Mental Health Archive

Men and women can experience many age-related changes and health conditions that can cause their sex drives to decline. Couples who deal with mismatched or missing sex drives should communicate about how they can work together to get back in sync. Both partners should share what they enjoy before and during sex, what issues may be hindering their sex drive, and what strategies they can try, such as recreating dating, planning time for intimacy, and exploring new ways to create romantic moods.

Men who could benefit from therapy often resist it because it carries a negative stigma for them and they feel uncomfortable about seeking help. For these individuals, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be an option. Many men find CBT appealing because it is short-term, structured, and focused on current issues. CBT is regularly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, but it can help with managing other common ailments, such as insomnia, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and migraines.

Increasing numbers of older adults are using cannabis over recent years. People over 50 report using it to relax, sleep better, feel good, relieve pain, improve mood or mental health, or treat medical conditions. But older adults are more vulnerable to cannabis side effects, such as falls or interactions with prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Many older adults aren't aware that cannabis products today are far more potent than in decades past. Medical visits related to cannabis use rose more than 27-fold among adults 65 and older between 2008 and 2021.

ADHD is often misunderstood and surrounded by stigma. Learn what ADHD looks like in adults, common myths, and ways to help manage symptoms and improve daily life.

The long-term outlook for men diagnosed with prostate cancer continues to improve. These medical advances, however, have also drawn attention to the mental health challenges many survivors encounter. It's still common for survivors to struggle with loss of masculine self-esteem and changes in body image.

People have a 50% chance of developing at least one mental health disorder by age 75, according to some research. Among men, the most common are alcohol use disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders, with social anxiety disorder being the most prevalent of those. Many men miss the early warning signs of these disorders, or when they do, they often try to push through, which can worsen the symptoms. But identifying when they might have a problem is the first step toward seeking help.

Light therapy uses light boxes that emit a bright, white light. Exposure to this light can control a person's circadian rhythm-the body's internal 24-hour sleep-wake clock-and help manage and prevent seasonal affective disorder.

Influencers, news headlines, and well-meaning friends and family offer conflicting advice on wellness. Quick fixes and fads may do little for our health, and some even prove harmful. Try to work these five simple habits that can boost health and wellness into your everyday life.

Solo-agers are people 50 and older who aren't married, don't have children, and live alone. Many of them don't have people they can count on to help them with household tasks or manage their ongoing care, if needed. While solo aging can offer perks, it can also leave older adults vulnerable to deteriorating mental and physical health. Solo-agers may count on help from siblings, neighbors, friends, community groups, or paid help. They can build their support by setting up a buddy system, staying in regular touch with loved ones, and tapping senior programs.

A quarter of American adults live with a mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. But more than half don't seek help. Internal and external barriers may stop them from getting the care they need. Internal barriers are emotions or excuses people make to avoid treatment. External barriers include cost or difficulty finding a provider who can meet someone's individual needs. To push past obstacles, people can investigate less-expensive mental health programs or reframe guilt-inducing thoughts.