When you’re a child, you’re asked to point to a series of frowning faces to rate your pain. As an adult, you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10. Pain is subjective. Ralph Monte, PsyD, a post-doctoral fellow in Health Psychology, explains the psychology of pain. “Pain is a subjective experience. Unfortunately, … Continue reading Pain Really Is in Your Head
Sweaty palms, an accelerated heartbeat and nausea. No, it’s not a heart attack. It’s what some people feel when they have to face a social situation. What you call shy, may actually be social anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 15 million American adults are living with social anxiety disorder. … Continue reading Social anxiety disorder: Are you shy or is it something more?
Patricia hardly ever leaves her house. In fact, she hardly ever leaves her sofa. Years of chronic pain have left her depressed, lonely and hopeless. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Ralph Monte, PsyD, post-doctoral fellow in Health Psychology, offers some tips on coping with chronic pain. “First off, we help you realize … Continue reading Coping with Chronic Pain
While some people may be excited about cooler temperatures, others may be slipping into a form of depression. As the seasons change, a number of people suffer from seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is common to have a slight change in habits with each new season. As the weather cools … Continue reading Don’t let the change of seasons change your mood
Need help losing weight? Quitting smoking? Battling some other addiction or problem? Missing the willpower it takes to make needed changes in your life? Randall Moore, MD, Psychiatry, offers some tips to increase your willpower to help you take charge and change. Make a list of short- and long-term goals concerning the activity you want … Continue reading Empowering Your Willpower
Depressed? Stuck in a rut? Feeling like you can’t get up and do anything? One of the best things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms of major depression is to get out and get moving. Go for a brisk walk. Go to a Zumba class. Pump some iron. Get some exercise. “When you … Continue reading Can You Exercise Your Way to Happiness?
Getting help with homework, receiving moral support from friends, connecting with old classmates who moved away—these are all good things that come from Facebook. But parents need to be aware that this social media form has some social drawbacks. David Blackburn, PhD, Scott & White Clinical Psychologist with 20 years’ experience in the treatment of … Continue reading Facebook vs. Face to Face: Setting Facebook Guidelines for Your Teens
Alcoholism is not a condition that just goes away on its own; it’s a disease that destroys marriages, careers and lives. This is a problem people have faced for centuries, affecting young and old, rich and poor, people from all races and ethnicities around the globe. So why haven’t future generations learned from the mistakes … Continue reading Alcoholism and drug addiction don’t discriminate
