If you’ve developed a problematic relationship with food, you may be asking yourself, Do I have an eating disorder? This is not a trivial question, since an eating disorder can ruin your life or even prove fatal if left untreated.
Do you know who you are without drugs or alcohol? You may think that you do, but most people who struggle with substance abuse numb their feelings and completely lose touch with themselves over the course of their addiction.
By Danielle Sukenik, LMFT, EAGALA Certified, Equine Therapist at The Ranch Some imagine equine-assisted psychotherapy is about galloping through the woods with the wind in their hair; however, it is actually a therapeutic process that is very different from a recreational trail ride or a visit to a dude ranch.
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Somatoform disorders are a group of diagnosable mental illnesses that lead to medical complaints that don’t actually match your physical condition. Current guidelines in the U.S. refer to these illnesses as somatic symptom and related disorders. No one knows exactly why such conditions occur. However, doctors and researchers have identified a range of factors that…
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Animals have a way of lifting spirits and transmitting calmness, both to their owners and to strangers. All it takes is the sight of a dog to make some people smile, and petting any animal has been shown to lower heart rate and blood pressure, which translates to an overall reduction in anxiety.
No one expects to see anorexia symptoms in seniors, which is why they often go undetected. Unusual eating patterns may be noticed, but it never occurs to family members or friends that an eating disorder might be the problem, since these conditions are usually diagnosed in much younger people — or so it is assumed.
Depression is a serious medical condition that can be life-threatening. While effective treatments exist, the causes of depression are not always clear. Is depression genetic or environmental? Are its root causes psychological, emotional, physiological or a combination of the three? And are there different answers for different types of depression?
Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a diagnosable mental health condition that occurs in the days or weeks immediately following exposure to a life-threatening traumatic event. Many people confuse this condition with another better-known illness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which only occurs a month or more after such an event. Although they are essentially different, ASD…
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Attention seeking is a normal behavior in all children. From birth, children seek the attention and love of their parents or caregivers. It is important for emotional growth and the development of interpersonal relationship skills. However, studies show that when children don’t get adequate attention, the brain may rewire itself to respond differently to stimuli,…
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Brainspotting therapy has recently emerged as a promising new therapy for trauma victims. As mental health professionals progress in their understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brainspotting therapy has been of special interest due to the unique way this treatment activates specific areas of the brain.