Many different names have been given to conditions affecting people's mental and emotional comfort, and their ability to function effectively. These names have always been a mixed blessing. Names do allow for communication. However, the names we have used have tended to reflect popular misconceptions about psychological processes and the human condition. For example, the names have tended to make "diseases" out of some ordinary human experiences (such as grief, for example). Also, there has always been an unfortunate rift between the names for conditions used by professionals and those used by lay people. Sometimes I think that lay people know more of what they are talking about than do professionals when they use names. Certainly they do when they talk about "neurosis", or "nervous breakdown" (terms no longer in professional use).

In general, your psychological condition deserves professional treatment when it results in significant discomfort (either for you or for the people around you) and/or causes lasting or repeated difficulty and/or dysfunction in your personal and/or family life, your significant relationships, your education, your occupation, your spiritual adaptation, or your lifelong development. Just like all health care professionals, we psychologists tend to name the conditions we encounter in providing treatment.

Here are some names for conditions affecting individuals that I believe can be helped through Internet contact with a qualified psychologist

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

• Alcohol
• Amphetamines
• Cocaine
• Ecstasy
• Marijuana
• Prescription Medications

Anxiety

• Generalized Anxiety
• Panic Attack
• Phobia

Codependency

Depression

• Endogenous Depression
• Reactive Depression
• Seasonal Affective Disorder

Family Dysfunction

Grief

Marital and Relationship Problems

Obsessions and Compulsions

Panic Attack

Process Addictions

• Eating
• Relationship
• Romance
• Sex
• Shopping
• Working