Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression brought on by a change in seasons. It most commonly affects people during the fall and winter, although some people, especially people with bipolar disorder, may experience symptoms of anxiety or mania in the spring. SAD is thought to be caused mainly by a disruption in the circadian…
With the days getting shorter and colder, many people will experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a form of depression caused by the change of seasons. People who have struggled with depression or bipolar disorder are particularly vulnerable. Symptoms of SAD include feeling depressed most of the time, having little energy or motivation,…
With more than 16 million American adults suffering a depressive episode every year, there’s a good chance you or someone close to you will be affected. Public awareness of depression has spread in recent years, but some misconceptions still persist. Here are some of the most important ones. Depression is just sadness. It’s true that…
Depression is the most common mental health issue in the world. It affects more than 16 million American adults every year. Symptoms include sadness, sleeping too much or too little, slow movements, poor concentration, hopelessness, and frequent thoughts of death or suicide. Since depression affects so many people, you probably know someone with depression, but…
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a condition in which you experience a frightening, dangerous, or harmful event and continue to experience the trauma for months or years. We typically associate PTSD with combat veterans, who often endure horrific experiences during wartime. However, PTSD is actually more common among civilians. It may be caused by…
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly six million American adults struggle with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder accounts for about a third of all depressive disorders in the US. It is a difficult condition to live with and more than half of people with bipolar disorder also have a substance use issue. The…
According to a recent study, people with autism spectrum disorders are more than three times as likely as the general population to struggle with depression. Nearly 20 percent of people with autism also had depression. What’s more, higher functioning people without intellectual disabilities were even more severely affected. Not only were they depressed at a…
More than 16 million American adults had a major episode of depression in the last year, and that figure appears to be growing. Symptoms of depression include sadness or depressed mood, fatigue, sleep disturbances, such as sleeping too much or too little, changes in weight, slow movements, aches, inability to focus, feelings of hopelessness, and…
TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is a relatively new way of treating major depression. In TMS, a doctor or technician uses a powerful electromagnet to stimulate a part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, or DLPFC. The DLPFC is responsible for many executive functions, such as helping yourself and others, making…
Occasional anxiety is a useful emotion. It alerts you to danger, it encourages you to prepare for important events, and it gives you energy and focus to perform at your best. However, if you always feel anxious, or you get too anxious, anxiety can be debilitating. Too much anxiety can interfere with your life and…