A man takes off his glasses and hangs his head as he wonders what the difference is between depression and dysthymia

What’s the Difference Between Depression and Dysthymia?

Depression affects about 16 million Americans every year. The World Health Organization calls depression the number one cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms typically include prolonged feelings of sadness, fatigue, irritability, aggression, lack of motivation, disturbed sleep, poor memory and concentration, feelings of hopelessness, physical aches, and thoughts of suicide or death. The symptoms of depression…

A woman sits curled up in a chair and wonders can mental illness shorten your life

Can Mental Illness Shorten Your Life?

No one wants to live with mental illness. Mental illnesses can make your life harder in many ways. Depending on what you have, you may be depressed, anxious, impulsive, angry, combative, confused, or paranoid. Now it appears mental illness has another big drawback: it can shorten your life. Depending on what mental health issue you…

a man leans against the wall with a hood over his head and thinks about common misconceptions about schizophrenia

4 Common Misconceptions About Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects about two million Americans. It’s best known symptoms are auditory and visual hallucinations, but other symptoms include delusional thinking, disordered or incoherent thinking or speech, social withdrawal, or diminished affect in speech or facial expressions. Although most people know something about schizophrenia, many people misunderstand the condition, leading…

missing puzzle piece represents mental health month

Mental Health Month

Every year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. May is Mental Health Month, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and participants across the country help bring awareness to mental health. Each year they fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care. Each year, the…