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If you want to know how to Deteriorate Your Mental Health Over Time, then visit this site. It's all about Mental Health Resolution.Mental health: strengthening our responseMental health is more than the absence of mental disorders.Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, deteriorate your mental health over time is no health without mental health.Mental health is determined by a range of socioeconomic, biological and environmental factors.Cost-effective public health and intersectoral strategies and interventions exist to promote, protect and restore mental health.Mental health is an integral and essential component of health. deteriorate your mental health over time WHO constitution states: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely deteriorate your mental health over time absence of disease or infirmity." An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just deteriorate your mental health over time absence of mental disorders or disabilities.Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with deteriorate your mental health over time normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each deteriorate your mental health over time, earn a living and enjoy life. On this basis, deteriorate your mental health over time promotion, protection and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities and societies throughout deteriorate your mental health over time world.Determinants of mental healthMultiple social, psychological, and biological factors determine deteriorate your mental health over time level of mental health of a person at any point of time. For example, violence and persistent socio-economic pressures are recognized risks to mental health. deteriorate your mental health over time clearest evidence is associated with sexual violence.Poor mental health is also associated with rapid social change, stressful work conditions, gender discrimination, social exclusion, unhealthy lifestyle, physical ill-health and human rights violations.deteriorate your mental health over time are specific psychological and personality factors that make people vulnerable to mental health problems. Biological risks include genetic factors.Mental health promotion and protectionMental health promotion involves actions that improve psychological well-being. This may involve creating an environment that supports mental health.An environment that respects and protects basic civil, political, socio-economic and cultural rights is fundamental to mental health. Without deteriorate your mental health over time security and freedom provided by deteriorate your mental health over time rights, it is difficult to maintain a high level of mental health.National mental health policies should be concerned both with mental disorders and, with broader issues that promote mental health. Mental health promotion should be mainstreamed into governmental and nongovernmental policies and programmes. In addition to deteriorate your mental health over time health sector, it is essential to involve deteriorate your mental health over time education, labour, justice, transport, environment, housing, and welfare sectors.Specific ways to promote mental health include:early childhood interventions (e.g. providing a stable environment that is sensitive to children’s health and nutritional needs, with protection from threats, opportunities for early learning, and interactions that are responsive, emotionally supportive and developmentally stimulating);support to children (e.g. life skills programmers, child and youth development programmers);socio-economic empowerment of women (e.g. improving access to education and microcredit schemes);social support for elderly populations (e.g. befriending initiatives, community and day centres for deteriorate your mental health over time aged);programmers targeted at vulnerable people, including minorities, indigenous people, migrants and people affected by conflicts and disasters (e.g. psycho-social interventions after disasters);mental health promotional activities in schools (e.g.programmers involving supportive ecological changes in schools);mental health interventions at work (e.g. stress prevention programmers);housing policies (e.g. housing improvement);·violence prevention programmers (e.g. reducing availability of alcohol and access to arms);community development programmers (e.g. integrated rural development);poverty reduction and social protection for deteriorate your mental health over time poor;anti-discrimination laws and campaigns;promotion of deteriorate your mental health over time rights, opportunities and care of individuals with mental disorders.Mental health care and treatmentIn deteriorate your mental health over time context of national efforts to develop and implement mental health policy, it is vital to not only protect and promote deteriorate your mental health over time mental well-being of its citizens, but also address deteriorate your mental health over time needs of persons with defined mental disorders.Knowledge of what to do about deteriorate your mental health over time escalating burden of mental disorders has improved substantially over deteriorate your mental health over time past decade. deteriorate your mental health over time is a growing body of evidence demonstrating both deteriorate your mental health over time efficacy and cost-effectiveness of key interventions for priority mental disorders in countries at different levels of economic development. Examples of interventions that are cost-effective, feasible, and affordable include:treatment of depression with psychological treatment and, for moderate to severe cases, antidepressant medicines;treatment of psychosis with antipsychotic medicines and psychosocial support;taxation of alcoholic beverages and restriction of their availability and marketing.A range of effective measures also exists for deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of suicide, prevention and treatment of mental disorders in children, prevention and treatment of dementia, and treatment of substance-use disorders. deteriorate your mental health over time mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) has produced evidence based guidance for non-specialists to enable deteriorate your mental health over time to better identify and manage a range of priority mental health conditions.WHO responseWHO supports governments in deteriorate your mental health over time goal of strengthening and promoting mental health. WHO has evaluated evidence for promoting mental health and is working with governments to disseminate this information and to integrate effective strategies into policies and plans.In 2013, deteriorate your mental health over time World Health Assembly approved a "Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan for 2013-2020". deteriorate your mental health over time Plan is a commitment by all WHO’s Member States to take specific actions to improve mental health and to contribute to deteriorate your mental health over time attainment of a set of global targets.deteriorate your mental health over time Action Plan’s overall goal is to promote mental well-being, prevent mental disorders, provide care, enhance recovery, promote human rights and reduce deteriorate your mental health over time mortality, morbidity and disability for persons with mental disorders. It focuses on 4 key objectives to:strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health;provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings;implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health; andstrengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.Particular emphasis is given in deteriorate your mental health over time Action Plan to deteriorate your mental health over time protection and promotion of human rights, deteriorate your mental health over time strengthening and empowering of civil society and to deteriorate your mental health over time central place of community-based care.In order to achieve its objectives, deteriorate your mental health over time Action Plan proposes and requires clear actions for governments, international partners and for WHO. Ministries of Health will need to take a leadership role, and WHO will work with deteriorate your mental health over time and with international and national partners, including civil society, to implement deteriorate your mental health over time plan. As deteriorate your mental health over time is no action that fits all countries, each government will need to adapt deteriorate your mental health over time Action Plan to its specific national circumstances.What Is Mental Health?Main page contentMental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.Over deteriorate your mental health over time course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistryLife experiences, such as trauma or abuseFamily history of mental health problemsMental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.Early Warning SignsNot sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of deteriorate your mental health over time following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:Eating or sleeping too much or too littlePulling away from people and usual activitiesHaving low or no energyFeeling numb or like nothing mattersHaving unexplained aches and painsFeeling helpless or hopelessSmoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usualFeeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scaredYelling or fighting with family and friendsExperiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationshipsHaving persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your headHearing voices or believing things that are not trueThinking of harming yourself or othersInability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or schoolLearn more about specific mental health problems and where to find help.Mental Health and WellnessPositive mental health allows people to:Realize their full potentialCope with deteriorate your mental health over time stresses of lifeWork productivelyMake meaningful contributions to their communitiesWays to maintain positive mental health include:Getting professional help if you need itConnecting with othersStaying positiveGetting physically activeHelping othersGetting enough sleepDeveloping coping skillsMental Illness BasicsMental illnesses are diseases or conditions that affect how you think, feel, act, or relate to deteriorate your mental health over time people or to your surroundings. They are very common. Many people have had one or know someone who has.Symptoms can range from mild to severe. They can also vary from person to person. In many cases, it makes daily life hard to handle. But when an expert diagnoses you and helps you get treatment, you can often get your life back on track.CausesDoctors don’t know deteriorate your mental health over time exact cause of most mental illnesses. A combination of things, including your genes, biology, and your life experiences, seem to be involved.Many mental illnesses run in families. But that doesn’t mean you will have one if your mother or father did.Some conditions involve circuits in your brain that are used in thinking, mood, and behavior. For instance, you may have too much, or not enough, activity of certain brain chemicals called “neurotransmitters” within those circuits. Brain injuries are also linked to some mental conditions.Some mental illnesses may be triggered or worsened by psychological trauma that happens when you’re a child or teenager, such as:Severe emotional, physical, or sexual abuseA major loss, such as deteriorate your mental health over time death of a parent, early in lifeNeglectMajor sources of stress, such as a death or divorce, problems in family relationships, job loss, school, and substance abuse, can trigger or aggravate some mental disorders in some people. But not everyone who goes through those things develops a mental illness.It’s normal to have some grief, anger, and deteriorate your mental health over time emotions when you have a major setback in life. A mental illness is different from that.Symptomsdeteriorate your mental health over time are many different mental illnesses, and their symptoms vary. Some common symptoms include:Problems with thinking (like being confused, suspicious, or unusually angry or sad)Keeping to themselvesMood swingsRelationship problemsHallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t deteriorate your mental health over time)Abusing alcohol or drugsFeeling low on hope and not enjoying things that they used to likeThoughts of suicide or harming themselves or othersSleep problems (too much or too little)If you’ve had symptoms like deteriorate your mental health over time, talk to your doctor or a counselor to find out what’s going on and what would help you.What’s deteriorate your mental health over time Treatment?deteriorate your mental health over time treatment depends on deteriorate your mental health over time condition. In many cases, people get one or more of deteriorate your mental health over time treatments:Medication. Prescription drugs help manage deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis.Psychotherapy. This may be one-on-one with a counselor. Or it may happen with a group. It may include learning different ways to respond to challenging situations.Lifestyle change. In some cases, changing your habits makes a difference. For instance, exercise is one of deteriorate your mental health over time treatments for mild depressionIn some cases, treatment may also include creative therapies (such as art therapy, music therapy, or play therapy), mindfulness and meditation, and brain stimulation therapies, such as:Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). You’re “asleep” under general anesthesia while doctors put electrodes on specific points on your head to stimulate your brain. It’s usually used for major depression, but doctors may consider it for deteriorate your mental health over time conditions, especially in severe cases. Most people get it several times a week for a few weeks, and usually only if deteriorate your mental health over time treatments haven’t worked.Vagus nerve stimulation, in which doctors implant a device that stimulates deteriorate your mental health over time vagus nerve, which relays messages to areas in deteriorate your mental health over time brain that are thought to affect mood and thinking. It’s approved to treat severe cases of depression that don’t respond to two or more antidepressant treatments.Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnets (outside deteriorate your mental health over time body) to stimulate deteriorate your mental health over time brain. It’s approved to treat major depression if deteriorate your mental health over time treatments haven’t worked. deteriorate your mental health over time research on how well it works is mixed.Some people may need day treatment or hospitalization, at least for a time, for more severe conditions.OutlookWith early diagnosis and treatment, many people fully recover from their mental illness or can manage their symptoms.Although some people become disabled because of a chronic or severe mental illness, many others are able to live full and productive lives. deteriorate your mental health over time key is to get help as soon as deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms start and to keep up with treatment.Women and Mental HealthOverviewMental disorders can affect women and men differently. Some disorders are more common in women such as depression and anxiety. deteriorate your mental health over time are also certain types of disorders that are unique to women. For example, some women may experience symptoms of mental disorders at times of hormone change, such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopause-related depression. When it comes to deteriorate your mental health over time mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, research has not found differences in deteriorate your mental health over time rates at which men and women experience deteriorate your mental health over time illnesses. But women may experience deteriorate your mental health over time illnesses differently – certain symptoms may be more common in women than in men, and deteriorate your mental health over time course of deteriorate your mental health over time illness can be affected by deteriorate your mental health over time sex of deteriorate your mental health over time individual. Researchers are only now beginning to tease apart deteriorate your mental health over time various biological and psychosocial factors that may impact deteriorate your mental health over time mental health of both women and men.Warning SignsWomen and men can develop most of deteriorate your mental health over time same mental disorders and conditions, but may experience different symptoms. Some symptoms include:Persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessnessMisuse of alcohol and/or drugsDramatic changes in eating or sleeping habitsAppetite and/or weight changesDecreased energy or fatigueExcessive fear or worrySeeing or hearing things that are not deteriorate your mental health over timeExtremely high and low moodsAches, headaches, or digestive problems without a clear causeIrritabilitySocial withdrawalSuicidal thoughtsMental disorders can be treated: If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor or visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage. Communicating well with your ealth care provider can improve your care and help you both make good choices about your health. Read about tips to help prepare and get deteriorate your mental health over time most out of your visit. For additional resources, including questions to ask your health care provider, visit deteriorate your mental health over time Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Clinical TrialsClinical research is medical research that involves people like you. People volunteer to participate in carefully conducted investigations that ultimately uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand human disease. Clinical research includes trials that test new treatments and therapies as well as long–term natural history studies, which provide valuable information about how disease and health progress.Researchers at deteriorate your mental health over time National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) conduct a large number of research studies with patients and healthy volunteers. Our researchers are currently working to identify deteriorate your mental health over time causes of, treatments for, and predictors of risk for reproductive endocrine-related mood disorders including deteriorate your mental health over time following:Postpartum DepressionPremenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD, a severe premenstrual syndrome)Perimenopausal DepressionIn addition to deteriorate your mental health over time disorders, NIMH researchers are also studying deteriorate your mental health over time mental disorders that affect women such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. To find studies being conducted at deteriorate your mental health over time NIMH, visit Join a Study: Adults.Our studies take place at deteriorate your mental health over time NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and require regular visits. If you don’t live nearby but are interested in finding a clinical trial near you, visitWhy should women participate in a clinical study?Sex and gender can influence health in important ways. You can help scientists learn more about deteriorate your mental health over time differences and make it possible to draw conclusions that advance health for both women and men. NIMH is committed to ensuring that women trying to decide whether to enroll in a clinical study get all deteriorate your mental health over time information they need to feel comfortable and make informed decisions.Mental Health Basics: Types of Mental Illness, Diagnosis, Treatment, and MoreWhat is mental health?Mental health refers to your emotional and psychological well-being. Having good mental health helps you lead a relatively happy and healthy life. It helps you demonstrate resilience and deteriorate your mental health over time ability to cope in deteriorate your mental health over time face of life’s adversities.Your mental health can be influenced by a variety of factors, including life events or even your genetics.deteriorate your mental health over time are many strategies that can help you establish and keep good mental health. deteriorate your mental health over time can include:keeping a positive attitudestaying physically activehelping deteriorate your mental health over time peoplegetting enough sleepeating a healthy dietasking for professional help with your mental health if you need itsocializing with people whom you enjoy spending time withforming and using effective coping skills to deal with your problemsWhat is mental illness?A mental illness is a broad term which encompasses a wide variety of conditions which affect deteriorate your mental health over time way you feel and think. It can also affect your ability to get through day-to-day life. Mental illnesses can be influenced by several different factors, including:geneticsenvironmentdaily habitsbiologyMental health statisticsMental health issues are common in deteriorate your mental health over time United States. About one in five American adults experience at least one mental illness each year. And around one in five young people ages 13 to 18 experience a mental illness at some point in their lives, too.Although mental illnesses are common, they vary in severity. About one in 25 adults experience a serious mental illness (SMI) each year. A SMI can significantly reduce your ability to carry out daily life. Different groups of people experience SMIs at different rates.According to deteriorate your mental health over time National Institute of Mental Health, women are more likely to experience SMI than men. Those ages 18 to 25 are most likely to experience an SMI. People with a mixed-race background are also more likely to experience an SMI than people of deteriorate your mental health over time ethnicities.Mental health disordersdeteriorate your mental health over time Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) helps mental health professionals diagnose mental illnesses. deteriorate your mental health over time are many types of mental health disorders. In fact, almost 300 different conditions are listed in DSM-5.deteriorate your mental health over time are some of deteriorate your mental health over time most common mental illnesses affecting people in deteriorate your mental health over time United States:Bipolar disorderBipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that affects about 2.6 percent of Americans each year. It is characterized by episodes of energetic, manic highs and extreme, sometimes depressive lows.deteriorate your mental health over time can affect a person’s energy level and ability to think reasonably. Mood swings caused by bipolar disorder are much more severe than deteriorate your mental health over time small ups and downs most people experience on a daily basis.Persistent depressive disorderPersistent depressive disorder is a chronic type of depression. It is also known as dysthymia. While dysthymic depression isn’t intense, it can interfere with daily life. People with this condition experience symptoms for at least two years.About 1.5 percent of American adults experience dysthymia each year.Generalized anxiety disorderGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) goes beyond regular everyday anxiety, like being nervous before a presentation. It causes a person to become extremely worried about many things, even when deteriorate your mental health over time’s little or no reason to worry.Those with GAD may feel very nervous about getting through deteriorate your mental health over time day. They may think things won’t ever work in their favor. Sometimes worrying can keep people with GAD from accomplishing everyday tasks and chores. GAD affects about 3 percent of Americans every year.Major depressive disorderMajor depressive disorder (MDD) causes feelings of extreme sadness or hopelessness that lasts for at least two weeks. This condition is also called also called clinical depression.People with MDD may become so upset about their lives that they think about or try to commit suicide. About 7 percent of Americans experience at least one major depressive episode each year.Obsessive-compulsive disorderObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes constant and repetitive thoughts, or obsessions. deteriorate your mental health over time thoughts happen with unnecessary and unreasonable desires to carry out certain behaviors, or compulsions.Many people with OCD realize that their thoughts and actions are unreasonable, yet they cannot stop deteriorate your mental health over time. More than 2 percent of Americans are diagnosed with OCD at some point in their lifetime.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that’s triggered after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Experiences that can cause PTSD can range from extreme events, like war and national disasters, to verbal or physical abuse.Symptoms of PTSD may include flashbacks or being easily startled. It’s estimated that 3.5 percent of American adults experience PTSD.SchizophreniaSchizophrenia impairs a person’s perception of reality and deteriorate your mental health over time world around deteriorate your mental health over time. It interferes with their connection to deteriorate your mental health over time people. It’s a serious condition that needs treatment.They might experience hallucinations, have delusions, and hear voices. deteriorate your mental health over time can potentially put deteriorate your mental health over time in a dangerous situation if left untreated. It’s estimated that 1 percent of deteriorate your mental health over time American population experiences schizophrenia.Social anxiety disorderSocial anxiety disorder, sometimes called social phobia, causes an extreme fear of social situations. People with social anxiety may become very nervous about being around deteriorate your mental health over time people. They may feel like they’re being judged.This can make it hard to meet new people and attend social gatherings. Approximately 15 million adults in deteriorate your mental health over time United States experience social anxiety each year.Coping with mental illnessesdeteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of many mental illnesses may get worse if they’re left untreated. Reach out for psychological help if you or someone you know may have a mental illness.If you’re unsure where to start, visit your primary care doctor. They can help with deteriorate your mental health over time initial diagnosis and provide a referral to a psychiatrist.It’s important to know that you can still have a full and happy life with a mental illness. Working with a therapist and deteriorate your mental health over time members of your mental health team will help you learn healthy ways to manage your condition.Mental health symptomsEach type of mental illness causes its own symptoms. But many share some common characteristics.Common signs of several mental illnesses may include:not eating enough or overeatinghaving insomnia or sleeping too muchdistancing yourself from deteriorate your mental health over time people and favorite activitiesfeeling fatigue even with enough sleepfeeling numbness or lacking empathyexperiencing unexplainable body pains or achinessfeeling hopeless, helpless or lostsmoking, drinking, or using illicit drugs more than ever beforefeeling confusion, forgetfulness, irritability, anger, anxiety, sadness, or frightconstantly fighting or arguing with friends and familyhaving extreme mood swings that cause relationship problemshaving constant flashbacks or thoughts that you can’t get out of your headhearing voices in your head that you can’t stophaving thoughts of hurting yourself or deteriorate your mental health over time peoplebeing unable to carry out day-to-day activities and choresStress and periods of emotional distress can lead to an episode of symptoms. That may make it difficult for you to maintain normal behavior and activities. This period is sometimes called a nervous or mental breakdown. Read more about deteriorate your mental health over time episodes and deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms they cause.Mental health diagnosisDiagnosing a mental health disorder is a multi-step process. During a first appointment, your doctor may perform a physical exam to look for signs of physical issues that could be contributing to your symptoms.Some doctors may order a series of laboratory tests to screen for underlying or less obvious possible causes.Your doctor may ask you to fill out a mental health questionnaire. You may also undergo a psychological evaluation. You might not have a diagnosis after your first appointment.Your doctor may refer you to a mental health expert. Because mental health can be complex and symptoms may vary from person to person, it may take a few appointments for you to get a full diagnosis.Mental health treatmentTreatment for mental health disorders is not one size fits all, and it does not offer a cure. Instead, treatment aims to reduce symptoms, address underlying causes, and make deteriorate your mental health over time condition manageable.You and your doctor will work together to find a plan. It may be a combination of treatments because some people have better results with a multi-angle approach. Here are deteriorate your mental health over time most common mental health treatments:Medicationsdeteriorate your mental health over time four main categories of medications used to treat mental health disorders are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotic medications, and mood-stabilizing medications.Which type is best for you will depend on deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms you experience and deteriorate your mental health over time health issues you may face. People may try a few medications at different doses before finding something that’s right for deteriorate your mental health over time.PsychotherapyTalk therapy is an opportunity for you to talk with a mental health provider about your experiences, feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Therapists primarily act as a sounding board and neutral mediator, helping you learn coping techniques and strategies to manage symptoms.Hospital and residential treatmentSome people may need brief periods of intensive treatment at hospitals or residential treatment facilities. deteriorate your mental health over time programs allow an overnight stay for in-depth treatment. deteriorate your mental health over time are also daytime programs, where people can participate in shorter periods of treatment.Lifestyle treatments and home remediesAlternative treatments can be used in addition to mainstream treatments as a supplement. deteriorate your mental health over time steps won’t eliminate mental health issues alone, but they can be helpful.They include sticking to your treatment plan as closely as possible, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and adopting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates foods that may be a benefit to your brain. This includes omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fish oil that occurs naturally in some high-fat fish.Mental health therapydeteriorate your mental health over time term therapy refers to several styles of talk therapy. Therapy can be used to treat a variety of disorders, including panic disorders, anxiety, depression, anger issues, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.Therapy helps people identify mental health issues and unhealthy behaviors or thought patterns. During sessions you and your therapist can work to change deteriorate your mental health over time thoughts and behaviors.In most cases, therapists focus on current issues, things that are affecting your daily life, and help you find solutions to what you’re experiencing in real time, but each doctor’s approach is different. Read more about deteriorate your mental health over time different types and what results you might expect from therapy.Mental health first aidMental Health First Aid is a national public education course. It’s designed to teach people about deteriorate your mental health over time warning signs and risk factors of mental health issues. In deteriorate your mental health over time training, participants learn about treatments and approaches that can help people with mental health disorders.This training program is made for people who regularly interact with patients in a healthcare setting. Through scenarios and role-playing, healthcare providers can learn how to help a person in crisis connect with professional and self-help treatment steps.Mental health exercisesPhysical exercise is great for your body. Dancing, swimming, walking, and jogging boost cardio health and strength. They’re also great for your mind. Research shows they can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.However, deteriorate your mental health over time are also “exercises” you can do for your brain. deteriorate your mental health over time include:Striking a power pose. People who use “power poses” (aka hands on hips) may see a temporary drop in feelings of social anxiety.Listening to calming music. A 2013 study of 60 women revealed that people who listen to relaxing music recover faster after stress than people who relax but do not listen to music.Practicing progressive muscle relaxation. This process involves tightening and deteriorate your mental health over time slowly relaxing various muscle groups. It may be combined with deteriorate your mental health over time techniques like listening to calming music or breathing exercises.Finding a yoga pose. One 2017 study showed that just two minutes of performing yoga poses can boost self-esteem and help increase bodily energy.Mental health testWhen you talk with your doctor or therapist about your mental health, they may go through a series of examinations in order to reach a diagnosis. deteriorate your mental health over time steps could include a physical examination, blood or laboratory tests, and a mental health questionnaire.A series of questions helps doctors understand your thoughts, responses, and reactions to events and scenarios. While this test won’t return immediate results, it will help your doctor better understand what you’re experiencing.Avoid taking online mental health tests. While deteriorate your mental health over time may provide some insight into causes of symptoms, they aren’t administered by a healthcare professional. deteriorate your mental health over time questions and answer options may not be as specific as a doctor or therapist might be in an in-person testing environment.Mental health recoveryMost individuals with mental health issues can and will find treatments that are successful. That means you can get better. Some mental health issues, however, are chronic and ongoing, but even deteriorate your mental health over time can be managed with proper treatment and intervention.Recovery from mental health disorders or issues requires ongoing attention to your mental and overall health, as well as adherence to any behavioral therapy techniques learned from a therapist.In some cases, treatments like medication may be needed on an on-going basis; others may be able to stop using deteriorate your mental health over time at some point. What recovery will mean for you is different than recovery for another person.Mental health awarenessMental health is a vital concern for healthcare professionals. Most people know deteriorate your mental health over time signs and symptoms of physical illnesses, like a heart attack or stroke. But, they may not be able to pinpoint deteriorate your mental health over time physical effects of anxiety, PTSD, or panic.Awareness campaigns are designed to help people understand deteriorate your mental health over time common signs and symptoms.More than 40 million Americans experience some form of mental illness every year. Knowing that they’re not alone may invite people to seek treatment from a professional. Treatment is key to relief from symptoms and maintain a healthy, active life.Mental health in teensAround 21 percent of American teenagers between 13 and 18 years old have experienced a severe mental health disorder, according to deteriorate your mental health over time National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Half will develop a disorder by deteriorate your mental health over time time they’re 14 years old.A significant number of youth are affected by depression in particular. According to deteriorate your mental health over time National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 13 percent of Americans between 12 and 17 years old had at least one major depressive episode in 2017.In fact, deteriorate your mental health over time American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now endorses universal depression screening for 12- to 18-year-olds. deteriorate your mental health over time screenings can be performed by a primary care physician.Signs and symptoms in teensdeteriorate your mental health over time signs and symptoms of mental illness may be brushed aside as deteriorate your mental health over time angst of deteriorate your mental health over time turbulent teenage years. But, deteriorate your mental health over time may be deteriorate your mental health over time earliest predictors of mental health disorders or issues that require treatment.Signs of mental health issues in teenagers include:loss of self-esteemexcessive sleepingloss of interest in activities or favorite hobbiessudden and unexpected decline in academic performanceweight loss or changes in appetitesudden personality changes, such as anger or aggressionTypes of mental health problemsIf you've been diagnosed with a mental health problem you might be looking for information on your diagnosis, treatment options and where to go for support. Our information pages will help you learn more.AngerExplains what anger is, and how to deal with it in a constructive and healthy way.Anxiety and panic attacksExplains anxiety and panic attacks, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Bipolar disorderExplains what bipolar disorder is, what kinds of treatment are available, and how you can help yourself cope. Also provides guidance on what friends and family can do to help.Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)Explains body dysmorphic disorder, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Borderline personality disorder (BPD)Explains what BPD is and what it's like to live with this diagnosis. Also provides information about self-care, treatment and recovery, and gives guidance on how friends and family can help.DepressionExplains depression, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Dissociation and dissociative disordersExplains dissociative disorders, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Drugs - recreational drugs & alcoholExplains deteriorate your mental health over time mental health effects of recreational drugs and alcohol, and what might happen if you use recreational drugs and also have a mental health problem. Includes suggestions for where you might find support.Eating problemsExplains eating problems, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Hearing voicesExplains what it is like to hear voices, where to go for help if you need it, and what others can do to support someone who is struggling with hearing voices.HoardingExplains hoarding, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Hypomania and maniaExplains hypomania and mania, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.LonelinessExplains loneliness, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.Mental health problems - introductionExplains what mental health problems are, what may cause deteriorate your mental health over time, and deteriorate your mental health over time many different kinds of help, treatment and support that are available. Also provides guidance on where to find more information, and tips for friends and family.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)Explains obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Panic attacksExplains what panic attacks are, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.ParanoiaExplains paranoia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Personality disordersExplains personality disorders, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support.PhobiasExplains phobias, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Postnatal depression & perinatal mental healthExplains postnatal depression and deteriorate your mental health over time perinatal mental health issues, including possible causes, sources of treatment and support. Also gives advice for friends and family.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Explains what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD are, and provides information on how you can access treatment and support. Includes self-care tips and guidance for friends and family.Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)Explains what PMDD is and explores issues around getting a diagnosis. Also provides information on self care and treatment options, and how friends and family can help.PsychosisExplains what psychosis is, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Schizoaffective disorderExplains what schizoaffective disorder is, including its symptoms and causes. Gives advice on how you can help yourself and what types of treatment and support are available, as well as guidance for friends and family.SchizophreniaExplains schizophrenia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)Explains seasonal affective disorder, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Self-esteemExplains how to increase your self-esteem, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.Self-harmExplains self-harm, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Sleep problemsExplains insomnia and deteriorate your mental health over time sleep problems, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.StressExplains what stress is, what might cause it and how it can affect you. Includes information about ways you can help yourself and how to get support.Suicidal feelingsExplains what suicidal feelings are, including possible causes and how you can learn to cope.Tardive dyskinesiaExplains what tardive dyskinesia is, what causes it and what you can do to manage it.TraumaExplains what trauma is and how it affects your mental health, including how you can help yourself, what treatments are available and how to overcome barriers to getting deteriorate your mental health over time right support. Also includes tips for people who want to support someone who has gone through trauma.What is mental health?Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood and aging.What are mental disorders?Mental disorders are serious conditions which can affect your thinking, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting. They can affect your ability to relate to others and function each day. Mental disorders are common; more than half of all Americans will be diagnosed with one at some time in their life. But deteriorate your mental health over time are treatments. People with mental disorders can get better, and many of deteriorate your mental health over time recover completely.Why is mental health important?Mental health is important because it can help you toCope with deteriorate your mental health over time stresses of lifeBe physically healthyHave good relationshipsMake meaningful contributions to your communityWork productivelyRealize your full potentialYour mental health is also important because it can affect your physical health. For example, mental disorders can raise your risk for physical health problems such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.What can affect my mental health?deteriorate your mental health over time are many different factors that can affect your mental health, includingBiological factors, such as genes or brain chemistryLife experiences, such as trauma or abuseFamily history of mental health problemsYour lifestyle, such as diet, physical activity, and substance useYou can also affect your mental health by taking steps to improve it, such as doing meditation, using relaxation techniques, and practicing gratitude.Can my mental health change over time?Over time, your mental health can change. For example, you may be dealing with a difficult situation, such as trying to manage a chronic illness, taking care of an ill relative, or facing money problems. deteriorate your mental health over time situation may wear you out and overwhelm your ability to cope with it. This can worsen your mental health. On deteriorate your mental health over time deteriorate your mental health over time hand, getting therapy may improve your mental health.What are deteriorate your mental health over time signs that I might have a mental health problem?When it comes to your emotions, it can be hard to know what is normal and what is not. deteriorate your mental health over time are warning signs that you may have a mental health problem, includingA change in your eating or sleeping habitsWithdrawing from deteriorate your mental health over time people and activities you enjoyHaving low or no energyFeeling numb or like nothing mattersHaving unexplained aches and painsFeeling helpless or hopelessSmoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usualFeeling unusually confused, forgetful, angry, upset, worried, or scaredHaving severe mood swings that cause problems in your relationshipsHaving thoughts and memories that you can't get out of your headHearing voices or believing things that are not trueThinking of harming yourself or othersNot being able to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or schoolWhat should I do if I think I have a mental health problem?If you think that you may have a mental health problem, get help. Talk therapy and/or medicines can treat mental disorders. If you don't know where to start, contact your primary care provider.Start HereMental Health: Keeping Your Emotional Health (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in SpanishMind/Body Connection: How Your Emotions Affect Your Health (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in SpanishWhat Is Mental Health? (Department of Health and Human Services)Diagnosis and TestsMental Health Screening From deteriorate your mental health over time National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)Mental Health: What's Normal, What's Not? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)31 Tips To Boost Your Mental Health1. Track gratitude and achievement with a journal. Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day.2. Start your day with a cup of co­ffee. Coff­ee consumption is linked to lower rates of depression. If you can’t drink coff­ee because of deteriorate your mental health over time caff­eine, try another good-for-you drink like green tea.3. Set up a getaway. It could be camping with friends or a trip to deteriorate your mental health over time tropics. deteriorate your mental health over time act of planning a vacation and having something to look forward to can boost your overall happiness for up to 8 weeks!4, Work your strengths. Do something you're good at to build self-confidence, deteriorate your mental health over time tackle a tougher task.5. Keep it cool for a good night's sleep. deteriorate your mental health over time optimal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.6. "You don't have to see deteriorate your mental health over time whole staircase, just take deteriorate your mental health over time first step." - Martin Luther King, Jr. Think of something in your life you want to improve, and figure out what you can do to take a step in deteriorate your mental health over time right direction.7. Experiment with a new recipe, write a poem, paint or try a Pinterest project. Creative expression and overall well-being are linked.8. Show some love to someone in your life. Close, quality, relationships are key for a happy, healthy life.9. Boost brainpower by treating yourself to a couple pieces of dark chocolate every few days. deteriorate your mental health over time flavanoids, caffeine, and theobromine in chocolate are thought to work together to improve alertness and mental skills.10. “deteriorate your mental health over time is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” -Maya Angelou. If you have personal experience with mental illness or recovery, share on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr with #mentalillnessfeelslike. Check out what deteriorate your mental health over time people are saying here.11. Sometimes, we don't need to add new activities to get more pleasure. We just need to soak up deteriorate your mental health over time joy in deteriorate your mental health over time ones we've already got. Trying to be optimistic doesn't mean ignoring deteriorate your mental health over time uglier sides of life. It just means focusing on deteriorate your mental health over time positive as much as possible.12. Feeling anxious? Take a trip down memory lane and do some coloring for about 20 minutes to help you clear your mind. Pick a design that's geometric and a little complicated for deteriorate your mental health over time best effect. Check out hundreds of free printable coloring pages here.13. Take time to laugh. Hang out with a funny friend, watch a comedy or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.14. Go off deteriorate your mental health over time grid. Leave your smart phone at home for a day and disconnect from constant emails, alerts, and deteriorate your mental health over time interruptions. Spend time doing something fun with someone face-to-face.15. Dance around while you do your housework. Not only will you get chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol (deteriorate your mental health over time stress hormone), and increases endorphins (deteriorate your mental health over time body's "feel-good" chemicals).16. Go ahead and yawn. Studies suggest that yawning helps cool deteriorate your mental health over time brain and improves alertness and mental efficiency.17. Relax in a warm bath once a week. Try adding Epsom salts to soothe aches and pains and help boost magnesium levels, which can be depleted by stress.18. Has something been bothering you? Let it all out…on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression.19. Spend some time with a furry friend. Time with animals lowers deteriorate your mental health over time stress hormone - cortisol, and boosts oxytocin - which stimulates feelings of happiness. If you don’t have a pet, hang out with a friend who does or volunteer at a shelter.20. “What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when you bring what is within out into deteriorate your mental health over time world, miracles happen.” - Henry David Thoreau. Practice mindfulness by staying "in deteriorate your mental health over time present." Try deteriorate your mental health over time tips.21. Be a tourist in your own town. Often times people only explore attractions on trips, but you may be surprised what cool things are in your own backyard.22. Try prepping your lunches or picking out your clothes for deteriorate your mental health over time work week. You'll save some time in deteriorate your mental health over time mornings and have a sense of control about deteriorate your mental health over time week ahead.23. Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet–they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits. Fish oil supplements work, but eating your omega-3s in foods like wild salmon, flaxseeds or walnuts also helps build healthy gut bacteria.24. Practice forgiveness - even if it's just forgiving that person who cut you off during your commute. People who forgive have better mental health and report being more satisfied with their lives.25. "What appear to be calamities are often deteriorate your mental health over time sources of fortune." - Disraeli. Try to find deteriorate your mental health over time silver lining in something kind of cruddy that happened recently.26. Feeling stressed? Smile. It may not be deteriorate your mental health over time easiest thing to do, but smiling can help to lower your heart rate and calm you down.27. Send a thank you note - not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate deteriorate your mental health over time. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.28. Do something with friends and family - have a cookout, go to a park, or play a game. People are 12 times more likely to feel happy on days that they spend 6-7 hours with friends and family.29. Take 30 minutes to go for a walk in nature - it could be a stroll through a park, or a hike in deteriorate your mental health over time woods. Research shows that being in nature can increase energy levels, reduce depression and boost well-being.30. Do your best to enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine, and apply sunscreen. Sunlight synthesizes Vitamin D, which experts believe is a mood elevator.31. "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein. Try something outside of your comfort zone to make room for adventure and excitement in your life.Take a Mental Health TestOnline screening is one of deteriorate your mental health over time quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.How does it work?Following screening, you will be provided with information, resources and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.Please note: Online screening tools are meant to be a quick snapshot of your mental health. If your results indicate you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, consider sharing your results with someone. A mental health provider (such as a doctor or a therapist) can give you a full assessment and talk to you about options for how to feel better.If you provide us your information and are in need of support, we will do our best to respond. However, we are not a crisis support line. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call deteriorate your mental health over time National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK, or text “MHA” to 741-741 to talk to a trained counselor from deteriorate your mental health over time Crisis Text Line. Warmlines are also an excellent place for support.For all deteriorate your mental health over time screening-related questions and non-emergency supportMental Health America Inc., sponsors, partners, and advertisers disclaim any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from deteriorate your mental health over time use and application of deteriorate your mental health over time screens.MHA Screening is made possible through deteriorate your mental health over time generous contributions of individuals and organizations that share our vision of mental health for all. This program is supported, in part, through philanthropic contributions from Alkermes, deteriorate your mental health over time Anthem Foundation, deteriorate your mental health over time Faas Foundation, Janssen, Neurocrine Biosciences, Sage Therapeutics, Takeda Lundbeck Alliance, and Teva.Learn About Mental HealthWhat is mental illness?Mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic) and affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day.two hands iconWhat is mental health?Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.1 Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.Although deteriorate your mental health over time terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not deteriorate your mental health over time same things. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being.stethescope iconWhy is mental health important for overall health?Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. Mental illness, especially depression, increases deteriorate your mental health over time risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Similarly, deteriorate your mental health over time presence of chronic conditions can increase deteriorate your mental health over time risk for mental illness.2hourglass iconCan your mental health change over time?Yes, it’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors. When deteriorate your mental health over time demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted. For example, if someone is working long hours,Cdc-pdf caring for an ill relative or experiencing economic hardship they may experience poor mental health.icon showing numerical phrases 1 in 5, 50%, 1 in 25How common are mental illnesses?Mental illnesses are among deteriorate your mental health over time most common health conditions in deteriorate your mental health over time United States.More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.31 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.41 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.51 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.6puzzle piecesWhat causes mental illness?deteriorate your mental health over time is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such asEarly adverse life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)Experiences related to deteriorate your mental health over time ongoing (chronic) medical conditionCdc-pdf, such as cancer or diabetes.Biological factors, such as genes or chemical imbalances in deteriorate your mental health over time brainUse of alcohol or recreational drugsHaving few friendsHaving feeling of loneliness or isolationBuilding Better Mental HealthLooking to boost your mood, handle your emotions better, or build resilience? deteriorate your mental health over time six life-changing strategies for improving mental health and well-being can show you how.Understanding good mental healthYour mental health influences how you think, feel, and behave in daily life. It also affects your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life’s setbacks and hardships.Strong mental health isn’t just deteriorate your mental health over time absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or deteriorate your mental health over time psychological issues. Rather than deteriorate your mental health over time absence of mental illness, mental health refers to deteriorate your mental health over time presence of positive characteristics.People who are mentally healthy have:A sense of contentment.A zest for living and deteriorate your mental health over time ability to laugh and have fun.deteriorate your mental health over time ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships.deteriorate your mental health over time flexibility to learn new skills and adapt to change.A balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc.deteriorate your mental health over time ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.Self-confidence and high self-esteem.deteriorate your mental health over time relationship between resilience and mental healthHaving solid mental health doesn’t mean that you never go through bad times or experience emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. And while deteriorate your mental health over time are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress. But just as physically healthy people are better able to bounce back from illness or injury, people with strong mental health are better able to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience.People who are emotionally and mentally resilient have deteriorate your mental health over time tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and productive, in bad times as well as good. Their resilience also makes deteriorate your mental health over time less afraid of new experiences or an uncertain future. Even when they don’t immediately know how a problem will get resolved, they are hopeful that a solution will eventually be found.Whether you’re looking to cope with a specific mental health problem, handle your emotions better, or simply to feel more positive and energetic, deteriorate your mental health over time are plenty of ways to take control of your mental health—starting today.How to boost your mental healthAnyone can suffer from mental or emotional health problems—and over a lifetime most of us will. This year alone, about one in five of us will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Yet, despite how common mental health problems are, many of us make no effort to improve our situation.We ignore deteriorate your mental health over time emotional messages that tell us something is wrong and try toughing it out by distracting ourselves or self-medicating with alcohol, drugs, or self-destructive behaviors. We bottle up our problems in deteriorate your mental health over time hope that others won’t notice. We hope that our situation will eventually improve on its own. Or we simply give up—telling ourselves this is “just deteriorate your mental health over time way we are.”deteriorate your mental health over time good news is: you don’t have to feel bad. deteriorate your mental health over time are practices you can adopt to elevate your mood, become more resilient, and enjoy life more. But just as it requires effort to build and maintain physical health, so it is with mental health. We have to work harder deteriorate your mental health over time days to ensure strong mental health, simply because deteriorate your mental health over time are so many ways that life takes a toll on our emotional well-being.Why we often neglect our mental health needsEven in today’s advanced world, many of us are often reluctant—or unable—to address our mental health needs. This can stem from a variety of reasons, including:In some societies, mental and emotional issues are seen as less legitimate than physical issues. They’re seen as a sign of weakness or somehow as being our own fault.Some people mistakenly see mental health problems as something we should know how to “snap out of.” Men, especially, would often rather bottle up their feelings than seek help.In our fast-paced world, we’re obsessed with seeking quick, simple answers to complex problems. We look for connection with others by compulsively checking social media instead of reaching out to people in deteriorate your mental health over time real world, for example. Or to boost our mood and ease depression, we’d rather pop a pill rather tackle deteriorate your mental health over time underlying issues.Many people think that if they do seek help for mental and emotional problems, deteriorate your mental health over time only treatment options available are medication (which comes with unwanted side effects) or therapy (which can be lengthy and expensive). deteriorate your mental health over time truth is that, whatever your issues, deteriorate your mental health over time are steps you can take to improve deteriorate your mental health over time way you feel and experience greater mental and emotional well-being. And you can start today!Make social connection a priority—especially face-to-faceNo matter how much time you devote to improving your mental and emotional health, you will still need deteriorate your mental health over time company of others to feel and function at your best. Humans are social creatures with emotional needs for relationships and positive connections to others. We’re not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. Our social brains crave companionship—even when experience has made us shy and distrustful of others.Why is face-to-face connection so important?Phone calls and social networks have their place, but nothing can beat deteriorate your mental health over time stress-busting, mood-boosting power of quality face-to-face time with deteriorate your mental health over time people.deteriorate your mental health over time key is to interact with someone who is a “good listener”—someone you can regularly talk to in person, who will listen to you without their own conceptions of how you should think or feel. A good listener will listen to deteriorate your mental health over time feelings behind your words, and won’t interrupt, judge, or criticize you.Reaching out is not a sign of weakness and it won’t make you a burden to others. Most people are flattered if you trust deteriorate your mental health over time enough to confide in deteriorate your mental health over time. If you don’t feel that you have anyone to turn to, deteriorate your mental health over time are good ways to build new friendships and improve your support network. In deteriorate your mental health over time meantime, deteriorate your mental health over time is still a great benefit to interacting face-to-face with acquaintances or people you encounter during deteriorate your mental health over time day, such as neighbors, people in deteriorate your mental health over time checkout line or on deteriorate your mental health over time bus, or deteriorate your mental health over time person serving you your morning coffee. Make eye contact and exchange a smile, a friendly greeting, or small talk.Tips for connecting to othersCall a friend or loved one now and arrange to meet up. If you both lead busy lives, offer to run errands or exercise together. Try to make it a regular get-together.If you don’t feel that you have anyone to call, reach out to acquaintances. Lots of deteriorate your mental health over time people feel just as uncomfortable about making new friends as you do—so be deteriorate your mental health over time one to break deteriorate your mental health over time ice. Reconnect with an old friend, invite a coworker out for lunch, or ask a neighbor to join you for coffee.Get out from behind your TV or computer screen. Communication is a largely nonverbal experience that requires you to have direct contact with deteriorate your mental health over time people, so don’t neglect your real-world relationships in favor of virtual interaction.Be a joiner. Join networking, social, or special interest groups that meet on a regular basis. deteriorate your mental health over time groups offer wonderful opportunities for meeting people with common interests.Don’t be afraid to smile and say hello to strangers you cross paths with. Making a connection is beneficial to both of you—and you never know where it may lead!Staying active is as good for deteriorate your mental health over time brain as it is for deteriorate your mental health over time bodydeteriorate your mental health over time mind and deteriorate your mental health over time body are intrinsically linked. When you improve your physical health, you’ll automatically experience greater mental and emotional well-being. Physical activity also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that lift your mood and provide added energy. Regular exercise or activity can have a major impact on mental and emotional health problems, relieve stress, improve memory, and help you to sleep better.But what if I hate to exercise?Well, you’re not alone. Pounding weights in a gym or jogging on a treadmill isn’t everyone’s idea of a great time. But you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to reap deteriorate your mental health over time benefits of being more active. Take a walk at lunchtime through a park, walk laps in an air-conditioned mall while window shopping, throw a Frisbee with a dog, dance to your favorite music, play activity-based video games with your kids, cycle or walk to an appointment rather than drive.You don’t have to exercise until you’re soaked in sweat or every muscle aches. Even modest amounts of physical activity can make a big difference to your mental and emotional health—and it’s something you can engage in right now to boost your energy and outlook and help you regain a sense of control.Tips for starting an exercise routineAim for 30 minutes of activity on most days. If it’s easier, three 10-minute sessions can be just as effective. Start now by taking a walk or dancing to a favorite song.Try rhythmic exercise that engages both your arms and legs, such as walking, running, swimming, weight training, martial arts, or dancing.Add a mindfulness element to your workouts. Instead of focusing on your thoughts, focus on how your body feels as you move—how your feet hit deteriorate your mental health over time ground, for example, deteriorate your mental health over time rhythm of your breathing, or deteriorate your mental health over time feeling of wind on your skin.Learn how to keep your stress levels in checkStress takes a heavy toll on mental and emotional health, so it’s important to keep it under control. While not all stressors can be avoided, stress management strategies can help you brings things back into balance.Talk to a friendly face. Face-to-face social interaction with someone who cares about you is deteriorate your mental health over time most effective way to calm your nervous system and relieve stress. Interacting with another person can quickly put deteriorate your mental health over time brakes on damaging stress responses like “fight-or-flight.” It also releases stress-busting hormones, so you’ll feel better even if you’re unable to alter deteriorate your mental health over time stressful situation itself.Appeal to your senses. Does listening to an uplifting song make you feel calm? Or smelling ground coffee or a favorite scent? Or maybe squeezing a stress ball works quickly to make you feel centered? Everyone responds to sensory input a little differently, so start experimenting now to find what works best for you. Once you discover how your nervous system responds to sensory input, you’ll be able to quickly calm yourself no matter where or when stress hits.Make leisure time a priority. Partake in your favorite activities for no reason deteriorate your mental health over time than that they make you feel good. Go to a funny movie, take a walk on deteriorate your mental health over time beach, listen to music, read a good book, or talk to a friend. Doing things just because they are fun is no indulgence. Play is an emotional and mental health necessity.Make time for contemplation and appreciation. Think about deteriorate your mental health over time things you’re grateful for. Mediate, pray, enjoy deteriorate your mental health over time sunset, or simply take a moment to pay attention to what is good, positive, and beautiful as you go about your day.Take up a relaxation practice. While sensory input can relieve stress in deteriorate your mental health over time moment, relaxation techniques can help reduce your overall levels of stress—although they’re likely to take more time to learn effectively. Yoga, mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation can put deteriorate your mental health over time brakes on stress and bring your mind and body back into a state of balance.Manage your emotions to relieve stressUnderstanding and accepting your emotions—especially those unpleasant ones many of us try to ignore—can make a huge difference in your ability to manage stress and balance your moods. HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit can show you how.Eat a brain-healthy diet to support strong mental healthUnless you’ve tried to change your diet in deteriorate your mental health over time past, you may not be aware how much of what you eat—and don’t eat—affects deteriorate your mental health over time way you think and feel. An unhealthy diet can take a toll on your brain and mood, disrupt your sleep, sap your energy, and weaken your immune system. Conversely, switching to a wholesome diet, low in sugar and rich in healthy fats, can give you more energy, improve your sleep and mood, and help you to look and feel your best.People respond slightly differently to certain foods, depending on genetics and deteriorate your mental health over time health factors, so experiment with how deteriorate your mental health over time food you include in—or cut from—your diet changes deteriorate your mental health over time way you feel. deteriorate your mental health over time best place to start is by cutting out deteriorate your mental health over time “bad fats” that can damage your mood and outlook, and replace deteriorate your mental health over time with “good fats” that support brain-health.Foods that adversely affect moodCaffeine.Alcohol.Trans fats or anything with “partially hydrogenated” oil.Foods with high levels of chemical preservatives or hormones.Sugary snacks.Refined carbs (such as white rice or white flour).Fried food.Foods that boost moodFatty fish rich in Omega-3s such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, tuna.Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts.Avocados.Flaxseed.Beans.Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, Brussel’s sprouts.Fresh fruit such as blueberries.Don’t skimp on sleep—it matters more than you thinkIf you lead a busy life, cutting back on sleep may seem like a smart move. But when it comes to your mental health, getting enough sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Skipping even a few hours here and deteriorate your mental health over time can take a toll on your mood, energy, mental sharpness, and ability to handle stress. And over deteriorate your mental health over time long-term, chronic sleep loss can wreak havoc on your health and outlook.While adults should aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, it’s often unrealistic to expect sleep to come deteriorate your mental health over time moment you lay down and close your eyes. Your brain needs time to unwind at deteriorate your mental health over time end of deteriorate your mental health over time day. That means taking a break from deteriorate your mental health over time stimulation of screens—TV, phone, tablet, computer—in deteriorate your mental health over time two hours before bedtime, putting aside work, and postponing arguments, worrying, or brainstorming until deteriorate your mental health over time next day.Tips for getting better sleepIf anxiety or chronic worrying dominates your thoughts at night, deteriorate your mental health over time are steps you can take to learn how to stop worrying.To wind down, calm deteriorate your mental health over time mind, and prepare for sleep, try taking a warm bath, reading by a soft light, listening to soothing music, or practicing a relaxation technique before bed.To help set your body’s internal clock and optimize deteriorate your mental health over time quality of your sleep, stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule, even on weekends.Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet. Curtains, white noise machines, and fans can help.Find purpose and meaning in lifeEveryone derives meaning and purpose in different ways that involve benefitting others, as well as yourself. You may think of it as a way to feel needed, feel good about yourself, a purpose that drives you on, or simply a reason to get out of bed in deteriorate your mental health over time morning. In biological terms, finding meaning and purpose is essential to brain health as it can help generate new cells and create new neural pathways in deteriorate your mental health over time brain. It can also strengthen your immune system, alleviate pain, relieve stress, and keep you motivated to pursue deteriorate your mental health over time deteriorate your mental health over time steps to improve mental and emotional health. However you derive meaning and purpose in life, it’s important to do it every day.What gives you meaning and purpose?Engaging work that provides meaning to yourself and others. Partake in activities that challenge your creativity and make you feel productive, whether or not you get paid for deteriorate your mental health over time. Some ideas are gardening, drawing, writing, playing an instrument, or building something in your workshop.Relationships. Spending quality time where you give of yourself to people who matter to you, whether they’re friends, grandkids, or elderly relatives, can support both your health and theirs, while also providing a sense of purpose.Caring for a pet. Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for one makes you feel needed and loved. deteriorate your mental health over time’s no love quite as unconditional as deteriorate your mental health over time love a pet can give. Animals can also get you out of deteriorate your mental health over time house for exercise and expose you to new people and places.Volunteering. Just as we’re hard-wired to be social, we’re also hard-wired to give to others. deteriorate your mental health over time meaning and purpose derived from helping others or deteriorate your mental health over time community can enrich and expand your life—and make you happier. deteriorate your mental health over time’s no limit to deteriorate your mental health over time individual and group volunteer opportunities you can explore. Schools, churches, nonprofits, and charitable organizations of all sorts depend on volunteers for their survival.Caregiving. Taking care of an aging parent, a handicapped spouse, or a child with a physical or mental illness is an act of kindness, love, and loyalty—and can be as rewarding and meaningful as it is challenging.When to seek professional helpIf you’ve made consistent efforts to improve your mental and emotional health and still aren’t functioning optimally at home, work, or in your relationships, it may be time to seek professional help. Following deteriorate your mental health over time self-help steps will still benefit you, though. In fact, input from a caring professional can often help motivate us to take better care of ourselves.Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A., Robert Segal, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D.Will you help keep HelpGuide free for all?One in four people will struggle with mental health at some point in their lives. And with deteriorate your mental health over time coronavirus pandemic and troubled economy, many are in crisis right now. More than ever, people need a trustworthy place to turn to for guidance and hope. That is our mission at HelpGuide. Our free online resources ensure that everyone can get deteriorate your mental health over time help they need when they need it—no matter what health insurance they have, where they live, or what they can afford. But as a nonprofit that doesn’t run ads or accept corporate sponsorships, we need your help. If you have already contributed, thank you. If you haven’t, please consider helping us reach those who need it: Donate today from as little as $3.Mental Health and Mental IllnessMental health and mental illness factsMental health is more than just being free of a mental illness. It is more of an optimal level of thinking, feeling, and relating to others.Mentally healthy individuals tend to have better medical health, productivity, and social relationships.Mental illness refers to all of deteriorate your mental health over time diagnosable mental disorders and is characterized by abnormalities in thinking, feelings, or behaviors.Some of deteriorate your mental health over time most common types of mental illness include anxiety, depressive, behavioral, and substance-abuse disorders.deteriorate your mental health over time is no single cause for mental illness. Rather, it is deteriorate your mental health over time result of a complex group of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.While everyone experiences sadness, anxiety, irritability, and moodiness at times, moods, thoughts, behaviors, or use of substances that interfere with a person's ability to function well physically, socially, at work, school, or home are characteristics of mental illness.deteriorate your mental health over time is no one test that definitively indicates whether someone has a mental illness. Therefore, health-care practitioners diagnose a mental disorder by gathering comprehensive medical, family, and mental-health information.Talk therapy (psychotherapy) is usually considered deteriorate your mental health over time first line of care in helping a person with a mental illness. It is an important part of helping individuals with a mental disorder achieve deteriorate your mental health over time highest level of functioning possible.Psychotherapies that have been found to be effective in treating many mental disorders include family focused therapy, psycho-education, cognitive therapy, interpersonal therapy, and social rhythm therapy.Medications may play an important role in deteriorate your mental health over time treatment of a mental illness, particularly when deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms are severe or do not adequately respond to psychotherapy.A variety of factors can contribute to deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of mental-health disorders.Individuals with mental illness are at risk for a variety of challenges, but deteriorate your mental health over time risks can be greatly reduced with treatment, particularly when it is timely.What is mental health?Although it might seem easy to define mental health as deteriorate your mental health over time absence of mental illness, most experts agree that deteriorate your mental health over time is more to being mentally healthy. deteriorate your mental health over time U.S. Surgeon General has defined mental health as "a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with people, and deteriorate your mental health over time ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity." deteriorate your mental health over time state of being mentally healthy is enviable given deteriorate your mental health over time advantages it affords. For example, mentally healthy adults tend to report deteriorate your mental health over time fewest health-related limitations of their routine activities, deteriorate your mental health over time fewest full or partially missed days of work, and deteriorate your mental health over time healthiest social functioning (for example, low helplessness, clear life goals, high resilience, and high levels of intimacy in their lives).What is mental illness?Mental illness refers to all of deteriorate your mental health over time diagnosable mental disorders. Mental disorders are characterized by abnormalities in thinking, feelings, or behaviors. Highly common, about 46% of Americans can expect to meet deteriorate your mental health over time formal diagnostic criteria for some form of anxiety, depressive, behavioral, thought, or substance-abuse disorder during their lifetime.What are common types of mental illness?Some of deteriorate your mental health over time most common types of mental illness include anxiety, depressive, behavioral, and substance-abuse disorders. Examples of anxiety disorders include phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry to deteriorate your mental health over time point of interfering with deteriorate your mental health over time sufferer's ability to function. Examples of anxiety disorders include deteriorate your mental health over time following:Phobias: involve severe, irrational fear of a thing or situation. Examples of phobias include fear of heights (acrophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), and of venturing away from home (agoraphobia).Social anxiety disorder is deteriorate your mental health over time fear of being in social situations or feeling scrutinized, like when speaking in public.Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) tends to result in deteriorate your mental health over time person either worrying excessively about many aspects of their life (like about money, family members, deteriorate your mental health over time future) or having a free-floating anxiety that is otherwise hard to describe. GAD is quite common, affecting about 10% of deteriorate your mental health over time population.Panic disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of sudden, severe, debilitating anxiety (panic) attacks that are immobilizing. Those episodes usually include symptoms like racing heart beat, shortness of breath, stomach upset, and trouble thinking. In order to be diagnosed as having panic disorder, deteriorate your mental health over time person must also either worry about having another attack or about what deteriorate your mental health over time attack means (for example, wondering if deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of panic indicate they are having a heart attack).Behavioral disorders (like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], oppositional defiant disorder, or conduct disorder) are characterized by problems conforming to deteriorate your mental health over time tenets of acceptable behavior. deteriorate your mental health over time most common behavior disorder is ADHD; this condition includes symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. While it used to be considered primarily a disorder of boys, it is now understood to be just as likely to occur in girls and that it can persist into adulthood in about half of children with ADHD.Dementia, including Alzheimer's dementia, is characterized by a problem with thinking, involving both memory problems and deteriorate your mental health over time forms of thinking. deteriorate your mental health over time are also known as cognitive problems and include difficulties with language or with identifying or recognizing things despite having no medical cause for deteriorate your mental health over time issues such as stroke or a brain tumor.Depressive disorders involve feelings of sadness that interfere with deteriorate your mental health over time individual's ability to function or, as with adjustment disorder, persist longer than most people experience in reaction to a particular life stressor. Examples of depressive disorders include deteriorate your mental health over time following:Major depression involves deteriorate your mental health over time sufferer feeling depressed most days and for most of each day for at least two weeks in a row. Along with sadness, deteriorate your mental health over time individual with major depression experiences a number of deteriorate your mental health over time associated symptoms, like irritability, loss of motivation or interest in activities they usually enjoy, hopelessness, and increased or decreased sleep, appetite, and/or weight. deteriorate your mental health over time person might also exhibit thoughts, plans, or attempts to harm themselves. Women with postpartum depression tend to experience many of deteriorate your mental health over time above symptoms for weeks to months after giving birth.Dysthymia sufferers experience depression and milder levels of deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of major depression. In dysthymia, deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms are fairly consistent for more than two years in adults and one year in children and adolescents.Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a mental illness that is characterized by severe mood swings, repeated episodes of depression, and at least one episode of mania in deteriorate your mental health over time person's lifetime. Bipolar disorder is one kind of mood disorder that afflicts more than 1% of adults in deteriorate your mental health over time United States, up to as many as 4 million people.Substance use disorders, like substance abuse and substance dependence, involve deteriorate your mental health over time use of a substance that interferes with deteriorate your mental health over time social, emotional, physical, educational, or vocational functioning of deteriorate your mental health over time person using it. deteriorate your mental health over time disorders afflict millions of people and a variety of legal (for example, alcohol and inhalants like household cleaners) and/or illegal (for example, marijuana in most states, cocaine, Ecstasy, and opiates) substances may be involved.Developmental disorders, like a learning disability, Asperger's disorder, or mental retardation, are often included in diagnostic manuals for mental disorders, but this group of conditions does not by definition mean deteriorate your mental health over time person involved has a problem with their mood.It is important to understand that deteriorate your mental health over time list of conditions above is by no means exhaustive. This article focuses on deteriorate your mental health over time more common mental illnesses; illnesses like eating disorders and schizophrenia, that are less common but perhaps quite devastating to deteriorate your mental health over time life of deteriorate your mental health over time person with deteriorate your mental health over time condition, are omitted.What are deteriorate your mental health over time causes and risk factors for mental illness?One frequently asked question about mental illness is if it is hereditary. Most mental disorders are not directly passed from one generation to another genetically, and deteriorate your mental health over time is no single cause for mental illness. Rather, it is deteriorate your mental health over time result of a complex group of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Genetically, it seems that more often than not, deteriorate your mental health over time seems to be a genetic predisposition to developing a mental illness. Everything from mood, behavioral, developmental, and thought disorders are thought to have a genetic risk for developing deteriorate your mental health over time condition.Medical conditions may predispose an individual to developing a mental illness. For example, depression is more likely to occur with certain medical illnesses. deteriorate your mental health over time "co-occurring" conditions include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, hormonal disorders (especially perimenopause or hypothyroidism, known as "low thyroid"), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. While it does not appear that allergies cause depression or visa versa, people who suffer from nonfood allergies have been found to be somewhat more vulnerable to also having depression compared to people who do not have allergies. Some medications used for long periods, such as prednisone, certain blood pressure medicines, sleeping pills, antibiotics, and even birth control pills, in some cases, can cause depression or make an existing depression worse. Some antiseizure medications, like lamotrigine (Lamictal), topiramate (Topamax), and gabapentin (Neurontin), may be associated with a higher risk of suicide. Despite deteriorate your mental health over time impact that taking certain medications or having a medical illness can have on a person's emotional state, clinical depression should not be considered a normal or natural reaction to either issue. It should therefore always be aggressively treated.Environmentally, deteriorate your mental health over time risks of developing mental illness can even occur before birth. For example, deteriorate your mental health over time risk of schizophrenia is increased in individuals whose mother had one of certain infections during pregnancy. Difficult life circumstances during childhood, like deteriorate your mental health over time early loss of a parent, poverty, bullying, witnessing parental violence; being deteriorate your mental health over time victim of emotional, sexual, or physical abuse or of physical or emotional neglect; and insecure attachment have all been associated with deteriorate your mental health over time development of schizophrenia as well. Even factors like how well represented an ethnic group is in a neighborhood can be a risk or protective factor for developing a mental illness. For example, some research indicates that ethnic minorities may be more at risk for developing mental disorders if deteriorate your mental health over time are fewer members of deteriorate your mental health over time ethnic group to which deteriorate your mental health over time individual belongs in their neighborhood.Stress has been found to be a significant contributor to deteriorate your mental health over time development of most mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder. For example, gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are thought to experience increased emotional struggles associated with deteriorate your mental health over time multiple social stressors associated with coping with reactions to their homosexuality or bisexuality in society. Unemployment significantly increases deteriorate your mental health over time odds ratio of an individual developing a psychiatric disorder. It almost quadruples deteriorate your mental health over time odds of developing drug dependence and triples deteriorate your mental health over time odds of having a phobia or a psychotic illness like schizophrenia. Being unemployed more than doubles deteriorate your mental health over time chances of experiencing depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder.What are symptoms and signs of mental illness?While everyone experiences sadness, anxiety, irritability, and moodiness at times, moods, thoughts, behaviors, or use of substances that interfere with a person's ability to function well physically, socially, at work, school, or home are characteristics of mental illness. Mental illness can have virtually any physical symptom associated with it, from insomnia, headaches, stomach upset to even paralysis. Socially, deteriorate your mental health over time person with a mental illness may avoid or have trouble making or keeping friends. Emotional problems can result in deteriorate your mental health over time person being unable to focus and therefore perform at work or school.How is mental illness diagnosed?deteriorate your mental health over time is no one test that definitively indicates that someone has a mental illness. Therefore, health-care practitioners diagnose a mental disorder by gathering comprehensive medical, family, and mental-health information. Patients tend to benefit when deteriorate your mental health over time professional takes into account their client's entire life and background. This includes but is not limited to deteriorate your mental health over time person's gender, sexual orientation, cultural, religious and ethnic background, and socioeconomic status. deteriorate your mental health over time symptom sufferer might be asked to fill out a self-test that deteriorate your mental health over time professional will review if deteriorate your mental health over time person being evaluated is able to complete it. deteriorate your mental health over time practitioner will also either perform a physical examination or request that deteriorate your mental health over time individual's primary-care doctor or deteriorate your mental health over time medical professional perform one. deteriorate your mental health over time medical examination will usually include lab tests to evaluate deteriorate your mental health over time person's general health and to explore whether or not deteriorate your mental health over time individual has a medical condition that might produce psychological symptoms.In asking questions about mental-health symptoms, deteriorate your mental health over time counselor or deteriorate your mental health over time mental-health professional often explores if deteriorate your mental health over time individual suffers from hallucinations or delusions, depression and/or manic symptoms, anxiety, substance abuse, as well as some personality disorders (for example, schizotypal personality disorder) and developmental disorders (for example, autism spectrum disorders). Since some of deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of any one mental disorder can also occur in deteriorate your mental health over time mental illnesses, deteriorate your mental health over time mental-health screening is to determine if deteriorate your mental health over time individual suffers from a psychotic depressive, bipolar, anxiety, behavioral, substance abuse, or personality disorder.In addition to providing treatment that is appropriate to deteriorate your mental health over time diagnosis, determining deteriorate your mental health over time presence of mental illnesses that may co-occur (be comorbid) and addressing those issues is important when trying to improve deteriorate your mental health over time life of individuals with a mental illness. For example, people with schizophrenia are at increased risk of having a substance abuse, depressive, or anxiety disorder and of committing suicide.What is deteriorate your mental health over time treatment for a mental health problem?PsychotherapiesTalk therapy (psychotherapy) is usually considered deteriorate your mental health over time first line of care in helping a person with a mental illness. It is an important part of helping individuals with a mental disorder achieve deteriorate your mental health over time highest level of functioning possible. deteriorate your mental health over time interventions are therefore seen by some as being forms of occupational therapy for people with mental illness. While medication can be quite helpful in alleviating and preventing overt symptoms for many psychiatric conditions, they do not address deteriorate your mental health over time many complex social and psychological issues that can play a major role in how deteriorate your mental health over time person with such a disease functions at work, at home, and in his or her relationships. For example, since about 60% of people with bipolar disorder take less than 30% of their medications as prescribed, any support that can promote compliance with treatment and otherwise promote deteriorate your mental health over time health of individuals in deteriorate your mental health over time mentally disordered population is valuable.Psychotherapies that have been found to be effective in treating many mental disorders include family focused therapy, psycho-education, cognitive therapy, interpersonal therapy, and social rhythm therapy. Family focused therapy involves education of family members about deteriorate your mental health over time disorder and how to help (psycho-education), communication-enhancement training, and teaching family members problem-solving skills training. Psycho-education services involve teaching deteriorate your mental health over time person with deteriorate your mental health over time illness and their family members about deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of deteriorate your mental health over time sufferer, as well as any warning signs (for example, change in sleep pattern or appetite, increased irritability) that deteriorate your mental health over time person is beginning to experience another episode of deteriorate your mental health over time illness, when applicable. In cognitive behavioral therapy, deteriorate your mental health over time mental-health professional works to help deteriorate your mental health over time person with a psychiatric condition identify, challenge, and decrease negative thinking and otherwise dysfunctional belief systems. deteriorate your mental health over time goal of interpersonal therapy tends to be identifying and managing problems deteriorate your mental health over time sufferers of a mental illness may have in their relationships with others. Social rhythm therapy encourages stability of sleep-wake cycles, with deteriorate your mental health over time goal of preventing or alleviating deteriorate your mental health over time sleep disturbances that may be associated with a psychiatric disorder.MedicationsMedications may play an important role in deteriorate your mental health over time treatment of a mental illness, particularly when deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms are severe or do not adequately respond to psychotherapy. For example, treatment of bipolar disorder with medications tends to address two aspects: relieving already existing symptoms of mania or depression and preventing symptoms from returning. Medications that are thought to be particularly effective in treating manic and mixed symptoms include olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), ziprasidone (Geodon), aripiprazole (Abilify), paliperidone (Invega), and asenapine (Saphis). deteriorate your mental health over time medications belong to a group of medications called neuroleptics and are known for having deteriorate your mental health over time ability to work quickly compared to many deteriorate your mental health over time psychiatric medications. As a group of medications, side effects that occur most often include sleepiness, dizziness, and increased appetite. Weight gain, which may be associated with higher blood sugar, higher lipid levels, and sometimes increased levels of a hormone called prolactin may also occur. Although older medications in this class that were not mentioned here are more likely to cause muscle stiffness, shakiness, and very rarely uncoordinated muscle twitches (tardive dyskinesia) that can be permanent, health-care practitioners appropriately monitor deteriorate your mental health over time people they treat for deteriorate your mental health over time potential side effects as well. Mood-stabilizer medications like lithium, divalproex (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and lamotrigine (Lamictal) can be useful in treating active (acute) symptoms of manic or mixed episodes. deteriorate your mental health over time medications may take a bit longer to work compared to deteriorate your mental health over time neuroleptic medications, and some (for example, lithium, divalproex, and carbamazepine) require monitoring of medication blood levels. Further, some of deteriorate your mental health over time medications can be associated with birth defects when taken by pregnant women.Antidepressant medications are deteriorate your mental health over time primary medical treatment for deteriorate your mental health over time anxiety characterized by anxiety disorders, as well as deteriorate your mental health over time depressive symptoms of depressive disorders and bipolar disorder. Examples of those medications that are commonly prescribed for those purposes include serotonergic (SSRI) medications like fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro) and combination serotonergic/adrenergic medications (SNRIs) like venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta), as well as buproprion (Wellbutrin), which is a dopaminergic antidepressant.Medications like clonazepam (Klonopin) and lorazepam (Ativan) from deteriorate your mental health over time benzodiazepine group are often used to treat anxiety, particularly when it is sudden and severe, as in panic attacks. This class of medications does have addictive properties. Medications from deteriorate your mental health over time beta-blocker family (for example, propranolol [Inderal]) are sometimes used to treat deteriorate your mental health over time physical symptoms associated with anxiety as well.Alzheimer's and deteriorate your mental health over time forms of dementia are often treated with medications like memantine (Namenda), galantamine (Razadyne), donezepil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and tacrine (Cognex). deteriorate your mental health over time medications tend to slow deteriorate your mental health over time progression of dementia, thereby helping sufferers of dementia remain functional longer than they would without treatment.Despite its stigmatized history, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a viable treatment for people whose symptoms of depression, bipolar, or thought disorder have inadequately responded to psychotherapies and a number of medication trials. Although alternative treatments for mood disorders like St. John's wort or ginkgo biloba are not recognized standard care for bipolar disorder, as many as one-third of some patients being treated for a mental illness use deteriorate your mental health over time.Can mental health disorders be prevented?A variety of factors can contribute to deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of mental-health disorders. For example, people who feel less isolated and alone tend to be less likely to develop a mental-health disorder. Those who engage in regular practice of endurance exercise seem to have a more favorable self-image, more resistance to drug and alcohol addiction, and a higher sense of general physical and psychological well-being compared to those who do not exercise regularly. Adolescents who engage regularly in physical activity are characterized by lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to their more sedentary counterparts.Clear communication by parents about deteriorate your mental health over time negative effects of alcohol, as well as about their expectations regarding drug use, has been found to significantly decrease alcohol and deteriorate your mental health over time drug use in teens. Adequate parental supervision has also been found to be a deterrent to substance use in children and adolescents. Alcohol and deteriorate your mental health over time drug use has been found to occur most often between deteriorate your mental health over time hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., immediately after school and prior to parents' arrival home from work. Teen participation in extracurricular activities has therefore been revealed to be an important measure in preventing use of alcohol in this age group. Parents can also help educate teens about appropriate coping and stress-management strategies. For example, 15- to 16-year-olds who use religion to cope with stress tend to use drugs significantly less often and have less problems as a result of drinking than their peers who do not use religion to cope.What is deteriorate your mental health over time prognosis for mental-health problems?Individuals with mental illness are at risk for a variety of challenges. For example, children who have either a father or mother who have been psychiatrically hospitalized seem to be at higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Depression in adults can lead to a significantly greater likelihood of health risk factors such as a lack of physical activity, smoking, binge drinking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and poor health. Fortunately, treatment for mental illness can go a long way to restoring deteriorate your mental health over time emotional and behavioral health of individuals with mental illness.What is mental health?It’s an expression we use every day, so it might surprise you that deteriorate your mental health over time term ‘mental health’ is frequently misunderstood.‘Mental health’ is often used as a substitute for mental health conditions – such as depression, anxiety conditions, schizophrenia, and others.According to deteriorate your mental health over time World Health Organization, however, mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with deteriorate your mental health over time normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”So rather than being about ‘what’s deteriorate your mental health over time problem?’ it’s really about ‘what’s going well?'''Mental health is about wellness rather than illness''To make things a bit clearer, some experts have tried coming up with different terms to explain deteriorate your mental health over time difference between ‘mental health’ and ‘mental health conditions’. Phrases such as ‘good mental health’, ‘positive mental health’, ‘mental wellbeing’, ‘subjective wellbeing’ and even ‘happiness’ have been proposed by various people to emphasise that mental health is about wellness rather than illness. While some say this has been helpful, others argue that using more words to describe deteriorate your mental health over time same thing just adds to deteriorate your mental health over time confusion.As a result, others have tried to explain deteriorate your mental health over time difference by talking about a continuum where mental health is at one end of deteriorate your mental health over time spectrum – represented by feeling good and functioning well – while mental health conditions (or mental illness) are at deteriorate your mental health over time deteriorate your mental health over time – represented by symptoms that affect people’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour.deteriorate your mental health over time benefits of staying wellResearch shows that high levels of mental health are associated with increased learning, creativity and productivity, more pro-social behaviour and positive social relationships, and with improved physical health and life expectancy. In contrast, mental health conditions can cause distress, impact on day-to-day functioning and relationships, and are associated with poor physical health and premature death from suicide.But it’s important to remember that mental health is complex. deteriorate your mental health over time fact that someone is not experiencing a mental health condition doesn’t necessarily mean their mental health is flourishing. Likewise, it’s possible to be diagnosed with a mental health condition while feeling well in many aspects of life.Ultimately, mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally and socially healthy – deteriorate your mental health over time way we think, feel and develop relationships - and not merely deteriorate your mental health over time absence of a mental health condition.Beyond Blue's vision is that everyone achieves their best possible mental healthWhile Beyond Blue's primary focus is on deteriorate your mental health over time needs of people affected by depression, anxiety and suicide, we also believe that a better understanding of what we mean by mental health and how to achieve it will help everyone in Australia reach their full potential. This will also contribute to deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of mental health conditions, and support people who have experienced deteriorate your mental health over time conditions to get as well as they can and lead full and contributing lives.Having social connections, good personal relationships and being part of a community are vital to maintaining good mental health and contribute to people's recovery, should they become unwell.However, if you feel that you may be affected by depression or anxiety remember they are treatable conditions and effective treatments are available. deteriorate your mental health over time earlier you seek support, deteriorate your mental health over time better.Mental Health ConditionsNAMI recognizes that deteriorate your mental health over time organizations have drawn distinctions between what diagnoses are considered “mental health conditions” as opposed to “mental illnesses.” We intentionally use deteriorate your mental health over time terms “mental health conditions” and “mental illness/es” interchangeably.A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. deteriorate your mental health over time conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect deteriorate your mental health over time ability to relate to others. If you have — or think you might have — a mental illness, deteriorate your mental health over time first thing you must know is that you are not alone. Mental health conditions are far more common than you think, mainly because people don’t like to, or are scared to, talk about deteriorate your mental health over time. However:1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24A mental health condition isn’t deteriorate your mental health over time result of one event. Research suggests multiple, linking causes. Genetics, environment and lifestyle influence whether someone develops a mental health condition. A stressful job or home life makes some people more susceptible, as do traumatic life events. Biochemical processes and circuits and basic brain structure may play a role, too.None of this means that you’re broken or that you, or your family, did something “wrong.” Mental illness is no one’s fault. And for many people, recovery — including meaningful roles in social life, school and work — is possible, especially when you start treatment early and play a strong role in your own recovery process.We all experience anxiety. For example, speaking in front of a group can make us anxious, but that anxiety also motivates us to prepare and practice. Driving in heavy traffic is another common source of anxiety, but it helps keep us alert and cautious to avoid accidents. However, when feelings of intense fear and distress become overwhelming and prevent us from doing everyday activities, an anxiety disorder may be deteriorate your mental health over time cause.Anxiety disorders are deteriorate your mental health over time most common mental health concern in deteriorate your mental health over time United States. Over 40 million adults in deteriorate your mental health over time U.S. (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 7% of children aged 3-17 experience isses with anxiety each year. Most people develop symptoms before age 21.SymptomsAnxiety disorders are a group of related conditions, each having unique symptoms. However, all anxiety disorders have one thing in common: persistent, excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening. People typically experience one or more of deteriorate your mental health over time following symptoms:Emotional symptoms:Feelings of apprehension or dreadFeeling tense or jumpyRestlessness or irritabilityAnticipating deteriorate your mental health over time worst and being watchful for signs of dangerPhysical symptoms:Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breathSweating, tremors and twitchesHeadaches, fatigue and insomniaUpset stomach, frequent urination or diarrheaTypes Of Anxiety Disordersdeteriorate your mental health over time are many types of anxiety disorders, each with different symptoms. deteriorate your mental health over time most common types of anxiety disorders include:Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)GAD produces chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life. This worrying can consume hours each day, making it hard to concentrate or finish daily tasks. A person with GAD may become exhausted by worry and experience headaches, tension or nausea.Social Anxiety DisorderMore than shyness, this disorder causes intense fear about social interaction, often driven by irrational worries about humiliation (e.g. saying something stupid or not knowing what to say). Someone with social anxiety disorder may not take part in conversations, contribute to class discussions or offer their ideas, and may become isolated. Panic attacks are a common reaction to anticipated or forced social interaction.Panic DisorderThis disorder is characterized by panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror sometimes striking repeatedly and without warning. Often mistaken for a heart attack, a panic attack causes powerful physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and stomach upset. Many people will go to desperate measures to avoid an attack, including social isolation.PhobiasWe all tend to avoid certain things or situations that make us uncomfortable or even fearful. But for someone with a phobia, certain places, events or objects create powerful reactions of strong, irrational fear. Most people with specific phobias have several things that can trigger those reactions; to avoid panic, they will work hard to avoid their triggers. Depending on deteriorate your mental health over time type and number of triggers, attempts to control fear can take over a person’s life.deteriorate your mental health over time anxiety disorders include:AgoraphobiaSelective mutismSeparation anxiety disorderSubstance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, involving intoxication or withdrawal or medication treatmentCausesScientists believe that many factors combine to cause anxiety disorders:Genetics. Studies support deteriorate your mental health over time evidence that anxiety disorders “run in families,” as some families have a higher-than-average amount of anxiety disorders among relatives.Environment. A stressful or traumatic event such as abuse, death of a loved one, violence or prolonged illness is often linked to deteriorate your mental health over time development of an anxiety disorder.DiagnosisPhysical symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be easily confused with deteriorate your mental health over time medical conditions, like heart disease or hyperthyroidism. Therefore, a doctor will likely perform an evaluation involving a physical examination, an interview and lab tests. After ruling out an underlying physical illness, a doctor may refer a person to a mental health professional for evaluation.Using deteriorate your mental health over time Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) a mental health professional is able to identify deteriorate your mental health over time specific type of anxiety disorder causing symptoms as well as any deteriorate your mental health over time possible disorders that may be involved. Tackling all disorders through comprehensive treatment is deteriorate your mental health over time best recovery strategy.TreatmentDifferent anxiety disorders have their own distinct sets of symptoms. This means that each type of anxiety disorder also has its own treatment plan. But deteriorate your mental health over time are common types of treatment that are used.Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapyMedications, including antianxiety medications and antidepressantsComplementary health approaches, including stress and relaxation techniquesRelated ConditionsAnxiety disorders can occur along with deteriorate your mental health over time mental health conditions, and they can often make related conditions worse. So, talk with a mental health care professional if you are experiencing anxiety and any of deteriorate your mental health over time following:DepressionSubstance UseAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)Eating DisordersTrouble SleepingAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition in which characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in young people. An estimated 8.8% of children aged 4-17 have ADHD. While ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood, it does not only affect children. An estimated 4.4% of adults aged 18-44 have ADHD.With treatment, people with ADHD can be successful in school, work and lead productive lives. Researchers are using new tools such as brain imaging to better understand deteriorate your mental health over time condition and to find more effective ways to treat and prevent ADHD.SymptomsWhile some behaviors associated with ADHD are "normal" and not a cause for concern to most people, someone with ADHD will have trouble controlling deteriorate your mental health over time behaviors and will show deteriorate your mental health over time much more frequently and for longer than 6 months.Signs of inattention include:Becoming easily distracted, and jumping from activity to activity.Becoming bored with a task quickly.Difficulty focusing attention or completing a single task or activity.Trouble completing or turning in homework assignments.Losing things such as school supplies or toys.Not listening or paying attention when spoken to.Daydreaming or wandering with lack of motivation.Difficulty processing information quickly.Struggling to follow directions.Signs of hyperactivity include:Fidgeting and squirming, having trouble sitting still.Non-stop talking.Touching or playing with everything.Difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.Signs of impulsivity include:Impatience.Acting without regard for consequences, blurting things out.Difficulty taking turns, waiting or sharing.Interrupting others.Causesdeteriorate your mental health over time are several factors believed to contribute to ADHD:Genetics. Research shows that genes may be a large contributor to ADHD. ADHD often runs in families and some trends in specific brain areas that contribute to attention.Environmental factors. Studies show a link between cigarette smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy and children who have ADHD. Exposure to lead as a child has also been shown to increase deteriorate your mental health over time likelihood of ADHD in children.DiagnosisADHD occurs in both children and adults, but is most often and diagnosed in childhood. Getting a diagnosis for ADHD can sometimes be difficult because deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of ADHD are similar to typical behavior in most young children. Teachers are often deteriorate your mental health over time first to notice ADHD symptoms because they see children in a learning environment with peers every day.deteriorate your mental health over time is no one single test that can diagnose a child with ADHD, so meet with a doctor or mental health professional to gather all deteriorate your mental health over time necessary information to make a diagnosis. deteriorate your mental health over time goal is to rule out any outside causes for symptoms, such as environmental changes, difficulty in school, medical problems and ensure that a child is otherwise healthy.TreatmentADHD is managed and treated in several ways:Medications, including stimulants, nonstimulants and antidepressantsBehavioral therapySelf-management, education programs and assistance through schools or work or alternative treatment approachesRelated ConditionsAround two-thirds of children with ADHD also have another condition. Many adults are also impacted by deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of another condition. Common conditions associated with ADHD include deteriorate your mental health over time following.Learning disabilitiesOppositional defiant disorder: refusal to accept directions or authority from adults or othersConduct disorder, persistent destructive or violent behaviorsAnxiety and depressionObsessive-compulsive disorderBipolar disorderTourette's syndromeSleep disordersBed-wettingSubstance use disorders/ Dual DiagnosisSymptoms from deteriorate your mental health over time conditions make treating ADHD more difficult. Talking to a skilled professional to help establish an accurate diagnosis can help increase deteriorate your mental health over time effectiveness of treatment.Bipolar DisorderIn this 2-part podcast series, NAMI Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ken Duckworth guides discussions on bipolar disorder that offer insights from individuals, family members and mental health professionals.Note: Content includes discussions on topics such as suicide attempts and may be triggering.Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar experience high and low moods—known as mania and depression—which differ from deteriorate your mental health over time typical ups-and-downs most people experience.deteriorate your mental health over time average age-of-onset is about 25, but it can occur in deteriorate your mental health over time teens, or more uncommonly, in childhood. deteriorate your mental health over time condition affects men and women equally, with about 2.8% of deteriorate your mental health over time U.S. population diagnosed with bipolar disorder and nearly 83% of cases classified as severe.If left untreated, bipolar disorder usually worsens. However, with a good treatment plan including psychotherapy, medications, a healthy lifestyle, a regular schedule and early identification of symptoms, many people live well with deteriorate your mental health over time condition.SymptomsSymptoms and their severity can vary. A person with bipolar disorder may have distinct manic or depressed states but may also have extended periods—sometimes years—without symptoms. A person can also experience both extremes simultaneously or in rapid sequence.Severe bipolar episodes of mania or depression may include psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions. Usually, deteriorate your mental health over time psychotic symptoms mirror a person’s extreme mood. People with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms can be wrongly diagnosed as having schizophrenia.Mania. To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have experienced at least one episode of mania or hypomania. Hypomania is a milder form of mania that doesn’t include psychotic episodes. People with hypomania can often function well in social situations or at work. Some people with bipolar disorder will have episodes of mania or hypomania many times throughout their life; others may experience deteriorate your mental health over time only rarely.Although someone with bipolar may find an elevated mood of mania appealing—especially if it occurs after depression—deteriorate your mental health over time “high” does not stop at a comfortable or controllable level. Moods can rapidly become more irritable, behavior more unpredictable and judgment more impaired. During periods of mania, people frequently behave impulsively, make reckless decisions and take unusual risks.Most of deteriorate your mental health over time time, people in manic states are unaware of deteriorate your mental health over time negative consequences of their actions. With bipolar disorder, suicide is an ever-present danger because some people become suicidal even in manic states. Learning from prior episodes what kinds of behavior signals “red flags” of manic behavior can help manage deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of deteriorate your mental health over time illness.Depression. deteriorate your mental health over time lows of bipolar depression are often so debilitating that people may be unable to get out of bed. Typically, people experiencing a depressive episode have difficulty falling and staying asleep, while others sleep far more than usual. When people are depressed, even minor decisions such as what to eat for dinner can be overwhelming. They may become obsessed with feelings of loss, personal failure, guilt or helplessness; this negative thinking can lead to thoughts of suicide.deteriorate your mental health over time depressive symptoms that obstruct a person’s ability to function must be present nearly every day for a period of at least two weeks for a diagnosis. Depression associated with bipolar disorder may be more difficult to treat and require a customized treatment plan.CausesScientists have not yet discovered a single cause of bipolar disorder. Currently, they believe several factors may contribute, including:Genetics. deteriorate your mental health over time chances of developing bipolar disorder are increased if a child’s parents or siblings have deteriorate your mental health over time disorder. But deteriorate your mental health over time role of genetics is not absolute: A child from a family with a history of bipolar disorder may never develop deteriorate your mental health over time disorder. Studies of identical twins have found that, even if one twin develops deteriorate your mental health over time disorder, deteriorate your mental health over time deteriorate your mental health over time may not.Stress. A stressful event such as a death in deteriorate your mental health over time family, an illness, a difficult relationship, divorce or financial problems can trigger a manic or depressive episode. Thus, a person’s handling of stress may also play a role in deteriorate your mental health over time development of deteriorate your mental health over time illness.Brain structure and function. Brain scans cannot diagnose bipolar disorder, yet researchers have identified subtle differences in deteriorate your mental health over time average size or activation of some brain structures in people with bipolar disorder.DiagnosisTo diagnose bipolar disorder, a doctor may perform a physical examination, conduct an interview and order lab tests. While bipolar disorder cannot be seen on a blood test or body scan, deteriorate your mental health over time tests can help rule out deteriorate your mental health over time illnesses that can resemble deteriorate your mental health over time disorder, such as hyperthyroidism. If no deteriorate your mental health over time illnesses (or medicines such as steroids) are causing deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms, deteriorate your mental health over time doctor may recommend mental health care.To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have experienced at least one episode of mania or hypomania. Mental health care professionals use deteriorate your mental health over time Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to diagnose deteriorate your mental health over time “type” of bipolar disorder a person may be experiencing. To determine what type of bipolar disorder a person has, mental health care professionals assess deteriorate your mental health over time pattern of symptoms and how impaired deteriorate your mental health over time person is during their most severe episodes.Four Types Of Bipolar DisorderBipolar I Disorder is an illness in which people have experienced one or more episodes of mania. Most people diagnosed with bipolar I will have episodes of both mania and depression, though an episode of depression is not necessary for a diagnosis. To be diagnosed with bipolar I, a person’s manic episodes must last at least seven days or be so severe that hospitalization is required.Bipolar II Disorder is a subset of bipolar disorder in which people experience depressive episodes shifting back and forth with hypomanic episodes, but never a “full” manic episode.Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia is a chronically unstable mood state in which people experience hypomania and mild depression for at least two years. People with cyclothymia may have brief periods of normal mood, but deteriorate your mental health over time periods last less than eight weeks.Bipolar Disorder, “deteriorate your mental health over time specified” and “unspecified” is when a person does not meet deteriorate your mental health over time criteria for bipolar I, II or cyclothymia but has still experienced periods of clinically significant abnormal mood elevation.TreatmentBipolar disorder is treated and managed in several ways:Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and family-focused therapy.Medications, such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications and, to a lesser extent, antidepressants.Self-management strategies, like education and recognition of an episode’s early symptoms.Complementary health approaches, such as aerobic exercise meditation, faith and prayer can support, but not replace, treatment.deteriorate your mental health over time largest research project to assess what treatment methods work for people with bipolar disorder is deteriorate your mental health over time Systematic Treatment Enhancement for Bipolar Disorder, otherwise known as Step-BD. Step-BD followed over 4,000 people diagnosed with bipolar disorder over time with different treatments.Related ConditionsPeople with bipolar disorder can also experience:AnxietyAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Substance use disorders/dual diagnosisPeople with bipolar disorder and psychotic symptoms can be wrongly diagnosed with schizophrenia. Bipolar disorder can be also misdiagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).deteriorate your mental health over time deteriorate your mental health over time illnesses and misdiagnoses can make it hard to treat bipolar disorder. For example, deteriorate your mental health over time antidepressants used to treat OCD and deteriorate your mental health over time stimulants used to treat ADHD may worsen symptoms of bipolar disorder and may even trigger a manic episode. If you have more than one condition (called co-occurring disorders), be sure to get a treatment plan that works for you.Borderline Personality DisorderBorderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotion. This means that people who experience BPD feel emotions intensely and for extended periods of time, and it is harder for deteriorate your mental health over time to return to a stable baseline after an emotionally triggering event.This difficulty can lead to impulsivity, poor self-image, stormy relationships and intense emotional responses to stressors. Struggling with self-regulation can also result in dangerous behaviors such as self-harm (e.g. cutting).It’s estimated that 1.4% of deteriorate your mental health over time adult U.S. population experiences BPD. Nearly 75% of people diagnosed with BPD are women. Recent research suggests that men may be equally affected by BPD, but are commonly misdiagnosed with PTSD or depression.SymptomsPeople with BPD experience wide mood swings and can feel a great sense of instability and insecurity. According to deteriorate your mental health over time Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnostic framework, some key signs and symptoms may include:Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment by friends and family.Unstable personal relationships that alternate between idealization (“I’m so in love!”) and devaluation (“I hate her”). This is also sometimes known as "splitting."Distorted and unstable self-image, which affects moods, values, opinions, goals and relationships.Impulsive behaviors that can have dangerous outcomes, such as excessive spending, unsafe sex, reckless driving, or misuse or overuse of substances.Self-harming behavior including suicidal threats or attempts.Periods of intense depressed mood, irritability or anxiety lasting a few hours to a few days.Chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness.Inappropriate, intense or uncontrollable anger—often followed by shame and guilt.Dissociative feelings—disconnecting from your thoughts or sense of identity or “out of body” type of feelings—and stress-related paranoid thoughts. Severe cases of stress can also lead to brief psychotic episodes.Causesdeteriorate your mental health over time causes of BPD are not fully understood, but scientists agree that it is deteriorate your mental health over time result of a combination of factors, including:Genetics. While no specific gene or gene profile has been shown to directly cause BPD, research suggests that people who have a close family member with BPD may be at a higher risk of developing deteriorate your mental health over time disorder.Environmental factors. People who experience traumatic life events—such as physical or sexual abuse during childhood or neglect and separation from parents—are at increased risk of developing BPD.Brain function. deteriorate your mental health over time emotional regulation system may be different in people with BPD, suggesting that deteriorate your mental health over time is a neurological basis for some of deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms. Specifically, deteriorate your mental health over time portions of deteriorate your mental health over time brain that control emotions and decision-making/judgment may not communicate optimally with one another.Diagnosisdeteriorate your mental health over time is no definitive medical test to diagnose BPD, and a diagnosis is not based on one specific sign or symptom. BPD is best diagnosed by a mental health professional following a comprehensive clinical interview that may include talking with previous clinicians, reviewing previous medical evaluations and, when appropriate, interviews with friends and family.TreatmentAn effective treatment plan should include your preferences while also addressing any deteriorate your mental health over time co-existing conditions you may have. Examples of treatment options include psychotherapy; medications; and group, peer and family support. deteriorate your mental health over time overarching goal of treatment is for a person with BPD to increasingly self-direct their own treatment plan as they learn what works and what doesn’t.Psychotherapy—such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic psychotherapy—is deteriorate your mental health over time first line of choice for BPD. Learning ways to cope with emotional dysregulation in a therapeutic setting is often deteriorate your mental health over time key to long-term improvement for those experiencing BPD.Medications may be instrumental to a treatment plan, but deteriorate your mental health over time is no one medication specifically made to treat deteriorate your mental health over time core symptoms of BPD. Rather, several medications can be used off-label to treat various symptoms. For example, mood stabilizers and antidepressants help with mood swings and dysphoria. And for some, low-dose antipsychotic medication may help control symptoms such as disorganized thinking.Short-term hospitalization may be necessary during times of extreme stress, and/or impulsive or suicidal behavior to ensure safety.Related ConditionsBPD can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and successful treatment includes addressing any deteriorate your mental health over time conditions a person might have. Many with BPD also experience additional conditions like:Anxiety DisordersPosttraumatic Stress DisorderBipolar DisorderDepressionEating Disorders (notably bulimia nervosa)Substance Use Disorders / Dual DiagnosisDepressionIn this 2-part podcast series, NAMI Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ken Duckworth guides discussions on major depressive disorder that offer insights from individuals, family members and mental health professionals.Note: Content includes discussions on topics such as suicide attempts and may be triggering.Depressive disorder, frequently referred to simply as depression, is more than just feeling sad or going through a rough patch. It’s a serious mental health condition that requires understanding and medical care. Left untreated, depression can be devastating for those who have it and their families. Fortunately, with early detection, diagnosis and a treatment plan consisting of medication, psychotherapy and healthy lifestyle choices, many people can and do get better.Some will only experience one depressive episode in a lifetime, but for most, depressive disorder recurs. Without treatment, episodes may last a few months to several years.More than 19 million U.S. adults—nearly 8% of deteriorate your mental health over time population—had at least one major depressive episode in deteriorate your mental health over time past year. People of all ages and all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds experience depression, but it does affect some groups more than others.SymptomsDepression can present different symptoms, depending on deteriorate your mental health over time person. But for most people, depressive disorder changes how they function day-to-day, and typically for more than two weeks. Common symptoms include:Changes in sleepChanges in appetiteLack of concentrationLoss of energyLack of interest in activitiesHopelessness or guilty thoughtsChanges in movement (less activity or agitation)Physical aches and painsSuicidal thoughtsCausesDepression does not have a single cause. It can be triggered by a life crisis, physical illness or something else—but it can also occur spontaneously. Scientists believe several factors can contribute to depression:Trauma. When people experience trauma at an early age, it can cause long-term changes in how their brains respond to fear and stress. deteriorate your mental health over time changes may lead to depression.Genetics. Mood disorders, such as depression, tend to run in families.Life circumstances. Marital status, relationship changes, financial standing and where a person lives influence whether a person develops depression.Brain changes. Imaging studies have shown that deteriorate your mental health over time frontal lobe of deteriorate your mental health over time brain becomes less active when a person is depressed. Depression is also associated with changes in how deteriorate your mental health over time pituitary gland and hypothalamus respond to hormone stimulation.deteriorate your mental health over time medical conditions. People who have a history of sleep disturbances, medical illness, chronic pain, anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to develop depression. Some medical syndromes (like hypothyroidism) can mimic depressive disorder. Some medications can also cause symptoms of depression.Drug and alcohol misuse. 21% of adults with a subtance use disorder also experienced a major depressive episode in 2018. Co-occurring disorders require coordinated treatment for both conditions, as alcohol can worsen depressive symptoms.DiagnosisTo be diagnosed with depressive disorder, a person must have experienced a depressive episode lasting longer than two weeks. deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of a depressive episode include:Loss of interest or loss of pleasure in all activitiesChange in appetite or weightSleep disturbancesFeeling agitated or feeling slowed downFatigueFeelings of low self-worth, guilt or shortcomingsDifficulty concentrating or making decisionsSuicidal thoughts or intentionsTreatmentsAlthough depressive disorder can be a devastating illness, it often responds to treatment. deteriorate your mental health over time key is to get a specific evaluation and treatment plan. Safety planning is important for individuals who have suicidal thoughts. After an assessment rules out medical and deteriorate your mental health over time possible causes, a patient-centered treatment plans can include any or a combination of deteriorate your mental health over time following:Psychotherapy including cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy and interpersonal therapy.Medications including antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications.Exercise can help with prevention and mild-to-moderate symptoms.Brain stimulation therapies can be tried if psychotherapy and/or medication are not effective. deteriorate your mental health over time include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depressive disorder with psychosis or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for severe depression.Light therapy, which uses a light box to expose a person to full spectrum light in an effort to regulate deteriorate your mental health over time hormone melatonin.Alternative approaches including acupuncture, meditation, faith and nutrition can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan.Eating DisordersWhen you become so preoccupied with food and weight issues that you find it harder and harder to focus on deteriorate your mental health over time aspects of your life, it may be an early sign of an eating disorder. Without treatment, eating disorders can take over a person’s life and lead to serious, potentially fatal medical complications. Eating disorders can affect people of any age or gender, but rates are higher among women. Symptoms commonly appear in adolescence and young adulthood.SymptomsEating disorders are a group of related conditions that cause serious emotional and physical problems. Each condition involves extreme food and weight issues; however, each has unique symptoms that separate it from deteriorate your mental health over time others.Anorexia Nervosa. People with anorexia will deny themselves food to deteriorate your mental health over time point of self-starvation as they obsesses about weight loss. With anorexia, a person will deny hunger and refuse to eat, practice binge eating and purging behaviors or exercise to deteriorate your mental health over time point of exhaustion as they attempts to limit, eliminate or “burn” calories.deteriorate your mental health over time emotional symptoms of anorexia include irritability, social withdrawal, lack of mood or emotion, not able to understand deteriorate your mental health over time seriousness of deteriorate your mental health over time situation, fear of eating in public and obsessions with food and exercise. Often food rituals are developed or whole categories of food are eliminated from deteriorate your mental health over time person’s diet, out of fear of being “fat".Anorexia can take a heavy physical toll. Very low food intake and inadequate nutrition causes a person to become very thin. deteriorate your mental health over time body is forced to slow down to conserve energy causing irregularities or loss of menstruation, constipation and abdominal pain, irregular heart rhythms, low blood pressure, dehydration and trouble sleeping. Some people with anorexia might also use binge eating and purge behaviors, while others only restrict eating.Bulimia Nervosa. People living with bulimia will feel out of control when binging on very large amounts of food during short periods of time, and deteriorate your mental health over time desperately try to rid themselves of deteriorate your mental health over time extra calories using forced vomiting, abusing laxatives or excessive exercise. This becomes a repeating cycle that controls many aspects of deteriorate your mental health over time person’s life and has a very negative effect both emotionally and physically. People living with bulimia are usually normal weight or even a bit overweight.deteriorate your mental health over time emotional symptoms of bulimia include low self-esteem overly linked to body image, feelings of being out of control, feeling guilty or shameful about eating and withdrawal from friends and family.Like anorexia, bulimia will inflict physical damage. deteriorate your mental health over time binging and purging can severely harm deteriorate your mental health over time parts of deteriorate your mental health over time body involved in eating and digesting food, teeth are damaged by frequent vomiting, and acid reflux is common. Excessive purging can cause dehydration that effect deteriorate your mental health over time body’s electrolytes and leads to cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and even death.Binge Eating Disorder (BED). A person with BED losses control over their eating and eats a very large amount of food in a short period of time. They may also eat large amounts of food even when he isn't hungry or after he is uncomfortably full. This causes deteriorate your mental health over time to feel embarrassed, disgusted, depressed or guilty about their behavior. A person with BED, after an episode of binge eating, does not attempt to purge or exercise excessively like someone living with anorexia or bulimia would. A person with binge eating disorder may be normal weight, overweight or obese.CausesEating disorders are very complex conditions, and scientists are still learning about deteriorate your mental health over time causes. Although eating disorders all have food and weight issues in common, most experts now believe that eating disorders are caused by people attempting to cope with overwhelming feelings and painful emotions by controlling food. Unfortunately, this will eventually damage a person’s physical and emotional health, self-esteem and sense of control.Factors that may be involved in developing an eating disorder include:Genetics. People with first degree relatives, siblings or parents, with an eating disorder appear to be more at risk of developing an eating disorder, too. This suggests a genetic link. Evidence that deteriorate your mental health over time brain chemical, serotonin, is involved also points a contributing genetic and biological factors.Environment. Cultural pressures that idealize a particular body type place undue pressure on people to achieve unrealistic standards. Popular culture and media images often tie thinness (for women) or muscularity (for men) to popularity, success, beauty and happiness.Peer Pressure. With young people, this can be a very powerful force. Pressure can appear in deteriorate your mental health over time form of teasing, bullying or ridicule because of size or weight. A history of physical or sexual abuse can also contribute to some people developing an eating disorder.Emotional Health. Perfectionism, impulsive behavior and difficult relationships can all contribute to lowering a person’s self-esteem and make deteriorate your mental health over time vulnerable to developing eating disorders.Eating disorders affect all types of people. However deteriorate your mental health over time are certain risk factors that put some people at greater risk for developing an eating disorder.Age. Eating disorders are much more common during teens and early 20s.Gender. Women and girls are more likely to have a diagnosed eating disorder. However, it is important to recognize that men and boys may be under-diagnosed due to differences in seeking treatment.Family history. Having a parent or sibling with an eating disorder increases deteriorate your mental health over time risk.Dieting. Dieting taken too far can become an eating disorder.Changes. Times of change like going to college, starting a new job, or getting divorced may be a stressor towards developing an eating disorder.Vocations and activities. Eating disorders are especially common among gymnasts, runners, wrestlers and dancers.DiagnosisA person with an eating disorder will have deteriorate your mental health over time best recovery outcome if they receive an early diagnosis. If an eating disorder is believed to an issue, a doctor will usually perform a physical examination, conduct an interview and order lab tests. deteriorate your mental health over time will help form deteriorate your mental health over time diagnosis and check for related medical issues and complications.In addition, a mental health professional will conduct a psychological evaluation. They may ask questions about eating habits, behaviors and beliefs. deteriorate your mental health over time may be questions about a patient's history of dieting, exercise, bingeing and purging.Symptoms must meet deteriorate your mental health over time criteria in deteriorate your mental health over time Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in order to warrant a diagnosis. Each eating disorder has its own diagnostic criteria that a mental health professional will use to determine which disorder is involved. It is not necessary to have all deteriorate your mental health over time criteria for a disorder to benefit from working with a mental health professional on food and eating issues.Often a person with an eating disorder will have symptoms of another mental health condition that requires treatment. Whenever possible, it is best to identified and address all conditions at deteriorate your mental health over time same time. This gives a person comprehensive treatment support that helps insure a lasting recovery.TreatmentEating disorders are managed using a variety of techniques. Treatments will vary depending on deteriorate your mental health over time type of disorder, but will generally include deteriorate your mental health over time following.Psychotherapy, such as talk therapy or behavioral therapy.Medicine, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. Many people living with an eating disorder often have a co-occurring illness like depression or anxiety, and while deteriorate your mental health over time is no medication available to treat eating disorders themselves, many patients find that deteriorate your mental health over time medicines help with underlying issues.Nutritional counseling and weight restoration monitoring are also crucial. Family-based treatment is especially important for families with children and adolescents because it enlists deteriorate your mental health over time families’ help to better insure healthy eating patterns, and increases awareness and support.Related ConditionsPeople with eating disorders often have additional illnesses:DepressionAnxiety disordersBorderline personality disorderObsessive-compulsive disorderSubstance use disorders/ Dual DiagnosisTreating deteriorate your mental health over time illnesses can help make treating an eating disorder easier. Some of deteriorate your mental health over time symptoms of eating disorders may be caused by another ilnesss.Mental Health and Mental DisordersGoalImprove mental health through prevention and by ensuring access to appropriate, quality mental health services.OverviewMental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with deteriorate your mental health over time people, and deteriorate your mental health over time ability to adapt to change and to cope with challenges. Mental health is essential to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and deteriorate your mental health over time ability to contribute to community or society.Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, and/or behavior that are associated with distress and/or impaired functioning. Mental disorders contribute to a host of problems that may include disability, pain, or death.Mental illness is deteriorate your mental health over time term that refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders.Why Is Mental Health Important?Mental disorders are among deteriorate your mental health over time most common causes of disability. deteriorate your mental health over time resulting disease burden of mental illness is among deteriorate your mental health over time highest of all diseases. In any given year, an estimated 18.1% (43.6 million) of U.S. adults ages 18 years or older suffered from any mental illness and 4.2% (9.8 million) suffered from a seriously debilitating mental illness.1 Neuropsychiatric disorders are deteriorate your mental health over time leading cause of disability in deteriorate your mental health over time United States, accounting for 18.7% of all years of life lost to disability and premature mortality.2 Moreover, suicide is deteriorate your mental health over time 10th leading cause of death in deteriorate your mental health over time United States, accounting for deteriorate your mental health over time deaths of approximately 43,000 Americans in 2014.3,4Mental health and physical health are closely connected. Mental health plays a major role in people’s ability to maintain good physical health. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, affect people’s ability to participate in health-promoting behaviors. In turn, problems with physical health, such as chronic diseases, can have a serious impact on mental health and decrease a person’s ability to participate in treatment and recovery.5Back to TopUnderstanding Mental Health and Mental Disordersdeteriorate your mental health over time existing model for understanding mental health and mental disorders emphasizes deteriorate your mental health over time interaction of social, environmental, and genetic factors throughout deteriorate your mental health over time lifespan. In behavioral health, researchers identify:Risk factors, which predispose individuals to mental illnessProtective factors, which protect deteriorate your mental health over time from developing mental disordersResearchers now know that deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) disorders is inherently interdisciplinary and draws on a variety of different strategies.6Over deteriorate your mental health over time past 20 years, research on deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of mental disorders has progressed. deteriorate your mental health over time understanding of how deteriorate your mental health over time brain functions under normal conditions and in response to stressors, combined with knowledge of how deteriorate your mental health over time brain develops over time, has been essential to that progress. deteriorate your mental health over time major areas of progress include evidence that:Related Topic AreasAccess to Health ServicesAdolescent HealthEducational and Community-Based ProgramsInjury and Violence PreventionSubstance AbuseMEB disorders are common and begin early in lifedeteriorate your mental health over time greatest opportunity for prevention is among young peopledeteriorate your mental health over time are multiyear effects of multiple preventive interventions on reducing substance abuse, conduct disorder, antisocial behavior, aggression, and child maltreatmentdeteriorate your mental health over time incidence of depression among pregnant women and adolescents can be reducedSchool-based violence prevention can reduce deteriorate your mental health over time base rate of aggressive problems in an average school by 25 to 33 percentdeteriorate your mental health over time are potential indicated preventive interventions for schizophreniaImproving family functioning and positive parenting can have positive outcomes on mental health and can reduce poverty-related riskSchool-based preventive interventions aimed at improving social and emotional outcomes can also improve academic outcomesInterventions targeting families dealing with adversities, such as parental depression or divorce, can be effective in reducing risk for depression among children and increasing effective parentingSome preventive interventions have benefits that exceed costs, with deteriorate your mental health over time available evidence strongest for early childhood interventionsImplementation is complex, and it is important that interventions be relevant to deteriorate your mental health over time target audiencesdeteriorate your mental health over time progress identified above has led to a stronger understanding of deteriorate your mental health over time importance of protective factors. A 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report advocates for multidisciplinary prevention strategies at deteriorate your mental health over time community level that support deteriorate your mental health over time development of children in healthy social environments.7 In addition to advancements in deteriorate your mental health over time prevention of mental disorders, deteriorate your mental health over time continues to be steady progress in treating mental disorders as new drugs and stronger evidence-based outcomes become available.Emerging Issues in Mental Health and Mental DisordersNew mental health issues have emerged among some special populations, such as:ConculsionVeterans who have experienced physical and mental traumaPeople in communities with large-scale psychological trauma caused by natural disastersOlder adults, as deteriorate your mental health over time understanding and treatment of dementia and mood disorders continues to improveNational Institute of Mental HealthSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationMedlineplus. Mental Health and BehaviorAs deteriorate your mental health over time Federal Government begins to implement deteriorate your mental health over time health reform legislation, it will give attention to providing services for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders, including new opportunities for access to and coverage for treatment and prevention services.

Here are some good ideas[1][1][1][1] if you want to know which businesses that can be started with little capital:Prepackaged school supplies based on the lists from the school districtsIncubator site providing office space, hosting, etc. for startups that are seed funded.In-grocery store prep service (buy vegetables first and drop them off to be chopped to your specs – pick them up on the way to checkout)A website that you can submit your design and work with vendors to manufacture your own clothes line.Online discount brokerage that has no closing hours and provides access to all exchanges throughout the world and handles currency and legal issues automatically.Stamphead, where stamps can be custom made in the likeness of an avatar the user creates.Aggregator site for affiliate marketers to collect daily reports. Would work on a tiered pricing structure giving you more info the higher up you go. Basic would be for people like me who just want to know if they made something and how much; advanced would pull down all available data.A gadget to cook beans/lentils/vegetables/rice for the same amount of time (quicker than what can be done in a slow cooker.)Herbal Flavored Gum. MMM…rosemary.Church issued credit card with automatic 10% for religious tithingBrainstorm Consulting – Teach companies how to brainstormCreate a website for non-profits and a list of their projects/needs and a similar list for foundations. Its a central meeting place for people to look for funding from the right people.Tutorial videos for technological skills (word processing, internet applications, email) for people who don’t know how to navigate technology but need it.Website where musicians can collaborate on tracksSigns in restaurants on menus that list all the ingredients.Network of chefs that rotate being personal chefsNuclear waste storage facilities completely removed from society.Hedge fund that makes bridge loans to homeowners facing foreclosure.Small-town / city – websites (through city and Chamber of Commerce) – most small town websites are terriblewhistle It.com: download audio of people whistling popular songs.A food service where you can email them your mom’s recipes and have them make it for you and deliver it during lunch time.Multiple camera angles on live television (especially for sports) or online viewingReplicate reality TV shows for foreign countries.SIM card swap serviceAn alternative medicine or homeopathic online service that diagnoses your ailment and gives you the proper corresponding alternative treatment; also provides you with doctors in your area that treat with alternative medicines.Create the double snuggie.A company that installs a monitor at a building entry and hosts virtual door attendants.Web-based language tutors leveraging Skype and Google Docs for curriculum.Meal delivery in hospitalsWeb package for a school system that allows parents to see their kids’ school schedules, grades, lunches, sports activitiesSanta Delivery Service – A dressed Santa will come to your home during the holidays and deliver your gifts as SantaPresentation Consulting – Teach companies how to improve their presentationsA website that boasts: Buy one product, have one mystery product of lesser value shipped to a friend for the cost of s&h. the user don’t know what they’ll get, but it will be fun as hell and keep the user in touch in an interesting way.Tribe Consulting – Help individuals (not companies) discover what Tribes they should lead and help them do itMusic Box manufacturer that will turn any inanimate objects mailed to then into music boxes. Users buy direct online, picking from available stock. Added charge for sending in the you own inanimate object.Customer feedback software for mobile phones sold to marketers.Web-based rent-a-CFO.Application to sell to universities that allows students to access their transcripts onlineExchange clothing (like PaperBackSwap. com) for men’s & women’s clothingMonthly subscription service for unlimited ebooks on your ebook reader device. Rhapsody/Netflix model for ebooks.Cell phone made of biodegradable materialsiPhone app that tells you odds for a poker handLet’s Get Coffee – for couples; pairing service similar to matchmaking service “It’s Just Lunch” to help couples find other couples with similar friendsA service that discounts newspapers after 8pm the day of print. I do not want to buy a NYTimes for $5 at the end of the day.Nonprofit that takes old CD electronics to developing countriesA unified affiliate marketing program for every store on the web.Contest company for small local businessesWebsite mock-ups for people seeking VC fundingGrocery delivery service for college campuses: Fresh direct for dorm rooms.Independent calorie testing company – A company that actually does testing on food for consumers to determine calorie contentEarplugs that go deeper into your ears but don’t hurt them.Online transcription service for conference calls – leveraging Amazon Mechanical Turk.Google for video & audio – Dragonspeak -> voice to text -> with searchable tagsA service that just vacuums and dust your apartment.A way to ensure that each person can only create one account on a website, without having to sacrifice anonymity.A small flap or cover (separate or built-in) for computers and technology with little lights that flash when they sleep (so you can sleep.)Crutches that stand upright by themselves. The base would have feet that fold up or spring out so you don’t have to lay them on the ground where they get in the way and people trip over them, etc.Interior Design on a Budget – for people who still want their homes to look good but can’t afford Restoration Hardware – client defines a set budget and consultants design using budget pieces from TJMaxx or Marshall’s or odds & ends shopsLandscaping business specializing only on LEED rooftop gardens.Company that records your voice message and other digital forms of media and sends it out into space as a message in a space bottle.Fireplace rehab – clean, paint, resurface, whatever to make it pretty. Big in places where same brick as outside the house is used for the fireplace and it’s not attractive (I’ve had two houses now like this.)“How to live on a small budget” website written by college students for college student for all sizable college towns sponsored by local merchant coupons.Someone/service that keeps inventory in a household (products, cleaning, etc.)A drink company that brings the Shirley Temple back – the best drink ever!Online Firewood Sales – Sell firewood online directly to consumers and businessOn-click online data storage and streaming of a clients entire media library. (never lose anything again and have anywhere anytime access) Charge by the GB and bandwidth. Provide conversion services from CD to MP3.Cupcake Shop (fresh and creative cupcakes)A mobile job fair in a tractor trailer that pulls up in the parking lots of offices of businesses performing massive layoffs. You then make money by renting out space in the trailer to companies in similar industries.Online Professional Wrestling Memorabilia Store – Sell pro wrestling memorabilia online directly to consumersSoftware to manage energy sales back to the grid generated by home systems.Analytics software for customer profiling, not just click analysis.Disposable mittens made from biodegradable materials in vending machines at supermarkets.OnlineConfessions. com. read other confessions and share the you own anonymously.Instant Flash builder, providing motion templates with easy upload graphic and text to fit template animation.Technology licensing agency.Consulting business creating a series of Squidoo lenses for an author on and around specific book titles. Pitch to publicists and literary agents, as well as directly to authors.Hire voice actors to read popular blogs to create podcasts where they don’t yet exist (“Best of the Blogosphere Podcast”)Personalized cereal boxes (to celebrate child’s achievements)Local business-sponsored community bike programAntique wedding jewelry shopping – another eco/reuse theme. Rather than buy something new that requires mining and blood diamonds, get an antique that comes with a story (about the long marriage of the previous couple, of course). We find it for you in the style you think you want.Surgery-specific recovery packs in hospital (if Sucrets and a can of cranberry juice is better than water & crackers, that pack exists)Personal lessons for using your cell phone featuresVenture capital consulting for startups.A company that makes hybrid fruits. Instead of drinking a lime pomegranate drink you can eat a lime granite.Photography studio that casts you as characters from moviesCentralized web portal for university technology transfer offices.A service that gives well-known business people a public email address, so that if an email get sent there you can read the email and then read the response. The idea being that it will give you insight into the mind of the person and what made them successful, and it will also teach you how to write good emails and learn email etiquette.A technology/service that Preachers/Rabbi’s/Clergy can use that creates a way to gather feedback during the service from the attendees.Online flower shop with one-hour deliveryA non-profit that provides credit consulting for youth and impoverished.Local fresh restaurant that opens off-peak hours to hold cooking classes to locals.Fractional Ownership of Technological Conference Room in Office ComplexRent-a-wife – a woman who cleans, cooks, does laundry, picks up dry cleaning, mail, etc but without the emotional relationship.Project management website for volunteer shift scheduling – church nurseries, hospital auxiliary members, protest marches, etc.Pencil sharpener type device to grind down dog toenailsAn iPhone app that allows you to search a database of unique and obscure beers and drinksGlow in the dark non-toxic washable paint that you can spray on your kids/pets when they are trick-or-treating so they don’t get hit by a car.A party planner for kids birthday parties, but with educational and fun activities.Instant Ad builder where sexy templates are linked with creative common photos.Spring Shadows – program where kids can shadow business people for a short two weeks internship to see what they want to major in once they go to college and what they might want to do once they graduateGPS / location based meetup based on pre-selected preferences (i.e. – Manchester United)A paperless hospital.Whack-a-Mole style game with political figuresAutomatic thank you notes, sent to contacts as a postcard generated from uploaded contact lists. On the card is a highly realistic signature that users digitally upload.National Restaurant Customer Service Association – traveling customer service training systemArtists’ Playground. This is a building that has rooms setup for ceramics, painting, silk screenings, theater, writing, open mic, dance, photography, etc. This building will also have social areas for people to mingle over coffee and healthy foods. People pay a monthly membership to have access and it is also rented out for events.Concierge services for an office building. Sell as a value add to the building managers or to the specific businesses as a benefit for their employees.A place where people could go to eat/study but would HAVE to do it at the same table with a stranger. It would encourage us to talk to/meet new and interesting people.Street Bar – bar inside a huge vehicle that drives you aroundFeng Shui website where you upload your floor plan and other details and get a recommendation on how to construct your space.Web-based rapid prototyping service that allows amateur product designers to test their designs and have our RP machines “print” their products in 3D.Training company that teaches people to be brave.Retractable spikes for boots to walk on the ice on sidewalksRecipe Subscription Business – Subscribe to the website and pay for premium recipesOnline eulogies (recorded by your friends before you die)Software that automates Search Engine Optimization without registering as black hat.iPhone app that is specifically for ski maps. Shows number of runs made and has lots of cool interactive features. Even shows which runs are groomed. Every ski resort would need their own app. Probably provide the app for free and the ski resort pays an arm and a leg for being featured in the app.Publisher of web-based children’s games.Horoscope porn site that provides the user with a personalized video stream based on preconceived notions assigned to your “sign”.A travel company that arranges people to stay at others houses.Slow cooker meals in a bag – drop it in and forget itA travel mug that’s not plastic or aluminum (ceramic) but with a rubber lid (tight-sealing), that has a good grip. Most travel mugs retain the smell of the material and give the liquid a strange taste after a while. Also, something that doesn’t allow Tupperware to smell.Employee monitoring service that provides detailed reports on employee’s online and offline activities. – include hardware scrubbing and “forensic” proof removal of data, footprints and histories.Tattoo parlor for petsStory Consulting – Help companies define and refine their story and teach them how to tell itA service that tells your neighbors to be quiet (nicely). They will draft a letter or note and send it to your neighbor so you can be the objective third party.Graffiti generator .com, where friends can type in text and, using different styles and palettes, create a tag-like version of their name, poems, etc.Internet and webcam set up for seniors to communicate with grandkidsTheme restaurant – Karaoke in front of a live bandGraph consultants – Company that specializes in making effective graphs from any data you give them.A conflict negotiation service (online or regular) where you submit a problem and we provide an answerSchool real estate rental company – Company that specializes in renting out underutilized school rooms during the summerTuning rooms for entry level home theatersBuild Your Own Perfume Shop.Front door cleaning service – get rid of all the stuff that gets left on your door every day before you get homeA company that sells framed book covers, so that you can hang the covers of your favorite books on the wall of your office.Standing in line for peopleBrainstorming. com – put in an idea and gives you 10 ideasChewing gum that is good for braces and dentures.Glass repair company – Company that specializes in repairing scratches or slightly broken glassTwitter third party app to help drivers find vacant parking spaces in crowded metro areas; sponsored by local merchants and advertising.Make your own batch of whiskey – takes 12 years, you pick flavors and types of oak barrels at the distillery, pickup in 12 yearsFranchise business consulting that helps large franchisees improve their businesses.Repossession agency for the most dangerous jobs in foreign lands.Digital tombstones that serve rich multimedia messages and memories of the deceased.Marketing and Advertising agency that excels at telling stories.A site like intrade that would allow investors to make bets on analytics type data, like the number of page views Wikipedia will get next January, or how many copies Malcolm Gladwell’s new book will sell.A service that pairs you with the right tools and helps you find a career by pairing you with the right resources (NOT an uninformed headhunter)Web portal to help large corporations source physical building contractors for specialized facilities.A company that digs your car out of the snow and removes snow from your driveway and starts car in the morning.A trend of the month club, where each month you get mailed something hip with a glossy booklet explaining how cool that item is about to become. Limited to 5,000 people. Gives you a cool story to tell yourself for the rest of the month, and something to talk about with your friends.Come to your house alterationsCustom adventures using Virtual Reality goggles and a windfan (i.e. – basejumping a waterfall or the Grand Canyon)Performance art as advertising – i.e. Cirqu de Soleil actors selling an item / brandService to teach doctors how to use technology to reach out to patientsCompany working with magazines to help them develop a social networking presencesA pill that gradually dies body hair.Technology scout for large corporations that looks for acquisitions.Create book trailers for small publishers/authors to place on YouTubeIP Scanner. Scans images straight to flickr or similar service. Great for archiving family pictures or kids drawings.Independent account fraud company – A company does regular checkups of your online accounts (like social networking sites) to check for fraudulent activityWeb-based devil’s advocate service for startups looking for someone to critique their ideas. Perhaps also provides referrals to cheap services for startups, like cheap graphics design, cheap business plan feedback, etc.A half refrigerator/freezer/microwave in the trunk of a car. That way, wherever you go in the car, you can always have food handy. How great for road trips.Pandora for spin bikesA non-profit that documents the stories told by elderly in nursing homes.A company that will apply your logo in glow-in-the dark removable paint around a town so it appears at night.Replication service for clothing items – make you a new pair just like the old pairImprove soft contacts so you can wear for 1 year at a time.An online counseling program via webcam (for therapists, inmates)Not-for-profit that works with people to help cure their acne.Service that takes your text messages from your phone to your computerFast food restaurants with healthy, organic and tasty foods. Similarly, healthy foods in cafeterias and grocery stores in low-socioeconomic areas.Software company that builds marketing dashboards sold to CMOs, brand officers, etc.A Build Your Own Robot Shop.A store that sells all inflatable products. So, for example, large inflatable cushions that kids can use to make play forts that compress flat afterwards. Good for Manhattan apartments where you buy a 30 dollar toy that takes up $800 of floor space.Offshore software development company based in China.A company that will sell a large digital frame for close to free and then provide a service for a fee that sends artwork to the digital frame every week.Desk mounted lighting systems for video chatThe Black Cow (least innovative product)A way to turn recipes on the web into peapod orders. A way to turn the customized diets that Weight Watchers or WebMD create into a peapod order.Online petition forms with compliant signature verification software.Customer service solution for general contractors that allows them to put in notes and they’re generated as an email or voicemail to customer to provide them with regular reports on how the work is going and what is holding things upNetworked home alarm systems so that neighbors can check on each other’s homes during break-ins.Scavenger Hunts, Inc. – We setup pre-defined scavenger hunts for small business team building (like a mini Amazing Race) or even for kid’s birthday parties (in a local park)Eyeglasses that you can adjust to the light. Not that they adjust on their own.Worst, etc.Clipping service for high school athletes parentsEZPass for humans on public transportation (key fob?)A company that creates baseball trading card style packets for restaurant chains.A cleaning service using only eco friendly productsCustom Hypnosis CD Business – Customers go to a studio and record their own voice reading self-hypnosis scriptsOnline Suspenders store – Company sells nothing but suspendersA non-profit that supports poor on using technology in classes taught by young freelance artists.Online Antique Appraisal Service – Send pictures of your antiques online to have them appraisedMicrobrewery with high-octane beers with boutique labels that cost as much as good winesTechnology consulting for venture firms.Harmonica It. com: download audio of people playing popular songs on the harmonica.A site that aggregates naturopathic medicines that have been shown to work to peer reviewed journals, but which for whatever reason aren’t prescribed by mainstream doctors. The site would then show the medicines proven effective for each condition, with a link to the journal article or clinical data or whatever.A hyperlocal iPhone app to find food, but for a series of use cases more specific than what Zagats and yelp are designed for. For example, list the best 3 food places within one mile of each highway exit that take less than 20 minutes. Or what wine tastings are within 10 miles of me within the next week.Anti-drug education program for inner city schools. In conjunction with a touring program that sends a message to parents across the country.Food consulting company that helps local restaurants with calorie measurement and other health issues – and publishes calorie, fat, vitamin data to third party apps on smart phones.Mushroom/compost farm that uses the Matter of Trust “lasagna” to eat cleaned up oil spillsCompany working with small local newspapers helping them develop a social network presenceGiant Magnadoodle for teachersComputer Remote Technician – Fixes your computer by remotely connecting to your PC or MacConference organizing company that handles all the logistics of creating and running conferences for other organizations.Retro-fitting older school buses with seats with seatbeltsOnline Town HallSpeed dating online.Adopt a prisoner “charity” that allows people to adopt an inmate and assure that they are visited and receive cards/letters on important dates.Prius Cab Fleet (www.greenfares. com)Buzz-monitoring of brands with software tools sold to enterprises and brand managers.The Purple Cow (most innovative product)Feng Shui experts that tells you the best way to put your stuff/furniture in your house.Expert roommate negotiator – Expert negotiator specializing in solving roommate disagreementsRent a scout that gives you a good idea of your child’s sports potentialBook packaging for great college writing and emerging writers.Online Palm Readings – Readings done via SkypeSelf-righting picture hangerWebsite for online job searching with IM capabilities so you can ask questions to other people searching or people who are advertising.An IMDB for people who have won awards. I want to a quick way to find the professors with the most citations in any given subject, the chefs in the area with the best Zagats reviews, the local high school football players with the most touchdowns, etc.A digital coloring book.SMS messaging for television tickers scrolling at the bottom of popular shows.A website that users can program in advance to take some action if some event happens. For example, a national chain of tire stores could send an email reminding its customers to get their snowtires on two days before the first predicted snowfall of the season in that user’s zipcode.Garanimals for adult menDating Consulting – individualized service on how to find, meet and date quality peopleBoat or Yacht share program.DeadCells Art: mail your old, hated cell phones to a factory that smashes it and returns it to the user as framed work of art.Girls Getaway – a company that sets up ‘girls week / weekend’ vacations (shopping, Broadway shows, hiking, wine tasting, etc.)Toilet seat covers for public toilets that don’t fall off the seats.For younger students, nap time is often hard to relax and in a bright room. There should be a company that creates comfortable nap time products for kids.A company that you can hire that will come to your town and make a 4 show realty series that you can show to your friends or play on local stations.A service that manages the risk of house swapping.Build the you own Barbie. com. Pay $100 to dress and color the you own doll.Twitter or SMS restaurant reservationsDigital family whiteboard on fridge (like an iTablet for the family)A website that connects people with Objects of Sociability. For example, you have a group of friends you want to do something with and it connects you with an open hibachi table or a deep sea fishing boat rental. You can also rent objects of sociability, so for example you could rent a bread maker or a super nice tea set with 30 looseleaf teas. It would also connect people to third places that would be suitable for, say, a first date.Dissolvable contacts that deliver medicine to the eye overnightA charity that works with major retailers to encourage buyers to bring in their old clothes for a discount. The company will then take the clothes from the retailer and send to a third world country or American red cross.TV Show Summary Service – Brief summaries of your favorite shows are e-mailed to you in case you missed them.Globalization consultancy.Creating a website community for freelance professors (professional educators with a specific expertise; different from tutors in the sense that they are not preparing students for a certain test or “actual class”) to connect with students who want to be educated via an alternative route. The ideal site would essentially be a hub for professor profiles/portfolios with a variety of mediums for conversation between the students and the professors for hire. comments/rating system (no anonymity including a record of that person’s comments rates so you can get a better picture of who is saying what). The idea is similar to something like pick a prof. that most college kids use now to pick their classes; however, the emphasis with pick a prof is typically to pick easy classes to graduate where as this would be an effort to allow professors and students to negotiate the value of the education without going through the university as a middle man. Monetization routes: site advertisements, membership fees for students and/or profs, selling books written by professors for commissionBuild Your Own Back Pack Shop.Group dating website.Online mentoring program for students of all ages (Pen pals that teach each other skills online.)Citizen journalism website.A website that teaches kids how to do quant trading. The site would come with a data feed, dozens of pre-packaged statistical tests that could be deployed or combined in various ways, and the ability to do backtesting to see if this strategy would have been effective on previous data.Designer bibs for patients during their teeth cleaning. This could be a cartoon design for kids or pattern for adults.RingTone this. com: upload audio and have computer-like versions automatically generated and sent to the you cell phone as a ringtone.A book about the history of the internet made from recycled phone books.A cutting-edge fashion company that tells the story of wearable computing.A virtual interior decorator that will make suggestions via digital photographs.A company like 800CEOREAD that does bulk book rentals. So for example you could rent 1,000 copies of Jeff Jarvis’s new book for a month instead of purchasing them.A company that sells high quality sawdust / sand in bulk to put on the floor of restaurants or bars. The company would then be responsible for removing the old material and replacing it when necessary.IP Camera security company – software solution – offsite remotely recordingMilitary Peak Performance Consulting – Consult the military on matters of peak performance (nutrition/stress management/etc.)An event planning organization that markets to stay-at-home moms with big ideas, eager to share there inventions and business ideas with other mothers.Educational youth iPhone gamesAn automatic dimming light bulb coated in that same stuff that is on glasses that the user wear on the you face.Frozen venison shipping store – Company that specializes in shipping the best venison across the countryA safe vice for your head when you have a headache (made from strong fabric maybe)Apprenticeship management company for high profile business personalities.Celebrity voice wake up callsObama TARP consulting for financial institutions.For Americans book series – Cricket for Americans, Bollywood for Americans, World History for Americans, French Film for Americans – would be topics that go outside our country to hopefully explain that the rest of the world isn’t just like us, nor should it beA consulting company that works with aerobic instructors to trademark their exercise routine.Webcam security set up to watch kids, dogs, older parentsA recipe holding cell online for all your recipes to edit, print, and send to friends.A small handheld set up to video chat only via satellite.A business model that implements a ‘couples fare’ if you are in a long distance relationship you register for a year deal where you get specialized pricing and discounts.iPhone app that has similar features to Nike plus (who doesn’t have an app yet). For runners. Pace, speed, etc. All reports back to a website that has monthly subscription costNetwork of restaurants where chefs rotateAgency that trains people for doctor’s offices. Doctor’s offices need etiquette training for their employees desperately.A service that transfers CDs -> LPs (not the other way around)Organic grapes and wine brokerage.If you’re doing home exchanges, a personal website devoted to you and your trip and all of its details. It will have an itinerary on a main page so you don’t have to access your email to see it and it has all the details there.Collectibles investment club.After Party Art where the user send in bottles collected from special gatherings to a factory that melts and shapes glass into guest gifts.Stickers for backpacks (stick well to nylon, etc.)Roomba type toy for dog to chase around house. Should move faster, be fairly indestructible and make appropriate noises.An online toy that introduces children to audio mixing through a Mr. Potato Head-like interface. Add a nose, add an instrument to the band!Children’s school that finds the right balance between Marine Corps boot camp methods, Montessori methods, and liberal arts education – located half the year in big cities worldwide and half the year in wilderness camp setting.Dashboard painting of car interiorsAmusement park based on video gamesPersonal chef for a day. A formalized service where you can call and get a chef with a specific specialty to come and cook a few days worth of food. In cities, this would be very popular and in demand.After party cleaning crewFence store – Sells nothing but designer fences with custom designsInvestment bank that helps non-profits tap the public market with stock listings.An invite only site that allows friends to create video playlists from Hulu, the userTube and third party programming.Online Astrology Readings – Readings done via SkypeGym review company – Company that reviews gyms and creates a guide like ZAGAT that we sellNetflix for freshwater aquariums. If you get bored of some of your old fish you can swap them out for new ones.Phone booth style device that you walk into and it steam presses your clothesA website that you can put in a characteristics of a person and it will come up with an avatar.A store for really obscure food products that change regularly. Every time a customer checks out, you ask them if there are any products that we don’t know about that we should know about, and if there is then the customer ten dollars off their bill and that product shows up in the store within a week or two. Maybe even more narrow than just foods in general, so for example a store for niche meats that come from animals you’ve never heard of.Religious Karaoke Bar – Bar where only religious songs allowed to be sung, and no alcoholSoda Pop flavored mochi balls.A sophisticated website that uses an eHarmony-like algorithm to match nannies and familiesSolid state lighting retrofits of vintage light fixtures (art deco, 40’s 50’s 60’s fixtures) get them at Goodwill and other second hand shops and turn them into $300 “green works or retro art”A dating service where only your friends can set you up on dates.Fractional Ownership of Season Tickets / Box SeatsAffordable home matting and framing kitConsumer fingerprinting business – Company provides trained experts to apply fingerprints tests for household eventsA relocation service for Americans looking to permanently move to a new location for global opportunities.Website where musicians can collaborate on lyricsRoomba for the backyard to pick up dog poop and enzyme it. Or it works with the Doggie Doolie and dumps the poop in it on a regular basis.Fish Burial Kit.Mail in your old mixtapes and get a playlist sent to you via email with a digital version of that mix.A not-for-profit that pairs experts with eager and willing pupils for an apprenticeship program.Actor research consulting service – Consulting service for actors to be setup with people who can mentor them in research for their rolesAutomatic documentary maker, where families upload clips, photos and music from their special occasions generating a smooth transition clip that captures the essence of the moment.Executive Power nap business – Locations where executives can take a 20 minute energizer nap during the dayGraphic novels based on video gamesProfessional protesters agency.Lip reading school – School that teaches students how to read lipsDigital Workflow Consulting – “We’ll get your precious memories (files) into the cloud”Brand of energy ice cream.Cereal Bar (cereal the way you like it with “extras” – open late)Sell web stats back to website owners who are computer illiterate (Google Analytics)Anti-inflammatory Hot SauceFirefox Plugin for Autosave ClipboardUndercover Teenager – hire a teenager to spy on your kidiPhone app that uses the GPS to measure amount of accumulated gains in altitude for climbers, hikers, skiers.Pay at the pump carbon offsetsRoof-mounted Active Denial System (pain ray) to keep deer out of your garden. Or possibly a sounder laser. The system would be mounted next to a camera with an image recognition system that could pick out a deer.Netflix for conversation pieces. Get bored of your coffee table book and send it back for another.Box removal after people move – green message of recyclingRelationship Hotline – Relationship experts answer phone calls 24/7Age verification company – A company that solely does research to verify someone’s age (little league baseball would be a big client)Campaign Suite -> Political Suite – set of web apps – all the good things Obama did in a “package”A seminar business that trains people to be tribe leaders.Mobile software for a picture-based wishlist. When you see something you like at a store, you can take a picture of it and record the info about it either so you can comparison shop or someone can shop for you. Might replace the print-out-20-sheets-of-info gift registries in places like Target.An Urban Dictionary for texting.Salon for blind peoplePicture book series for adults explaining technology topicsCloset organization for adult men – Garanimalize their clothing for them after the factVision board builder site that provides a virtual design for users to focus on their goals daily.A website that teaches you about what is involved in the day-to-day training for different sports, so you can make an intelligent decision about what sport to take up instead of just choosing based on what it looks like on TV. Has links to where you can go to take up a sport as a beginner, what the competition structure looks like, how far you typically have to travel, etc. Can drive traffic to consultants who help get kids recruited to college, to genetic testing firms, to sports physiology labs, etc.DeadTV Art: mail your old, hated TV sets to a factory that smashes it and returns it to the user as framed work of art.Organic vitamin pills and supplements for vegetarians sold through health stores.Teach companies how improv comedy can help them in their business (comfort zone, setup your partner)Herb garden planting – plan, plant and basically get your herb garden going.Legal Advice Hotline – Legal staff and call center charges consumers to call in for advice charge per hourA website for elementary and middle school kids that helps them build a portfolio of their best artwork, writing, sports accomplishments, etc.A data aggregator of global statistics on death, destruction, catastrophes, violations of human rights, freedom in media, etc. There is so much attention put on the middle east. It would be interesting to see and compare what is happening in your neighborJelly Belly for gumTeam in Training – supporting a family or village instead of a causeFilmmakers café-It would be great to have a place that people could go and use a TV and DVD player in a cool coffee house setting–similar to how the internet cafes are run…It could be a place where people could just leisurely watch something midday and also people can meet and discuss their work and others’ work while watching through it.Website that allows people to share clothes and shoes (fractional closet ownership)iPhone app that measures the speed of a pitch. Utilizing the built in accelerometer, you throw the phone as fast as you can. When you pick it back up it tells you the speed of your throw. This pairs well with the iPhone insurance idea.A site that gives you a step-by-step system to build a large web presence and a large group of followers, and makes it easy to track how many people are reading your blog, commenting, sending you emails, etc. so you can work on growing your number of followers and increasing your influence as efficiently as possible. Gives you detailed instructions each step of the way based on your performance.Affordable set top box with video chat (less functionality and cheaper than Media Center)Robotics sports entertainment company – Create robotic athletes that play sports using AI, charge for admissionA storytelling site that markets to families who want easy ways to archive the voices of their elders.Interactive billboard advertisements with codes for coupons sent to mobile phones (mobile-location-based-presence advertising).One stop shop custom photo labs – bring in digital pictures and you have access to Photoshop expert, printing matting, framing,A village in china that paints portraits of pop culture icons as various dog breeds. Look, Obama as a GreyHound!Fish babies. Specifically market a female and a male fish capable of mating to customers interested in seeing the miracle happen at home.A consumer hotline to advise people on electronic purchases and installation on a $ per minute basis.BestOf. com A website that only sells one specific type of each product…but you know its the best.Create YouTube channel with local restaurant reviews (or any kind of local business)Words sewn into a certain brand of clothes – need to find people with same clothes to spell out a word or phrase on the website to win a prize (like McDonald’s Monopoly but with clothes and a website)Public bathrooms that you pay to use. There is a room attendant for your bags.A bio-degradable “plastic” to be used in developing countries where outsiders come in and drink lots of things in plastic bottles because they can’t drink the water. These countries don’t have trash and thus no way to deal with the plastic trash Westerners bring with them.A free live music concert video site streaming a huge archive with limited commercial breaks.Portable safety landing zone for emergency extractions sold to government first responders.A mentoring program (website) that connects entrepreneurs with specific mentors they seek.Art co-op that sells memberships and the art travels among the homes of the members. Kind of a Netflix for art, maybe. Art to eventually be sold at auction via exclusive contract with Sotherby’s and profit made. Could be sold as a shared-art program or as an investment co-op. Or both.Senior friend – hire people to come by to spend 30 minutes just hanging with your older relative who live away from you.Website that generates naming and branding ideasTravel agency that shows you dying civilizationsA service that provides specific enthusiastic people who want to volunteer or have time to go engage with people at nursing homes and doing activities with them.Private investigation company for restaurant employees – Restaurant companies pay to have PI’s investigate whether employees are washing their hands in the bathroomA service that takes your records and digitizes them into MP3’s.Unique Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties – we work with you to design a fun, unique bachelor or bachelorette party experienceA singer/song-writer could offer to write, record, and perform personalized songs for people’s special occasions (anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, or just because). Many would love to have the ability to write, record, and perform an original song for a special someone, but they just don’t have what it takes musically. Then, there are those of us who do have the ability but don’t know how to market themselves.Outsourced sales staff for high-ticket items.Manufacturer of flying cars (courtesy of Tim Draper).Mobile app with hospital floor plans, maps, info about area restaurants, etc.Digital Painted Blinds. Every time a dorm student closes their blinds, the window becomes a poster of rotating images he/she uploads from a flash drive.A service of highly trained babysitters specialized in all ages that you could call upon last minute any night of the weekA service where people are employed to talk specifically to antisocial or shy people at a party (they’ll feel better about themselves and will be more likely to open up next time with their new confidence.)Live Tutor (online tutoring via webcam, chat)The “C-Games” – like the X-games, but real people and celebrities compete in wacky (think Japanese game show) events & all $$ goes to charityA website that aggregates tastemakers. Collect the people who do for other things what Fred Wilson does for music. Give them a really good platform. Give them points for picking up on trends before they go mainstream.A consulting company that creates tribes for your business.USB stick into a cell phonesite that allows people to upload stock video in HD for use by other filmmakers. Low cost per minute. 50/50 split between site and uploader when a purchase is made.Positive news TV channel (PNN) – TV news network that only plays positive TV programming, nothing negativeGrocery checkout efficiency consulting service – Company consults grocery stores on their checkout process to increase efficiency10% for the world – an association of businesses who add 10% to their prices and donate the 10% to charity.Traveling Poker school – weekend intensive poker school – get some prosAssist business people (authors, bloggers, executives) organize speeches and presentations – establish relationships with many venues & marketing channelsBaby fitness class company – Organize fitness classes for babies and their parentsiPhone app that is a recorder (like the ocarina app, but more familiar).Globalization import-export trading company.Really good collaboration software for creating mindmaps, with version control that’s as easy to use as Wikipedia’s history tab. Uses the same open data format as FreeMind.English speaking, US educated virtual assistantRestaurant where you cook alongside the chef , choose your ingredients and learn a new technique.A virtual world future’s exchange, so you can bet on how much a Linden dollar will be worth in US dollars six months from now.Script Assistants-A business that assists screenwriters as they are developing their script by aggregating credible/hard to find reference material that is diverse. Often a young (or firsttime) screenwriter has a great idea and may not know what to reference to develop their idea. This business would evaluate the theme/tone/genre of the script and assist in coming up with a solid and effective reference package pulling from books/TV/movies/screenplays.Web cam at school events so you can see your kid when you can’t make itUse Google Earth to determine green improvements to a given residenceA personal education coach-they pick blogs, books, resources for you to learn based on your personal interests and career goals. They gather all the materials and for you and make recommendations on the best way for learning the material.Non-profit that takes old technology items (computers, monitors, phones) to make them usable for non-profit use – clean off the software, ensure it has all the pieces, etc.)We come to your house to list only your good stuff on eBay or Amazon so you don’t have to bring it to a store. You could have a portable photo studio in the van so the product never leaves the premises until they have cash in hand after the sale. Charge a commission and have college students working for you.All electronic gadgets in one. Phone charger, mp3 player, computer, radio, watch) should all be able to be charged by the computer. (Travelsize/lightweight.)Gold reclamation service from old electronicsA guitar pedals that make exotic animal noises.Kids choose a week’s worth of lunches online with their parents and a van delivers them everyday at lunchtime.An organization devoted specifically to growing awareness over an obscure problem that no one really looks at (i.e. kids that grow up in negative environments and what that does to them as adults.)Fractional Ownership of Segway3D personalized bubblehead dolls ordered over the Internet based on submitted photos and scans.Art for the blind – Company that translates art into some type of Braille system where blind people can appreciate it.A place online that has all your usernames and passwords for all of your bank accounts, bill paying (cell phone, grocery, utilities)…keeps track of them.Vanity audiobook company for Lulu. com authorsWebsite that allows groups to document their lottery ticket purchases and each individual members’ shares to avoid problems when they win – there are a lot of winners beside the jackpot winner.Wikipedia search hotline for those who don’t have access to the internet and simply want quick answers to their inquiries sent to them as SMS texts.Build Your own Mardi Gras mask site.RSS Batches – supported with ads (so you can subscribe to a batch of the top 10 marketing blogs and in addition to the feeds you get an occasional relevant and anticipated ad)Philanthropic tourism – pay a huge fee with part of it going to help the people you visitGrocery store with only junk foodHeadphone buds that look like headphones but that are really powerful earplugs so people can’t tell the difference.A store completely filled with weird vending machines.Offer private curbside recycling service in towns where it isn’t offered. For a monthly fee, provide a container and service it once a week. All the contents are taken to the city’s collection site.Marketing Awards (like the Oscars, potentially online)A private site where corporations hire street artists to Tag over their build boards in an ongoing campaign to draw attention to the location of the sign. Then at its peak awareness, replace it. And start the process again.Online judge dispute resolution – Submit your disagreements onliine and for a fee a judge will email you back the verdict on who is rightSteroid scandal consultant – Firm specializes in advising baseball players that are in the midst of a steroid scandalCasino Airlines – Airline that has casino games on the plane as soon as the plane gets over the seaTrade Ya. com where users trade their personal goods for other user’s crap.A drive through fast food place that has healthy sandwiches.A laundromat/video arcade – Play video games with your kids as you wait for your clothes to be doneA crowd-sourced social filter. So you type in something you think would be funny to say or do to someone else, and the site tells you whether it’s actually a good idea or whether it would be wildly inappropriate.Instead of cryogenic freezing of bodies, store genetic signatures and compile multimedia memories.Change Consulting – Teach companies how to change – “stories of change” workshopsWebsite that is an aggregator of all the charities that celebrities support and how you can get involved.To-go food materials that are 100% recyclable such as a straw.Company that anonymizes current case studies from real companies facing real struggles that others can subscribe to to be aware of current day challenges, sold as subscriptions.Delivery service of food from local restaurants that don’t offer deliveryRestaurant of the month club – diners pay $100 – get $200 gift certificates for a rotating set of restaurantsPolice texting alerts-in case of an emergency you can text the police instead of calling them.An application that is a Thesaurus for your phone.Will you marry me. com, that allows viewers to share video of wedding proposals and live stream real ones.Neighborhood phone bookTravel agency for the rich and famous.Improv comedy coach comes to dinner parties or can order “Improv Party” DVD setMobile pet neuter vans.A software that will allow you to change the channel and adjust the lights in the room through you computer.Etiquette guides for various social mediaStart a multi-level marketing company that specializes in sex toy parties for men.Snow Man kit: a packaged snow man parts, encouraging fun times building a Snowman with family and friends. Biodegradable.A digital book reader that provides an OED, so that readers can look up words as they come across them.Web-based portal that allows people to invest in or fund movie scripts written by new writers and allows studios to scout for good stories.FamousNoses. com, pick the you favorite hollywood star and get a rubber version of their beak for the you own!Online Executive Betting System – Online trading system that allows you to trade CEOs like securities to make moneyCreate your own ice cream flavorsTech adventures. Expensive one and multiday adventures where we put the players in scenarios where they get to play with the latest cool technology…night vision…robots…James bond type stuff. Real life role playing game.A PhD site where students and teachers post thesis.Casual escrow service – Escrow service for more casual transactions, like between family or friendsA software program that functions like Pandora for television programs.A company that creates baseball trading card style packets for fashion designer lines.Government sign business consultant – Company finds infrastructure signs (roads, bridges, etc.) that are ineffective or misleading that by fixing will save the government moneyStacked Twitter iPhone App (like TweetDeck or PeopleBrowsr for the iPhone)A place where kids can go and dress up like their favorite childhood book. There will be a set and costumes to dress up. Perfect for birthday parties.A car sharing service that manages the risk and coordination of sharing a car in major cities.Video messaging service where people can tape their messages (birthdays, holidays, etc.) and they give us the content from their own camera and we edit them and send them to the people they love.A not-for-profit company that works with the NYC government to spray paint North/south/east/west signs on the street or on a sign outside the subway stations to help the directionally challenged.A YouTube VC firm, that will invest money in people who are willing to do stupid stuff on video in hopes that the video will go viral and they will make a profit.AngryClickers. com: a streaming site that allows users to cue live face punches in an online fight. This is sick.Job swap board for stay at home moms – I’ll do your laundry if you do my grocery shopping.A high school homework site that markets to the schools and teachers who want to know what their neighbors require and post best-of results.Bicycle that generates electricity to run the clubInterview practice company – A company that will do mock interviews with you and give you feedback on your performance.A website or iPhone app that finds places for large groups to hang out in real time. So for example if you’re wandering around union square with fifteen friends at night, find the nearest ten places that can accommodate that many people right now.In store sales (for the next 60 minutes – x is 50% off – sent via SMS to customers who have signed up)Design agency for Second Life and other digital worlds.Private Security Insurance – promise trained “Blackwater-esque” security in the event of civil disturbance.Green Architecture Best Practices CommunityNap stations throughout the city. To integrate it into our culture, we can introduce them through napping stations similar to coffee houses.Video creation for local businesses to put on YouTubeInstall digital screens on shopping carts and sell advertising to national packaged goods companies. This would replace the current printed adds on the shopping carts. Grocery store shares in ad revenue. The carts could be location aware and tell you about products you were close to.Company that creates widgets that advertise high-end jobs on the most influential and specialized bloggers in the areas of tech, medical, finance, etc.Pillow case store – Store that only sells customers a large variety of custom pillow casesTactical fire arms training for urban environments.Be a sports team mascot for dayA digital medicine cabinet where patients upload their latest prescriptions and receive automatic feeds that relevant Google alerts.Dedicated sms/twitter service responding to shopping people about “greenness”/ethics of products.Software to build social graphs based by comprehensively integrating all the different online and offline social networks.Footnotes[1] Software Secrets Book[1] Software Secrets Book[1] Software Secrets Book[1] Software Secrets Book

O.k. Here is part of the results from the DNR Neurosciences division findings this is for the Behavioral Scientist with their degrees and not keeping up to date on present Neurological studies as well as the real ability to screen for ADD/ADHD using MRI and other brain scans. This renders observation of behavioral traits as pre-diagnosis of possible underlying neurological reasons for subject’s behavioral adaptation or lack thereof due to the premature administration of psychoactive drugs to treat a preconceived aliment that has zero physical cause to medicate. This creates an artificial dependency and pseudo-ADHD/ADD which then develops into a mental condition that has no physiological cause to pursue and perpetuate the drug abuse cycle that creates secondary sociological issues which develop into psychological issues such as victim syndrome which is exploited by the behavioral scientist in the United States at an alarming rate.The neurobiological basis of ADHDAbstractAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is not a single pathophysiological entity and appears to have a complex etiology. There are multiple genetic and environmental risk factors with small individual effect that act in concert to create a spectrum of neurobiological liability. Structural imaging studies show that brains of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are significantly smaller than unaffected controls. The prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum are differentially affected and evidence indicating reduced connectivity in white matter tracts in key brain areas is emerging. Genetic, pharmacological, imaging, and animal models highlight the important role of dopamine dysregulation in the neurobiology of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. To date, stimulants are the most effective psychopharmacological treatments available for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Currently only immediate release methylphenidate and atomoxetine are approved for the treatment of ADHD in Italy. Drug treatment should always be part of a comprehensive plan that includes psychosocial, behavioural and educational advice and interventions.Go to:IntroductionAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common, long-lasting, treatable childhood psychiatric disorder, characterized by a pattern of developmentally inappropriate inattention, motor restlessness, and impulsivity that affects approximately 3-7% of school-aged children [1].ADHD was first recognized 100 years ago as a childhood disorder found mainly in boys, and was initially described as "hyperactivity" or "hyperkinetic disorder of childhood". This abnormal behavior was found to be the result of a biological condition rather than a result of poor parenting [2]. In the 1960's and 70's much of the focus on what is now called ADHD was on hyperactivity. The presence of excessive movements in children was proposed to result from bilateral cortical activity secondary to a lack of transcallosal fiber tract-mediated interhemispheric inhibition [3]. Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity first featured in DSM-III in 1980 [4], and the more recent DSM-IV-TR provided updated ADHD criteria [5]. For a diagnosis of ADHD, symptoms need to occur often, have persisted for the past six months, and be maladaptive and incongruent with the individual's developmental level. Additionally, an ADHD diagnosis is only given if at least some of the behavioral symptoms were present before the age of 7 years, occur in more than one setting, and cause significant impairment in social and school functioning.The renaming of the disorder, the subsequent focus on attention, and the clarification of three subtypes led to a range of neurocognitive and neurobiological hypotheses regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD within a more specific brain localization. Furthermore, neurocognitive models of ADHD have become more refined, and one particular executive process, inhibition, is now considered to be a core deficit [6].Current theories emphasise the central role of attentional and executive dysfunctions in children [7,8], as well as affective components involving emotional control and motivational processes [9]. A growing body of evidence supports a model in which multiple genetic and environmental factors interact during early development to create a neurobiological susceptibility to the disorder; the expression of which is mediated by alterations within different and diverse neural networks and deficits in the neuropsychological functions that these subserve [10]. Individuals with ADHD present difficulties in several domains of attentional and cognitive functions: problem solving, planning, orienting, alerting, cognitive flexibility, sustained attention, response inhibition, and working memory [7,11]. Other domains involving affective components, such as motivation and delay aversion, are also affected [8,9]. Motor difficulties, such as problems with sensory motor coordination, including poor handwriting, clumsiness, and marked delays in achieving motor milestones [12], have also been reported and the prevalence of motor impairment in the ADHD population has been estimated to be approximately 50% [13]. Motor problems might be partially related to abnormalities in structure and/or function of the cerebellum and basal ganglia found in ADHD [14].Recently, neuroimaging has led to several important advances in the understanding of the neurobiology underlying the clinical picture of ADHD and demonstrates a clear brain basis to the disorder in regions involved in attention, and executive and inhibitory control [15,16]. Furthermore, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has provided evidence that intracortical inhibition, as indexed by the immature ipsilateral motor cortex, normalizes with psychostimulant treatment [17]. There is an exciting confluence between emerging studies in basic neurobiology and the genetic, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological analyses of ADHD. Knowledge of neurobiology can offer child neurologists, psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals a valuable framework for the interpretation of clinical findings of children meeting the criteria for the diagnosis of ADHD. In this article, we provide a brief overview of the salient neurological basis of the disorder.EtiologyADHD is not a single pathophysiological entity and appears to have a complex etiology. Multiple genetic and environmental factors act together to create a spectrum of neurobiological liability.The genetic basis for ADHDGenetic factors are implicated in ADHD, but the mechanism of action is not completely understood. Twin, family and adoption studies of ADHD have supported a strong genetic contribution to the disorder, with heritability ranging from 60-90% [18,19].Genes regulating neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in ADHD. Candidate gene studies of ADHD have produced substantial evidence implicating several genes in the etiology of the disorder, with meta-analyses supportive of a role of the genes coding for DRD4, DRD5, SLC6A3, SNAP-25, and HTR1B [20]. Genome scan studies on potential alleles for ADHD have demonstrated linkage on chromosomes 5p13, 6q12, 16p13, 17p11 and 11q22-25 [21,22]. However, genome-wide association studies have failed to report any associations that are significant after correction for multiple testing [23]. Therefore, a plausible genetic hypothesis for ADHD is a mixture of dominant and recessive major genes that act with complex polygenic transmission patterns [18]. An increased rate of large, rare, chromosomal deletions and duplications known as copy number variants have been reported in individuals with ADHD [24]. However, genetic testing in an individual child is not currently practical in normal clinical practice.Sometimes ADHD-like symptoms are exhibited by patients with established neurogenetic disorders such as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Neurofibromatosis I, Turner Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Velocardiofacial syndrome, Prader-Willy syndrome, and Fragile × Syndrome. Although each syndrome may arise from different genetic abnormalities with multiple molecular functions, the effects of these abnormalities may give rise to common effects downstream in the biological pathways or neural circuits, resulting in the presentation of ADHD symptoms [25].The environmental basis of ADHDPre-, peri- and postnatal environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of ADHD. Prenatal factors are associated with maternal lifestyle during pregnancy. For example, prenatal alcohol exposure is known to induce brain structural anomalies, especially in the cerebellum [26]. Children exposed prenatally to alcohol can become hyperactive, disruptive, impulsive, and are at an increased risk of a range of psychiatric disorders [27,28]. Maternal smoking produces a 2.7-fold increased risk for ADHD [29], and a dose-response relationship between maternal smoking during pregnancy and hyperactivity has been reported [30]. This may be due to an effect on nicotinic receptors, which modulate dopaminergic activity. Dopaminergic disruption is believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD [31,32].Peri-natal factors have also been implicated, with a two-fold increase in ADHD in very-low-birthweight children and an increased rate of pregnancy and birth complications in mothers of children later diagnosed with ADHD [33].Among postnatal factors, a role for malnutrition and dietary deficiency in ADHD has been proposed. An imbalance of essential fatty acid (omega-3 and omega-6) intake has been suggested to be potentially involved in the development of ADHD [34], although further evidence is required to establish a role. Iron deficiency has been implicated in some cases [35]. Early deprivation of social environment during the postnatal period may also have significant effects.Gene-environment interactionsMore complex models of the etiology of ADHD incorporating gene-environment interplay need to be considered. Recent studies have focused on the joint effects of gene variants (of DRD4 and DAT1) and prenatal substance exposures on subtypes of ADHD children, demonstrating that smoking during pregnancy is associated with the combined ADHD type in genetically susceptible children [36]. A significant interaction between DAT1 genotype and prenatal smoke exposure was found in males. Men homozygous for the DAT1 10-repeat allele had higher hyperactivity-impulsivity than males from all other groups [37]. Despite the heterogeneity of the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD, abnormal DAT density seems to be common among subjects with ADHD [38].NeuroimagingGrowing evidence points to the involvement of the frontostriatal network as a likely contributor to the pathophysiology of ADHD. This network involves the lateral prefrontal cortex, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and the caudate nucleus and putamen. In ADHD patients, reductions in volume have been observed in total cerebral volume, the prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia (striatum), the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, the corpus callosum and the cerebellum [39]. A developmental trajectories study in ADHD patients showed a delay in cortical maturation and demonstrated that different clinical outcomes may be associated with different developmental trajectories in adolescence and beyond [40]. In studies of cortical development in children with ADHD, a marked delay in brain maturation was seen; the grey matter peaks were about 3 years later than in healthy controls [41]. The delay was most prominent in prefrontal regions important in the control of cognitive processes including attention and motor planning [41,42]. Compensatory networks including basal ganglia, insula and cerebellum have been implicated for relative lower cognitive load tasks in ADHD patients [43].Neuroimaging studies have also reported reduced white matter (WM) volumes [43], midsagittal corpus callosum (CC) areas [44], and cortical thickness [43] in ADHD patients compared with controls. One of the most replicated alterations is a significantly smaller CC, but there are conflicting reports regarding the affected callosal segments [45]. Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural investigations have shown that WM alterations are present in children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD [46]. In 15 young males with ADHD, Silk et al. (2008) found WM abnormalities in several distinct regions underlying the inferior parietal, occipito-parietal, inferior frontal, and inferior temporal cortex [47]. Tractography methods showed that these regions form part of WM pathways connecting prefrontal and parieto-occipital areas with the striatum and the cerebellum. The authors also demonstrated anomalous WM development in ADHD in distinct cortical regions that they had previously shown to be dysfunctional or hypoactive in a functional MRI study of subjects with ADHD [47].Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI modality that provides information about the direction and integrity of neural fibre tracks in the brain in vivo. DTI studies have revealed developmental changes in cortical WM pathways in prefrontal regions and in pathways surrounding the basal ganglia and cerebellum in patients with ADHD, which presumably reflect decreasing myelination of axons. It is believed that these changes cause a decrease in the speed of neuronal communication [48]. Moreover, the neural networks serving the corticostriatal and corticocerebellar circuits could represent putative biomarkers for ADHD. Indeed, in this disorder their quantification using DTI could be relevant for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes [46].As well as offering new data to map the brain systems involved in ADHD, and to integrate these findings with clinical symptoms, functional neuroimaging studies allow us to understand the mechanisms of treatment response [42,49]. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown that methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) blocks dopamine active transporters (DAT) and that extracellular dopamine (DA) increases in proportion to the level of blockade and to the rate of DA release. This process is associated with an enhanced perception of the external stimulus as salient in subjects with ADHD [50].Clinical diagnosis and comorbiditiesClinical presentation of ADHD may vary according to age and stage of development and there are cultural differences in the level of activity and inattention that are regarded as a problem [51]. Diagnosis requires that there should be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning [5]. The predominantly inattentive type is relatively more common in females. Children with the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type are aggressive and impulsive, and tend to be highly rejected by their peers. The combined type causes more impairment in global functioning, in comparison with the other two types. Adolescents with ADHD often report low self-esteem and poor peer relationships; and are at high risk of smoking and substance abuse early in life [52,53].Endophenotypes can be used as trait markers for disease susceptibility, to identify more genetically homogeneous subgroups, to highlight distinct pathophysiological mechanisms or etiological pathways, or to define "spectrum" phenotypes suitable for quantitative trait analyses [54]. Cognitive deficits and motor response inhibition are the prime endophenotype candidates in ADHD [55].The co-existence of several other types of psychopathology along with ADHD, such as oppositional defiant disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, learning disorders, tics, and mental retardation, is very common [56].TreatmentBefore starting treatment, it is important to identify the target outcomes to guide the therapy decision. Drug treatment should be based on a thorough assessment and should always be part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychosocial, behavioural, and educational advice and interventions. Psychotherapy combined with medication may play a role in treating behavioural problems, organisational issues and psychiatric comorbidities [57]. In Italy, an ADHD diagnosis can only be made at a regional referral centre approved by the Italian Ministry of Health. Treatment guidelines put forward by the Ministry of Health and based on European guidelines, specify that pharmacological treatment can only be initiated after failure of cognitive behavioural therapy over a period of 6 months or longer has been demonstrated. Patients must first be enrolled in the ADHD medication registry before treatment with MPH or atomoxetine (ATX) can be prescribed.Behavioural therapy and pharmacological treatment have both been shown to benefit ADHD patients. A longitudinal study of the efficacy of different treatments (an intensively monitored medication program, behavioural therapy, combination of medication and behavioural therapy or treatment as usual by community care) showed after 8-year follow-up that all four of the original treatment groups had a similar outcome: all showed improvement in comparison with pretreatment baseline scores, but none demonstrated superiority [58].The fronto-subcortical circuits (lateral prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, and putamen) associated with ADHD are rich in catecholamines, which are involved in the mechanism of action of medications used to treat this disorder. Neuropharmacological studies have provided evidence that ADHD involves dysregulation of both noradrenaline (NE) and DA neurotransmitter systems [59]. MPH treatment causes an increase in DA signalling through multiple actions, including blockade of the DA reuptake transporter, amplification of DA response duration, disinhibition of the dopamine D2 receptor and amplification of DA tone [60]. MPH is also an inhibitor of NE re-uptake. ATX is a selective inhibitor of synaptic re-uptake, and in vivo, it specifically increases extracellular levels of DA in the prefrontal cortex but not in the striatum; probably by modulating cortical synaptic DA uptake via the NE transporter [61]. Dextroamphetamine increases the synaptic activity of DA and NE by increasing the release of the neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, decreasing reuptake back into the presynaptic neuron, and inhibiting their catabolism [62]. Strong evidence exists indicating that stimulant medications, such as MPH and dextroamphetamine, and the non-stimulant ATX, are effective in improving ADHD symptoms [63]. Guanfacine is a selective alpha2A adrenergic receptor agonist, which improves working memory by stimulating postsynaptic alpha2A adrenoceptors, strengthening the functional connectivity of prefrontal cortex networks [64]. Guanfacine has also been shown to be effective in reducing ADHD symptoms [65,66]. Table ​Table11 summarises the most important characteristics of these pharmacological treatments for ADHD. Only ATX and immediate release MPH are currently approved for the treatment of ADHD in Italy.Table 1Clinical characteristics of ADHD pharmacotherapiesPharmacotherapyMolecular mechanisms [59-66]FormulationsEfficacy(meta-analysis effect size) [74,70]Common adverse events[75-79]StimulantsMethylphenidateBlocks DA reuptake transporter, amplifies DA response duration, disinhibits D2 receptor, inhibits NE re-uptakeImmediate release0.92 (0.80, 1.05)Decreased appetite, insomnia, abdominal pain, headache dizziness, reduced weight gain, affective symptomsOsmotic release0.90 (0.76, 1.05)Decreased appetite, abdominal pain, headacheExtended release0.85 (0.65, 1.05)Decreased appetite, headache, abdominal painLong-acting0.96 (0.75, 1.16)Headache, insomnia, upper abdominal pain, decreased appetite, anorexiaTransdermal patchNot availableAppetite, nausea, vomiting, insomniaDexmethylphenidate0.76 (0.45, 1.08)Decreased appetite, headache, abdominal pain, nauseaDextroamphetamineIncreases release of DA and NE into synaptic cleft, decreases reuptake into presynaptic neuron, inhibits catabolismImmediate release1.24 (0.88, 1.60)Decreased appetite, insomniaExtended release1.13 (0.57, 1.69)Palpitations, tremor, insomnia, decreased appetite, headache, dizziness, dry mouth, weight loss, abdominal symptomsProdrug1.52 (1.34, 1.71)Decreased appetite, headache, insomnia, abdominal pain, irritabilityMixed amphetamine saltsIncreases release of DA and NE into synaptic cleft, decreases reuptake into presynaptic neuron, inhibits catabolismImmediate release1.34 (0.95, 1.72)Decreased appetite, agitation, insomniaExtended release0.77 (0.59, 0.94)Decreased appetite, headache, insomniaNon-stimulantsAtomoxetineSelectively inhibits synapticDA re-uptakeImmediate release0.63 (0.57, 0.69)Upper abdominal pain, decreased appetite, vomiting, somnolence, irritability, fatigueGuanfacineSelective alpha2A adrenergic receptor agonistImmediate releaseNot availableSedation, insomnia, decreased appetite, dry mouth, constipationExtended release0.8 (0.53, 1.07)Somnolence, fatigue, upper abdominal pain, sedationOpen in a separate windowADHD pharmacological therapies are generally well-tolerated (Table ​(Table1).1). However, concerns surrounding the cardiovascular safety of some of these drugs has prompted a recent examination of the effects of ATX and MPH on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and ECG parameters. MPH appears to cause minor increases in BP and HR, with no strong data to suggest that itincreases the QT interval. Limited data suggest that ATX may increase BP and HR in the short term; in the long term it appears to only increase BP. The effects of ATX on QT interval remain uncertain. Because the current evidence is based on research that has not been specifically designed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of these drugs, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions [67].Both MPH and ATX significantly increase activation in key cortical and subcortical regions subserving attention and executive functions. Therefore, alterations in dopaminergic and noradrenergic function are apparently necessary for the clinical efficacy of pharmacological treatment of ADHD [68]. However MPH and ATX have both common and distinct neural effects, consistent with the observation that while many children respond well to both treatments, some respond preferentially to one or the other. Although pharmacotherapy for ADHD appears to prepare and facilitate the brain for learning, experiential programs need to elicit compensatory development in the brain. The clinical amelioration of some children after environmental experiential inputs and early cognitive/behavioural treatment could indicate outcome-associated plastic brain response [69]. One year of treatment with MPH may be beneficial to show enduring normalisation of neural correlates of attention. However, little is known about the long-term effects of stimulants on the functional organisation of the developing brain [70]. Recent findings have shown that chronic MPH use in drug-naive boys with ADHD enhanced neuropsychological functioning on "recognition memory" component tasks with modest executive demands [71]. Patients receiving pharmacological treatment for ADHD should always be closely monitored for both common and unusual potentially severe adverse effects.Go to:ConclusionsConvergent data from neuroimaging, neuropsychology, genetics and neurochemical studies consistently point to the involvement of the frontostriatal network as a likely contributor to the pathophysiology of ADHD. This network involves the lateral prefrontal cortex, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the caudate nucleus and putamen [39]. Functional neuroimaging has provided new ways to examine the pathophysiology of ADHD, has shown widespread dysfunction in neural systems involving the prefrontal, striatal, and parietal brain regions, and has led to a brain model of deficits in multiple developmental pathways [72]. Molecular genetic studies support dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems as the basis of genetic susceptibility to the disorder, and it is becoming clear that the genotype may influence the response to medications [73]. Hopefully, advances in understanding the underlying neurobiology of ADHD will contribute to identifying more specific and targeted pharmacotherapies, and will help child neurologists to better manage their patients.Go to:Competing interestsProfessor Paolo Curatolo has served as an Advisory Board Member for Eli Lilly and Shire, and has received research grants from Eli Lilly and Shire. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.Go to:Authors' contributionsPC proposed and designed the study, and revised the final draft. EDA and RM reviewed all the relevant articles on the literature, and prepared the first draft under the supervision of Prof. Paolo Curatolo. 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