What is OCD? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by the presence of intrusive, unwanted, and repetitive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that cause significant distress and anxiety, and/or by the performance of repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that are intended to alleviate the anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. OCD…
Suicidal ideations are thoughts about wanting to end one’s own life. It can range from a passing thought or desire to a detailed plan for how one would go about taking their own life. Suicidal ideations can be a sign of severe distress and should not be taken lightly. It is important to seek help…
Most people have come across the term PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), a mental health disorder that develops after a person experiences a deeply traumatizing event, but very few are aware of its more complex sibling, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). While both PTSD and C-PTSD are caused by trauma, C-PTSD is often more severe and…
People may now express their personalities and share details about their life by creating their online presence on social media. One thing is apparent, though: the sharing, or “over-sharing,” of each person’s unique personal circumstances has contributed to the spread of negativity. This has led to an increase in doomscrolling. Continue reading to learn more…
Suicidal ideation is one of the most common precursors to suicide and is characterized by thoughts about taking one’s own life. Suicidal ideation can be either passive or active. So what is passive suicidal ideation, and how does it differ from active suicidal ideation?
At some point in our lives, we have all felt the urge to do things a certain way or the need to arrange things in a precise manner. For most of us, these are temporary “quirks” that come and go. But for those with OCD, these urges and thoughts to do things in a certain…
If you’ve suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, you’ve likely developed a handful of coping strategies. While these tools can get you through episodes and challenging moments, your body has still experienced a lot of stress. Prolonged stress can have negative effects on your health, one of which may be heart disease. Knowing the warning signs…
Imagine you are on your way to the grocery store when your chest starts to feel tight. You begin sweating and notice that you can’t seem to catch your breath. You may try to slow down your breathing, but you keep getting distracted by fearful thoughts about what’s happening to you. You wonder if you…
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly abbreviated as OCD, is a common mental health illness characterized by obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are distressing, unwanted thoughts, mental images, or urges that can cause a great deal of anxiety and emotional anguish. Conversely, compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental rituals that a person feels compelled to do to “neutralize” their…
Though post-traumatic stress disorder first appeared as an official diagnosis in the DSM-III (around 1980), PTSD is actually a mental health disorder that dates back much farther into human history. References to what we now know as PTSD can be found in ancient literature and historical texts. Learning as much as you can about PTSD…