According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, a panic attack is characterized by a sudden feeling of intense fear that is triggered by no apparent reason and is accompanied by a number of physical symptoms. A panic attack often mimics symptoms of a...
It can be difficult to determine if you're depressed or experiencing stress. The main signs of stress and depression are issues with all major areas of your life including school or work, socially, your health and with family.
No single test exists to check your child for attention deficit disorder, or ADD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A diagnosis of ADD is made instead by gathering information and observing your child's behaviors. The actual...
The ability to diagnose mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression should be left to doctors and mental health professionals such as psychologists and social workers. However, it's important to understand your own mental...
Clinical depression is a mental illness in the mood disorder family. It lasts for at least two weeks and affects your life and functioning. Clinical depression is severe enough to warrant professional intervention. According to...
Almost 50 percent of people in the United States will experience a mental illness sometime in their lifetime according to Ronald Kessler and colleagues at the Harvard Medical School in a study published in "Archives of General Psychiatry." Half of...
Each year, about 32,000 Americans decide that the pain, hopelessness, shame or anger they feel has made continuing to live an overwhelming burden, and they commit suicide. Knowledge of the characteristics of people who attempt suicide empowers...
There are two main kinds of stress. Mayo Clinic describes these as acute, an immediate and intense reaction to a perceived threat, and chronic, which is the result of long-term acute stress and is often related to day-to-day problems. Stress can...
It is not uncommon for alcoholics to have a secondary bipolar diagnosis. While the reasons for this coexistence remain muddied, as does an understanding of which condition appears first, what is clear is that the presence of both in unison can...
The sun is not often associated with feelings of depression. However, the sun can affect chemicals in the brain, most notably melatonin, which is associated with depression. Seasonal affective disorder is a mental health diagnosis given to...
It is not uncommon for someone to suffer both from bipolar disorder as well as alcoholism. While can be difficult to determine which condition came first, the presence of both can further complicate the treatment plan. With proper diagnosis and...
Various health care providers utilize a checklist of symptoms to diagnose attention deficit disorder (ADD), also called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADD is a mental health diagnosis that is given to people who display certain...
Around 4.7 million children in the United States, mostly boys, have been diagnosed at some point with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to 2010 information from the University of Maryland Medical Center. ADHD is...
Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, fear of the future or a sense of uneasiness, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Anxiety is a physiological response of the nervous system, which can lead to...
Every child develops self-esteem throughout his lifetime. Unfortunately, some children lack confidence in themselves due to internal and external issues. It's important for parents, teachers and guidance counselors to understand self-esteem, the...
The term "mental illness" might strike fear in even the most pragmatic of folks. Unfortunately, the tendency to avoid issues of mental illness can leave many people unaware of common symptoms. Diagnoses of mental illness are based on the criteria...
What starts as little white lies, small exaggerations and stretching the truth can snowball into a chronic issue for teens and parents. Take action if you think your teenager is lying consistently. Find the root of the behavior and learn how to...
Phentermine is a prescription medication used to promote weight loss by working on the satiety center. This medication reduces appetite and increases autonomic nervous system activity and is often used to reduce the health risks associated with...
It turns out that arguably the most important invention of the 20th century could be hazardous to your mental health. The Internet has connected people, fueled an economic boom, democratized information and filled countless hours with endless...
According to the DSM-IV-TR (2000) Bipolar disorders affect up to 1.6 percent of the population. There are two categories of bipolar disorders, bipolar I and bipolar II. Previously called manic depression, bipolar I and II are mood disorders and...
Although some people may not be diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood, their condition has been present since they were children. ADHD runs in families, but certain environmental factors such as exposure to alcohol or nicotine during pregnancy or...
To diagnose depression, several tests or gauges can be used. It is important that the individual see a doctor to rule out any medical conditions or complications that could be causing the symptoms. Then a mental health professional can obtain a...
Almost all children seem hyperactive at some point, and it can be extremely frustrating trying to deal with a child who just won't calm down. If your child is hyperactive frequently or has trouble concentrating at school, you may want to speak...
Anxiety is an abstract concept because it involves fear in the absence of fear-provoking stimuli. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-IV-TR, anxiety disorders cover a wide range of illnesses including...
About 40 million adults age 18 and older have an anxiety disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and...
Depression is a serious medical and mental health disorder with a range of symptoms and forms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a serious type of depression called major depressive disorder is the most prominent mental illness...
People can suffer from anxiety, depression or a combination of the two. A licensed mental health professional can help you diagnosis your mental health issues and get the treatment that you need.
People who are diagnosed with mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders have a dual diagnosis. For example, someone with a diagnosis of major depression and alcohol abuse has a dual diagnosis.
While a mental health professional's diagnosis is the only way to know your child has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, most refrain from diagnosing it before 5 years of age, notes BabyCenter. However, if your 4-year-old exhibits...
