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Many people have been helped by professionals who make use of the labels and categories of mental health issues detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM.
But many critics question the institutionalized categorizing of so much human behavior as “disorder” instead of ordinary experience, healthy divergence or even aspects of giftedness.
Labels [...]
Our Complex Love Affair With Designer Consciousness
From Medical News Today
The spectacular increase in the use of psychiatric drugs over the past 50 years involved what a University at Buffalo historian calls “a massive break with what we consider ‘normal’ mental health,” one linked to myriad social and cultural changes in America.
“Happy Pills in America: From [...]
![Excessive Internet Use Is Linked to Depression [or not]](http://www.addictioninfo.org/content_images/internet3.jpg)
ScienceDaily
People who spend a lot of time browsing the Internet are more likely to show depressive symptoms, according to the first large-scale study of its kind in the West by University of Leeds psychologists.
Researchers found striking evidence that some users have developed a compulsive internet habit, whereby they replace real-life social interaction with online chat [...]
Psychotherapist Sarah Chana Radcliffe practices emotionally focused therapy, process experiential psychotherapy, energy psychology, EMDR, and cognitive behavioral therapy. In this excerpt from a Shrink Rap Radio podcast, she talks about EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), Holosync and some other approaches to personal development and healing.
See the post to hear an excerpt from her podcast interview: Psychotherapist [...]
The film Poppy Shakespeare, based on Clare Allen’s novel, takes us down a cinematic rabbit hole into north London’s fictional Dorothy Fish day hospital where the clearly ’sane’ Poppy, played by Naomi Harris, has been mysteriously committed to a compulsory day-program for the mentally ill.
In a psychiatric Catch 22, she must prove herself [...]
“When you’re in the midst of depression, that’s the scariest thing — it seems that you’re going to feel like that forever. The pain created by depression kills almost 1 million people a year. It almost killed me, and it did kill my aunt.
“If I can give just one person hope that there’s an end [...]
Do you ever feel depressed, anxious, obsessed, compulsive, too sensitive – or just out of it? Does that mean you’re really crazy? What does ‘crazy’ mean anymore, with so many categories of mental disorder? What does ‘normal’ even mean?
Peter D. Kramer, clinical professor of psychiatry at Brown University, notes “Diagnostic labels are proliferating, and mental [...]
In this excerpt from the article Eleven Ways to Be Your Own Therapist, from his website, Essays for the Enlightenment Seeker – Healing from Childhood Trauma, Psychotherapist Daniel Mackler speaks about nurturing our ability to know and take care of ourselves by journaling:
“1. KEEP A JOURNAL: Journaling – that is, writing down the truth of [...]
Here is a sampling from the article “Perfectionism and Depression: What to Do When Being a Perfectionist Drags You Down,” by Sedona Training Associates staff and Hale Dwoskin:
Do you ever think the following self-limiting beliefs?
* It’s not OK to make a mistake
* People will not like me if I’m not perfect
* I’ll avoid anything I [...]
The film Mystical Brain reveals the exploratory work of a team from the University of Montreal who seek to understand the states of grace experienced by mystics and those who meditate.
Filmmaker Isabelle Raynauld offers up scientific research, which proposes that mystical ecstasy is a transformative experience and could to contribute to people’s psychic and physical [...]
In her article, 9 Holiday Depression Busters, Theresa Borchard shows how to keep stress levels low and depression and anxiety at bay over the holidays.
Her 9 tips run from the serious “Avoid Toxic People,” and “Make Your Own Traditions,” to the seemingly frivolous, but ingenious, “Travel With Polyester, Not Linen.”
Here’s a sample:
#9: Exercise Your Funny [...]
Chocolate could be more than just a welcome distraction, especially from holiday stress. It may have a calming effect on our anxiety.
An ounce and a half a day keeps the stress away
According to Dark Chocolate: The New Antianxiety Drug, by Dr. Mercola, “the use of chocolate as a cure for emotional stress has gotten new [...]
Deepak Chopra is author of Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul.
Video from Wilddivine.com.
“The exercises in Healing Rhythms affect not only the longevity of your life, but the quality of your life.” Andrew Weil M.D., Complementary Health Practitioner.
“Leading the way… Games that promote health.” BusinessWeek
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Meditation and mindfulness articles
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stress relief, programs for [...]
Being exceptional is by definition to be out of the ordinary, not normal in some notable ways, and according to some common standards of behavior or values.
Processing information much faster, for example, or being able to generate many more creative and unusual ideas than most people, or being highly sensitive.
Looking in a direction other than [...]
From How James Ellroy lost his mind, The Week, October 8, 2009.
In 2001 the best-selling noir novelist had a nervous breakdown while on a book tour.
James Ellroy has an intimate knowledge of despair, says Sean Woods in Rolling Stone.
In 2001 he was at the top of his professional game, a best-selling noir novelist with a [...]
From article No-Thinking Zone, By Derrick Carpenter, Positive Psychology News Daily
I over-think. A lot. And I bet many of you can relate.
My over-analysis rarely takes me to a higher state of being. In many cases, I get caught in spirals of “What if…?” and “If it wasn’t for…” that spin me around until I’m exhausted [...]
From article: Artist Mark Bradford, USC’s Elyn Saks win MacArthur grants, By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2009.
USC law professor Elyn Saks is among the 24 winners of this year’s “genius” grants from the MacArthur Foundation.
Her own battle with schizophrenia has informed her advocacy for those suffering from mental illness.
She kept [...]
This is by Kristin from the Candy Sandwich blog. See some related TalentDevelop links at the end.
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace [...]
Gina Trapani is a “Blogger and software developer. Commander in Chief of my one-woman army.” (@ginatrapani profile)
In a New York Times interview, she talks about work and purpose, among other topics.
Q. You work at the intersection of good work habits and psychology or self-awareness. What’s a tip-off that a time management or productivity problem might [...]
A news story about two Caltech students who died of suicide in the weeks before the recent commencement made me wonder again: Do more gifted people die from suicide? Are high ability people more vulnerable?
[The image is a self-portrait by Sylvia Plath.]
Continued on High Ability.
“Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence…” Edgar Allan Poe
The notion that creative people are much more likely to experience mental health disorders is actually supported by research. And a number of writers propose that mental illness may even help nurture [...]
highly sensitive personality, highly sensitive people books, emotional overload
“May you live in interesting times” is reputed to be an ancient Chinese proverb and curse. We are certainly in an amazing period of history, with wonderful changes and opportunities for social and personal growth – but also with much cause for overwhelm, especially if you are [...]
“Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got.” Janis Joplin
One form of compromise is learned helplessness – an emotional and behavioral response in which a human being (or other animal) has learned to “give up” or act as if they are helpless, and loses motivation to act in their own best interest in a situation, even [...]
A fate worse than death
Speaking in front of an audience is reportedly more fearsome than death. It doesn’t have to be a crowd – simply another person.
But an audience of any size can be helpful in encouraging our creative expression and personal development – more so if we can be relaxed and authentic.
In his article [...]
The latest form of bibliotherapy
Being mindfully aware of our reactions to movies can be a potent way to explore our inner life, and enhance our mental health and personal development.
A Psychology Today article, Reel Therapy by John W. Hesley, notes, “Although people might be surprised when a therapist recommends a movie, using fiction as a [...]
Excerpts from article Art and Happiness, by painter Robert Genn :
In the recently published “Against Happiness,” popular writer Eric Wilson disparages our current love affair with putting on a happy face.
With our “feel good” culture and the widespread use of happy drugs, everybody’s trying to be cheerful and there are no decent dollops of [...]
