The latest information and resources on mental disorders shared on X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. The Division of Intramural Research Programs (IRP) is the internal research division of the NIMH. Over 40 research groups conduct basic neuroscience research and clinical investigations of mental illnesses, brain function, and behavior at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Script 4: Talking Back to OCD

Conversely, psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety can cause sleep problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a widely used form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected, and that altering negative thoughts can lead to changes in emotions and actions.

Script 5: Using Exposure Statements

It has proven effective for treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Tailored versions of CBT can also help people cope with insomnia, chronic pain, and other nonpsychiatric conditions. And it can help in managing difficult life experiences, such as divorce or relationship problems. CBT is widely regarded by psychiatrists as the best therapy for major depressive disorder due to its high success rate and the long-term skills it provides to patients.

Are there specific age limits for using CBT with pupils?

By constantly checking and seeking validation, you never discover that disasters don’t happen even when you sit with uncertainty. This reinforces the faulty belief that reassurance is what prevents catastrophe. From a brain perspective, each reassurance strengthens the connection between doubt and needing external validation. Your amygdala – the brain’s alarm system – keeps getting activated repeatedly, maintaining those elevated anxiety levels. Second, inflated responsibility beliefs play a huge role. When you believe you’re excessively responsible for preventing harm, reassurance helps lighten that burden.

​​Topical CAI Use Linked to Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety

Talk to a health care provider before starting or stopping any medication. Learn about specific medications like bupropion, including the latest approvals, side effects, warnings, and patient information, on the FDA website . Medications used to treat depression (antidepressants) can be effective for SAD when used alone or in combination with talk therapy.

Her writing has been published in Scientific American, Discover and Lucky Peach. She earned a master’s in science writing from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University. In her free time, Nina enjoys gazing at the sky and staring into trees, looking for birds. Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients.

To break the reassurance-seeking cycle, try delaying the urge to ask for reassurance, practise accepting uncertainty, and focus on your personal values rather than seeking temporary relief. Gradually reduce reassurance-seeking behaviours and engage in exposure exercises to build tolerance for uncertainty. What if someone in your life struggles with reassurance seeking? I know it’s tempting to jump in with quick answers, especially when someone you care about is distressed. Right, here’s where many people sabotage their progress without realising it.

A therapist guides patients in identifying real-life problems – a conflict with a roommate, say – brainstorming solutions and choosing the best one. AI chatbots change mental health care, offering 24/7 support while posing unique challenges for human therapists in an evolving landscape. If you’re finding it difficult to manage your symptoms or your hot flashes are frequent or severe, talk with a healthcare professional. They can help you create a management plan that’s right for you. Many treatments are available to help manage hot flashes.

• Winter-pattern SAD also occurs more often than summer-pattern SAD.
• Find out how NIMH engages a range of stakeholder organizations as part of its efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research we support.
• Educating them about your treatment goals turns this from a lonely battle into a team effort.
• The problem could be a chronic condition such as sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorder, narcolepsy or chronic insomnia.
• The interpersonal element creates another reinforcement loop.

Ways to Boost Brain Power

When your loved ones understand how reassurance actually works against recovery, they transform from unwitting enablers into powerful allies. Educating them about your treatment goals turns this from a lonely battle into a team effort. But the five scripts we’ve covered – delaying urges, accepting uncertainty, connecting with values, talking back to OCD, and using exposure statements – these aren’t just theory. The key is regular practice, gradually building your tolerance for that uncomfortable space between question and answer. Here’s the thing about breaking free from reassurance seeking.