Man sitting cross-legged on a wooden jetty by a lake. The man has his right arm raised and his fingers are forming a mudra. He appears to be meditating, or possibly relaxing during yoga.

Psyche and well-being

Can stress be both good and bad? Can sport also be a form of relaxation? Can anyone meditate? What are the best ways to unwind? This topic area provides numerous answers to the question: what can I do to reduce the stresses of everyday life and improve my well-being?

Relaxation for health: woman sitting cross-legged on her bed meditating. She has placed both hands on her knees with her hands in the chin mudra position. She has her eyes closed and is breathing out.

Staying healthy with deliberate breaks and active relaxation

Too much work, tension and stress can cause illness or exacerbate symptoms of illness. That’s why regular relaxation is a key element in promoting good health.

Stress: woman with hair tied up standing in front of the window stretching her arms up and pressing down on her tense neck with her hands. She is twisting her head towards her shoulder to stretch her neck.

Stress: impact on body and mind

Stress can motivate us to achieve peak performance, but can also make us ill in the long run. Breaks for relaxation are important to avoid stress-related illnesses.

Person in a wheelchair sitting at a laid table with other people. A woman is serving food from a dish in the background. A woman in a wheelchair is sitting in the foreground.

Mental and physical stress and strain experienced by family caregivers

Acting as a caregiver for a loved one can be very stressful, both mentally and physically. In this article, caregivers will learn how to avoid burnout.

Good-quality sleep – in sync with the internal clock

Sleep can be disturbed by many things, for example light, noise, stimulants or stress. Find out more about what affects sleep and how to combat sleep issues.

A sporty, middle-aged woman gives a high ten to another woman.

Menopause

In the years leading up to menopause, the hormonal balance in a woman’s body changes. Hormones control many bodily processes, and so it takes some time for the body to adjust.

Attendees of a relaxation course lie on their back as they practice relaxation techniques

Relaxation methods: which techniques can help combat stress?

Read about why relaxation is important, how it affects the body and what techniques people can use to help them relax.

Young woman sitting on a coach leaning forward supporting her head in her hands in despair. A therapist is sitting opposite her taking notes.

Psychotherapy: an overview

This article provides an overview of the topic of psychotherapy and explains its effectiveness and the various approaches that may be used.

A patient and therapist sit opposite each other during a therapy session.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy. This article describes how it works and when it is used.

Woman sitting in semi-darkness with a blank, pensive gaze.

Dealing with depression

This article explains what depression is and what you can do if you experience depressive symptoms.

Woman with her head on a man’s shoulder. She is hiding her face in his chest. She looks desperate.

Dealing with mental crises

This article addresses matters such as what mental crises are, the associated management phases and how people can deal with mental crises.

Young boy sitting at the kitchen table laughing and turning round to face a woman who has turned towards him and is looking at him with a friendly expression.

Overcoming crises through resilience

Mental resilience is important for dealing with crises. This article explains how resilience is developed and how it can be strengthened.

Eine Frau hält ihre flache Hand auf der Brust, sie ist verkrampft und unter akuter Atemnot.

Coping with anxiety

This article explains how to deal with anxiety and when to seek help for anxiety and panic.

Person comforting another person holding their hand in both hands over a table.

Coping with grief

This article discusses the ways in which people grieve and offers suggestions on how to cope with a loss.

Abwehrkräfte: Mehrere Menschen stehen in einem hellen Raum und führen Bewegungsübungen durch. Im Vordergrund steht eine ältere Frau die mit beiden Armen eine Bewegung ausführt.

How defenses can be strengthened

There is a large range of products that claim to strengthen one’s defenses. For very few of them is there any reliable evidence that they are effective. But a healthy lifestyle has various benefits.

Mental health in later life: older woman looking straight ahead, lost in thought. She is supporting her head on one hand and holding a handkerchief to her face with the other. She looks sad.

Mental health: staying mentally fit in later life

Everyone can forget their keys now and again. But where is the boundary between forgetfulness and dementia? Find out more about mental health in later life and what we can do to stay mentally fit.

Haarausfall: Ein junger Mann betrachtet sich im Spiegel. Er trägt einen 3-Tage-Bart und untersucht lichter werdende Stellen seiner Kopfbehaarung.

Male pattern hair loss: what can be done to prevent it

In cases of hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) there are a number of treatment options. You can find out more about them in this article on androgenetic alopecia in men.

Dry skin

Many people don't feel comfortable in their own skin when it’s too dry. Sometimes, all that's needed is a few behavioral changes. In other cases, medical advice is required.