Friday, March 28, 2025

Word of the Day - Abreaction (Catharsis)


Abreaction (Catharsis)
- Abreaction or Catharsis is the release of repressed emotions.  They are both psychological terms.  Abreaction Relates to the releasing of emotions to reacting to a traumatic event. Whereas catharsis has a much wider range that encompasses the release of emotions or letting go of built-up emotions.



Updated March 28, 2025
Originally published: January 22, 2017

Monday, March 17, 2025

Word Of the Day - Persecutory Delusions

 Persecutory Delusions - Occurs when a patient/client perceives that someone or something wants to harm   them.  They truly perceive that things are happening regardless of lack of evidence.  This symptom sometimes occurs with some mental health conditions.  It is a type of paranoia (Gillette, 2024).  Persecutory Delusion is common with Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder,  and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) https://youtube.com/shorts/e8-d_w4GueE?si=Z5nvKDo2TvdetuO6.  Persecutory Delusions

Reference:

Gillette, H.  2024.  Types of.Delusions in Schizophrenia?  Healthline.  Retrieved from.  https://www.healthline.com/health/schizophrenia/types-of-delusions-in-schizophrenia#delusions-overview.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Word of the Day - Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy



Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - is a Therapeutic technique that is based on behavior science and learning. ABA is a behavioral therapy that helps individuals with autism and other developmental disorders; it is a foundation based on the ideology that behaviors can  improved through positive reinforcement.   

Friday, February 28, 2025

Mental Characteristics of Anxiety - by Kimberly Swanson PsyM, LPC


Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders found within the clinical setting.  It is a characterized emotion that is dealing the with worry, stress, and the feeling  of being overwhelmed.  When a person is experiencing anxiety, they have a feeling of tension and worry and stressful thoughts (racing thoughts).  

Often times, anxiety occurs when there are changes that are occurring within the patients’ physical outside world.   Anxiety can also affect your body (health).  It can  also cause you to have acute and chronic health issues such as high blood pressure; high blood pressure is sometimes linked to this mental health disorder.

Sometime people feel tension from worrying, when they are responding from a preceived throught or threat (Mayo Clinic, 2025)  This can be linked to changes or anything such as changes in family dynamics, relationships, job loss, financial  issues, health issues, It can occur from any outside or outer stimuli. 

With anxiety, you have an intense fear of worrying.  Oftentimes people have issues with their sleep with anxiety (Holland, 2023).  They have  a hard time getting enough sleep and plenty of  rest. Anxiety can also be accompanied with physical tension and behavior; it can affects one’s cognitive ability as well. Often times people have a hard time thinking clearly, when they are going through these things. 

Anxiety can also alert you to danger,  a natural reflex such as “flight or fight”, used for survival (American Psychiatric Association, 2025).  Anxiety is also found in trauma such as PTSD.

 References

American Psychiatric Association (2025).  What are anxiety disorders?  Retrieved from  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders

Holland, K. (2023).  Everything you need to know about anxiety.  Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety.

Mayo Clinic (2025).  Anxiety disorders. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961


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