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Behavioral

Alcohol and Your Heart

Alcohol may have some health benefits, including lowering the risk for heart disease, but it may also lead to abusive drinking and other diseases.

Start Some Healthy Holiday Traditions

December can be stressful. But you and your family can adopt some new traditions that may help ease the season's stress and make your holidays healthy and happy.

The Truth About Lying

If the truth be told, most of us lie to some degree, especially when faced with an alternative like hurting someone's feelings. Some of us, however, lie so often that we stop realizing it.

Is Your Teen Abusing Drugs or Alcohol?

Besides having trouble with school and relationships, teens taking drugs may display emotional extremes with irritability, anger, and changes in sleep patterns.

Q and A: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

This Q&A will help you understand OCD, and the obsessions, compulsions, and rituals that are part of it.

Raising Kids with Self-Esteem

Research shows that adolescents who grow up with high self-esteem are far less likely to abuse drugs or drink, compared with children who grow up without much sense of self-worth.

Keeping Party Drinking Under Control

The holidays can be enjoyed without drinking alcohol. But if you choose to drink, there are responsible ways to consume alcohol.

Social Drinking vs. Problem Drinking

A helpful guide to understanding the effects of alcohol, the signs of problem drinking, and how to drink safely.

Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves

More than 22 million Americans are involved in some form of helping elderly family members or friends with their daily routines. If you're part of this group, whether you call yourself a caregiver, or simply a good daughter or son, you know that caring for an aging parent or friend has its rewards and its trials.

Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome

While being a new mom brings lots of joy, it also brings stress--something a crying baby can make worse. Having a better understanding of why your baby cries can help you deal with this stress in a healthy way and help you avoid the most common form of child abuse: Shaken baby syndrome.

Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging

Depression is not a natural part of growing old. It's a health condition that should be treated aggressively. Read on to learn more.

Binge Drinking Dangers for Young People

Binge drinkers are most likely found on college campuses, where many students consider a big game or fraternity party an excuse to drink all weekend.

What You Need to Know About Heroin

Until recently, heroin was not considered a problem among children of middle-class parents. But lately, it has been showing up in new places. Today the typical user could be a person from any race, part of the country, socioeconomic level, or age.

Maintaining Weight Once You've Quit Smoking

People sometimes gain weight when they stop smoking. But you can reduce your chances of adding extra pounds. You just need to take steps to prevent it.

Boosting Your Mental Health

Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. But we all face changes in life that can challenge our emotional well being.

What You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse can happen in any family and in any neighborhood. Studies have shown that child abuse crosses all boundaries of income, race, ethnic heritage, and religious faith. Read on for helpful tips for stopping child abuse.

Where to Turn for Mental Health

It's normal to feel stressed or anxious now and then. But it's time to call for help if emotional issues interfere with your life, your job or your personal relationships.

Youth Suicide

Suicide is when a teen causes his or her own death on purpose. Before trying to take his or her own life, a teen may have thoughts of wanting to die. Read on to learn how to recognize the warning signs, and how to get your teen help.

When a Family Grieves

Learning about grief and how it affects your family can help you get through the difficult times together. It may even help your family grow stronger.

Keeping Envy and Jealousy Under Control

When someone gets a raise or a special perk, can you say congratulations and mean it? Or do you seethe inside and think, "That really should have been mine?"

The Dangers of Binge Drinking

On college campuses across the U.S., many students ages 18 to 24 are taking part in a dangerous activity called binge drinking. This means drinking alcohol to the point of getting drunk. Read on to learn more about the risks.

The Facts About Recreational Marijuana

Knowing about marijuana can help you tell if your child or someone else is using it, and help them to get treatment.

Help for the Holiday Blues

The unrealistic expectations of the season, time and financial pressures, missing loved ones and reflecting on past events as the year comes to an end all contribute to the blues.

After a Heart Attack

Over the long-term, your quality of life is tied to how severe your heart attack was and how it was treated. Beyond that, any change will depend largely on you.

How to Quit Smoking, Again

Follow these suggestions to help you kick the habit, again--this time, for good.

Major Depression in Teens

Major depression goes beyond the day's normal ups and downs. It involves a teen's body, mood, and thoughts. It can affect and disrupt eating, sleeping, or thinking patterns.

Helping a Friend With an Addiction

When a friend shows signs of abusing alcohol or other drugs, it's hard to know what to do or say. Here's how to help.

Close the Door on Intimate Partner Violence

Read on to learn about the signs of an abusive relationship, and how to make a safety plan and get ready to leave.

Recognizing Domestic Violence

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is when someone you're in a romantic relationship with tries to control you through fear and threats. Read on for detailed information.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The symptoms of OCD vary widely from person to person. Without treatment, OCD can last for a lifetime.

All About LSD

LSD, also called acid, is one of the most commonly used hallucinogens or psychedelic drugs.

Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous

Today there are alternatives to 12-step programs. Some treatment programs teach problem drinkers to reduce their drinking. This approach appeals to people who otherwise might not seek treatment.

Finding Support for Emotional Issues

How do you know when your emotions are the everyday kind that are likely to get better with time? Or when it's time to get help? Read on to find out.

Temper Tantrums

Temper tantrums are a normal part of childhood development. They often happen only with a parent. They are a way for the child to communicate their feelings. Read on to learn more.

Older Adults: Preventing Falls

Every year, millions of adults fall, leading to injuries and emergency room visits. Many of these falls and injuries can be prevented.

Primer: Smokeless Tobacco

Many people think using smokeless tobacco is safer than smoking. But just because there's no smoke, doesn't mean it's safe.

Hospices Offer Comfort at Life's End

As medical progress prolongs our lives, the end can linger. So, more and more people are turning to hospice care.

Understanding the Teen Brain

Parents need to realize the rational part of a teen's brain isn't fully developed and won't be until they are 25 years old or so.

The Menace of Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive drug. It is related to the legal stimulant amphetamine, but has stronger effects.

Medicines to Treat ADHD in Children

Children who have ADHD are often given medicine as part of their treatment plan. The type of medicine most often chosen is a psychostimulant. Read on to learn more.

Getting the Most from a Mental Health Support Group

If you’re interested in joining an online support group, read on to learn more about finding one that's right for you.

Alcohol and Older Adults

Many older adults enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a beer while watching the game on TV. But alcohol can affect older adults differently. Here's what you should know.

Prescription Drug Addiction

Three kinds of prescription medicines are potentially addictive: opioids, tranquilizers, and stimulants. Here's what you should know.

Substance Abuse or Chemical Dependence

Learn about substance abuse and dependence, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Understanding Compulsive Overeating

The disorder may develop when others make repeated negative comments about a person's weight.

Quit-Smoking Tools: Help for Kicking Your Habit

As you likely already know, quitting smoking isn't easy. But millions of other people have done it—and you can, too. Here are some things that can help.

For Men: Healthcare Providers Are Good for Your Health

Men are missing the chance to find and treat health problems in their early stages, when many conditions are more treatable and less threatening to overall health.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

If you tend to worry a lot, even when there’s no reason, you may have generalized anxiety disorder or GAD. Medicine and lifestyle changes can help.

Bullies: Helping Your Child Cope

Bullying can happen in school, on the playground - and now even on the Internet through social networking sites. Here are some warning signs to watch for, and information on how to help your child.

How to Control Your Temper

At least some anger is necessary for survival. Frequent or intense episodes of anger, however, aren't good for you or the people around you. If you find yourself boiling mad more often than not, try some of these tips to keep your temper in check.

Finding the Right Rehab Program for Substance Abuse

Drug addiction and alcohol addiction are chronic diseases that can be treated as successfully as many other chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes.

Can Optimism Make a Difference in Your Life?

A growing number of scientific studies indicate that optimistic people tend to live longer and have better physical and mental health than pessimistic people.

Sports and Music: Both Good for Kids

Organized sports for children offer obvious benefits such as physical fitness and sportsmanship, but did you know that a musical education program has many of the same benefits? Music education and participation in sports are both great ways to prepare your child for future success.

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year, most often fall or winter. Here's what you need to know.

Emotional Eating: How to Cope

Emotional eating affects most people from time to time. But regularly letting your feelings guide your food intake can affect your health.

Tips for a Successful Quit Smoking Day

If you can make it through this first day and this first week, when nicotine withdrawal symptoms are at their worst, you will be on your way to success.

Journaling for Emotional Wellness

If you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, keeping a journal is a great idea. It can help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health.

Overcoming Gender Identity Harassment

Gay and lesbian teens are often targets of bullying, harassment, and aggression. Anti-gay bullying can range from verbal abuse, such as name-calling, to life-threatening physical assault. Here's what you need to know.

Men and Mental Health

Mental illness can cause different symptoms in men than in women. So some disorders in men may be harder to recognize. Here's what you need to know.

How to Make a Budget

There is peace of mind that comes with making and keeping a budget. These tips and resources will help you make a realistic budget, and direct you to financial assistance choices.

Understanding Credit

Many factors affect your credit score. It is important to understand your credit score and how you can improve it.

Divorce in Later Years

Getting a divorce is almost always painful and stressful, no matter how old or young you are. But if your marriage falls apart later in life, you may face some financial and emotional setbacks that are more difficult to recover from than when you were younger.

Smart Ways to Resolve Conflicts at Home

Conflict and anger are natural parts of family life. But how you handle them makes all the difference in having good relationships with loved ones.

The Keys to a Successful Marriage

A marriage is based on love and respect. You, your spouse, and your relationship may grow and change with time, but these ideas can help your marriage stay successful over the years.

Finding Support When You're a Single Parent

If you're a single parent, you may feel overwhelmed by everything you have to do each day. Here are some ideas on finding support.

6 Ways to Master Your Job Search

Being out of work is always a frustrating situation. There are some specific strategies to help you rise above other job candidates.

Tips to Keep Your Anger Under Control

While getting angry from time to time is inevitable, the way you express it isn't. Control your anger in a way that's better for both you and the people around you.

How to Juggle Demands at Work and Home

Juggling the demands of work and home can be quite stressful. For your health and well-being, it is important to find a good balance between work and home responsibilities

Couples Therapy Can Help Mend a Marriage

Research shows that couples who seek couples therapy increase their chance of staying together. They also improve communication and satisfaction in their relationship. Read on to learn more.

Navigating Life After a Loved One’s Suicide

Grieving the death of someone who died by suicide is in many ways like other forms of grief. But you may experience different challenges and obstacles than those whose loved one died from an illness or accident.