Have you ever wondered how best to interact with someone who is living with depression, bipolar disorder or another mental health condition? Have you worried that you’re saying or doing the wrong things? Last week we recognized Mental Illness Awareness Week on the blog, and to continue our coverage, today we thought we’d share with… Continue reading What to Do – and Not Do – When Someone Has a Mental Health Condition
Category: Mental Health
The Importance of Open Access: An Interview with Patient Advocate Graham Steel
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Graham Steel is a longtime “Guest Researcher Member” of PatientsLikeMe. Following the death of his brother Richard at the age of 33 from a rare condition known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), Graham became involved in patient advocacy work, and most recently, in lobbying for open access to published scientific… Continue reading The Importance of Open Access: An Interview with Patient Advocate Graham Steel
Mike Wallace, Depression and Me
In honor of Men’s Health Week, we are pleased to present a guest post by PatientsLikeMe member tiredoftired, a young man who has been living with major depressive disorder since 2007. Don’t miss this moving essay about how Mike Wallace’s passing earlier this year impacted and inspired him. As I was driving to therapy on… Continue reading Mike Wallace, Depression and Me
Coping with Holiday Stress and Blues
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or is it? The holidays can be a time of merriment and joy marked by festive parties and family reunions. But they can also be quite challenging. Despite the great cheer advertised everywhere you look, some people find themselves struggling with stress, anxiety, loneliness and/or depression. This… Continue reading Coping with Holiday Stress and Blues
Life with Bipolar I Disorder: What We’ve Learned
Yesterday, our interview with bipolar blogger Andrea gave you a glimpse into what it’s like to live with bipolar I disorder. Today we take a deeper look into this mental health condition using the data and experiences shared by our 1,237 bipolar I members. First off, however, you may have heard of something called bipolar… Continue reading Life with Bipolar I Disorder: What We’ve Learned
Spotlighted Blogger: Bipolar patient Andrea of “Lithium and Lamictal”
How do we know we’re truly living in a Health 2.0 age? Recently, we’ve discovered that a number of PatientsLikeMe members have fascinating blogs chronicling what it’s like to live with their respective health conditions. For example, we told you in August about the acclaimed gastroparesis blog “My Broken Stomach,” written by one of our… Continue reading Spotlighted Blogger: Bipolar patient Andrea of “Lithium and Lamictal”
What Patients Are Thankful For
Thanksgiving is a time for remembering all the reasons you have to be grateful. For patients who face numerous health challenges, this can mean reminding yourself of all the things you have gained – not lost – since your diagnosis. One theme that we’re especially proud to hear our 120,000+ members express is how thankful… Continue reading What Patients Are Thankful For
Giving Caregivers the Recognition They Deserve
“The true strength of the American family finds its roots in an unwavering commitment to care for one another.” – President Barack Obama November is National Family Caregivers Month, “a time to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers.” There are more than 65 million family caregivers in the US who day in and day… Continue reading Giving Caregivers the Recognition They Deserve
It’s the Season for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Now that daylight savings time has ended, the days are shorter, and before you know it, it’s nightfall. Has this affected your mood? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is a condition marked by a period of depression that occurs during the same season year after year. In most cases, that season… Continue reading It’s the Season for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Competing Against MS: An Interview with MLR
PatientsLikeMe member MLR was an avid BMX (Bicycle Motocross), MTB (Mountain Bike Racing) and Motocross athlete his entire life – until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) last year. After having to give up the sport he loved, MLR began to suffer from depression. Today, however, he’s happy to report that he’s racing again… Continue reading Competing Against MS: An Interview with MLR