Depression

For many of us, December is the peak of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as “seasonal depression.” Seasonal depression is a condition where a lack of natural sunlight, holiday stress, trauma, isolation, and other mental health issues cause depression that tends to get worse in late fall, and continue until the weather gets warmer. For those with untreated seasonal depression, the development of symptoms is as reliable as… well… the seasons. It is…

Therapy is one of the most effective tools we have to treat depression. Through therapy and counseling, patients can learn coping strategies, recognize and stop their own negative thought patterns, learn ways to self-motivate, and so much more. Even for patients that use medications, it is highly recommended that those pharmaceutical treatments are combined with psychotherapy to help manage depression in the long term. But depression is complex. It isn’t always “if we do this…

Depression is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals across all age groups, yet the triggers and contributing factors can vary significantly with age. In the context of older adults, depression is not a normal part of aging but a serious health concern that necessitates attention and care. The etiology of depression in seniors is often linked to a unique set of challenges and life changes that accompany aging, which can significantly impact mental…

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a complex and deeply personal experience, one that virtually everyone will go through at some point in their life. While mourning is a natural, even necessary, part of the healing process, it’s essential to recognize when this healthy emotional response crosses over into the realm of clinical depression. Understanding this nuanced difference can be crucial for both the individual in mourning and their surrounding support network, as…

Feeling sad is normal part of life. When dealing with troubling events or experiencing overwhelming emotions, sadness is a natural part of coping, acceptance, and healing. When that sadness begins to keep us from our daily tasks and hold us back from enjoying life though, we may be dealing with depression instead. Depression comes in many different forms. Seasonal or temporary depression can be caused by circumstances or specific events. Chronic depression can become a…

Managing our mental health involves recognizing the intricate ways in which our behaviors or experiences influence the symptoms of our conditions. Often, these connections are subtle, eluding easy identification. Many label this as a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” but a more accurate descriptor is the “psychology of avoidance.” When we actively sidestep triggers or situations we’re uneasy with, we inadvertently intensify our negative reactions to them. Take arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders. If you consistently dodge…

Depression is a complex condition with psychological, social, genetic, and environmental factors. Some people develop depression as a response to a specific event. Some people develop depression over time. Still, others appear to develop it for no clear reason. Depression is treatable. But like many other mental health disorders, depression does cause physical changes that can affect the way a person’s neurochemicals operate. Some of the most significant ways that depression can change the brain…

Depression is a complex condition. It is psychological, in that it develops in the brain. But it is also behavioral, genetic, and environmental. Scientists have studied depression for decades, but still do not fully understand why some people develop depression, why others do not, and the mechanisms that cause people to be able or unable to overcome it on their own. What makes depression even more complicated is how it develops. Depression can develop in…

We often talk about treating postpartum depression to prevent it from continuing on for too long. But another reason to treat postpartum depression is because, even when postpartum depression goes away, the effects of it can continue onward. About Postpartum Depression (PPD) in the Long Term Postpartum depression – depression that occurs after childbirth in women, related to issues like hormones, stress, lack of sleep, and other factors – occurs in some form in a…