
As much as we associate the holidays with happiness and warmth, not everybody can get into the holiday spirit. Some people may be dealing with difficult family members or grieving a loss — while others may be suffering from a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Estimates suggest as many as 10 […]
Sometimes called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition which causes someone to experience extremely low and high moods. Sufferers go through periods of time when they feel overly joyful and happy, and then other periods when they feel extremely sad or angry. Due to the low and high moods, which are polar […]
There are two forms of the eating disorder known as Anorexia. Usually, when we think of this condition, we think of Anorexia Nervosa, however Anorexia Athletica is its other form. Anorexia is recognized by the APA (American Psychiatric Association) as an eating disorder, and while Anorexia Athletica is not yet recognized as its own distinct […]
Facing insecurity about our bodies from time to time is part of being human. But what happens when concerns about body image become pervasive — or even all-consuming? Eating disorders are just one of the many consequences of the overwhelming societal pressure we face to adhere to a certain standard of beauty. In the United […]
Although most people think of eating disorder sufferers as being teenage girls, this isn’t always the case and many people are affected by eating disorders. It’s true that those who are at the highest risk of developing eating disorders are aged between 13 and 18 years, older people can be susceptible too. From going through […]
We can all relate to the feeling of over-indulging in our favorite snacks — but what happens when over-indulging becomes severe and even life-threatening? Binge eating disorder (BED) is one of the newest eating disorders recognized in the DSM-V, according to the National Eating Disorder Association. It’s also the most common eating disorder in the […]
Lots of parents struggle to persuade their child to eat a range of healthy foods. It’s very common for preschoolers to refuse vegetables in favor of bland and boring items such as bread, chicken nuggets and fries. All too often, mealtimes become a battleground with bribes, pleading and even threats. Usually, however, children eventually grow […]