Anxious Times: The Impact of Political Polarization & Election Anxiety on Mental Health is Real
October 14, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
Political Polarization & Mental Health Election anxiety due to political polarization affects a significant portion of the U.S. population and has implications for mental health and well-being. Political anxiety is distinct from other forms of stress in that it is a shared experience that affects everyone in the country. According to surveys by organizations like […]
September 26, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
ARFID in Adults, Adult Anorexia, & Other Eating Disorders Written by Angela Derrick, Ph.D. and Susan McClanahan, Ph.D. with contributions by Alison (Ali) Mayer, NCC, LCPC. ARFID in adults, along with other eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia, are likely to go unrecognized in midlife stages (40-60 years old, give or take a decade) and […]
Unpacking the Limerent Object: The Unwitting Focus of Intense Desire
September 15, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
Limerence Definition Limerence is an intense emotional state of involuntary infatuation, sometimes romantic, but not always, characterized by obsessive thoughts, deep longing, and an overwhelming desire for emotional reciprocity from the person of interest, otherwise known as the limerent object. Unlike simple attraction or love, limerence often involves intrusive thoughts about the person, a compelling […]
High-Functioning Depression | Understanding the Symptoms
August 27, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
High-Functioning Depression Symptoms and Their Relationship to Burnout & Perfectionism. High-functioning depression, while not an official diagnosis, is a form of depression that is long-lasting and generally not as severe as major depressive disorder (MDD), though no less worthy or needful of treatment. Its persistence can lead to severe burnout or worsening depression symptoms over […]
Treating Emotional Dysregulation in ADHD | Embracing DBT Skills Can Help
August 15, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
Emotional Dysregulation from ADHD Symptoms, Anxiety, and Depression—Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is Here to Help. Regulating emotions effectively involves managing and responding to emotional experiences in a healthy manner. Therapy, particularly Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), tops the list as a therapy of choice for treating individuals who struggle with regulating emotions for a variety of […]
Atypical Anorexia: You Can’t Tell if Someone Has an Eating Disorder Just by Looking at Them
July 15, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
Atypical Anorexia: A Commonly Misunderstood Eating Disorder Atypical anorexia is a subtype of anorexia nervosa characterized by the same restrictive eating behaviors and psychological issues as typical anorexia but without the patient being underweight. Individuals with atypical anorexia can have normal or higher body weights, making it more challenging to diagnose due to weight stigma […]
The Fawn Response to Trauma: It’s Not Just Fight, Flight, or Freeze
July 6, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
The Fawn Response to Trauma Explained The fawn response is a trauma reaction in which individuals respond to perceived threats by engaging in people-pleasing behaviors in order to avoid conflict and ensure their safety. Fawning is considered a survival mechanism. It is one of the four primary trauma responses, alongside fight, flight, and freeze. How […]
Connectedness From The Viewpoint Of A Chicago Therapist
June 23, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
Featuring special guest writer SpringSource’s own Sarah Elfman, LSW. As humans, we have a basic need to feel connected. However, we are also inclined to avoid emotions, experiences, people, places, and things that we perceive as uncomfortable. When an individual has uncomfortable experiences that result in connection feeling unsafe, they may pull away to avoid […]
Liberation Psychology–Context Matters
June 17, 2024 SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders
Chicago Therapists Take a Holistic Approach to Mental Health Rooted in Liberation. In celebration of Pride Month, we thought it would be a great time to explore the principles of Liberation Psychology. It’s a model for empowerment, healing, and transformation that takes into account the social and historical context of our individual backgrounds and communities. […]
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