Drinking and Problematic Drinking 1. Alcohol: Are all drinks created equal? Alcohol is the most widely-consumed nonprescription drug in North America. A standard drink contains 17 ml (14 g) of pure ethyl alcohol (or ethanol). The volume of a drink does not necessarily correspond to how much alcohol is actually in the drink. Different types …
Phobias: what are they? Let’s begin with a description of what it might feel like to have a phobia of taking an airplane trip: “I’m scared to death of flying, and I never do it anymore. I used to start dreading if I had to take a plane trip a month before I was due …
What is Depression? There are various types of depression that psychologists see in daily clinical practice. First, there is Major Depression. Some of the symptoms of Major Depression include: Persistent sadness and / or difficulty enjoying activities Lack of energy / fatigue Problems with sleep (too much or too little) Problems with appetite (eating too …
How would CBT by a psychologist help my depression? Read More »
First, people who have social phobias should speak about their symptoms with their family doctors. The doctor should do an exam to make sure that another physical problem isn’t causing the symptoms. The doctor may refer them to a mental health specialist. Social phobia is generally treated with medication, cognitive-behavioural therapy or both. Medication The …
Are you afraid of being judged by others or of being embarrassed all the time? Do you feel extremely fearful and unsure around other people most of the time? Do these worries make it hard for you to do everyday tasks like run errands, or talk to people at work or school? If so, you …
Certain kinds of medication and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy have been shown to treat the symptoms of PTSD very effectively. Helping all patients with PTSD includes first ensuring the patient’s physical and psychological safety, and that they have access to the required medical care, and needed community resources for self-care and recovery. The patient’s level of functioning …
Let’s begin with a description of what the experience of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) might be like for someone affected: “I was raped when I was 19 years old. For a long time, it felt as though someone else had been raped instead of me. I was very aware that it had happened to me, …
How are obsessions and compulsions treated? Combining medication with cognitive-behavioural therapy is usually considered the most effective way to treat the obsessions and compulsions seen in clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD. Several medications are available to treat OCD. These medications are also often effective for treating other kinds of anxiety as well as depression, which are …
Obsessions and compulsions Let’s begin with a description of what obsessions and compulsions might feel like for someone affected: “My rituals invaded every aspect of my life. There was counting; counting really bothered me a lot. I would wash my hair three times as opposed to once because three was a good luck number and …
Suicide can be a heavy and frightening subject. Knowing someone who has attempted or died by suicide can be shocking and extremely sad. Far more people die by suicide each year than are murdered. The latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that almost 40 thousand suicide deaths were reported …
