Study suggests streamlining strategies can help in managing emotions

Study suggests streamlining strategies can help in managing emotions

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The term “emotion regulation” describes the approach used by individuals to deal with their emotional experiences in an endeavor to improve their overall well-being. People consciously or unconsciously use a variety of strategies to cope with situations every day. Healthy coping strategies, like managing work-related stress by maintaining a balance between home and work, exercising, meditating, or indulging in a stress-busting activity help in regulating emotions effectively. On the other hand, unhealthy coping strategies, like abusing substances to get rid of depressive episodes may only aggravate the negative emotions. As a result, it becomes extremely important to build on effective coping mechanisms and strategies that can enhance the process of emotion regulation. Read more

Partner’s suicide leads to physical, mental disorders among surviving partner, suggests study

Partner’s suicide leads to physical, mental disorders among surviving partner, suggests study

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The death of a spouse or partner can cause great anguish to the surviving partner, but the loss of a partner due to suicide can have a devastating impact. A new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) suggests that individuals who deal with the aftermath of a partner’s suicide are at a higher risk of physical ailments such as cancer, liver cirrhosis and spinal disc herniation, along with mental health conditions such as depression, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse than the general population. The risk of self-harm and suicide is also high. Read more

Cycle of cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder

Cycle of cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder

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Many people go through extreme mood swings, ranging from depression to mania, which leaves them struggling with unusual sleep patterns, thoughts, activity levels and behavior. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2.6 percent of Americans live with this condition. Commonly known as bipolar disorder (BD), the mental disorder has symptoms that are hard to recognize in time. A person could have depressive thoughts one moment and could be absolutely ecstatic the other. Read more

National PTSD Awareness Month: Genes may indicate risks of developing PTSD after traumatic events, finds study

National PTSD Awareness Month: Genes may indicate risks of developing PTSD after traumatic events, finds study

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Individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event are often known to suffer from psychological distress after the incident. Such a reaction, which is diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is a common mental health problem whose symptoms include reliving the traumatic incident, flashbacks, avoidance of people and places which serve as reminders of the incident, and a constant agitated or hyperactive state. Read more

MRI scans detecting chemical imbalance may predict schizophrenia, finds study

MRI scans detecting chemical imbalance may predict schizophrenia, finds study

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A chronic and severe mental health condition, schizophrenia is characterized by a patient’s detachment from the real world with typical symptoms including hallucinations (apparent perception of something not present), delusions (unreal thoughts), unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking, and movement disorders. Despite its low prevalence in the adult population of the United States, schizophrenia exerts tremendous health, social and economic burden on patients, families, caregivers and society. Read more