When we are suffering emotional pain or experiencing bewildering patterns of defeat with increasingly ruinous consequences, the last thing we want is more pain. We want respite and relief. And the relief we crave at such times is often some form of validation— whether from a friend, a family member,…
Feeling down and sad from time to time is a natural human response to life's stressors, however, if these feelings persist sadness can become clinical depression (also known as major depressive disorder). Are you depressed? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition) defines two conditions that support…
Low self-esteem can affect many areas of your mental health and many aspects of your life. We tend to be our own harshest critics. People who experience low self-esteem tend to feel less sure of their abilities, feel unlovable and unworthy, have less motivation, have difficulty expressing needs, and doubt…
Video games have earned something of a poor reputation in the field of mental health. They have been blamed for everything from criminal violence to depression to compulsive sexual behavior. And while it is true that video gaming, in conjunction with other factors, can become a problematic or maladaptive behavior,…