Sibling rivalry can be a driving force in the lives of some children. Striving to be better than their brothers or sisters, they may earn higher grades and grow to accomplish great things. However, if taken too far, this rivalry can leave some siblings feeling inadequate, inferior, and resentful of their more successful counterparts. 

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Mood swings can destroy your life. People near you are gradually driven away; employers are not inclined to grant you raises or promotions; and the effort put into managing mood swings may be overwhelming. Although mood swings are a normal part of life for some people, they can be impossible to live with. 

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Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a serious mental health condition that causes severe mood swings. This is a lifelong illness that many people around the world experience. Someone suffering from this disease will alternate between states of depression and mania. A manic state describes a person who is very depressed or suicidal, yet is very talkative, reckless, or restless. Depression describes the opposite mood—sadness, crying, loss of energy, and sleep problems. Within bipolar disorder, there are two types of this disease: Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2. Here are a few tips to help you recognize the difference.   

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Many people who suffer from depression may wonder if they are just feeling a little blue for several days, or if they are truly depressed. Depression comes in many different forms and can seriously impact the quality of a person's life. Depression colors the way we someone sees themselves and the possibilities in the world around them. Often, depression and anxiety mood disorders may go together. There is help for depression in the form of lifestyle changes, counseling and prescription medication. 

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If you’re finding that you spend more time at work than you used to, and you’re feeling more stressed about it, there are many others in the same situation. For many people, it’s becoming more difficult to balance work and home priorities. Stress contributes to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, and it can also harm your body. 

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For the workaholic, staying busy is their addiction. There is always more work to be done. The need to keep working goes beyond simple financial need. Instead, work becomes a way of avoiding other aspects of life such as family, romance, and physical and emotional health. 

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The serious implications of drug addiction and substance abuse can make the idea of internet addiction sound laughable to some. While it might not seem like a big problem, internet addiction is can range from a nuisance to a devastating problem. 

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Alcoholism is a real disease, and the desire to drink never goes all the way away. One of the most difficult times to resist drinking is during happy hour, or any other social occasion where alcohol will be involved. Generally speaking, it is a good idea to avoid these situations entirely if possible, but there are some cases in which it may be almost unavoidable. Under these circumstances, it will take some planning and some determination to avoid a relapse. 

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Most people like it when they see their own traits passed on to their children, but not when it comes to a disease or disorder. Unfortunately, several studies suggest that bipolar disorder, along with many other mood disorders, is passed on through families. This appears to be true even if the child is adopted by parents who don't have the disorder. Most people who have the disorder have at least one relative with the disorder. 

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The best way to determine whether or not you are dealing with a psychological problem is to ask yourself a simple question, "Do you feel like you are in control of your own life?" Psychological problems almost always deal with the subject of control. Addiction is about being unable to control your impulses. Depression and anxiety are about being unable to control your emotions. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is about being unable to control your thoughts. 

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Spending at least some time alone can be psychologically beneficial. There are certainly some mood disorders where this is not the case, such as social anxiety, but for others it can be very important. If you are the type of person who feels like they always need to be around other people, you are at risk of falling into codependent behaviors. Always remember to spend some time working on yourself. 

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