5 Things To Know About Psychological Testing
When you hear the word “testing,” what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s pencils, papers and lists of questions designed to measure how much you know about a subject. Beyond students and school, you might think of medical tests involving needles, imaging, and waiting for results. But what is “psychological testing,” and what does it mean if it’s been recommended for you? While it might seem scary or mysterious, testing is a typical part of a comprehensive psychological evaluation and is nothing to fear. Here are five things to know about psychological testing and its benefits: 1. The Goal Is Understanding [...]
How to Increase Awareness of Depression and Suicide in Everyday Life
In the past few decades, the scientific understanding of mental health has changed drastically. Conditions like substance use disorders, bipolar disorders, depression and anxiety used to be considered moral failures or character flaws. Only a century ago, those with mental illnesses were excluded and treated with isolation or sent to asylums. Even though our understanding of mental illness has improved, there is still a social stigma associated with it. There are still common misconceptions about the origins and behaviors of mental health disorders, which can lead to poor treatment and discrimination on personal and institutional levels. For those who [...]
The Dangers of Untreated Mental Illness
Millions of Americans suffer from mental illness every year. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 43.8 million adults in the United States experience mental illness annually. Around 10 million people suffer from a mental illness that severely interferes with major life activities. Sadly, more than half of these mental illnesses go untreated, leaving adults and children unnecessarily suffering from symptoms. The reasons why people don’t seek treatment are vast. The stigma and shame around receiving treatment can keep people from getting help. Poverty or embarrassment can also keep someone from asking for assistance. It may be difficult [...]
Supporting Your Spouse Suffering from Anxiety
All marriages have their challenges, and supporting a partner with anxiety is common trial couples face. In fact, the American Psychological Association states that 30 percent of American adults will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetimes, and anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition. Thus, many people experience the obstacle of helping a loved one manage an anxiety disorder, although it's infrequently discussed. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia or a specific phobia, you're not alone. In this article, we'll explore some expert tips and tricks [...]
Warning Signs of Psychiatric Illness in Adults
While there is more awareness surrounding mental illness than ever before, it can still be difficult to identify symptoms within yourself or loved ones. Here at High Focus Centers, we’re focused on not only helping those with mental health issues and disorders, but on educating them so that they can better help themselves. Here are a few warning signs of psychiatric illness to be aware of in adults. Most Common Symptoms and Warning Signs One of the first things to understand when it comes to mental illness is that it’s best not to be alarmed when one shows just a [...]
How Can I Support a Loved One Struggling With Mental Illness?
The concept of mental illness is complex, with each mental health disorder impacting the brain in a unique way. Mental illnesses, therefore, can be difficult to understand from a purely educational level – but when your loved one is impacted with a mental health disorder and complicated emotions come into play as a result, you may find yourself even more frustrated with the topic. While we don't wish to see any of our loved ones struggle with anything, least of all a mental health disorder, if this is your reality, it's important to remember there are so many ways you [...]
6 Ways to Reduce Stress At Work
Workplace stress is a concept most if not all, adult Americans are familiar with. We spend the majority of the hours of our week at work, and if those hours are perpetually, significantly stressful, then our overall quality of life is going to feel anxious and stressful. Unfortunately, we can't simply will away our stress, nor is it feasible to rid our workplace of every single stress-inducing incident. What we can do, however, is know what triggers our stress and have an appropriate plan in place for what we're going to do when those moments arise. How to deal [...]
Will I Be Admitted If I Take a Mental Health Evaluation?
If you are facing a mental health assessment, you are likely wondering what that entails. Deciding to seek counseling services to help you get your mental health back on track is incredibly brave, but feeling slightly overwhelmed with the unknown is completely normal. It's okay to have questions about mental health assessments and care – gathering as much information as possible beforehand will help you feel comfortable and empowered throughout the process. After all, the more you understand, the less you have to fear. In this article, we'll provide some basic information about the assessment process and discuss some possible [...]
Applying Mindfulness to Everyday Life
Life can become so busy that we sometimes realize at the end of the day that we were always living in another moment. Whether our thoughts were preoccupied with past mistakes or plans for the future, the rush and hustle of our modern culture can pull us out of really living our lives. Struggling to live in the moment leaves us feeling disconnected and discontent. A lack of awareness and groundedness in our moment-by-moment lives can lead to anxiety, depression and overall reduced quality of life. Mindful living can work as an antidote to these feelings, but bringing a sense [...]
Addressing Past Trauma: Do You Need to Seek Help?
Learn about trauma and how it can profoundly affect your life, and the signs for when it's time to seek professional help when addressing past trauma.
A Closer Look at the Most Common Psychiatric Disorders
Most, if not all, of us, are familiar with the words "anxiety," "depression" and "PTSD." But not all of us are completely familiar with what each of these disorders actually entails. We may be familiar with the stereotypes of these disorders – such as the assumption that someone battling depression is always sad – but knowledge is otherwise limited. Because so many people in our world today actually have a diagnosable psychiatric illness, it's important to understand what exactly that is, what kinds of mental illnesses there are and where to find the right treatment for it, if needed. What [...]
What is Intensive Trauma Therapy?
Many people are familiar with the traditional concept of trauma being a result of fighting in a war or experiencing violence of some kind. But the truth is, trauma and our understanding of it, has evolved rapidly in recent years; and, as a direct result, so have the methods of addressing and treating those who have been the victim of a traumatic experience. When it comes to trauma, it is crucial to have a mental health professional guiding you or your loved one through the right treatment program so that the root cause of the trauma, and any other [...]
