Mental Health

Whether you’re wondering about anxiety, addiction, behavior disorders or plain old stress, we’ve got answers to your most pressing questions.
Mayo Clinic experts treat all types of emotional disorders, as well as addiction and chronic pain. Mayo Clinic’s Department of Psychiatry and Psychology has a long history of reducing the burden of mental health issues on patients and their families.
We chronicle the latest discoveries in mental health, with an eye toward enlightening readers on how they can best meet mental health challenges — and help others obtain the help they need.

Recent Posts
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When you think about ADHD, you probably think about high-energy kids who need extra help in school. But what happens when those kids become adults? In the past, it was thought that most kids outgrew attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Today, experts believe only 1 out of 8 children truly outgrows the…
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 45,979 people died by suicide in the U.S. in 2020. Mayo Clinic psychiatrist J. Michael Bostwick, M.D., MFA, helps us better understand suicide and what can be done to prevent these deaths. Can suicide be prevented?…
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Article | Mental Health
What to do if mood medications are affecting your sex life
You have been friends with Bea since college, but Bea’s been slower to respond lately when you try to schedule time together. Sitting down with her at a cafe, you immediately notice new violet circles under her eyes and that her cheekbones are more pronounced. Her usually bright sports top… -
You walk into a job interview and break into a cold sweat. You have to give a speech, and your stomach won’t stop flipping. You walk into a party alone and feel your heart race. This kind of nervousness in certain social situations is actually pretty typical. But for people…
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Eating disorders are life-threatening conditions that affect a person‘s behavior around eating. Symptoms of eating disorders vary, but all involve atypical or irregular eating habits that often affect shape or weight — though this is not always obvious. It is important to realize that eating disorders are not a lifestyle…
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Have you ever felt like you’re observing yourself from outside your body or that things around you aren’t real? Maybe you’ve experienced a combination of both. While this can be jarring, passing experiences with these feelings are common. However, when these feelings keep coming back or don’t go away, depersonalization-derealization…
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What are intrusive thoughts? Everyone has an inner monologue, a steady stream of thoughts, ideas, images, aspirations and recollections. But sometimes when you’re going about your business — thinking about what’s for dinner or where you put the TV remote — that flow of ideas is interrupted with an unsettling…
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Do you feel like going to work is harder than it used to be? Maybe you’re feeling exhausted, uninterested and detached from your job. Have you been “quiet quitting,” or do you know, deep down, that you’re not doing your best anymore? If so, you might have workplace burnout. Burnout…
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Article | Mental Health
Recognizing and addressing a loved one’s alcohol abuse.
Alcohol, while often socially acceptable and legal for those over the age of 21, can turn into a problem for some. In fact, alcohol abuse affects millions of Americans each year. And according to the World Health Organization, approximately 3 million people worldwide die each year due to alcohol use. -
Article | Mental Health
“I’m happy to be a new mom. But why am I feeling so sad?”
Whether it’s your first or third, the birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. Many of these emotions are caused by physical changes including changes in hormones, interrupted (and lack of) sleep and a change in diet and… -
Most people have healthy passions, whether it’s discovering and playing a new video game or exercising. It’s part of what can keep life meaningful, fun and interesting. But in some cases these passions, interests or hobbies can take over and have an unhealthy toll on one’s daily life. While some…
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Feeling situationally nervous (you’re about to take the stage) or having occasional feelings of anxiety is a normal part of life. However, having frequent and excessive anxiety, fear, terror or panic in everyday situations is not normal. These feelings are unhealthy and can affect…
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