Mental health, plainly explained

The CHC Journal

Evidence-based articles, practical tools, and unhurried guidance from licensed therapists in Alpharetta — with companion podcast and video for every piece.

A worried White woman in her 40s talks with a compassionate Black therapist during a warm telehealth session at a sunlit kitchen table, the therapist listening with a gentle, reassuring expression — editorial documentary photo about compassionate care for factitious disorder
FeaturedTrauma & PTSD

Factitious Disorder: Why It Is Not Just Faking It

A compassionate look at a serious, often trauma-linked condition — and how it differs from malingering

Factitious disorder is not faking for attention. Learn what it really is, how it differs from malingering, and how trauma-informed therapy in Georgia can help.

CHC Counseling TeamJun 19, 2026

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A content Black man in his 30s reads alone by a sunlit window with a calm, self-possessed expression, soft morning light, a peaceful moment of chosen solitude that illustrates the difference between schizoid personality disorder and healthy introversion, editorial documentary photoSelf-Improvement

Schizoid Personality Disorder: Signs vs. Introversion

Schizoid personality disorder explained: how it differs from introversion, social anxiety, and autism, the real signs, and respectful therapy in Georgia.

Jun 19, 202610 min read
A woman in her 40s sits at a sunlit kitchen table early in the morning with a cup of tea and an open notebook, looking thoughtful and calm, reflecting on benzodiazepine dependence and the decision to talk with her prescriberAnxiety & Stress

Benzodiazepine Dependence: Signs and the Safe Way Off

Benzodiazepine dependence can develop even when taken as prescribed. Learn the signs, why abrupt withdrawal is dangerous, and how a supervised taper helps.

Jun 15, 20268 min read
A pensive young adult sits alone by a window at dusk, the warm glow of a single candle on the sill reflected in their thoughtful face, conveying the private tension and quiet shame many people carry with pyromania, an impulse-control disorder — editorial documentary photoSelf-Improvement

Pyromania: The Impulse-Control Disorder, Not Arson

Pyromania is a rare impulse-control disorder, not the same as arson. Learn the signs, why the urge differs from criminal intent, and how CBT can help.

Jun 15, 20268 min read
Two adults — an older Black man and a younger white woman, both casually dressed — sit a comfortable distance apart on a sunlit living-room sofa, one beginning to lean in slightly as trust is tentatively offered — editorial documentary photo about paranoid personality disorder and rebuilding trustTrauma & PTSD

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Signs and How Therapy Helps

Paranoid personality disorder is a long-standing pattern of distrust. Learn the signs, why it develops, and how trust-building therapy in Georgia gently helps.

Jun 15, 20268 min read
A Black woman in her 40s and her adult son sit close together on a living-room couch in warm afternoon light, talking quietly and listening to each other, conveying steady family support for someone living with schizoaffective disorderDepression

Schizoaffective Disorder: The Two-Week Lag Explained

Schizoaffective disorder explained: how the two-week lag sets it apart from schizophrenia and bipolar or depression with psychosis, plus the path to stability.

Jun 8, 20269 min read
A young adult and a parent sit close together on a living-room couch in warm afternoon light, the parent listening with an accepting, open expression — editorial documentary photo about family acceptance and gender-affirming supportTherapy Basics

Gender Dysphoria: What Affirming Care Really Means

Gender dysphoria explained — what affirming care actually is, how it eases distress, and how to find LGBTQ-affirming therapy across Georgia.

Jun 8, 20266 min read
A young mixed-race woman in her late 20s sits at a sunlit kitchen table with a warm mug and a notebook, thoughtful and steady, taking a quiet first step toward stimulant use recovery, editorial documentary photoSelf-Improvement

Stimulant Use Disorder: Signs, Treatment & Recovery

Stimulant use disorder explained: warning signs, why willpower isn't the issue, and the evidence-based therapy that drives real recovery across Georgia.

Jun 8, 20268 min read
A middle-aged Black woman sits at her sunlit kitchen table with a warm mug, a calm and determined expression on her face as she talks through a teletherapy session on her laptop — editorial documentary photo about quitting smoking and tobacco use disorderSelf-Improvement

Tobacco Use Disorder: Why Quitting Is Medical, Not Willpower

Tobacco use disorder is a medical condition, not a willpower failure. Learn the signs, why quitting is hard, and how therapy plus medication help you quit.

Jun 5, 202610 min read
A woman in her 30s sits in a cozy sunlit living room talking with a therapist on a tablet, her expression visibly relieved and validated, in a documentary editorial photo about being believed while living with functional neurological disorderTrauma & PTSD

Functional Neurological Disorder: Your Symptoms Are Real

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is real and not faked. Learn the signs, why a normal scan is part of the diagnosis, and how evidence-based care can help.

Jun 5, 20269 min read
A man in his 30s sits at a sunlit kitchen table during a focused video therapy session on a laptop, leaning in with a serious, engaged expression — editorial documentary photo about getting honest help for antisocial personality disorderTherapy Basics

Antisocial Personality Disorder: An Honest Guide

Antisocial personality disorder explained honestly: the real signs of ASPD, the conduct-disorder-before-15 rule, why it overlaps with addiction, and what helps.

Jun 5, 20269 min read
An adult daughter sits close to her aging mother on a living-room couch in warm evening lamp light, gently holding her hand with a tender, supportive expression — editorial documentary photo about dementia caregiver support and family griefGrief & Loss

Dementia Caregiver Support: Grief, Burnout & Help

Dementia caregiver support matters. See how therapy helps with anticipatory grief, caregiver burnout, anxiety, and depression — and find steadier footing.

Jun 2, 20269 min read
A mixed-race woman in her late 20s rests her head on her hand at a sunlit kitchen table mid-morning, looking weary but gently hopeful while holding a mug of coffee — editorial documentary photo about living with narcolepsy and the emotional toll of constant sleepinessSelf-Improvement

Living With Narcolepsy: The Emotional Side and How Therapy Helps

Living with narcolepsy means more than tiredness. Learn how this neurological condition affects mood and identity, and how therapy supports coping in Georgia.

Jun 2, 20269 min read
A young Black man sits alone by a sunlit apartment window with a coffee mug, a thoughtful, reserved expression on his face in soft morning light — editorial documentary photo about avoidant personality disorder and the quiet longing for connectionSelf-Improvement

Avoidant Personality Disorder: More Than Just Shyness

Avoidant personality disorder is more than shyness. Learn the signs, how it differs from social anxiety, and the evidence-based therapy that helps in Georgia.

Jun 2, 202610 min read
A young Asian woman in her 20s stands by a rain-streaked window in a warm living room, one hand resting on the glass with a distant, faraway expression as soft daylight blurs the street behind her — editorial documentary photo about depersonalization-derealization disorder and feeling detached from realityTrauma & PTSD

Depersonalization-Derealization: When Reality Feels Unreal

Depersonalization-derealization disorder makes you feel detached or the world unreal. Learn the signs, why it happens, and how trauma-informed therapy helps.

May 30, 202611 min read
A woman in her 30s sits at a cluttered home desk late in the evening, meticulously re-aligning stacks of papers while her partner waits in the doorway behind her — editorial documentary photo illustrating OCPD vs OCD and how perfectionism and control strain relationshipsSelf-Improvement

OCPD vs OCD: The Difference and Why It Matters

OCPD vs OCD: OCD brings unwanted intrusive thoughts; OCPD is a lifelong pattern of perfectionism and control. Learn the difference and how therapy helps.

May 30, 202610 min read
A woman in her late 20s sits at a kitchen table at dusk, resting her chin on her hand with a quiet, weighed-down expression beside a half-finished plate — editorial documentary photo about the hidden emotional weight of bulimia nervosaSelf-Improvement

Bulimia Nervosa: The Eating Disorder That Hides

Bulimia nervosa often hides at a "normal" weight. Learn the binge-purge cycle, the warning signs, and the evidence-based therapy that supports recovery.

May 30, 202610 min read
A Black woman in her 30s sits at a sunlit kitchen table with a notebook and coffee, pausing thoughtfully while tracking her mood — editorial documentary photo about living with cyclothymic disorder and mood swingsDepression

Cyclothymic Disorder: Bipolar's Quieter Cousin

Cyclothymic disorder brings years of mild highs and lows that never reach full bipolar. Learn the signs, treatment, and how Georgia teletherapy helps.

May 29, 202610 min read
A middle-aged Asian woman sits at a sunlit kitchen table holding a warm mug, one hand resting gently on her stomach, a calm and relieved expression on her face — editorial documentary photo about living with somatic symptom disorder and being believedAnxiety & Stress

Somatic Symptom Disorder: When Pain Is Real but Tests Are Normal

Somatic symptom disorder means real physical symptoms paired with intense worry, even when tests look normal. Learn the signs, causes, and how therapy helps.

May 29, 202611 min read
A young Black woman sits alone by a sunlit window with a warm mug, looking thoughtful and calm in a cozy living room — editorial documentary photo about understanding dissociative identity disorder and healing from childhood traumaTrauma & PTSD

Dissociative Identity Disorder: What It Really Is

Dissociative identity disorder is a trauma-based condition, not the danger movies portray. Learn the real signs of DID, why it develops, and how therapy helps.

May 29, 202610 min read
An older woman and her adult daughter sit close together in a tidy, sunlit room having a gentle, patient conversation, both at ease — editorial documentary photo about compassionately supporting a loved one with hoarding disorderAnxiety & Stress

Hoarding Disorder: It's Not About Being Messy

Hoarding disorder is a recognized mental health condition, not laziness or clutter. Learn the real signs, why forced clean-outs backfire, and how CBT helps in Georgia.

May 28, 20268 min read
A young mixed-race adult sits beside a parent on a living-room couch in warm afternoon light, mid-conversation and supported, both calm — editorial documentary photo about understanding and supporting a loved one with schizophreniaTherapy Basics

Schizophrenia: Signs, Myths & How Treatment Works

Schizophrenia is a treatable brain-based condition, not a split personality. Learn the real signs, the myths to drop, and why early coordinated care in Georgia matters most.

May 28, 20269 min read
A Black man in his 40s sits at a sunlit kitchen table with a mug of coffee and a notebook, thoughtful and resolved, in an honest morning moment of self-reflection — editorial documentary photo about alcohol use disorder and recoverySelf-Improvement

Alcohol Use Disorder: Signs, Criteria & Treatment

Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition, not a willpower problem. Learn the DSM-5 signs, why it co-occurs with anxiety and depression, and how treatment works in Georgia.

May 28, 20269 min read
A South Asian woman in her 30s sits in a bright living room on a video call with her therapist, a laptop open on the coffee table, her expression calm and focused — editorial documentary photo about specific phobia treatment through telehealth therapy in GeorgiaAnxiety & Stress

Specific Phobias: How Graded Exposure Therapy Works

Specific phobia treatment through graded exposure therapy can resolve intense, life-limiting fears in weeks. Learn how it works and how CHC therapists help Georgians reclaim their lives.

May 27, 202611 min read
A Black woman in her late 30s sits at a sunlit kitchen table with a cup of coffee, gazing out the window with a quiet, distant expression — editorial documentary photo about persistent depressive disorder and the low-grade depression many people mistake for their personalityDepression

Persistent Depressive Disorder: When Low Mood Becomes Your Normal

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is chronic low-grade depression lasting 2+ years. Learn the signs, how it differs from MDD, and effective treatment options in Georgia.

May 27, 202611 min read
A young Black woman in her late 20s sits at a sunlit kitchen table, hands wrapped around a mug, looking out the window with a pensive but calm expression — editorial documentary photo about BPD dialectical behavior therapy and emotional healingSelf-Improvement

BPD and DBT: Why Dialectical Behavior Therapy Works

BPD is one of the most misunderstood diagnoses in mental health. Learn how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) works, what full treatment includes, and how to access care in Georgia.

May 27, 202611 min read
A woman in her 30s sits at a sunlit kitchen table early in the morning, writing in a sleep-and-mood journal with a coffee mug nearby, a calm and reflective expression on her face — editorial documentary photo about recognizing Bipolar II disorder and tracking mood patternsDepression

Bipolar II Disorder: The Most Misdiagnosed Mood Disorder

Bipolar II disorder is the most misdiagnosed mood disorder, often mistaken for depression. Learn how hypomania differs, why diagnosis is missed, and what helps.

May 25, 202611 min read
A new Black mother in her early 30s sits on a living-room couch by a window in soft morning light, holding her newborn and looking thoughtful and tired — editorial documentary photo about postpartum depression and maternal mental healthDepression

Postpartum Depression: Signs, Causes, and Treatment

Postpartum depression is more than the baby blues. Learn the signs, who it affects, and evidence-based treatment that helps new parents feel like themselves.

May 25, 202611 min read
A South Asian woman in her late 20s sits at a sunlit kitchen table with a mug and an open notebook, pausing thoughtfully mid-thought — editorial documentary photo about living with OCD and intrusive thoughtsAnxiety & Stress

OCD Treatment: Why ERP Is the Gold Standard

OCD treatment explained: what obsessive-compulsive disorder really is, and why ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is the gold-standard approach for it.

May 25, 202611 min read
A racially diverse couple in their 30s sit on a living-room couch in a careful, serious conversation, one listening while the other speaks — editorial documentary photo about relationships affected by narcissistic personality disorderRelationships

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Beyond the Buzzword

Narcissistic personality disorder is a real, diagnosable condition — not an insult. Learn the clinical signs, the fragile self underneath, and how therapy helps.

May 24, 20268 min read
A young Black woman and her mother sit close together at a sunlit kitchen table sharing a quiet, supportive meal — editorial documentary photo about anorexia nervosa recovery and family supportAnxiety & Stress

Anorexia Nervosa: Signs, Myths, and How Treatment Works

Anorexia nervosa is a serious, treatable illness — not a choice. Learn the real warning signs, why weight can mislead, and how evidence-based therapy helps.

May 24, 20268 min read
A Black father and his teenage daughter sit together on a couch in soft evening lamp light, in gentle supportive conversation — editorial documentary photo about healing from trauma and reconnecting with familyTrauma & PTSD

PTSD: When Trauma Still Lives in Your Body

PTSD is not only for veterans. It can follow car accidents, medical trauma, assault, or loss. Learn the signs and the treatments that actually help people heal.

May 23, 202611 min read
A mixed-race young man in his 30s sits on a sunlit porch with a book on his lap, peaceful expression — editorial documentary photo about emerging from depression and finding support through therapyDepression

Major Depressive Disorder: The Difference Between Sadness and Depression

Major depressive disorder is more than feeling sad — it's a real medical condition with effective treatments. Learn the signs, what works, and how to get help.

May 23, 202610 min read
A Black woman in her 30s sits by a sunlit kitchen window with a notebook and warm tea, calm reflective expression — editorial documentary photo about generalized anxiety disorder and finding peace through therapyAnxiety & Stress

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Becomes a Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder isn't just worrying — it's persistent, exhausting worry that interferes with daily life. Learn the signs and treatment options.

May 23, 20269 min read
A young Black woman in her mid-20s stands in front of a softly lit bathroom mirror in a warm home, tucking her hair behind her ear with a thoughtful, slightly worried expression — editorial documentary photo about body dysmorphic disorder and the daily experience of mirror checkingAnxiety & Stress

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Guide to BDD Symptoms and Treatment

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) magnifies tiny appearance details into all-consuming distress. Learn the signs, evidence-based treatment, and how to find help.

May 22, 202610 min read
A Black woman in her mid-30s sits on a sunlit couch with a mug of tea, phone face-down on the cushion beside her, taking a slow breath with a thoughtful expression — editorial documentary photo about illness anxiety disorder and stepping back from compulsive symptom searchingAnxiety & Stress

Illness Anxiety Disorder: When Health Worry Takes Over

Illness anxiety disorder explained — why constant health worry, body checking, and Googling symptoms feed the cycle, and what evidence-based therapy looks like.

May 22, 202610 min read
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