College students have their own culture and language. You may know your college friends better than their own parents do. And you may be able to tell that something is wrong with one of your classmates when the professors and faculty advisors can't. You can use your insights to help your friends and classmates find help when they are having problems. While there is no foolproof method of determining that someone is thinking of...

Suicide can often take friends and family by surprise. However, in many cases, people give clues that they are thinking of taking their own life. If you are aware of these red flags, you could help the person seek help early and prevent the individual from going into crisis.

Warning Signs of Suicide

If you hear someone talk of ending his or her life or causing harm to himself or herself, or if you see the person give away prized...

Are you a person who can act on tough questions? Questions like: What am I grateful for? What choices do I have? What actions can I take to improve my life? What are my primary strengths? How can I live a more balanced life?

People who can act on these questions likely also describe themselves as happy.

“Happiness is neither a mood nor an emotion. Mood is a biochemical condition, and emotions are transitory feelings,” says D...

People talk about the importance of keeping their lives in balance. But when it comes down to it, few people really know how to achieve it. "When you're stressed, taking steps to strengthen your personal integrity can bring you back to a sense of balance that restores a sense of inner peace and harmony," says Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D., author of Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart. "The human spirit is composed of free-flowing energy....

Do you hate being criticized even when you know you've made a mistake? If so, it's no wonder -- criticism can make people feel incompetent, angry and just plain awful.

How do you, personally, respond to criticism? Do you make excuses or lash back with criticism?

"This fight-or-flight response is natural and common, but it isn't very productive. It cuts off communication, often just when it's needed most," says Jean Lebedun,...

Are you someone that lets life happen or do you get involved and take part in the decisions that shape your personal success and your future? Everyone has different ways of dealing with situations, however there are some commonalities among personality styles that group people into three categories: passive, aggressive, and assertive. 
 

PASSIVE people let the situation unfold without their input. Oftentimes, they sit back and...

You can learn to think positively, and doing so can lead to greater self-confidence, more respect for others and achievement of your goals.

The late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's best-selling classic, "The Power of Positive Thinking," has inspired millions of people in more than 130 countries. The principles it teaches are as timely today as they were when the book was first published in 1952. The book teaches a simple system of...

What Is a Traumatic Event? 
Most everyone has been through a stressful event in his or her life. When the event, or series of events, causes a lot of stress, it is called a traumatic event. Traumatic events are marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury, or the threat of serious injury or death. Traumatic events affect survivors, rescue workers, and the friends and relatives of victims who have been involved. Th...

Trauma survivors with PTSD often experience problems in their intimate and family relationships or close friendships. PTSD involves symptoms that interfere with trust, emotional closeness, communication, responsible assertiveness, and effective problem solving.

• Survivors may experience a loss of interest in social or sexual activities, they may feel distant from others, and they may be emotionally numb.

• Partners, frien...

One third to one half of people with eating disorders report struggling with depression and anxiety.

Sometimes depression can lead to eating disorders – and for some, eating disorders can trigger depression. There are three major eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. While the symptoms of each are different, people experiencing these illnesses generally are also suffering from stress, s...