What Causes Phobias
Phobias. While some people believe we all have them, the truth is they are not that common. It is estimated that less than 20% of the population in the United States have phobias. The confusion comes about because a phobia isn’t just a fear of something, it is an excessive, irrational, uncontrollable fear of something. A person with a phobia generally knows their degree of fear is excessive, but cannot control their response. They will often put themselves in greater danger than what they fear to avoid what they fear. For instance, someone...
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5 Ways To Face Your Fear Of Heights
Acrophobia, more commonly known as the fear of heights, ranges from mild to extreme. In extreme cases a fear of heights can prevent someone from living a normal life, preventing them from so much as climbing a flight of stairs. There are many ways to work through a fear of heights. At the root of all of them is a need to know what causes the fear, from an inborn phobia to PTSD the cause will help direct the treatment. Here are 5 ways to help you past your fear of heights: Heart Assisted Therapy Some people manifest their PTSD as a fear of...
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5 Ways Sports Psychology Enhances Performance
Having trouble getting your head in the game? Sports psychology can have profound impact on athletes’ mental well-being and physical performance. Here are five benefits of sports psychology: Sports psychology strengthens athletes’ self-confidence. Negative self-talk, doubts, and other distractions that pull athletes out of the moment can severely impact performance. A sports psychology professional can offer athletes strategies to deal with negative mental habits, allowing athletes to be fully present during matches, games and competitions so...
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When Does a Case of the Blues Become Depression
From time to time, everyone encounters periods of sadness in their lives. It’s a normal human emotion and an unfortunate but unavoidable part of life. But how do you distinguish sadness from clinical depression? Typically, an individual becomes sad in response to a disappointing, painful or challenging experience or situation. When the situation resolves or goes away and the individual has time to heal, the sadness fades. Depression, however, does not necessarily require a difficult event or situation as a catalyst, and it doesn’t just...
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Sex/Porn Addiction Counseling
Sex addiction and porn addiction are becoming increasingly common today, though they are often misunderstood to be the same problem. Research shows that they are two distinctly different addictions, though neither of of them are currently labeled as “disorders” in the mental health system. For those whose lives are being negatively impacted in ways that prevent day-to-day functionality, treatment options are becoming more available and prevalent than ever before. What is sex/porn addiction? Sex addiction is commonly viewed as an intimacy...
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The State of Mental Health in Millennials
The State of Mental Health in Millennials According to a survey of over 2,000 Americans, aged 18 and up, (https://www.webpsychology.com/news/2015/10/08/depression-amongst-millennials-%E2%80%93-why-are-they-affected-higher-rates-232931) the Millennial Generation, defined as those born between 1978 – 1999, have seen a steeper increase in both stress and depression levels over the past couple of decades, than any of the generations before them. A study measuring depression across the age spectrum–traditionalists, baby boomers, Gen...
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Five Common Phobias (And How to Get Treatment)
Phobias are extreme, irrational fears of specific objects or situations. A person suffering from a phobia may experience disproportionately uncomfortable emotions such as panic or dread when confronted by the object of their phobia. These emotions can range from mild discomfort to debilitating fear and anxiety. No matter the severity, phobias can seriously impact an individual’s life and interfere with work, school, and social relationships. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, about 19 million Americans suffer from one or...
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5 Simple Ways to Boost Self-Compassion
Having self compassion can be a key skill for living a happy and fulfilling life. Self compassion means loving yourself and realizing that no one is perfect. Negative thoughts about ourselves will decrease our overall happiness. Here are 5 simple ways to boost self compassion: 5 Self-Compassion Techniques Stop Self-Criticizing We often criticize ourselves without even realizing it. If you make a mistake, forgive yourself and learn from it, instead of self-criticizing. Treat yourself how you would treat others. If you criticize yourself in a...
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How to Deal with Social Anxiety
Social anxiety can happen to an otherwise social butterfly. Individuals may find themselves at ease when talking to a big group of friends, but once they’re asked to give a speech in front of a crowd, anxiety sets in. People get nervous, their hands start to shake, and they trip over words that were otherwise easy to say. Fear of being judged – positively and negatively – cause many to suffer from social anxiety. Anxiety Therapy in Philadelphia Don’t let anxiety be crippling in your life. Contact an anxiety therapist in Philadelphia, PA...
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How to Improve Communication with Effective Listening Skills
For a relationship to thrive, effective communication is essential. But in today’s fast-paced world, we want instant gratification, and our relationships often wind up suffering as a result. Far too often, we find ourselves focusing on what we have to say, rather than turning our attention to listening to our partners and loved ones. Philadelphia Relationship Therapist Dr. Eric Levin, PhD, a highly experienced and expertly trained relationship therapist in Philadelphia, PA, has successfully transformed the communication styles of countless...
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4 Ways to Help Your Spouse with Depression
Committing to a relationship means you are there for your spouse through the good times and the tough times. If your spouse suffers from depression, the tough times can be overwhelming. You may find yourself dealing with feelings of helplessness as you struggle to guide your spouse out of each depressive state. Dr. Eric Levin, PhD, in Philadelphia, PA, has worked with many clients suffering from depression and advised their spouses on how to help their loved ones. Here are 4 ways to help your spouse with depression: Encourage your spouse to...
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5 Ways to Feel Happier Right Now
Have you ever wondered why some people just seem to be naturally happier than others? A variety of factors in your life affect your happiness, but research suggests that genetics accounts for about 50% of each person’s variation in happiness. Only about 10 to 20% of your happiness is based on life circumstances. In other words, happiness really does come more easily to some people than others. Philadelphia Depression Therapist The good news is that, according to research, 40% of your happiness is shaped by your own intentional behaviors....
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4 Ways to Improve Your Communication
Every intimate relationship has a happy, loving side, as well as the not-so-happy moments of disagreements. While it’s both normal and healthy for there to be some amount of occasional disharmony in a relationship, the bad times should not outweigh the good. In an “unhappy” relationship, ineffective communication tends to play a big part in creating an atmosphere of friction and separation. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help you and your partner get to the root of any problem without the debate turning into a battle. Philadelphia...
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