College and grad school students know that they face academic stress, but do they know that this stress can sometimes lead to depression? Those students who are over-stressed and depressed are also more prone than others to binge drink, abuse drugs, and engage in risky sexual behaviors. However, students who understand how to cope with…
Parenting with a diagnosis of depression challenges many moms and dads. If you are a parent, you likely put your child’s wellbeing and safety first in your life. At the same time, you may inadvertently sacrifice your own health as you prioritize your son or daughter. The end result: depression symptoms that hamper your ability…
Depression is a complex condition, and addressing depression symptoms often requires the use of one or more treatment options. In some instances, antidepressant medications are used to help alleviate depression symptom, but it’s important to understand the role of medication in treatment. Antidepressants alter neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood. As such, antidepressants can…
Physical activity offers an all-natural depression treatment. Research indicates exercise supports nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, a section of the brain responsible for mood regulation. Meanwhile, the more you exercise, the better equipped you are to stimulate your neurons, releasing feel-good chemicals in the hippocampus that can combat depression symptoms. In addition to alleviating…
Women are twice as likely to experience major depression as men, according to The American Institute of Stress. To better understand why this is the case, let’s examine depression and how it affects both women and men. Depression: Here’s What You Need to Know Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in…
Insomnia is a common depression symptom — and like depression, insomnia is sometimes difficult to treat. To better understand the connection between insomnia and depression, let’s examine both medical conditions, along with common symptoms and treatments. What Is Insomnia? Insomnia refers to a medical condition that makes it virtually impossible to fall or stay asleep.…
Marijuana use is prevalent, but marijuana does not help treat depression symptoms; in fact, marijuana may actually increase a person’s depression symptoms. To better understand the link between marijuana and depression, let’s examine marijuana, how the drug affects the brain, and the drug’s impact on people dealing with depression. What Is Marijuana? Marijuana is a…
In 2002 I began a graduate program in an Experimental Psychology Department. My primary advisor, Dr. V.S. Ramachandran (Professor in the Department of Experimental Psychology) was, in fact, a trained Neurologist. What was a Neurologist doing in an Experimental Psychology Department? In addition to his medical training as a Neurologist, he also had a Ph.D.…
Depression therapy is a great option to treat depression symptoms. Yet depression therapy results vary. Without the right approach to depression therapy, an individual may struggle to get the help he or she needs to alleviate depression symptoms. Fortunately, when it comes to depression therapy, there are lots of things that you can do to…
Depression is a global problem. To better understand depression’s worldwide impact, consider the following statistics: Globally, more than 300 million people deal with depression symptoms, according to the World Health Organization. Approximately 17.3 million U.S. adults have suffered at least one major depressive episode, the National Institute on Mental Health reports. At least one in…