State of Mind: How Are You Feeling?
People with a positive mental attitude accept themselves, have an optimistic yet realistic outlook on life, and cope effectively with change. Many citizens of the world are impaired by some form of mental illness, the causes of which are as varied a...
Feels So Good...Hurts so Bad: Seeking Help
Jerry Rathner talks about her struggle to stop drinking. Inpatient treatment, in which the alcoholic lives at the treatment facility is helpful during the early phases of treatment, particularly acute detoxification. About 10% of the patients need ...
State of Mind: Onset of Mood Disorders, The
Anyone who has a first-degree relative with a mood disorder is at increased risk for experiencing the same disorder themselves. The most common mood disorder is depression. Against the backdrop of a patient named Beverly, Dr. Andrew Leuchter differe...
Lives in Balance: People Who Respond Positively to Stress
Why is it that some people seem to deal with stress more effectively than others? In conducting a longitudinal study of this phenomenon with workers whose jobs were threatened by the break up of A T & T, Dr. Salvatore Maddi found that some people fa...
Lives in Balance: Developing Positive Stress Response Techniques
The Hardiness Institute, founded in the early 1980s, is helping people develop qualities that will allow them to deal with stress. In addition to such techniques, some people find it helpful to use meditation or prayer and regular physical activity ...
Lives in Balance: Physical and Behavioral Reactions to Stress
When faced with a stressful situation, chronic or acute, the body mobilizes to respond in a flight or fight reaction. If nothing is done to ameliorate the situation, the body may experience wear and tear diseases that result from prolonged strain. P...
Lives in Balance: Stress--A Necessary Part of Life
Stress is not only a part of everyday life, it is necessary for life. It is only when stress becomes chronic that it becomes a problem, particularly if nothing is done about it. The more chronic stress you have, the less stress it takes to push you ...
Web of Addiction: Biology of Drug Addiction
Experts have learned that addiction to drugs or alcohol is a disease that has genetic as well as environmental triggers. The gene involved in controlling dopamine, the brain's pleasure chemical, is one factor. Children of alcoholics are three times ...