It’s normal to feel down sometimes. It’s even normal to feel hopeless or in despair about a particular situation or circumstance. These feelings are temporary. They may last anywhere from a few hours to a few days and cause minimal disturbance in your day-to-day activities. But, when these feelings become constant, more intense, and lasts… Continue reading What is Clinical Depression?
Category: Depression
What is Seasonal Depression?
As the weather gets colder and days become shorter, you may notice you have less energy, feel a little less optimistic and spend more time alone. While this may not be a cause for concern, about 5% of the U.S population experience seasonal depression during the fall and winter months. Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a subtype of depression that begins and ends around the same time every… Continue reading What is Seasonal Depression?
How to Treat Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental illness that significantly impairs a person’s ability to function, causing changes in mood, behavior, appetite, and sleep. Depression is the leading cause of this disability, affecting nearly 280 million people worldwide. You Can Get Better When you’re struggling with major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical… Continue reading How to Treat Major Depressive Disorder
Am I Depressed? Surprising Signs of Depression
Life gets tough sometimes, and you may start to feel stressed or down. Over the last few weeks, or months, you’ve noticed you’re having more bad days than good – you’re less productive at work, spending more time alone, and haven’t been able to sleep. Something feels different from the normal ups and downs you’ve… Continue reading Am I Depressed? Surprising Signs of Depression
“This’ll make you feel better!”
Martha Mills, a writer for The Guardian, candidly wrote a piece called “’Just go for a run’: testing everyday advice for depression,” where she reviews tips that people unfamiliar with depression have offered her to “keep the blues away.” Check out her assessment of different kinds of advice, plus hear what the PatientsLikeMe community has said about mental health–related tips… Continue reading “This’ll make you feel better!”
Key takeaways from a recent study on antidepressants
The World Health Organization reports 300 million people live with depression, but less than half receive effective treatment. A recent study in the journal The Lancet has been making headlines for comparing the effectiveness of antidepressant medications — information that is often lacking for patients trying to make informed choices about their treatments. They found that all of the… Continue reading Key takeaways from a recent study on antidepressants
The Benefits of Forest Bathing
If frequent, long workouts aren’t in the cards, here’s some good news: A new research analysis based on decades’ of studies shows the potential mental health perks of even just a smidgen of light exercise. Also, see the results of a Japanese study on something called “forest bathing.” Exercise linked to good vibes “Even a Little Exercise… Continue reading The Benefits of Forest Bathing
Parkinson’s disease + anxiety/depression: Stigma-busting for Mental Health Month
Stress. Anxiety. Depression. Have you experienced any of these along with Parkinson’s disease (PD)? As National Mental Health Month comes to a close, we’re highlighting how common these non-motor symptoms and mental health issues are among people with PD. Plus, see some new research on the prevalence of feeling demoralized (vs. depressed) with PD, and… Continue reading Parkinson’s disease + anxiety/depression: Stigma-busting for Mental Health Month
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and product FAQs: Fad or effective? Legal or not?
Trending: Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, gummies, tinctures and more. Why are cannabis products gaining popularity as medical treatments and in general? As more states have legalized medical marijuana, more people have shifted their views on cannabis treatments (like former Speaker of the House John Boehner’s recent change of heart). And last month, an advisory panel at the U.S. Food and… Continue reading Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and product FAQs: Fad or effective? Legal or not?
Lights out: Bedtime tips to help you sleep through the night
Do you have a bedtime routine? Sleep is a challenge for many members in the mental health community — over 3,000 PatientsLikeMe members say they have difficulty sleeping through the night. Establishing a regular bedtime and better sleep hygiene is one way to help manage restless nights. Check out some pointers from around the web, and hear… Continue reading Lights out: Bedtime tips to help you sleep through the night