Acute social withdrawal, sometimes referred to as hikikomori, refers to an extreme version of avoiding interaction with, and spending time with, others. This includes avoiding people and activities that one might usually enjoy. Research suggests such withdrawal is caused by mental health and emotional struggles that a person might be experiencing, and it can also…

More and more people are getting their mental health information online. Lots of information on Tik Tok, for example, is valid, but there is also a lot of false and misleading information out there as well, especially in the age of COVID. And lots of what you read is just “sales talk” masquerading as valid medical advice. So, when…

An inner monologue is basically the conversation that we have with ourselves, in our own heads, as we go about our days. This process is natural and almost everyone undertakes it in some form. In fact, some people speak parts of their inner monologue out loud: we often refer to this as talking to oneself….

1: What is “sleep hygiene”? The term sleep hygiene refers to the practices that people undertake that affect their sleep experiences. Sleep has been proven to have an outsized impact on the quality of life and therefore the sleep hygiene you practice is very important. 2: What are some behaviors typically associated with poor sleep…

Emotional maturity is characterized by the ability to think through issues and interact with others in an appropriate manner, with the goal being to make a given situation better, not worse. The best way to do this is to accurately recognize emotions in yourself, as well as others, and respond constructively. Emotional maturity is usually,…

The news media have been covering ways to reduce stress – and whether “holding you hand over your heart” like actor Pablo Pascal can work in this regard. It’s important to understand that stress or anxiety causes your body to release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can in turn make you even more…