Anxiety Disorders

Home treatment, combined with professional treatment, can help relieve anxiety. Recognize and accept your anxiety about specific fears or situations, and then make a plan for dealing with it. For example, if you are const...

Student Stress Starts Early. The Problem: Premature Pressure by Parents, Peers By Daniel J. DeNoon Feature Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD Call it pressure. Call it great expectations. Whatever ...

Elderly Mental Health Problems Often Missed

More Older Adults Affected by Anxiety Disorders Than Depression By Jennifer Warner Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD May 22, 2006 -- Anxiety may affect twice as many older adults as depression...

Related Guide: Depression & Anxiety

Did you know clinical depression may be a symptom of other mental illnesses? For example, there's a link between clinical depression and anxiety disorders. That includes such disorders as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive di...

Fear of Public Speaking Hardwired

Speech Anxiety Worse for Some, but Most Can Overcome It By Daniel J. DeNoon Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD April 20, 2006 -- Fear of public speaking strikes some people harder -- and differe...

Under Pressure: What Is a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks -- a terrifying experience -- is a symptom of panic disorder, which fortunately is one of the most treatable of the anxiety disorders. the Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Patricia A. Farrell, PhD ...

Causes of Anxiety

Anxiety Causes Anxiety may be caused by a mental condition, a physical condition, the effects of drugs, or from a combination of these. The doctor's initial task is to see if your anxiety is caused by a medical condition. ...

Chronic Stress May Boost Anxiety

Short-Term Stress Doesn't Have the Same Effect, Tests on Mice Show By Miranda Hitti Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD April 17, 2006 -- Being stressed out for a long period of time might incr...

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder, is a mental disorder that involves an irresistible urge to pull out hair. This behavior occurs to the point of noticeable hair loss. The most common areas for hair pulling are the scalp, eyelashes, and eyebr...

Self-Injury

What is self-injury? What are the warning signs? How is self-injury treated? Self injury, also called self-harm, self-mutilation, or simply cutting, is defined as any intentional injury to one's own body. Usually, self-injury leaves marks or causes t...

Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is one of a group of conditions called anxious personality disorder. Read about the symptoms, causes, and treatment for dependent personality disorder. DPD is one of the most frequently diagnosed personality ...

Anxiety at Work: A Career-Busting Condition

Anxiety disorders have the potential to negatively affect job-performance and could ruin your career. By Dulce Zamora Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Katrina Gay always worried about her ...

Separation anxiety is normal in very young children (those between 8 and 14 months old). Kids often go through a phase when they are "clingy" and afraid of unfamiliar people and places. When this fear occurs in a child over age 6 years, is excessi...

The Fear Factor: Phobias

From aviophobia, the fear of flying, to zelophobia, the fear of jealousy, the list of phobias that harrow the human mind runs long. By Heather Hatfield Feature Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD ...

Just Shy or Social Anxiety Disorder?

Is social anxiety disorder just another name for being really shy? By Gina Shaw Feature Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Many people are a little bit shy, but those with social anxiety disorde...

Stage Fright (Performance Anxiety)

If you dread the thought of getting up in front of a group of people and performing, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from performance anxiety, commonly called "stage fright." In fact, most people would rather get the flu than perform. At...

Recognizing Childhood Depression, Anxiety

Parents often mistake depression in children for moodiness. By Daniel J. DeNoon Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Depression in children is an increasingly recognized problem. Learn...

Is It Depression or Anxiety Disorder?

Symptoms of depression, anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder have similarities -- but require different treatments. By Jeanie Lerche Davis Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD This sad, hopele...

Panic Attack Symptoms

Panic Attack Symptoms Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart att...

Making a Diagnosis: Panic & Anxiety Disorders

How Are Mental Illnesses Diagnosed? A mental health diagnosis involves many steps beginning with an evaluation by a doctor if symptoms of mental illness are present. The evaluation will begin with the doctor asking questions about your symptoms,...

Getting Help: Finding a Therapist

Whether an adult or child needs therapy, finding the right therapist takes research, patience, and intuition. By Jeanie Lerche Davis Feature Reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson Mathis, MD You need ...

There are lots of alternative treatments for clinical depression and anxiety disorders, but you may need tried-and-true treatments. By Jeanie Lerche Davis Feature Reviewed by Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD ...

Natural Remedies for Anxiety Disorders

Meditation and Other Relaxation Techniques Work Equally Well Against Anxiety Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD Feb. 3, 2006 -- Meditation may ease anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety di...

Hypnosis for Anxiety

Hypnosis -- or hypnotherapy -- uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anythin...

A Visual Guide to Understanding Depression

Depression: What Is It?It's natural to feel down sometimes, but if that low mood lingers day after day, it could signal depression. Major depression is an episode of sadness or apathy along with other symptoms that lasts at least two consecutive week...

Therapy & Anxiety

Psychotherapy is often used either alone or in combination with medications to treat mental illnesses. Called "therapy" for short, the word psychotherapy actually involves a variety of treatment techniques. During psychotherapy, a person with a m...

Taking the First Steps

Taking the First Step The first step in treating a mental disorder is recognizing that something is not right. The second step is getting help. These two steps may in fact be the hardest part of the entire healing process. Once you seek help ...

Anxiety & Panic: Personal Stories

Carmen’s Story: Overcoming Panic Attacks A psychologist helped reduce fear, relieve emotional pain, and control thoughts that influenced panic attacks. This link will take you to a web site that can help. Related Web Site: Car...

Anger Management

Anger is a very powerful emotion that can stem from feelings of frustration, hurt, annoyance, or disappointment. It is a normal human emotion that can range from slight irritation to strong rage. Anger can be harmful or helpful, depending upon...

Stress Management

People can learn to manage stress and lead happier, healthier lives. Here are some tips to help you keep stress at bay. Keep a positive attitude. Accept that there are events that you cannot control. Be assertive instead of...