Mental Health
Find articles on stress, phobias and schizophrenia. This section offers information on a range of mental health issues.
Youngest Child Syndrome: The Perks and Challenges of Being the Baby of the Family
Only Child Syndrome: Understanding the Myths and Realities of Growing Up Without Siblings
How Living in Total Darkness Sabotages Your Sleep
What Causes Nightmares, and How Can You Lessen Them?
What Is the Healthiest Position for Sleep?
Ultra-processed Foods Are Addictive by Same Criteria as Tobacco
When Does Belief in a Conspiracy Theory Like QAnon Tip Into Addiction?
HowStuffWorks: What is Jessie's Law?
For 64 Percent of Kids with ADHD, Food is the Cause
Can food allergies cause ADHD?
ADHD Overview
Do You Have a Fear of Long Words?
Trypanophobia: When the Fear of Needles Has You Stuck
Thalassophobia: Do You Fear the Deep Ocean?
What is the autism diet?
Autism Causes
Autism Language Difficulties
3 Key Steps to Finding the Right Therapist for You
How Maladaptive Daydreaming Can Take Over Your Life
STUG: When Grief Hits Like a Bolt Out of the Blue
Lifelike Robo Pets Help Seniors Combat Loneliness
Insights on Alzheimer's From the Long-running Nun Study
Is there a link between concussions and dementia?
Youth Suicides Rose After FDA Added Antidepressant Warnings
Here's How You Help a Friend With Depression
'Gloomy Sunday:' The Song Linked to More Than 100 Suicides
Picky Eating in Adults Is a Diagnosable Disorder — Really
5 Signs of Weight Obsession
10 Facts About Eating Disorders
What's the Difference Between a Sociopath and a Psychopath?
Digital Hoarding Could Be Harmful to Your Mental Health
Which Jobs Have the Highest Suicide Rates?
Hear Sounds When Watching Silent Videos? It Might Be Synesthesia
When Wisecracks and Puns Are Symptoms of Brain Damage
How Stuttering Works
How Sigmund Freud Worked
Freud, Sigmund
Learn More
Discover the distinct traits and experiences of the youngest child in the family. This article explores how the 'baby' of the family navigates their role, from extra attention to the challenges of being the youngest sibling.
By HowStuffWorks
Explore Oldest Child Syndrome and the unique pressures firstborns face, from heightened expectations to leadership roles, and how these experiences shape their personality and behavior in adulthood.
By HowStuffWorks
Explore the realities of Only Child Syndrome, debunking common misconceptions while addressing the unique challenges and benefits of growing up without siblings. Learn how being an only child shapes personality, social skills, and independence.
By HowStuffWorks
Advertisement
Explore the dynamics of Middle Child Syndrome, where the middle child often feels overlooked or left out, caught between the attention given to their siblings. Discover the emotional challenges and unique experiences that come with this family role.
By HowStuffWorks
Learn how birth order impacts personality and behavior with insights from the Birth Order Theory. This article explores how being a firstborn, middle child, or youngest influences traits like leadership, creativity, and social dynamics.
By HowStuffWorks
"Let's go to grandpa's room and see if it still smells funny," said Tommy.
The terms sociopath and psychopath are used interchangeably, but they're not the same. So what's the differences between these two antisocial personality disorders?
Advertisement
In 1962, at a girls' school in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Africa, some schoolgirl giggles turned into a countrywide health crisis. And, to this day, the laughter remains a mystery.
They blink, stretch, purr and are warm to the touch. Robotic companion animals have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and antipsychotic drug use among older people, especially those with with dementia.
These days, people are looking for ways to find and share more joy instead of feeling happy about someone else's misfortune. That feeling of shared joy is called freudenfreude.
Feeling down and need someone to pick you up? Give the kids of Peptoc a call and we guarantee a smile!
Advertisement
Research has shown that having a good relationship with your therapist is key to having good outcomes in therapy. But how do you find one you like? We have some great suggestions.
By Alia Hoyt
It's a term that's often used in an argument. But gaslighting has a very specific meaning that is often lost. What is it and how can you know if you're really being gaslighted?
By Alia Hoyt
Imagine being trapped in a cave or being completely blind. Would you know when to sleep and wake? And how would that throw off your body clock?
The fear of long words is ironic, as the name is ridiculously long. What gives?
Advertisement
You've probably had a scary dream where you fell off a cliff, were naked in public or were chased by a monster. What causes these nightmares and can you lessen their occurrence?
By Alia Hoyt
FDA antidepressant warnings have led to reduced mental health care and increased suicides among youth, so what is going on?
Getting enough sleep and finding the healthiest position to sleep in go hand in hand. So, side, back, stomach? Which is the healthiest way to sleep?
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is all about slowing down and "bathing" yourself in the beauty of nature, which leads to psycho-emotional healing and stress reduction.
By Carrie Tatro
Advertisement
Can ultra-processed foods really be considered addictive? Or are people just overindulging in foods that they like?
Even though most people don't like getting shots, we can do it without much hesitation. But what if you have a debilitating fear of needles? How do you push past that to get critical medical care like the COVID-19 vaccine?
Daydreaming is often how we escape the everyday mundane. But what happens when those fantasies start to replace your real desire for life?
Getting lost in a book is one of life's greatest pleasures, but is a digital book just as pleasurable as a paper book? And which format is the best for learning?
Advertisement
About half of all Americans believe at least one conspiracy theory. But what's the difference between believing a theory and being addicted to it? And how can you help someone you think might be in too deep?
Everyone experiences boredom at some point and maybe even ennui, a chronic type of boredom. But surprisingly, ennui does have some benefits.
By Alia Hoyt