Mental Health News

Psych Central

• Ideology, Psychology, and Law
  Ideology, Psychology, and Law is a wonderful collection of essays edited by Jon Hanson, the Alfred Smart Professor of Law and Director of The Project on Law and Mind Sciences at Harvard Law School. This is the first book edited by Hanson, whose work has appeared in six other books and many periodicals. Hanson also [...]
• White Elephants
  As I cried, I wanted to believe it was the alcohol that induced Mom’s words.  I had to believe it was the alcohol.  I don’t want them.  The words rang in my ears.  That’s the night my heart first broke. White Elephants is the story of Chynna Laird’s childhood with an alcoholic, bipolar mother.  Not [...]
• Two Plus Two: Couples and Their Couple Friendships
  What if I told you that one secret to making a long-term relationship more fulfilling is to have another committed couple with whom you and your beloved could spend time?  The very premise of Two Plus Two is that it is important for couples to have couple friends.  Drs. Greif and Deal (a duo whose [...]
• Overcoming the Fear of Making Mistakes
  “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people.” This is a famous quote from Anne Lamott in her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Intuitively, we know that perfectionism is unrealistic and restrictive, a tyrant that steals success. In fact, there are many sayings and experts that [...]
• Easy Steps to Reconnect: A Guide for Emotionally Avoidant Dads
  It was torture for Jason when his 13-year-old son, Dylan, gave him the “cold shoulder” and wouldn’t speak to him. Jason felt his angry reactions were justified because he believed Dylan was at fault. Jason defended his position, often lecturing Dylan. Alternatively, he would give Dylan the silent treatment right back. This would go on [...]
• Sexual Awareness: Your Guide to Healthy Couple Sexuality
  Now in its fifth edition since its original publication in 1975, Barry and Emily McCarthy’s Sexual Awareness is still the go-to book for couples who want to learn more about healthy sexuality. Each of the 19 chapters deals with one specific area. Examples include “Self-Exploration and Masturbation,” “Your Sexual Voice” and “Couple Sexual Desire.” Written [...]
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions with Psychologist Ryan Howes
  Every month we chat with one clinician about everything from the trials and triumphs of being a therapist to his or her advice for leading a meaningful life. This month we had the pleasure of talking to Ryan Howes, Ph.D., ABPP, a board-certified, licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Pasadena, California. Howes also is a clinical [...]
• When Truth Lies: A Journey with Schizophrenia
  The year is 1969, and Kevin has just graduated from high school. His classmates look forward to dates, parties, and college. Not Kevin. He sees Satan bugs crawl in and out of his body. He hears voices call to him: “Why? Why, Kevin, why?” Or they shout obscenities or warn him that the food he’s [...]
• Money and Your Children
  From small allowances for young children to bank accounts and credit cards for college students, parents have many questions and various beliefs about how to try to teach their children about money. Like most parenting issues, the key to success is to have a clear sense of purpose about what you are doing and to [...]
• Before The World Intruded: Conquering The Past And Creating The Future
  Michele Rosenthal’s memoir, Before The World Intruded, is the story of her struggle with a life-threatening illness and the trauma it created. Rosenthal shares her battle with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), leading us from her diagnosis at age 13 through 24 subsequent years of psychological repercussions. Rosenthal recounts the story of how she fought for years [...]
• Parallels between Improv Comedy and Therapy
  What do psychotherapists and standup comedians have in common? If you guessed they use many of the same techniques, you get a gold star. Dr. Allen Cornelius, a psychology professor at University of the Rockies, discovered distinct parallels between standup comedians and therapists. The familiar adage ‘laughter is the best medicine’ comes from the fact [...]
• Things to Consider When Choosing a Residential Treatment Program for OCD
  I’ve written before about my son Dan’s stay at an intensive residential program for OCD sufferers; it was a mixed blessing. One of our main frustrations with the program stemmed from the way my husband and I were regarded by the staff. For reasons that are still not completely clear to me, they saw us [...]
• Drug Effects on Alzheimer’s Patients Reassuring
  Researchers have added further detail to their findings on the risks of common drugs for elderly people. Dr. Chris Fox of the University of East Anglia, UK, and colleagues found that anticholinergic drugs — which block a key neurotransmitter called acetylcholine and include many drugs often taken by older adults — may cause cognitive impairment. [...]
• How to Put Parenting First and Tame the To-Do List
  The mom I was talking with the other day (let’s call her Lillian) was very, very frustrated. With two children ages 5 and 3, a full-time job, and a husband who travels for work, her life is very full. “Why can’t I get anything done?” she asked. “Other moms seem to have a clean house, [...]
• Is Adult ADHD Linked to Addiction?
  The prevalence of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) greatly exceeds the prevalence of this diagnosis among the adult population. This could be, perhaps, because the disorder is more difficult to diagnose in adults. Research suggests that one to five percent of adults suffering from ADHD are unaware that they have it or [...]