Reward deficiency syndrome (RDS) is a psychological theory first noted by Kenneth Blum in 1996. It is characterized by reward-seeking behavior and/or addictions, stemming from genetic variations, most notably resulting from those carrying the D2A1 allele. People carrying the A1 allele tend to have insufficient numbers of D2 receptors in their brain, resulting in lack …
A panic attack is defined as a sudden (or unexpected) surge of anxiety or fear. During this surge of fear, a person typically experiences a combination of cognitive and physical symptoms related to severe anxiety. These symptoms can include things like: fear of losing control, palpitations, hyperventilation, chest pain, and sweating. The experience may become …
Writer’s block is a condition in which a writer is unable to think of what should be written next. The phenomenon was first documented in 1947 by Edmund Bergler, a psychoanalyst. If you experience writer’s block, you may be unable to develop a new piece of content or finish an existing piece. You may feel …
One of the most frustrating experiences for any student going to school or working adult is experiencing “brain fog.” When brain fog hits, it’s almost as if our previously efficient brain has filled up with clouds or “fog” that prevents us from thinking clearly. Brain fog is typically characterized as an inability to focus, poor …
Panic attacks can strike at anytime and turn a seemingly normal situation into sheer terror. Unless you’ve personally experienced a panic attack, it may be difficult to understand what it feels like. Many panic attacks are caused by a specific stimulus or “trigger” (i.e. person, event, etc.). In other cases they may occur organically without …
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a diagnosis that is usually given to children and/or teenagers who engage in significant defiance of authority figures. This defiance may involve disobeying rules, starting arguments with parents, spiteful behavior, and/or intentionally annoying adults. Although some of this behavior is pretty normal for most kids and teens, if it becomes …
Undifferentiated schizophrenia is characterized by general symptoms of schizophrenia that do not fit a specific classification or diagnosis of another subtype. People may exhibit the traditional “positive” and “negative” symptoms, but they may fluctuate over a period of time. This type of schizophrenia can be particularly challenging to diagnose with confidence because someone needs to …