A Psychiatrist or a Psychologist: Which Professional is Better Concerning Mental Health?

The range of choices in the mental health marketplace can be confusing. Any physician can legally prescribe psychoactive medications, while almost anyone, even without a license or training, can profess to treat emotional disorders. Within the medical profession, psychiatrists have the training to deal with severe mental disorders. Yet a sympathetic general practitioner may prove just as effective in treating mild depressions and anxiety problems or may be able to refer you to an appropriate therapist. Your local community health center or public hospitals are alternative sources of information and treatment. Community health centers can arrange for psychiatric assessment and follow-up services, and in emergency situations a crisis team can be called upon. Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and counselors all play a role in the delivery of mental health services. Only psychiatrists can prescribe drugs, but it should be recognized that while drug treatment may be necessary for serious illnesses, many conditions can be treated without drugs. [Read Full Article]

Why the Mind Wanders

With the many 'How To' guides sprouting all around, I have thought of coming up with my own pointers on..... wait, I forgot. Oh, okay that's it - "How to Keep Your Mind from Wandering". Sounds very challenging, don't you think? I will be able to provide useful hints on how to stop this pervading psychological phenomenon called mind-wandering from ever bothering our mental faculties again. Mind-wandering is that abstract nuisance that prevent students from keeping their focus on textbooks and lectures, drivers from keeping their minds on the road, and employees from concentrating on beating deadlines set by their bosses. I am thrilled no end by the prospect of seeing everyone starting to do something and finishing it without being interrupted even for a second by a wandering mind.

I am sure many of you now are eagerly waiting for my pointers to come out and are probably asking how I am progressing with this set of hints. Unfortunately, I have not even started it yet. My mind simply goes astray faster than I can put in those first few words of my supposed first suggestion. It doesn't matter how hard I try, I seem to be so overwhelmed by this mind-wandering thing and realize that I can't avoid it myself. Which brings me to this question: "Can mind-wandering be stopped?". [Read Full Article]